JP2005257342A - Navigation system, information center and on-vehicle apparatus in the navigation system, and route guidance method in the navigation system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a navigation system which always enables a user to select an institution in an appropriately crowded condition as a destination, and relieves the burden of destination selection on the part of the user. <P>SOLUTION: The navigation system is equipped with an information center 20 and on-vehicle apparatuses 10, which can be connected with each other via communication means. In the information center 20, a congestion calculating portion 22 calculates the condition of congestion of the destination, based on destination information transmitted from an on-vehicle apparatus 10; a destination detecting portion 24 refers to a destination database 23 and detects an uncongested destination, on the basis of that calculated congestion value, and transmits information about that detected destination to the on-vehicle apparatus 10 via a communication portion 21. While, the on-vehicle apparatus 10 searches for a route by a route search portion 16 concerning the destination information transmitted from the information center 20. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention provides a navigation system, an information center and an in-vehicle device in the navigation system, and a navigation system in which a user can always set a facility in an appropriate congestion situation as a destination and reduce a user's burden of selecting a destination. It is related with the route guidance method in.

  In recent years, with the advance of digital technology and communication technology, navigation devices continue to evolve. Currently, navigation devices can be divided into two types. One is based on position information detected in real time by GPS, referring to map data recorded on a recording medium such as a CD or DVD, and displaying or audio while displaying the position of the vehicle and the surrounding map on the screen. This is an on-board type that performs route guidance with output. The other is an off-board type that entrusts map data and route search to an external processing center via a network such as a mobile phone.

    On the other hand, between a plurality of vehicles in order to prevent a form that has been conventionally used only by individual vehicles (users) from being separated from each other when heading to the same destination with a plurality of vehicles. Several methods have been proposed for using groups.

For example, in “Navigation device and method, server device and navigation program” of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-254772, guidance obtained by route search by a processing center (server device) using a single identification information in a group A method is proposed in which data is stored in the server device in association with the identification information, and navigation devices of other vehicles in the group acquire corresponding guidance data from the server device based on the same identification information. Yes.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-254772

  As described above, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above, the destination and the planned travel route are shared between the vehicles so as not to be separated from each other when the plurality of vehicles head for the same destination. Here, let us consider the case where there are a plurality of destinations in one vehicle.

  In other words, it is a case where a facility that does not need to be narrowed down as a specific destination (for example, a facility such as a ski resort or a beach) is the destination, and there are a plurality of types of facilities that are desired to exist in the same area . In such a case, the user's request may be any facility, but there is a request that the facility is not congested or that the road situation is not congested as much as possible. For that purpose, a navigation device or a navigation system (including a processing center) is used.

  In such a case, when the user departs, the navigation system investigates the congestion situation of facilities and roads for a plurality of destinations, the user makes a judgment based on the survey results, and sets one destination. It will follow the route guidance by the navigation system toward the destination.

  Such survey work is complicated and burdensome for the user. In addition, when there is a distance to the destination, the road conditions such as congestion will change from moment to moment, so if you do not repeat such a complicated survey several times, the place where the facilities and road conditions are not crowded As a result, you may not be able to achieve the purpose you want to choose.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional circumstances, and the purpose of the present invention is that the user can always set the facility in an appropriate congestion situation as the destination, and the user can select the destination. The present invention provides a navigation system, an information center and an in-vehicle device in the navigation system, and a route guidance method in the navigation system.

  In order to solve the above-described object, the present invention provides a navigation system including an information center and an in-vehicle device that are connected to each other via communication means, and stores information on a plurality of destinations in the information center. The storage unit, the congestion state calculation unit, the detection unit, and the transmission unit are configured, and the in-vehicle device includes an input unit for inputting a destination and a route search unit, and information is provided. In the center, the congestion status calculation means calculates the congestion status of the destination based on the destination information transmitted from the vehicle-mounted device, and the detection means refers to the destination information storage means based on the calculated congestion value. The destination information which is not crowded is detected, and the detected destination information is transmitted to the in-vehicle device via the transmission means, while the on-vehicle device searches the route information for the destination information transmitted from the information center. Wherein the searching more paths.

  In the navigation system according to the present invention, the information center evaluates the congestion status of the destination facility based on the destination information of each user collected from the in-vehicle device, so that the destination facility is in an appropriate congestion status. Since the user's destination is re-determined and transmitted to the in-vehicle device, the user of the navigation system can set the facility in an appropriate congestion situation as the destination, and the user has “congested as much as possible. It is possible to satisfy the request of “I want to go to an empty ski area that is not available”. Furthermore, the destination selection sequence in the in-vehicle device can be simplified.

  Hereinafter, with respect to embodiments of the navigation system, the information center and the vehicle-mounted device in the navigation system, and the route guidance method in the navigation system, [Example], [First Modification], [Second Modification] in this order. This will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

〔Example〕
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a navigation system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the navigation system of the present embodiment is configured to include an in-vehicle device 10 and an information center 20 that are connected to each other via communication means.

  First, the in-vehicle device 10 is a device that is mounted on a vehicle and guides an optimum route to a destination, and includes an input unit (input unit) 11, a communication unit 12, an output unit 13, and a processing unit 14. ing. The processing unit 14 includes a destination selection unit (selection unit) 15, a route search unit (route search unit) 16, and a route guide unit 17. The in-vehicle device 10 includes other components such as a position detection unit that detects the position / orientation of the host vehicle using GPS and a vehicle speed detection unit that detects a vehicle speed from a vehicle speed pulse or the like. Omitted because it is not a part.

  The input unit 11 is a means for the user to input at least destination information of a destination or destination type, and the output unit 13 is at least a determined (selected) actual destination or a destination before final selection. It is a means for displaying the list to the user. For example, the input unit 11 is realized by a button switch or the like for pressing and giving an instruction, and the display unit 13 is realized by a liquid crystal display device or the like. The output unit 13 may be provided with a speaker or the like for voice output, or may be configured as an input / output unit that integrates the input unit 11 and the display unit 13 using a touch panel and a liquid crystal display device. good.

  Further, the communication unit 12 transmits at least the destination information input by the user via the input unit 11 to the information center 20, and displays the determined destination or the destination list before final selection transmitted from the information center 20. It receives and communicates with the information center 20 via a mobile phone (portable information terminal) or the like.

  The processing unit 14 is specifically realized by a processor such as a CPU, MPU, or DSP, a memory, a peripheral circuit, and the like, and as its functional components, a destination selection unit 15, a route search unit 16, and a route guide unit Has 17. That is, these functional components are processing programs stored in the memory and executed on the processor.

  The destination selection unit 15 corresponds to the selection means in the claims, and displays a destination list on the display screen of the output unit 13 when a plurality of destination information is transmitted from the information center 20. The destination selected by the user via the input unit 11 is determined as the actual destination. In addition, the route search unit 16 searches for a route to the determined actual destination. Further, the route guide unit 17 performs route guidance to the destination along the travel of the vehicle for the searched route.

  Next, the information center 20 includes a communication unit (transmission unit) 21, a congestion state calculation unit (congestion state calculation unit) 22, a destination database (destination information storage unit) 23, and a destination detection unit (detection unit) 24. It is prepared for. The in-vehicle device 10 and the information center 20 are connected to each other through a communication unit. Here, the communication unit includes, for example, a wireless line between a mobile phone (portable information terminal) of a vehicle and a ground station, and A wireless or wired line between the ground station and the information center 20 is indicated.

  The communication unit 21 transmits / receives data to / from the in-vehicle device 10, receives at least destination information transmitted from the in-vehicle device 10, and transmits the detected destination or destination list to the in-vehicle device.

  The destination database 23 corresponds to the destination information storage means described in the claims, and stores a plurality of destination information as a database. Specifically, the destination information as shown in FIG. have. In the specific example shown in FIG. 2, there are ski resorts, beaches, and golf courses as destination types. For example, data items possessed when the destination type is ski resorts include the name of the facility, the location where the facility exists, There are the number of parking spaces that the facility has and the number of users who currently have the ski resort as their destination.

  The parameters in the destination database 23 include a fixed parameter and a variation parameter. In the example of FIG. 2, the destination type, name, location, and number of parking lots are fixed parameters, and are parameters that are set when each facility is registered in the destination database 23. On the other hand, the number of users whose destination is the facility at present is a variable parameter, and when the user transmits destination information to the information center 20 via the vehicle-mounted device 10, the number of users at the destination is The value is incremented (+1) and the content is updated. That is, the information center 20 can simultaneously receive destination information from a plurality of users, and the number of users, which is a variation parameter for each destination, is incremented each time it is received. The number of users who are the destination is reflected.

  The congestion status calculation unit 22 corresponds to the congestion status calculation means described in the claims and refers to the destination database 23 based on the destination information transmitted from the in-vehicle device 10. Is calculated. Furthermore, the destination detection unit 24 corresponds to detection means in the claims, and based on the congestion value calculated by the congestion status calculation unit 22, the destination database 23 is referred to and a destination that is not crowded is detected. To detect.

  Next, based on the system configuration described above, referring to the destination database 23 in FIG. 2, a congestion situation calculation method performed by the congestion situation calculation unit 22 and a destination detection performed by the destination detection unit 24. The method will be described in detail, and the overall processing flow of the navigation system is shown in FIG. 3, and the route guidance method in the navigation system of this embodiment will be described. In the following description, it is assumed that the user wants to go to the ski resort.

  First, the user inputs “A ski resort” as a destination to be visited to the input unit 11 of the in-vehicle device 10. Here, the A ski resort is a real name and refers to a unique one. In the in-vehicle device 10, when a destination is input via the input unit 11, the processing unit 14 transmits the destination information to the information center 20 through the communication unit 12.

  In the information center 20, when the destination information from the in-vehicle device 10 is received by the communication unit 21, the destination information is sent to the congestion state calculation unit 22, and the congestion state calculation unit 22 refers to the destination database 23. The number of users who currently set the A ski resort as the destination is incremented, and the value of the evaluation function for evaluating the congestion status of the destination (A ski resort) is calculated.

  Here, it is assumed that the number of parking lots of the A ski resort is xa, the number of users currently set as the destination of the A ski resort is ya, and the evaluation function is ya / xa. At this time, if the value of the evaluation function (evaluation value) is 1 or more, the capacity of the parking lot at the A ski resort is surely exceeded, and therefore the A ski resort can be expected to be congested. Similarly, if the number of parking lots at the B ski resort is xb, the number of users currently set as the destination of the B ski resort is yb, and the evaluation function is yb / xb, the evaluation function yb / The value of xb can be used to predict the congestion on the B ski resort.

  In addition, when the information center 20 can know the number of vacant parking spaces or the number of used parking spaces online for each destination, use the number obtained by subtracting the number of parking spaces currently used from the number of vacant spaces or the number of parking spaces. Can improve the accuracy of congestion prediction. For example, in the A ski resort, the value of the evaluation function ya / va or ya / (xa-wa) is obtained using the number of free parking spaces va or the number of used vehicles wa at the present time.

  Further, when the ratio of the users of the information center 20 to the total number of vehicles sold is z (= the number of onboard devices 10 sold / the number of vehicles sold as a whole), the value of the evaluation function is equal to or greater than the ratio z. The destination (ski resort) can be said to be crowded.

  Furthermore, when the vehicle type equipped with the in-vehicle device 10 is connected to the information center 10 as a connection rate r and the probability of using the navigation system when moving by the vehicle is used as a utilization rate s, A The number of vehicles ya 'assuming a ski resort as the destination can be expressed as ya' = ya / (r * s). In other words, the number of vehicles ya ′ that assumes the A ski resort as the destination at the present time also considers the number of vehicles that are equipped with the in-vehicle device 10 but are not using the navigation system. Therefore, by setting the evaluation function to ya / xa, ya / va or ya / (xa-wa), it is possible to make a congestion prediction closer to the actual situation, so that the prediction accuracy can be improved.

  The connection rate r can be obtained by r = (the number of users expected to be connected to the information center 20) / (the number of vehicles sold in the vehicle model in which the in-vehicle device 10 is mounted), and the usage rate s is s = ( The number of users who always use the navigation system (set the destination) / (number of users of the navigation system) can be obtained when the vehicle moves.

  Here, the evaluation function (ratio) calculated as described above is defined as a congestion ratio. In addition, the ratio toward the ski resort can be specified or estimated for each vehicle type depending on the vehicle type application such as the mounted 4WD vehicle or sports car, and the value can also be used as the congestion ratio.

  In the destination database 23, the number of parking spaces that can be parked in the facility can be replaced with other parameters that allow the congestion status to be seen. For example, it may be the number of people that can use the facility, or the number of roads that can pass through the facility. When the number of people who can use the facility is set, it can be said that the facility is crowded if the ratio of the number of users who use the facility as the destination and the number of people who can use the facility is a certain value or more. In addition, when it is assumed that the number of vehicles that can pass on the road to the facility, it can be said that the traffic is congested if the ratio of the number of vehicles that can pass and the number of users who use the facility as a destination is a certain value or more.

  Next, a destination detection method performed by the destination detection unit 24 will be described. Here, when the destination is set as the A ski resort, if it can be predicted that the A ski resort will be congested, a B ski resort other than the A ski resort, for example, is newly selected as a destination candidate. At this time, selection of candidates other than the ski resort A may be a method of selecting a facility (ski resort) that is the next in the registration order of the destination database 23 and is not crowded, or at that time A method of selecting a facility (ski resort) with the smallest congestion ratio in the country may be used. A necessary condition for this candidate selection is to select a ski area that is not crowded.

  If all facilities (ski resorts) are expected to be crowded, the ski resort with the smallest congestion ratio is selected as the destination candidate, or the distance from the original destination (A ski resort) is the longest. A ski resort that is close and has a smaller congestion ratio than the original destination (A ski resort) may be used as a destination candidate.

  Here, if the destination detection unit 24 selects and determines the B ski resort as a destination candidate, the number of users who currently set the A ski resort as the destination in the destination database 23 is incremented. The number of users who currently set the B ski resort as the destination is decremented (-1). Further, the destination detection unit 24 instructs the communication unit 21 as the determined destination for the B ski resort. And the communication part 21 transmits the destination information which makes a destination a B ski resort with respect to the communication part 12 of the vehicle equipment 10.

  On the other hand, in the in-vehicle device 10, when the communication unit 12 receives the B ski resort from the information center 20 as the destination, the processing unit 14 displays the destination (B ski resort) on the display screen of the output unit 13. In addition to indicating to the user, the destination selection unit 15 is instructed with the B ski resort as the destination.

  Then, the destination selection unit 15 instructs the route search unit 16 to use the B ski resort data as a destination, and the route search unit 16 searches for a route using the B ski resort as a destination, and the route guide unit 17 By instructing the searched route, the route guide unit 17 performs route guidance. It should be noted that the route search method after the destination is determined and the route guide method are not characteristic parts of the present invention, and thus any conventionally proposed method is used without any particular limitation. May be.

  Next, FIG. 3 shows the overall processing flow of the navigation system, and the route guidance method in the navigation system of this embodiment will be described.

  First, in step S001, a destination is input via the input unit 11 of the in-vehicle device 10, and in step S002, the destination information is transmitted from the communication unit 12 of the in-vehicle device 10 to the communication unit 21 of the information center 20. Next, in step S003, in the information center 20, the congestion state calculation 22 refers to the destination database 23 and updates the fluctuation parameter (the number of users whose destination is the facility at the present time). A congestion ratio is calculated based on the fluctuation parameter, and the destination detection unit 24 selects and determines a destination candidate based on the congestion ratio.

  In step S004, the destination determined by the information center 20 is transmitted to the in-vehicle device 10 by the communication unit 21. Next, on the in-vehicle device 10 side, in step S005, the destination is reset based on the received destination information, a route search for the destination is performed, and a route guide is performed. If the current destination is congested with the passage of time during traveling and it is determined that the current destination is not suitable, the process returns to step S003 and the information center 20 sets the destination again. Become.

  With the above procedure, the destination will be reset to a non-congested facility (B Ski Area) and route guidance will be performed. We can meet the demand of “I want to go to the place”. Further, when it is found that the current destination has become crowded during the route guide, the destination is re-evaluated by the information center 20 even during the route guide, and a new destination is reset, The optimum destination for the user is always selected.

  As described above, in the navigation system of the present embodiment, the information center and the in-vehicle device in the navigation system, and the route guidance method in the navigation system, the information center 20 and the in-vehicle device 10 that are connected to each other via communication means are connected. A navigation system equipped with a destination database 23 for storing a plurality of destination information in the information center 20, a congestion state calculation unit 22 (congestion state calculation step), and a destination detection unit 24 (detection step). The in-vehicle device 10 includes an input unit 11 (input step) for inputting a destination and a route search unit 16 (route search step). In the information center 20, the in-vehicle device 10 is operated by the congestion state calculation unit 22 (congestion state calculation step). The congestion status of the destination is calculated based on the destination information transmitted from the destination, and the destination detection unit 24 (detection step) refers to the destination database 23 based on the calculated congestion value. A destination that is not present is detected, and the detected destination information is transmitted to the in-vehicle device 10 via the communication unit 21. On the other hand, the in-vehicle device 10 detects the destination information transmitted from the information center 20. A route is searched by (route search step).

  In the present embodiment, the information center 20 is congested by calculating the congestion status by the congestion status calculation unit 22 (congestion status calculation step) for the destination information detected by the destination detection unit 24 (detection step). If it is determined that the destination is not crowded, the destination detection unit 24 (detection step) further detects the destination and transmits the destination information to the in-vehicle device via the communication unit 21 (transmission step).

  In this embodiment, the destination database 23 includes, for each destination information, “the number of users currently using the facility as the destination” as a status parameter indicating the usage status of the destination or the facility around the destination. When the destination information from the vehicle-mounted device 10 is received, the status parameter of the destination is updated, and the congestion status calculation unit 22 (congestion status calculation step) determines the destination based on the updated status parameter. Calculate congestion status.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the information center 20 evaluates the congestion status of the destination facility based on the destination information of each user collected from the in-vehicle device 10 so that the destination facility becomes an appropriate congestion status. In addition, since the destination of each user is re-determined and transmitted to the vehicle-mounted device 10, the user of the navigation system can set the facility in an appropriate congestion situation as the destination and the user has It is possible to satisfy the demand of “I want to go to a ski resort that is not as crowded as possible”.

  If it is determined that the destination is congested, the non-congested destination is detected again, so that it is possible to easily search for facilities that are not congested.

  Furthermore, since the destination database 23 updates the status parameters indicating the usage status of the surrounding facilities, the destination selection sequence in the in-vehicle device 10 can be simplified.

[First Modification]
As a modification (first modification), in the destination database 23, the number of users having the facility as the destination can also be used as a variation parameter that changes with time.

  As in the above-described embodiment, when the user transmits the destination information to the information center 20 via the vehicle-mounted device 10, the value of the number of users at the destination is updated (incremented). There is a possibility that the prediction accuracy of the congestion is reduced due to the shift.

  For example, there are a plurality of users who set a certain facility as a destination, and one user U1 who is relatively far from the destination transmits destination information to the information center 20 at an earlier time, Assume a situation in which other users who are close to the destination transmit destination information to the information center 20 at a later time. When the user U1 sets the destination, the information center 20 predicts that the facility is not congested and the user U1 heads for the facility, but is closer when the user U1 arrives at the facility. A situation occurs in which the parking lot has already been used by other users who have departed from the location. Or conversely, from the user U2 side that departs from a nearby point, other uses that depart from a distant point and arrive at a later time should arrive earlier at the facility and not be crowded at the arrival time. Since a person or the like has set the facility as a destination at an earlier time, a situation may occur in which the information center 20 is expected to be crowded and has to go to another facility.

  In order to prevent the occurrence of such a situation, in the above embodiment, when it is found that the current destination is congested during the route guide, the information center 20 re-evaluates the destination even during the route guide. And used a new method of resetting the destination. In this first modification, the number of users whose facilities are the destination is updated in the destination database 23 of the information center 20 as a variable parameter that changes with time (for example, in units of several minutes).

  That is, when destination information from a certain in-vehicle device 10 is received by the communication unit 21, the time required to arrive at the destination by checking the position of the in-vehicle device 10 is calculated, and the required time has elapsed from the present time. The number of users at subsequent times is updated (incremented). Then, when calculating an evaluation function (congestion ratio) for evaluating the congestion status of the destination with reference to the destination database 23, the calculation is based on the number of users at the time when the required time has elapsed from the present time. . In this way, the accuracy of congestion prediction is not reduced due to a time lag.

  In this case, the destination candidate selection determination performed in the destination detection unit 24 is also performed based on the evaluation function (congestion ratio) calculated based on the number of users at the time when the required time has elapsed from the present time. The re-update of the “number of users set as the destination” performed for the location database 23 is also performed for the number of users at the time after the required time has elapsed since the present time.

  As described above, in the present modification, the information center 20 includes, in the destination database 23, status parameters that indicate the usage status of the destination or the facility around the destination at predetermined time intervals for each destination information. When the current location information of the in-vehicle device 10 is received together with the destination information from the in-vehicle device 10, the time required for the in-vehicle device 10 to reach the destination is calculated based on the location information, and the destination information The status parameter at the time after the required time elapses from the current time in the status parameters is updated, and the time when the required time has elapsed from the current time among the updated status parameters by the congestion status calculation unit 22 (congestion status calculation step) The congestion status of the destination is calculated based on the situation parameters, so that the prediction accuracy can be further improved without lowering the congestion prediction accuracy due to time lag. A more appropriate congestion facility can be a destination, it is possible to meet the requirements of the user for the user.

[Second Modification]
Further, as a further modification (second modification), in the above embodiment, the resetting of the destination from the A ski area to the B ski area performed on the information center 20 side may be performed on the in-vehicle device 10 side. good.

  In this case, the information center 20 side updates the destination setting status in the destination database 23 based on the destination information from each user, and then calculates the evaluation function (congestion) for each destination calculated by the congestion status calculation unit 22. The ratio value is added to a plurality of destinations (destination list) and transmitted to the in-vehicle device 10 via the communication unit 21.

  On the in-vehicle device 10 side, after receiving the destination information (destination list) by the communication unit 12, the processing unit 14 displays the destination list on the display screen of the output unit 13 together with the value of the congestion ratio and uses it. Prompts the user to select a destination from a list of destinations. The user can grasp the congestion status of the destination by looking at the display screen and at the same time grasp the vacant destination. In addition to such a method of performing interactive destination selection with the user, the function of selecting other destination candidates, which is performed by the destination selection unit 24 of the information center 20 in the embodiment, is provided on the vehicle. The destination selection unit 15 of the machine 10 may be burdened to automatically reset the destination.

  FIG. 4 shows the overall processing flow of the navigation system of this modification, and the route guidance method in the navigation system will be described.

  First, in step S011, a destination is input via the input unit 11 of the in-vehicle device 10, and in step S012, the destination information is transmitted from the communication unit 12 of the in-vehicle device 10 to the communication unit 21 of the information center 20. Next, in step S013, in the information center 20, the congestion state calculation 22 refers to the destination database 23 and updates the fluctuation parameter (the number of users whose destination is the facility at the present time). The congestion ratio is calculated based on the fluctuation parameter.

  In step S014, the destination list to which the congestion ratio is added is transmitted from the information center 20 to the in-vehicle device 10 by the communication unit 21. Next, on the in-vehicle device 10 side, in step S015, the received destination list is displayed on the display screen of the output unit 13 together with the congestion ratio, and in step S016, the user selects a destination based on the congestion ratio. The route is searched for the destination by the steep road searching unit 16 and the route guide unit 17 performs the route guide. If the current destination is congested with the passage of time while traveling and it is determined that the destination is not suitable, the process returns to step S013 and the information center 20 sets the destination list and the congestion ratio. I will fix it.

  In step S015, the destination selection / resetting is performed by an interactive method by the user. However, the destination selection unit 15 of the in-vehicle device 10 is automatically loaded with a function of selecting another destination candidate. Alternatively, the destination may be reset.

  With the above procedure, the destination will be reset to a non-congested facility (B Ski Area) and route guidance will be performed. We can meet the demand of “I want to go to the place”. In addition, when it is found that the current destination is congested during the route guide, the destination is re-evaluated by the information center 20 even during the route guide, and the destination is newly re-established on the in-vehicle device 10 side. By setting, the optimum destination for the user is always selected.

  As described above, in the present modification, in the information center 20, the congestion value calculated by the congestion condition calculation unit 22 (congestion condition calculation step) and the congestion value smaller than at least the congestion value in the destination database 23. The destination information is transmitted to the in-vehicle device 10 via the communication unit 21 (transmission step). On the in-vehicle device 10 side, a plurality of destinations are transmitted from the information center 20 by the destination selection unit 15 (selection step). A destination is selected from the location information, and a route is searched for the reset destination by the route search unit 16 (route search step).

  Accordingly, the information center 20 evaluates the congestion status of the destination facility based on the destination information of each user collected from the in-vehicle device 10 and transmits it to the in-vehicle device 10. Because the destination is set interactively or automatically so that it becomes a crowded situation, the user of the navigation system can make the facility of the appropriate crowded situation a destination and the user has It is possible to satisfy the demand of “I want to go to a ski resort that is not as crowded as possible”. Furthermore, the destination selection sequence in the in-vehicle device 10 can be simplified.

  As mentioned above, although the Example and its modification of this invention were explained in full detail with reference to drawings, the concrete structure is not restricted to these Examples and its modification, and does not deviate from the summary of this invention. The range design changes are also included.

  For example, when inputting a destination in the vehicle-mounted device 10, destination summary data such as a region or a facility type is input instead of a specific facility, and the destination summary data is transmitted to the information center 20. May be. That is, in the embodiment, the destination setting content that the user has input through the input unit 11 as a specific “A ski resort” is classified as a facility type such as “ski resort”, or “a ski resort in XX prefecture”. As the area and facility type, the information is only limited to the destination.

  In this case, the information center 20 side comprehensively processes the destination outline data sent from each user (each in-vehicle device 10), and the destination included in each area or each facility type. An evaluation function (congestion ratio) for evaluating the congestion status of (facility) is calculated, and for example, a predetermined number of destination lists are transmitted to the in-vehicle device 10 as destination information in descending order of the congestion ratio. On the other hand, the in-vehicle device 10 selects a destination from the destination information (destination list) transmitted from the information center 20 by, for example, interactive selection with the user, and the selected destination (facility) The route search by the route search unit 16 is performed.

  It should be noted that the destination selection / determination may be performed on the information center 20 side as in the embodiment, or automatically performed by the destination selection unit 15 of the in-vehicle device 10 as described in the second modification. You may make it carry out.

  Thereby, it is possible to set a facility in an appropriate congestion state even for a vague destination input by the user as a destination, and to further simplify the destination selection sequence in the in-vehicle device 10.

  This is extremely useful for setting a destination considering the degree of congestion.

It is a block diagram of the navigation system which concerns on one Example of this invention. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating specific stored contents of a destination database 23. FIG. It is a flowchart (Example) explaining the route guidance method in a navigation system. It is a flowchart (2nd modification) explaining the route guidance method in a navigation system.

Explanation of symbols

10 In-vehicle device 11 Input unit (input means)
12 communication unit 13 output unit 14 processing unit 15 destination selection unit (selection means)
16 Route search unit (route search means)
17 Route guide part 20 Information center 21 Communication part (transmission means)
22 Congestion status calculation unit (congestion status calculation means)
23 Destination database (Destination information storage means)
24 Destination detection unit (detection means)

Claims (15)

A navigation system comprising an information center and an in-vehicle device connected to each other via communication means,
The information center
Destination information storage means for storing a plurality of destination information;
Congestion status calculation means for calculating the congestion status of the destination based on the destination information transmitted from the in-vehicle device;
Detecting means for detecting a non-congested destination with reference to the destination information storage means based on the congestion value calculated by the congestion status calculating means;
Transmitting means for transmitting the destination information detected by the detecting means to the in-vehicle device;
Have
The in-vehicle device is
An input means for inputting a destination;
Route search means for searching for a route for destination information transmitted from the information center;
A navigation system comprising: When the information center determines that the congestion status calculation means is congested with respect to the destination information detected by the detection means, the information center further detects an uncongested destination by the detection means, and transmits the transmission information. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the destination information is transmitted to the in-vehicle device via a means. The information center transmits the congestion value calculated by the congestion status calculation means and the destination information having a congestion value smaller than at least the congestion value in the destination information storage means via the transmission means. Send to
The in-vehicle device includes a selection unit that selects a destination from a plurality of destination information transmitted from the information center, and the route search unit searches for a route for the destination selected by the selection unit. The navigation system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The destination information storage means includes status parameters indicating the usage status of the destination or the facility around the destination for each destination information, and when receiving the destination information from the in-vehicle device, the destination information storage means Update the status parameter of
The navigation system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the congestion status calculation unit calculates a congestion status of the destination based on the updated status parameters. The information center receives the current location information of the in-vehicle device together with the destination information from the in-vehicle device,
The destination information storage means includes a status parameter indicating the usage status of the destination or the facility around the destination at predetermined time intervals for each destination information, and when receiving the destination information from the in-vehicle device , Calculating the time required for the in-vehicle device to reach the destination based on the position information, and updating the status parameter at the time after the lapse of the required time from the present time among the status parameters of the destination,
The congestion status calculation means calculates the congestion status of the destination based on the status parameter at the time when the required time has elapsed from the present time among the updated status parameters. The navigation system according to any one of the above. A navigation system route guidance method comprising: an information center comprising destination information storage means for storing a plurality of destination information; and an in-vehicle device connected to each other via the information center and communication means,
In the information center,
A congestion status calculating step for calculating the congestion status of the destination based on the destination information transmitted from the in-vehicle device;
Detection means for detecting a non-congested destination with reference to the destination information storage means based on the congestion value calculated by the congestion status calculating step;
A transmission step of transmitting the destination information detected by the detection step to the in-vehicle device;
Have
In the in-vehicle device,
An input step for entering the destination;
A route search step for searching for a route for destination information transmitted from the information center;
A navigation system route guidance method comprising: In the information center, when it is determined that the destination information detected by the detection step is congested by the congestion status calculation step, a destination that is not congested by the detection step is further detected, and the transmission The route guidance method for a navigation system according to claim 6, wherein the destination information is transmitted to the in-vehicle device in a step. In the information center, the congestion value calculated by the congestion state calculation step and the destination information having a congestion value smaller than at least the congestion value in the destination information storage means are transmitted to the in-vehicle device by the transmission step. Send
The in-vehicle device has a selection step of selecting a destination from a plurality of destination information transmitted from the information center, and the route search step searches for a route for the destination selected by the selection step. The route guidance method for a navigation system according to claim 6 or 7, wherein: The destination information storage means includes status parameters indicating the usage status of the destination or the facility around the destination for each destination information, and when receiving the destination information from the in-vehicle device, the destination information storage means Update the status parameter of
The route guidance method for a navigation system according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the congestion situation calculation step calculates a congestion situation of the destination based on the updated situation parameter. . In the information center, the current location information of the in-vehicle device is received together with the destination information from the in-vehicle device,
The destination information storage means includes a status parameter indicating the usage status of the destination or the facility around the destination at predetermined time intervals for each destination information, and when receiving the destination information from the in-vehicle device , Calculating the time required for the in-vehicle device to reach the destination based on the position information, and updating the status parameter at the time after the lapse of the required time from the present time among the status parameters of the destination,
9. The congestion status calculation step calculates the congestion status of the destination based on a status parameter at a time when the required time has elapsed from the present time among the updated status parameters. The route guidance method for a navigation system according to any one of the above. In a navigation system, an information center connected to an in-vehicle device via a communication means,
Destination information storage means for storing a plurality of destination information;
Congestion status calculation means for calculating the congestion status of the destination based on the destination information transmitted from the in-vehicle device;
Detecting means for detecting a non-congested destination with reference to the destination information storage means based on the congestion value calculated by the congestion status calculating means;
Transmitting means for transmitting the destination information detected by the detecting means to the in-vehicle device;
An information center characterized by comprising: When it is determined that the congestion status calculation means is congested with respect to the destination information detected by the detection means, the destination that is not congested is further detected by the detection means, and the destination information is detected via the transmission means. 12. The information center according to claim 11, wherein destination information is transmitted to the in-vehicle device. Transmitting the congestion value calculated by the congestion status calculation means and the destination information having a congestion value smaller than at least the congestion value in the destination information storage means to the in-vehicle device via the transmission means. The information center according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the information center. In a navigation system, an in-vehicle device connected to an information center via communication means,
An input means for inputting a destination;
Route search means for searching for a route for destination information transmitted from the information center;
An in-vehicle device characterized by comprising: When the congestion value and the destination information having a congestion value smaller than the congestion value are transmitted from the information center,
It has a selection means for selecting a destination from a plurality of destination information transmitted from the information center, and the route search means searches for a route for the destination selected by the selection means. The in-vehicle device according to claim 14.

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