JP2005077187A - In-vehicle navigation device and route guiding method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an in-vehicle navigation device and a route guiding method capable of providing not a determined route but an always new route thereby utilizing effectively time to go to a destination. <P>SOLUTION: In the in-vehicle navigation device, the destination and estimated time of arrival are set (S1). Distance from a one's vehicle position to the destination is divided equally into a plurality of areas, and a guide table on which the estimated time of the arrival is assigned every each of the areas is prepared (S2). Guidance routes on which one's vehicle can travel in predetermined time for the area are computed while determining traveling directions at a fork every each of the areas and every each of the forks included in the area respectively, based on map information and the one's vehicle position, the direction and traveling speed of the one's vehicle according to the guide table (S3-S9). The route to the destination is guided while displaying the traveling directions at each of the forks on the computed guidance routes on a display screen by an arrow (S10). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle-mounted navigation device, and in particular, for each branch point (intersection, T-junction, three-way intersection, etc.) whose course should be changed on a guidance route, the traveling direction at the branch point is indicated by an arrow on the display screen. The present invention relates to an in-vehicle navigation device and a route guidance method for performing route guidance to a destination while displaying.

  This type of navigation is also called “arrow navigation” in the sense that route guidance is performed by displaying the route at each branch point with an arrow (“arrow”).

  In a typical in-vehicle navigation device known so far, a control device such as a CPU for controlling all processing related to navigation, a storage device such as a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM storing map data, an LCD monitor, etc. A display device, a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver for detecting the current position of the own vehicle, a gyro, a vehicle speed sensor, and the like for detecting the traveling direction and traveling speed of the own vehicle are provided. Then, the control device reads out map data including the current position of the host vehicle from the storage device, draws a map image around the host vehicle position based on the map data, and displays the current position of the host vehicle. The vehicle position mark is displayed on the screen, and the map image is scrolled according to the movement of the vehicle, the map image is fixed on the screen and the vehicle position mark is moved, You can see at a glance where your car is currently driving.

  In-vehicle navigation devices are usually equipped with a function (route guidance function) that guides a user so that the user can easily travel on the road without making a mistake. According to this route guidance function, a simulation such as a horizontal search method or a Dijkstra method is used by the control device to search for an optimum route from the departure place (typically the current position of the vehicle) to the destination using map data. Search by calculation and store the searched route as a guide route so that the guide route can be distinguished from other roads on the map image while driving (for example, changing the color or increasing the line width) When the vehicle approaches the intersection where the course should be changed on the guidance route within a predetermined distance, an enlarged view of the intersection (an arrow indicating the direction of travel at the intersection, etc.) is displayed on the map image. Display), the user can grasp the optimum route to the destination.

  In a conventional navigation system, as a method for selecting a route on which the vehicle should be guided to the destination, the route from the departure point (the current position of the vehicle) to the destination is set on the in-vehicle terminal (navigation device) side for time and A method in which a plurality of routes (routes) are searched from the viewpoint of distance, money, etc., and a user arbitrarily selects from the searched routes, and is originally registered in a server or system main body database such as an information center. There is a method of selecting a user's desired route from several recommended routes such as a sightseeing spot guide and a recommended drive guide. In either method, the recommended route to the destination is basically the route with the shortest total travel distance or required time, or the route with the lowest total cost such as required high-speed toll. Guided.

As a technology related to the above-mentioned conventional technology, for example, it is possible to perform efficient tourist guidance by setting a route by extracting points that can be routed in consideration of the current date and time and the desired arrival time of the driver (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
JP-A-8-5391

  As described above, in a conventional in-vehicle navigation device, when a user sets a destination, a recommended route to the destination is a route with the shortest total travel distance or required time, or a required high-speed fee, etc. There were few elements that were entertaining or playful because the route that led to the lowest total cost was guided. In other words, the conventional technology only had a viewpoint such as the shortest route or the cheapest route, so the route to be guided was limited, and the vehicle was only indifferently driven on the determined route, The user felt something unsatisfactory and felt bored.

  In addition, because the recommended route was guided only from the viewpoint of the shortest route or the cheapest route, for example, even if there are notable spots (such as various facilities and sightseeing spots) on the way to the destination, The spot does not necessarily exist along the recommended route, and it is impossible to stop at the spot as it is. In this case, in order to stop at the spot, the spot is set as a “passing point” in the middle of reaching the destination, or the spot is set as a new destination and the route is re-searched (reroute search). ) Is necessary. However, such an additional operation is complicated for the user, and it is not preferable from the viewpoint of safety to perform such an operation particularly during traveling. As described above, in the conventional navigation, since the route guidance is performed only from the viewpoint of the shortest route or the cheapest route, there is a disadvantage that the time to reach the destination cannot always be effectively used.

  The present invention has been created in view of the problems in the prior art, and provides an in-vehicle navigation device and a route that always provide a new route instead of a predetermined route, and that can effectively utilize the time to reach the destination. The purpose is to provide a guidance method.

  In order to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, an in-vehicle navigation device according to the present invention stores display means for providing guidance information, information input means for inputting information instructed by a user, and map information related to navigation. Memory means, vehicle state detection means for detecting the current position, direction and travel speed of the vehicle, and control means operably connected to the display means, information input means, memory means and vehicle state detection means. And when the destination and estimated arrival time are set via the information input means, the control means equally divides the distance from the current position of the vehicle to the destination into a plurality of areas. Create a guidance table with an estimated arrival time for each area, refer to the map information and the vehicle state detected by the vehicle state detection means according to the guidance table, and Calculating a guidance route that can travel in the area within the scheduled time while determining the traveling direction at the branch point for each branch point included in the area, and at each branch point on the calculated guidance route. The route guidance to the destination is performed while the direction of travel is displayed with an arrow on the screen of the display means.

  According to the vehicle-mounted navigation device according to the present invention, when the user sets only the destination and the estimated arrival time, the control means then uses the guidance table created based on a predetermined method to reach the destination. Since random route guidance is performed by arrow navigation, the user can always drive the vehicle on a new route, not a route determined to the destination. As a result, the time to reach the destination can be effectively utilized by, for example, stopping at a spot such as a notable sightseeing spot.

  In addition, according to another aspect of the present invention, on-vehicle guidance that guides the route to the destination while displaying the traveling direction at the branch point for each branch point whose route should be changed on the guidance route with an arrow on the display screen. In the navigation device, when the destination and the estimated arrival time are set, a guide table in which the distance from the vehicle position to the destination is equally divided into a plurality of areas and the estimated arrival time is assigned to each area. Create and determine the direction of travel at each branch point for each branch point for each area based on the map information, own vehicle position, own vehicle direction and travel speed according to the guide table A route guidance method characterized by calculating a guidance route that can travel in the area within a scheduled time and displaying the traveling direction at each branch point on the calculated guidance route with an arrow on the display screen. Provided.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 schematically shows the configuration of an in-vehicle navigation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In the in-vehicle navigation device 10 according to the present embodiment, reference numeral 11 denotes a hard disk drive (HDD), and the hard disk 11a driven by the HDD 11 has a scale level (1/12500, 1/25000, 1 / 50,000, etc.). Correspondingly, map data divided into longitude width and latitude width of an appropriate size is stored. This map data includes road data for display, road data for route search, data on various facilities (convenience stores, super discount shops, family restaurants, gas stations, etc.), and data on sightseeing spots (parks, temples, etc.) Each data is represented by a coordinate set of points (nodes) expressed in longitude and latitude. The map data stored in the disk 11a can be obtained (downloaded) from the server such as an information center via the communication unit 13 based on control from the control unit 27 described later, if necessary. The contents are updated.

  Reference numeral 12 denotes an operation unit for operating a navigation device body 20 to be described later based on information instructed by the user, and has, for example, a form of a remote control transmitter. Although not particularly illustrated, the remote control transmitter includes various operation buttons and joysticks for selecting various menus and various items on the screen of the display device 16 to be described later, and for executing the selected menus. It is provided as appropriate. Reference numeral 13 denotes a communication unit for communicating with a server such as an information center or other vehicles, and 14 detects the longitude and latitude of the current position of the vehicle based on GPS signals transmitted from GPS satellites. GPS receiver 15 is a self-contained navigation sensor. The self-contained navigation sensor 15 is composed of an angle sensor 15a such as a gyro for detecting the traveling direction of the own vehicle, and a distance sensor 15b that generates a pulse for every predetermined travel distance. The output of the distance sensor 15b Is used to detect the running speed of the vehicle.

  Reference numeral 16 denotes a display device such as an LCD. Basically, guidance information related to navigation (a map around the current position of the vehicle, the current position of the vehicle) based on control from the navigation device body 20 described later. Are displayed on the screen, and further, route guidance information by arrow navigation (arrows indicating the direction of travel at each branch point on the guidance route) is displayed. Reference numeral 17 denotes a speaker which provides guidance information related to the above navigation to the user by voice.

  In the navigation apparatus main body 20, 21 is a map data reading control unit for reading map data from the disk 11a via the HDD 11, 22, 23, 24 and 25 are an operation unit 12, a communication unit 13, a GPS receiver 14, and a self-supporting unit, respectively. An interface (I / F) 26 connected to the navigation sensor 15 indicates a buffer memory for temporarily storing map data read via the map data reading control unit 21.

  Reference numeral 27 denotes a control unit constituted by a microcomputer or the like, and incorporates a navigation control program. According to the control program, the control unit 27 basically detects the current position of the vehicle based on the signal output from the GPS receiver 14 or automatically detects the current position based on the signal output from the autonomous navigation sensor 15. The direction of the car and the traveling speed are calculated, the map data reading control unit 21 is controlled, and the map data to be displayed is read from the disk 11a to the buffer memory 26 via the HDD 11, or the map read to the buffer memory 26 is read. Various processes related to navigation, such as searching for a guidance route from the departure point (the current position of the vehicle) to the destination, under search conditions set using data are executed. Further, the control unit 27 has a function of controlling route guidance processing by arrow navigation performed by the apparatus 10 as will be described later.

  Reference numeral 28 denotes a map drawing unit that performs map image drawing processing using map data read to the buffer memory 26 based on control from the control unit 27, and reference numeral 29 denotes various menu screens (operation screens) according to the operation status. ) And an operation screen / mark generating unit for generating various marks such as a vehicle position mark and a cursor, and 30 denotes a guidance route storage unit for storing data related to the guidance route. The guidance route storage unit 30 stores data (or “communication navigation”) regarding all nodes (coordinates of points expressed in longitude and latitude) from the departure point to the destination of the guidance route searched by the control unit 27. (Guide route data acquired from a server such as an information center) is stored. Reference numeral 31 denotes an arrow drawing unit, which refers to the guidance route data read from the guidance route storage unit 30 based on the control from the control unit 27, and each branch point (typically, The direction of travel is drawn for each (intersection) with arrows (arrows).

  Reference numeral 32 denotes an image synthesis unit. Basically, an operation screen generated by the operation screen / mark generation unit 29 and a map image drawn by the map drawing unit 28 based on control from the control unit 27 and Various marks and arrows (arrows) at the respective branch points drawn by the arrow drawing unit 31 are superimposed and displayed on the screen of the display device 16. An audio output unit 33 outputs an audio signal (guidance information related to navigation) to the speaker 17 based on control from the control unit 27. Reference numeral 34 denotes a guide table storage unit. The guide table storage unit 34 stores a guide table created by the control unit 27 when a destination and an estimated arrival time are set as will be described later. Details of this guidance table will be described later.

  In the in-vehicle navigation device 10 of the present embodiment configured as described above, the HDD 11 (including the disk 11a) is “memory means”, the operation unit 12 is “information input means”, the GPS receiver 14 and the autonomous navigation. The sensor 15 corresponds to “vehicle state detection means”, the display device 16 corresponds to “display means”, and the control unit 27 corresponds to “control means”.

  The in-vehicle navigation device 10 according to the present embodiment, as will be described later, when a user sets a destination and a desired arrival time (estimated arrival time), thereafter, the guidance created by the control unit 27 based on a predetermined method. Random route guidance using arrow navigation is performed to the destination using a table.

  FIG. 2 shows a screen display example during route guidance by arrow navigation performed by the navigation device 10.

  In the example shown in the figure, the map image displayed on the screen 40 of the display device, along with the vehicle position mark CM indicating the current position of the vehicle, the route where the vehicle (CM) is currently guided (thick line on the left side) The direction of travel at the branch points (intersections) P1 and P2 whose course is to be changed next is displayed with thick arrows AR1 and AR2, and further from the current position (CM) of the vehicle. An example in which distances (700 m, 600 m) to the branch points P1, P2 are also displayed is shown. In this case, it is desirable to display the traveling directions (arrows AR1 and AR2) at the respective branch points P1 and P2 in a display manner different from other portions so that the user can easily identify them.

  Hereinafter, route guidance processing by arrow navigation performed by the in-vehicle navigation device 10 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 for supplementary explanation of this processing flow together with FIG. 3 showing an example of the processing flow. To do.

  In the first step S1, the user operates the operation unit (remote control transmitter) 12 to set a destination and a desired arrival time (estimated arrival time). The set data such as the destination is input to the control unit 27 via the interface 22.

  In the next step S2, the control unit 27 creates a guide table for causing the host vehicle to arrive at the final destination as scheduled based on a predetermined method. As the predetermined method, in the present embodiment, the map information (the map data read into the buffer memory 26) and the current position of the own vehicle detected by the GPS receiver 14 are referred to from the own vehicle position to the destination. The obtained distance is equally divided into a plurality of areas, and a guidance table is created in which each estimated arrival time is assigned to each divided area.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of the guidance table. In the example shown in the figure, the distance (120 km) from the departure place (the current position of the vehicle) to the destination is equally divided into four areas A, B, C, and D, and the destination from the departure time (9:00). Each area A, B, C, D is divided into four parts according to the number of areas, and the required time until arrival time (17:00) to the ground is 30km, 60km, 90km, 120km from the departure point. The scheduled arrival times are assigned to 11:00, 13:00, 15:00, and 17:00, respectively.

  In the next step S3, the control unit 27 maps the map information (the map data read into the buffer memory 26), the GPS receiver 14 and the self-contained navigation sensor 15 according to the created guidance table (FIG. 4). With reference to the current position, direction, and traveling speed, it is determined whether the vehicle has reached the final area (YES) or not (NO). If the determination result is YES, the process proceeds to step S4, and if the determination result is NO, the process proceeds to step S5.

  In step S5, the control unit 27 refers to the map information and the vehicle state (the current position, direction, and traveling speed of the host vehicle) and enters the next area (that is, the next area connected on the route). ).

  In the next step S6, with reference to the guidance table, map information, and vehicle status (current position, direction, and travel speed of the host vehicle) for all detected entry points, the area is within the scheduled time (see FIG. 4). In the example, all routes that can travel within 2 hours) are extracted. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S7.

  On the other hand, in step S4 (when the host vehicle has reached the final area), all the routes that can travel in the final area within the scheduled time with respect to the destination are performed in the same manner as the processing performed in step S6. Extract. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S7.

  In step S7, the control unit 27 excludes the route including the road that has already traveled from all the routes extracted in the previous step. In step S8, the map information and the vehicle state (the current position of the vehicle, (Direction and travel speed) with reference to each of the branch points included in the area, a direction that can proceed at the branch point is detected. In the next step S9, each branch point detected in the area is detected. With reference to the direction in which travel is possible, one guide route that can travel within the scheduled time is calculated while determining the travel direction. The processing performed in steps S7 to S9 will be supplementarily described with reference to FIG.

  First, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b), numerical values are assigned to routes in directions that can proceed at each branch point (intersection, T-junction, etc.) 1, 2, 3, and T-shaped clockwise 1, 2), and when calculating the guidance route, when the branch point is reached, an arbitrary numerical value is randomly output, and in the direction of the output numerical value Guide the vehicle (CM). At this time, as illustrated in FIGS. 5C and 5D, guidance is provided so as not to pass again through roads that have already been passed (the roads RD1 and RD2 in the portion indicated by the thick line width in the figure). This is because if a road that has already been traveled is included in the final guidance route, the user feels unsatisfactory and gets bored as in the case of conventional navigation. In other words, the in-vehicle navigation device 10 according to the present embodiment is intended to give the user a sense of expectation such as where to be guided by performing route guidance using arrow navigation. is there. In this way, after removing the route including the road that has already been traveled from the guidance object and detecting the direction that can proceed at each branch point for each branch point, as illustrated in FIG. While determining the traveling direction in the area, the guide route that can travel within the scheduled time is determined.

  The guidance route (data) in the area thus determined (calculated) is temporarily stored in the guidance route storage unit 30.

  In the next step S10, route guidance display by arrow navigation is performed based on the control from the control unit 27. That is, on the screen of the display device 16 through the arrow drawing unit 31 and the image composition unit 32 based on the control from the control unit 27, the traveling direction at each branch point on the calculated guidance route is displayed with an arrow (arrow). (Refer to the screen display example in FIG. 2). At this time, by displaying the approach path (arrows AR1, AR2) at each branch point in a display mode different from the other parts (for example, displaying in a conspicuous color or blinking), the user can It becomes easy to recognize the traveling direction at the branch point.

  In addition, when performing route guidance display using arrow navigation, the distance from the current position of the vehicle to the branch point is also displayed based on the map information and the vehicle state (the current position, direction, and traveling speed of the vehicle). You may do it.

  In the next step S11, the control unit 27 similarly refers to the map information and the vehicle state (the current position, direction and travel speed of the host vehicle) to determine whether the destination has been reached (YES) or not (NO). judge. If the determination result is YES, the process flow is “end”, and if the determination result is NO, the process returns to step S3 to repeat the above process.

  As described above, according to the vehicle-mounted navigation device 10 according to the present embodiment, when the user operates the operation unit (remote control transmitter) 12 to set only the destination and the desired arrival time (estimated arrival time) Thereafter, the control unit 27 creates a guidance table based on a predetermined method (FIG. 4), and uses the guidance table to perform random route guidance by arrow navigation from the vehicle position to the destination. (See FIG. 5). Therefore, the user can always drive the vehicle on a new route, not the route determined to the destination. As a result, the time to reach the destination can be effectively utilized by, for example, stopping at a spot such as a notable sightseeing spot.

  In the above-described embodiment, on the assumption that each divided area can travel within the scheduled time, the guidance route that travels the area while determining the traveling direction for each branch point included in the area. As an example, the remaining time of the scheduled time assigned to the area (estimated arrival time in the area) is determined while the traveling direction is determined for each branch point in the area. -The current time may be too small to reach the next area by its estimated arrival time.

  In such a case, for example, before the control unit 27 determines the traveling direction at each branch point in the area, the remaining time of the scheduled time assigned to the area (estimated arrival time in the area−current Time), the distance to the next area, and the traveling speed of the host vehicle. When it is determined that the vehicle cannot pass the area by the estimated arrival time, the shortest route from that point to the next area is searched. Then, route guidance by arrow navigation may be performed to the next area according to the searched route.

  In the embodiment described above, spots such as tourist spots do not necessarily exist along the guidance route calculated for each area. You may make it include by all means. For example, when the guide table is created by the control unit 27, the map table is referred to, and a list of sightseeing spots for each area is included in the guidance table, and the sightseeing spot where the stop is visited is randomly selected in advance. The route may be routed through the sightseeing spot when guiding the route by arrow navigation.

1 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of an in-vehicle navigation device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen display at the time of the route guidance by the arrow navigation which the vehicle-mounted navigation apparatus of FIG. 1 performs. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the route guidance process by the arrow navigation which the vehicle-mounted navigation apparatus of FIG. 1 performs. FIG. 4 is a diagram for supplementarily explaining the process performed in step S2 in the process flow of FIG. 3. FIG. 4 is a diagram for supplementarily explaining processes performed in steps S7 to S9 in the process flow of FIG. 3.

Explanation of symbols

10: In-vehicle navigation device,
11: Hard disk drive (HDD),
11a: hard disk (memory means),
12 ... operation part (information input means),
13 ... communication section,
14 ... GPS receiver (vehicle state [position] detecting means),
15 ... Self-contained navigation sensor (vehicle state [direction / speed] detection means),
16: Display device (display means),
27 ... Control unit (control means),
28 ... Map drawing part,
30: Guidance route storage unit,
31 ... Arrow drawing part,
32. Image composition unit,
34 ... Guide table storage unit,
40 ... display screen,
AR1, AR2 (arrows indicating the direction of travel at the branch point),
CM ... Own vehicle position mark,
P1, P2 ... branch point,
RD1, RD2 ... Already traveled roads.

Claims (6)

Display means for providing guidance information;
Information input means for inputting information instructed by the user;
Memory means for storing map information relating to navigation;
Vehicle state detection means for detecting the current position, direction and travel speed of the vehicle;
Control means operably connected to the display means, information input means, memory means and vehicle state detection means,
The control means includes
When the destination and estimated arrival time are set via the information input means, the distance from the current position of the vehicle to the destination is equally divided into a plurality of areas, and the estimated arrival time is assigned to each area. Create an information table
With reference to the map information and the vehicle state detected by the vehicle state detection means according to the guidance table, the traveling direction at the branch point is determined for each branch point for each area. While calculating the guidance route that can travel in the area within the scheduled time,
An in-vehicle navigation apparatus characterized in that route guidance is performed to the destination while displaying the calculated traveling direction at each branch point on the guidance route with an arrow on the screen of the display means.   The control means also displays the distance from the current position of the vehicle to the branch point when the traveling direction at each branch point is displayed with an arrow on the screen of the display means. The in-vehicle navigation device according to Item 1.   The control means extracts, for each area, all routes that can travel in the area within the scheduled time, excludes routes including roads that have already traveled from all the extracted routes, and includes the remaining routes. The vehicle-mounted navigation device according to claim 1, wherein one route is calculated as the guidance route.   The control means determines the arrival direction based on the estimated arrival time assigned to the area, the distance to the next area, and the traveling speed of the vehicle before determining the traveling direction at each branch point in the area. When it is determined that the vehicle cannot pass through the area by the scheduled time, the shortest route from the current position of the vehicle to the next area is searched, and route guidance is performed to the next area according to the searched route. The in-vehicle navigation device according to claim 1.   The control means, when creating the guide table, refers to the map information, includes a list of sightseeing spots for each area in the guide table, and at each branch point for each area 2. The guide route according to claim 1, wherein when calculating a guide route that can travel in the area within a scheduled time while determining a travel direction, the listed tourist spot is included in the guide route as a transit point. In-vehicle navigation device. In the in-vehicle navigation device that provides route guidance to the destination while displaying the direction of travel at the branch point for each branch point on the guidance route with an arrow on the display screen,
When the destination and estimated arrival time are set, create a guidance table that divides the distance from the vehicle position to the destination into multiple areas and assigns the estimated arrival time for each area,
Based on the map information and the vehicle position, the direction of the vehicle, and the traveling speed according to the guide table, for each area, the traveling direction at the branch point is determined for each branch point included in the area. Calculate the guidance route that can drive the area within the scheduled time,
A route guidance method, wherein the calculated traveling direction at each branch point on the guidance route is displayed with an arrow on the display screen.

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