JP2005274432A - On-vehicle navigation system, and map distribution system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a navigation system for setting a route in accordance with user's travel objective. <P>SOLUTION: The navigation system sets a destination (step S1), and retrieves related facilities related to the set destination (step S5), performs route retrieval (step S9) by setting a place selected for a user to the route (step S8), and makes a recommendation course (step S10). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an in-vehicle navigation device that guides a vehicle by setting a recommended route to a destination.

  When searching for a recommended route to the destination, if the distance or time from the departure point exceeds a predetermined value, a navigation device that automatically sets a resting facility on the route as a transit point is known. (Patent Document 1).

JP 2003-185451 A

  The navigation device disclosed in Patent Document 1 automatically sets a resting facility as a transit point based on a distance and time from a departure place. However, depending on the travel purpose of the user, it may be desired to set a transit point other than the resting facility. For this reason, the navigation device of Patent Document 1 cannot set a waypoint according to the user's travel purpose.

The in-vehicle navigation device according to the invention of claim 1 includes destination setting means for setting a destination of the host vehicle, and related facility search means for searching for facilities related to the destination set by the destination setting means from map data. Route point setting means for setting the facility searched by the related facility search means as a route point, and route search means for searching for a recommended route to the destination via the route point set by the route point setting means. It is to be prepared.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the in-vehicle navigation device according to the first aspect, a different type code is set in advance for each facility in the map data in accordance with the type of facility, and the related facility search means includes a type code The correspondence relationship between them is stored, and based on the correspondence relationship, the facility related to the destination is searched from the map data.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the in-vehicle navigation device according to the first aspect, the related facility search means displays a list of necessary articles for each type of destination, and maps the facilities related to the designated articles in the list to the map data. Search from.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a map distribution device for searching a destination setting means for setting a destination based on input information from the outside and a facility related to the destination set by the destination setting means from map data. A related facility search means, a transit point setting means for setting the facility searched by the related facility search means as a transit location, and a recommended route to the destination via the transit location set by the transit location setting means Route search means and map distribution means for distributing a map of the recommended route searched by the route search means to the outside.
The in-vehicle navigation device according to the invention of claim 5 sets a recommended route with a home center as a stop when a campsite is set as a destination.

  According to the present invention, a facility related to a set destination is searched from map data, the facility is set as a via point, and a recommended route to the destination via the set via point is searched. It was decided to. Since it did in this way, the waypoint according to the user's travel purpose can be set up.

  A configuration of a navigation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. This navigation device is installed in the vehicle, and when searching for a recommended route from the current location of the vehicle to the set destination, the facility related to the destination is automatically searched and set as a transit point. Is something that can be done. The navigation device 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a control circuit 11, a ROM 12, a RAM 13, a current location detection device 14, an image memory 15, a display monitor 16, an input device 17, and a disk drive 18. The disc drive 18 is loaded with a DVD-ROM 19 in which map data is recorded.

  The control circuit 11 includes a microprocessor and its peripheral circuits, and performs various processes and controls by executing a control program stored in the ROM 12 using the RAM 13 as a work area. In the control circuit 11, processing as will be described later is performed based on the map data recorded on the DVD-ROM 19.

  The current location detection device 14 is a device that detects the current location of the host vehicle. For example, a vibration gyro 14a that detects the traveling direction of the host vehicle, a vehicle speed sensor 14b that detects a vehicle speed, and a GPS sensor that detects a GPS signal from a GPS satellite. 14c and the like. The navigation device 1 can determine a route search start point described later based on the current location of the host vehicle detected by the current location detection device 14.

  The image memory 15 temporarily stores image data to be displayed on the display monitor 16. The image data includes road map drawing data for displaying a road map, various graphic data, and the like, and is created by the control circuit 11 based on the map data recorded on the DVD-ROM 19. A road map is displayed on the display monitor 16 using the image data stored in the image memory 15.

  The input device 17 has various input switches for the user to set a destination and a waypoint, and this is realized by an operation panel, a remote controller, or the like. The user can set a destination by specifying a place name or a position on a map by operating the input device 17 in accordance with a screen instruction displayed on the display monitor 16.

  The disk drive 18 reads map data for displaying a road map from the loaded DVD-ROM 19. This map data represents route calculation data used for route search to the destination, route guidance data used to guide the vehicle to the destination according to the recommended route, such as intersection name and road name, and roads Includes road data. The map data also includes background data representing map shapes other than roads such as rivers, railways, various facilities on the map (landmarks), and the like. The landmark is sometimes called POI (Point Of Interest). POI information representing this POI will be described later.

  In the road data, the minimum unit representing a road section is called a link, and each road is composed of a plurality of links. A point connecting the links is called a node, and each node has position information (coordinate information). The link shape, that is, the shape of the road is determined based on the position information of the node. Although an example using a DVD-ROM is described here, the map data may be read from a recording medium other than the DVD-ROM, such as a CD-ROM or a hard disk.

  When the user operates the input device 17 to set the destination, the navigation device 1 uses the current location detected by the current location detection device 14 as a route search start point, and uses the route calculation data as a route from that location to the destination. Based on the calculation, a predetermined algorithm is used. In this way, a route search from the current location to the destination is performed.

  Further, at this time, the facility (POI) related to the set destination is automatically searched. In the following description, the POI searched here is referred to as a related facility. This related facility can be set as a transit point at the time of route search by a user operation. When the related facility is set as a via point in this way, a route search from the current location to the destination via the related facility is performed. A specific search method for related facilities will be described later.

  The recommended route obtained by the route search described above is displayed on the road map separately from other roads by changing its display form, for example, display color. Thus, the user can recognize the recommended route on the road map displayed on the display monitor 16. In addition, the navigation device 1 guides the host vehicle by instructing the traveling direction by an image or voice to the user so that the host vehicle can travel according to the recommended route. In this way, route guidance to the destination is performed by guiding the vehicle to the destination according to the recommended route.

  A flowchart of processing executed in the control circuit 11 when obtaining a recommended route is shown in FIG. This flowchart is executed when the user requests route guidance to the destination, for example, when the user switches to the destination setting menu by operating the input device 17 from the user. In step S1, the destination is set. As is well known, the destination is set by the user inputting information such as the POI genre and name, or address and telephone number, or by specifying a point on the map. Needless to say, the map data of the DVD-ROM 19 includes search data for setting the destination.

  In step S2, a route search from the current location to the destination set in step S1 is performed as described above. Note that the route searched here is not yet a recommended route at this point.

  In step S3, it is determined whether or not the destination set in step S1 corresponds to some facility (POI). When it corresponds, it progresses to step S4, and when not corresponding, it progresses to step S10. Specifically, when the POI is specified by the input information from the user in step S1 and the destination is set, it is determined that the POI corresponds to the destination, and this step S3 is affirmed. Then, the process proceeds to step S4. However, if a destination is set by specifying a point on the map where no POI exists, or by entering an address or telephone number of a personal residence other than POI, it corresponds to the destination. It is determined that there is no POI, and a negative determination is made in step S3, and the process proceeds to step S10. In the following description, the POI determined to correspond to the destination in step S3 is referred to as a destination facility.

  In step S4, it is determined whether or not the related facility is set as a transit point. This determination is made based on the selection result from the user input via the input device 17. If the user selects to set the related facility as a transit point, the process proceeds to step S5, and if not, the process proceeds to step S10.

  In step S5, a POI related facility that was set as the destination facility at the time of determination in step S3 is searched. A specific search method at this time will be described later. In step S6, the related facility searched in step S5 is displayed on the display monitor 16. If a plurality of related facilities are searched in step S5, they are listed and displayed. In step S5, it is preferable to narrow down the search range of related facilities based on the route search result in step S2. In other words, only POIs that exist within a predetermined distance from the route searched in step S2 are searched for related facilities, so that the search time is shortened, and the route that makes the route detour significantly when set as a transit point The facility can be prevented from being searched.

  In step S7, it is determined whether any of the related facilities displayed in step S6 has been selected by the user by operating the input device 17. If any related facility is selected, the process proceeds to step S8. If no related facility is selected, step S7 is repeated until it is selected.

  In step S8, the related facility selected in step S7 is set as a transit point. In step S9, the route from the current location to the destination set in step S1 is searched through the related facility set as the transit location in step S8.

  In step S10, the route searched in either step S2 or step S9 is set as a recommended route. At this time, if step S9 has been executed, that is, if both the determinations in steps S3 and S4 have been affirmed, the route search result in step S9 is set as a recommended route. Conversely, if the determination in either step S3 or S4 is negative and as a result step S9 has not been executed, the route search result in step S2 is set as the recommended route. As described above, a recommended route from the current location to the destination is obtained. If step S10 is performed, the processing flow of FIG. 2 will be complete | finished.

  Next, a specific method for searching for related facilities in step S5 will be described. As described above, in step S5, the POI related to the destination facility is searched for as a related facility. Here, information on POI (POI information) is recorded on the DVD-ROM 19 as map data.

  In the POI information, for each POI, in addition to the coordinate information indicating the position on the map, a type code for representing the genre, type, and the like is set in advance. For example, different type codes are set according to genre categories such as leisure facilities, stores, and restaurants. Also, different type codes are set for different types even within the same category. For example, even in the same leisure facility, different type codes are set for campsites and ski resorts. In addition, different type codes are set for home centers and sporting goods stores. For a chain store or the like that is famous for a store or a restaurant, a unique type code may be set for each chain store.

  By referring to the above type code set in the POI information of the map data, the genre and type of each POI can be determined. When searching for a related facility in step S5, first, the destination facility type code is referenced, and based on the correspondence between the type codes stored in the control circuit 11 in advance, a search is made as a related facility from the referenced type code. The type code of the POI to be specified is specified. A related facility is searched by searching for a POI having the type code specified in this way within a predetermined map range.

  Here, the correspondence between the above-described type codes will be described. This correspondence is set in consideration of the actual user behavior pattern. For example, when a campsite is set as a destination, it may be possible to purchase camping equipment along the way. Therefore, a type code indicating a camping center is associated with a type code indicating a home center where camping equipment can be purchased.

  Further, for example, a classification code of a ski resort is associated with a classification code of a sporting goods store (including a rental shop). Furthermore, a type code indicating a fishing ground such as a fishing pond is associated with a type code such as a fishing tackle store. It should be noted that the type code correspondence described above is merely an example, and it goes without saying that various type code correspondences are also set.

According to the embodiment described above, the following operational effects can be obtained.
(1) Search related facilities related to the set destination (step S5), set the related facilities as a waypoint (step S8), perform route search (step S9), and set a recommended route (Step S10). Since it did in this way, the waypoint according to the user's travel purpose can be set up.
(2) The correspondence relationship between the type codes set for each facility in the map data is stored, and the related facility is searched based on the correspondence relationship. Since it did in this way, the related facility relevant to the destination can be searched easily from map data.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example of searching for related facilities when setting a destination has been described. However, even when the vehicle is traveling according to a recommended route, the search may be performed at any timing of the user. In this case, the user can request the navigation device 1 to search for related facilities by operating the input device 17. In this case, since the destination has already been set and the recommended route has been searched, the processes in steps S1 and S2 in FIG. 2 do not have to be executed.

  In the above embodiment, an example is described in which a POI (related facility) related to a POI (destination facility) set as a destination is searched and set as a transit point. However, instead of this, a list of necessary articles is displayed according to the genre and type of POI set as the destination, and a facility related to the article designated by the user is searched from the list and set as a transit point. It is good as well.

  A specific example of the above case will be described. For example, when a campsite is set as a destination, camping equipment, fishing equipment, various foods, etc. are displayed as a list of necessary articles. When the user selects camping equipment from this list, the home center is searched as a facility related to camping equipment. In addition, when a fishing tool or food is selected, a fishing gear shop or a supermarket is searched as a facility related to each. Among these retrieved facilities, the one selected by the user is set as a transit point. Note that a list of necessary articles created by a personal computer or the like may be taken in from the outside, and a facility related to the article may be searched.

  In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the navigation device reads map data from a storage medium such as a DVD-ROM to create a summary map, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention can be applied to a communication navigation apparatus that downloads map data from an information distribution center using wireless communication using a mobile phone or the like.

  To explain an example of the above case, the information distribution center performs destination setting, related facility search, route search, and the like, and transmits the result to the navigation device. In the navigation device, the user inputs destination information, displays a list of related facilities transmitted from the information distribution center accordingly, and allows the user to select related facilities to be set as a waypoint. And the map about the recommended route searched by using the related facility as a waypoint is distributed from the information distribution center to the navigation device, and the distributed map is displayed on the navigation device.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and other modes conceivable within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention are also included in the scope of the present invention.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the navigation apparatus by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart of the process performed when obtaining a recommended route.

Explanation of symbols

1 Navigation device 11 Control circuit 12 ROM
13 RAM
14 Current location detection device 15 Image memory 16 Display monitor 17 Input device 18 Disk drive 19 DVD-ROM

Claims (5)

Destination setting means for setting the destination of the vehicle;
Related facility search means for searching for facilities related to the destination set by the destination setting means from map data;
Waypoint setting means for setting the facility searched by the related facility search means as a waypoint;
An in-vehicle navigation device comprising: route searching means for searching for a recommended route to the destination via the waypoint set by the waypoint setting means. The in-vehicle navigation device according to claim 1,
In the map data, a different type code is set in advance for each facility according to the type of facility,
The in-vehicle navigation device characterized in that the related facility search means stores a correspondence relationship between the type codes, and searches a facility related to the destination from the map data based on the correspondence relationship. The in-vehicle navigation device according to claim 1,
The related facility search means displays a list of necessary articles for each type of the destination, and searches the map data for a facility related to a specified article in the list. Destination setting means for setting a destination based on externally input information;
Related facility search means for searching for facilities related to the destination set by the destination setting means from map data;
Waypoint setting means for setting the facility searched by the related facility search means as a waypoint;
Route search means for searching for a recommended route to the destination via the waypoint set by the waypoint setting means;
A map distribution device comprising map distribution means for distributing a map of a recommended route searched by the route search means to the outside.   An on-vehicle navigation device characterized in that, when a campsite is set as a destination, a recommended route that goes through a home center is set.

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