JP2006047092A - Navigation system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To output a guidance voice for promoting the setting of a destination, only when required by a user. <P>SOLUTION: A travel history of own vehicle is stored in a history memory 110, a controller 107 determines whether the own vehicle travels in a point having the high possibility of advancing into a range where the user is not well informed, or not, based on the travel history of the own vehicle stored in the history memory 110, and outputs the guidance voice to promote the setting of the destination, to the user, via a speaker 108, when determining that the own vehicle travels in the point having the high possibility of advancing into the range where the user is not well informed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a navigation device capable of inputting operation commands by voice.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a navigation device that automatically outputs a guidance voice that prompts the user to input a destination when the vehicle starts or when the vehicle is stopped waiting for a signal. It has been.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-142178

  However, in the conventional navigation device, since the guidance sound is output every time when the engine is started or when it is stopped due to a signal, there is a problem that the guidance sound is output even when the user does not need it. It was happening.

  The navigation device according to claim 1 is a storage unit that stores a travel history of the host vehicle, and the host vehicle enters a range in which the user is less familiar based on the travel history of the host vehicle stored in the storage unit. Determining means for determining whether or not the vehicle is traveling at a point where there is a high possibility that the vehicle is likely to perform, and determining by the determining means that the vehicle is traveling at a point where the vehicle is likely to enter a range where the user's familiarity is low And an output means for outputting guidance for prompting the user to set a destination.

  According to the present invention, when it is determined that the host vehicle is traveling at a point where the host vehicle is likely to enter a range in which the user is not familiar with the travel history of the host vehicle, Since the guidance that prompts the user to set the ground is output, it is possible to appropriately output the guidance voice when the user needs it, and it is possible to prevent the user from having troublesome guidance.

-First embodiment-
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an embodiment of a navigation device according to the first embodiment. The navigation device 100 is mounted on a vehicle, and includes a vehicle speed sensor 101 that detects the vehicle speed of the host vehicle, a GPS unit 102 that receives a GPS signal from a GPS satellite and detects the current position of the host vehicle, and a traveling direction of the host vehicle. A gyro sensor 103 to detect, a microphone 104 for inputting a user's utterance voice, an input device 105 operated by the user, and a disk reader 106 for reading a map disk 106a for storing map data and voice data of guidance voice. A control device 107, a speaker 108 that outputs voice, a monitor 109 that displays a map and a menu screen, a history memory 110 that stores a travel history of the host vehicle, which will be described later, and a standby word for voice recognition. And a speech recognition dictionary 111.

  The input device 105 includes an utterance switch 105a for the user to instruct the start of voice input, and a correction switch that is pressed to correct the immediately preceding utterance when a misrecognition occurs as a result of voice recognition processing described later. 105b. The map data stored in the map disk 106a includes road data in which roads are expressed by nodes and links. In this road data, nodes correspond to intersections, and line segments connecting the nodes correspond to links. . In this embodiment, each node is given a node ID as an identification number, and each link is given a link ID as an identification number. The map data includes background data and facility data in addition to road data.

  The control device 107 detects the current position of the host vehicle and the traveling direction based on outputs from the vehicle speed sensor 101, the GPS unit 102, and the gyro sensor 103. Then, a road map around the host vehicle is read from the map disk 106a, and the current position mark of the host vehicle is drawn on the read map and displayed on the monitor 109. The control device 107 has a signal processing unit 107a described later with reference to FIG. 2, detects the start of voice input by the speaker, outputs a guidance voice, and is input by the speaker via the microphone 104. Recognizes voice input commands.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the signal processing unit 107a. The signal processing unit 107 a includes an A / D converter 1031, a D / A converter 1032, an output amplifier 1033, and a signal processing device 1034. The signal processing device 1034 includes an MPU 1034a and a memory 1034b. When the user presses the utterance switch 105a to instruct the start of the utterance, the signal processing device 1034 reads the guidance voice from the map disk 106a to notify the user of a message prompting voice input, and performs D / A The signal is converted into an analog signal by the converter 1032 and output through the output amplifier 1033 and the speaker 108.

  Thereafter, when a voice input command is spoken by the user, the signal processing device 1034 detects the voice as follows. That is, the audio signal input from the microphone 104 is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 1031 and input to the signal processing device 1034. The signal processing device 1034 calculates the average power of the digital signal input from the A / D converter 1031 until the speech switch 105a is operated. When the speech switch 105a is operated, a voice standby state is entered. Thereafter, when the instantaneous power of the input digital signal becomes larger than the average power by a predetermined value or more, it is determined that the user has spoken, and voice capturing is started.

  Subsequently, the signal processing device 1034 starts the degree of coincidence calculation between the input voice signal and the standby word stored in the voice recognition dictionary 111. While the degree of coincidence calculation is being performed, as long as the user's single utterance (one phrase) continues, voice capture is continued by parallel processing, and the instantaneous power of the digital signal is a predetermined value. When the following state continues for a predetermined time or more, it is determined that the user's one utterance has ended. Then, the voice signal input by one utterance of the user is recognized by the above-described coincidence calculation. That is, as a result of the matching degree calculation, a score indicating the magnitude of the matching degree is calculated for each standby word, and the standby word having the highest score, that is, the standby word having the highest matching degree is determined as the speech recognition result.

  Thereafter, the signal processing device 1034 reads the guidance voice to be output according to the voice recognition result from the map disk 106a, converts it into a voice signal, and outputs the voice signal through the D / A converter 1032, the output amplifier 1033, and the speaker 108. Thereafter, the utterance content uttered by the user according to the guidance voice is recognized by the above-described processing, and the processing is continued.

  In the navigation apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment, in addition to a method in which a user presses the utterance switch 105a to start voice input, which is a general voice input method, the data is stored in the history memory 110 as described later. The degree of familiarity with the road of the user (driver) was determined based on the travel history of the vehicle, and it was predicted that the road from the road with high familiarity of the user to the road with low familiarity during driving was expected. In this case, a guidance voice prompting the user to set a destination, for example, “Where are you going?” Is output via the speaker 108, and a voice input standby state is entered. Thereafter, the destination is specified by dialogue with the user, and after searching for the route to the destination, route guidance is started.

  Hereinafter, a specific example in which a user, who is a general voice input method, presses the speech switch 105a to start voice input and set a destination will be described. That is, the user voluntarily utters a voice input command for setting the destination, and when the destination is finally set, the route from the current position of the own vehicle to the set destination is Search and route guidance to the destination based on the search result. For example, when the user presses the utterance switch 105a to instruct the start of the utterance, the signal processing unit 107a prompts the user to utter the voice input command, for example, “speak voice input command”. Is output through the speaker 108 and a voice input standby state is entered.

  Thereafter, when the speaker utters a voice input command for setting the destination, for example, “destination setting”, voice data is input via the microphone 104. Then, the degree of coincidence between the input voice data and the standby word stored in the voice recognition dictionary 111 is calculated, and the standby word having the highest degree of coincidence is determined as the voice recognition result. That is, voice recognition is performed. When the voice input command “Destination setting” uttered by the user is normally recognized, next, a guidance voice prompting the utterance of the voice input command for determining the destination setting method, for example, “Destination setting” Please tell me how to set it "is output via the speaker 108. When the user utters a voice input command for specifying an address and setting a destination, for example, “address”, voice recognition is performed as described above.

  Thereafter, a guidance voice for prompting the user to input an address, for example, “Please tell me the address”, is output, and an utterance of the address by the user, for example, “Natsushimacho, Yokohama, Kanagawa” is obtained. When voice recognition of the address is normally completed, a confirmation guidance “Are you sure you want to work in Natsushima-cho, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture?” Is output, and if it is determined that the user has acknowledged, for example, “Yes”, the control device 107 sets “Natsushima-cho, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa” as a destination, and searches for a route to the destination. Thereafter, the route guidance to the destination is started based on the result of the route search.

  Next, based on the traveling history of the host vehicle stored in the history memory 110, the degree of familiarity with the road of the user (driver) is determined, and the degree of familiarity is low from the road where the degree of familiarity of the user is high during traveling. A description will be given of a case where a guidance voice that prompts the user to set a destination is output when an approach to a road is predicted.

  First, a method for determining the familiarity of the user's road based on the traveling history of the host vehicle stored in the history memory 110 will be described. In the history memory 110, as information indicating the degree of recognition of the user's road, the point data that is a pair of the point where the ignition switch is turned on or off, and the number of times the ignition switch is turned on and off at that point, The link ID of the road link and the link ID data paired with the number of times of traveling on the road link are stored. That is, when the ignition switch of the host vehicle is turned on or off, the latitude / longitude information of the point is detected by the GPS unit 102, and the point counter that counts the number of times the ignition switch is turned on / off at the point in the history memory 110 Is already present, 1 is added to the count value of the point counter. If there is no point counter for the point, a new point counter is created, and the count value is set to 1 and stored.

  Further, the road link corresponding to the road on which the host vehicle is traveling is detected at a predetermined time interval, for example, every 10 seconds, and the link ID of the road link that was detected when the link ID of the detected road link was detected last time. 1 is added to the count value of the link ID counter paired with the link ID. In this case as well, if there is no link ID counter paired with the link ID in the history memory 110, a new link ID counter is created, and the count value is set to 1 and stored.

  As will be described later, the control device 107 reads the count value of the point counter and the count value of the link ID counter from the history memory 110 when the ignition switch is turned on, and the count value is a predetermined value or more, for example, 5 or more. It is determined that the user's familiarity with the point and the road link is high. Then, a point including a location where the user's familiarity is high and a road link having a high user's familiarity is designated centering on the current location of the host vehicle, and the range is set as a range where the user's familiarity is high. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, an ellipse X indicates a range where the user's familiarity is high, centering on the current location (departure location) A of the host vehicle.

  Then, a predetermined range from the boundary of the range X where the user's familiarity is high, for example, a range Y inside 30 m is specified, and the vehicle is familiar with the boundary region R1 outside the range Y and inside the range X. The range where there is a high possibility of entering from a high range to a low range. Therefore, for example, when it is detected that the host vehicle is traveling at a point V in the boundary region R1, the host vehicle is in a point where there is a high possibility of entering from a range in which the user is familiar to a low range. Is determined to be traveling. In this case, as described above, a guidance voice that prompts the user to set a destination, for example, “Where are you going?” Is output via the speaker 108.

  In FIG. 3, points indicated by black dots are points where the count value of the point counter is equal to or greater than a predetermined value among points where the ignition switch stored in the history memory 110 is turned on or off. The larger the size, the larger the point. A road link indicated by a bold line is a road link in which the count value of the link ID counter corresponding to the link ID of the road link is equal to or greater than a predetermined value among the road links stored in the history memory 110. The larger the value, the thicker the corresponding road link. Therefore, the present location A and point B of the host vehicle indicate that the number of times the ignition switch is turned on or off is the highest, and that the number of times of travel between AB is high, for example, point A is home and point B indicates the company ing.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of history data storage processing by the navigation device 100 according to the first embodiment. The process shown in FIG. 4 is executed by the control device 107 as a program that is activated when an ignition switch (not shown) is turned on. In step S10, 1 is added to the count value of the point counter corresponding to the current position of the host vehicle detected by the GPS unit 102. If there is no point counter corresponding to the current position of the host vehicle, a point counter corresponding to the current position of the host vehicle is newly created, and the count value is set to 1 and stored in the history memory 110. Then, it progresses to step S20.

  In step S20, based on the output from the vehicle speed sensor 101, it is determined whether or not the host vehicle has started running. If it is determined that the host vehicle has started running, the process proceeds to step S30. In step S30, the road link corresponding to the road on which the host vehicle is currently traveling is identified, and 1 is added to the count value of the link ID counter corresponding to the identified road link. If there is no link ID counter corresponding to the identified road link, a link ID counter corresponding to the link ID is newly created, and the count value is set to 1 and stored in the history memory 110. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S40.

  In step S40, it is determined whether or not the link ID of the road link on which the vehicle is traveling has changed. If it is determined that the link ID has changed, the process returns to step S30, and the above-described processing is performed on the road link after the change. If it is determined that the link ID does not change, the process proceeds to step S50. In step S50, it is determined whether or not the ignition switch is turned off. If it is determined that the ignition switch is not turned off, the process returns to step S40, and the above-described processing is repeated until the ignition switch is turned off.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the ignition switch is turned off, the process proceeds to step S60. In step S60, 1 is added to the count value of the point counter corresponding to the current position of the host vehicle detected by the GPS unit 102 as in step S10 described above. If there is no point counter corresponding to the current position of the host vehicle, a point counter corresponding to the current position of the host vehicle is newly created, and the count value is set to 1 and stored in the history memory 110. Thereafter, the process ends.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of the familiarity determination process performed by the navigation device 100 according to the first embodiment. The process shown in FIG. 5 is executed by the control device 107 as a program that is activated when an ignition switch (not shown) is turned on. In step S110, the travel history is read from the history memory 110, and the process proceeds to step S120. In step S120, based on the travel history that has been read, the above-described range X having a high level of user familiarity and a range Y inside the predetermined range from the range X are set on the map. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S130.

  In step S130, based on the output from the vehicle speed sensor 101, it is determined whether the host vehicle has started running. If it is determined that the host vehicle has started running, the process proceeds to step S140. In step S140, it is determined whether or not the host vehicle is traveling within the boundary region R1 outside the range Y set on the map and inside the range X. If it is determined that the host vehicle is traveling in the boundary region R1, the process proceeds to step S150. In step S150, a guidance voice that prompts the user to set a destination, for example, “Where are you going?” Is output via the speaker 108. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S160.

  In step S160, it is determined whether or not voice input has been made by the user. If it is determined that voice input has been made, the process proceeds to step S170. In step S170, as described above, the voice input by the user is recognized and the process proceeds to step S180. In step S180, it is determined whether the destination setting is completed as a result of the voice recognition. If it is determined that the destination setting is not completed, the process returns to step S150, and the process is repeated until the destination setting is completed. On the other hand, if it is determined that the destination setting has been completed, the process proceeds to step S190.

  In step S190, a route to the set destination is searched, and route guidance is started according to the searched guidance route. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S200, where it is determined whether or not the host vehicle has arrived at the destination. If it is determined that the vehicle has arrived at the destination, the process proceeds to step S210. In step S210, the route guidance is terminated and the process is terminated.

  If it is determined in step S160 that no voice is input from the user, the process proceeds to step S161. In step S161, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time, for example, one minute has elapsed since the guidance voice that prompts the user to set the destination is output via the speaker 108 in step S150. If it is determined that a predetermined time has elapsed since the guidance voice was output, the user determines that there is no intention to set the destination, and the process is terminated as it is.

According to the first embodiment described above, the following operational effects can be obtained.
(1) When it is determined that the host vehicle is traveling at a point where there is a high possibility of entering from a range in which the user is familiar to a low range, guidance for prompting the user to set a destination is output. It was decided. As a result, it is possible to output the guidance voice that prompts the destination setting only when the user needs it, and it can be prevented that the guidance voice becomes troublesome for the user.

(2) When the ignition switch is turned on (when the engine is started), a range X having a high degree of user familiarity based on the travel history and a range Y inside the predetermined range from the range X are set on the map. When the vehicle is traveling within the boundary region R1 outside the range Y set on the map and inside the range X, the vehicle can enter a range from a high user familiarity range to a low range. It was determined that the vehicle was traveling at a highly probable point. This makes it easy to determine that the vehicle is driving at a point where the user is likely to enter a low range from a high level of user familiarity without using complex algorithms or expensive equipment. Can do.

(3) When it is determined that the vehicle is traveling at a point where there is a high possibility that the vehicle will enter a low range from a high user familiarity level, a guidance voice that prompts the user to set a destination is output. After that, if there is no utterance from the user for a predetermined time or longer, the processing is terminated as it is. Thus, when the user does not intend to set the destination, the user can continue the operation without setting the destination, and can set the destination only when necessary.

-Second embodiment-
In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the boundary region R <b> 1 divided by the range X where the user's familiarity is high and the range Y inside the predetermined range from the range X is set. On the other hand, in the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, only the range X where the user's familiarity is high is set on the map. When the host vehicle travels from the inner side to the outer side on the boundary line of the range X set on the map, for example, when the host vehicle is traveling at the point V, the host vehicle has a low user familiarity range. It is determined that the vehicle is traveling at a point where there is a high possibility of entering the road, and a guidance voice prompting the destination setting is automatically output.

  Note that the size of the black point representing the point in FIG. 6 and the meaning of the line width representing the link are the same as those in the first embodiment. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an embodiment of the navigation apparatus shown in FIG. 1, a block diagram showing a configuration example of the signal processing unit 107a shown in FIG. 2, and a history data storage process shown in FIG. Since the flowchart showing the flow is the same as that of the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of the familiarity determination process performed by the navigation device 100 according to the second embodiment. The processing shown in FIG. 7 is executed by the control device 107 as a program that is activated when an ignition switch (not shown) is turned on. Note that the same steps as those in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 5 are assigned the same step numbers, and differences will be mainly described.

  In step S121, based on the read travel history, the above-described range X where the user's familiarity is high is set on the map. In step S141, it is determined whether or not the host vehicle is traveling on the boundary line of the range X set on the map. If it is determined that the host vehicle is traveling on the boundary line of the range X, the process proceeds to step S150.

  According to the second embodiment described above, when the range X with high user familiarity is set on the map and the host vehicle is traveling on the boundary line of the range X set on the map, It was determined that the host vehicle was traveling at a point where there was a high possibility of entering a range where the user's familiarity was low. Then, only when it is determined that the host vehicle is traveling at a point where there is a high possibility of entering the range where the degree of familiarity of the user is low, the guidance voice that prompts the destination setting is automatically output. As a result, the same effect as the first embodiment can be obtained.

-Third embodiment-
In the third embodiment, a block diagram showing a configuration example of one embodiment of the navigation apparatus shown in FIG. 1, a block diagram showing a configuration example of the signal processing unit 107a shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. The flowchart showing the flow of the history data storage process shown is the same as that of the first embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

  In the third embodiment, the control device 107 reads the point where the ignition switch stored in the history memory 110 is turned on or off, the link ID that has traveled in the past, and the corresponding count value. As shown in FIG. 8, the count value indicated by a black dot is a predetermined value or more, for example, 5 or more points, and the count value indicated by a bold line is the center of gravity of the total distribution of road links having a value greater than or equal to a predetermined value, for example, 5 The point G is calculated and set on the map. When it is detected that the host vehicle is traveling a predetermined distance from the point G, for example, V that is 10 km or more, the host vehicle is likely to enter a range where the degree of familiarity of the user is low. It is determined that the vehicle is traveling at the point, and guidance voice prompting the destination setting is automatically output. The size of the black spot representing the point in FIG. 8 and the meaning of the line width representing the link are the same as in the first embodiment.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of the familiarity determination process performed by the navigation device 100 according to the third embodiment. The process shown in FIG. 9 is executed by the control device 107 as a program that is activated when an ignition switch (not shown) is turned on. Note that the same steps as those in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 5 are assigned the same step numbers, and differences will be mainly described.

  In step S122, a point having a count value equal to or greater than a predetermined value and a point G serving as the center of gravity of the total distribution of road links having a count value equal to or greater than the predetermined value are calculated and set on the map. In step S142, it is determined whether or not the host vehicle is traveling at a point more than a predetermined distance from the center of gravity point G set on the map. If it is determined that the host vehicle is traveling at a point that is a predetermined distance or more away from the point G that is the center of gravity, the process proceeds to step S150.

  According to the third embodiment described above, a point where the count value is equal to or greater than a predetermined value and a point G which is the center of gravity of the entire distribution of road links whose count value is equal to or greater than the predetermined value are calculated. When the vehicle is traveling at a point more than a predetermined distance from G, it is determined that the host vehicle is traveling at a point where there is a high possibility of entering a range where the user's familiarity is low. Then, only when it is determined that the host vehicle is traveling at a point where there is a high possibility of entering the range where the degree of familiarity of the user is low, the guidance voice that prompts the destination setting is automatically output. As a result, the same effect as the first embodiment can be obtained.

-Fourth embodiment-
In the fourth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, as in the first and second embodiments, each point stored in the history memory 100 and the point counter are stored when the ignition switch is turned on. Based on the pair with the count value and the pair with the link ID and the count value of the link ID counter, a range X having a high degree of familiarity with the user is calculated and set on the map. Then, if the vehicle is traveling on a main road Z such as a national road, a prefectural road, and a highway indicated by a double line, and if the vehicle travels on the main road Z as it is, the vehicle goes out of the range X set on the map. In other words, if the main trunk road that is running is connected to the outside of the range X when traced in the traveling direction of the host vehicle, the host vehicle can enter a range where the user's familiarity is low. It is determined that the vehicle is traveling at a highly probable point, and a guidance voice for automatically urging destination setting is output.

  Therefore, for example, when the host vehicle is traveling on a point V on the main trunk road Z, if the host vehicle is traveling as it is, the vehicle will go out of the range X set on the map. It is determined that the vehicle is traveling at a point where there is a high possibility of entering a low range, and a guidance voice prompting the destination setting is automatically output.

  Note that the size of the black spot representing the point in FIG. 10 and the meaning of the line width representing the link are the same as in the first embodiment. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an embodiment of the navigation apparatus shown in FIG. 1, a block diagram showing a configuration example of the signal processing unit 107a shown in FIG. 2, and a history data storage process shown in FIG. Since the flowchart showing the flow is the same as that of the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of the familiarity determination process by the navigation device 100 according to the fourth embodiment. The process shown in FIG. 11 is executed by the control device 107 as a program that starts when an ignition switch (not shown) is turned on. Note that the same step numbers are assigned to the processing in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 5 and the processing in the second embodiment shown in FIG. To do.

  In step S143, based on the road type of the road link being traveled, it is determined whether or not the host vehicle is traveling on the main trunk road. If it is determined that the host vehicle is traveling on the main trunk road. Advances to step S144. In step S144, the main main road that is running is traced in the traveling direction of the host vehicle, and it is determined whether or not the tip of the traveling direction is connected outside the range X set on the map. If it is determined that it is not connected outside the range X, the process returns to step S143. On the other hand, if it is determined that the connection is outside the range X, the process proceeds to step S150.

  According to the fourth embodiment described above, when the range X with high user familiarity is set on the map and the host vehicle is traveling on the main trunk road, When the traveling direction of the host vehicle extends outside the range X set on the map, it is determined that the host vehicle is traveling at a point where the user is likely to enter a range where the degree of familiarity with the user is low. did. Then, only when it is determined that the host vehicle is traveling at a point where there is a high possibility of entering the range where the degree of familiarity of the user is low, the guidance voice that prompts the destination setting is automatically output. As a result, the same effect as the first embodiment can be obtained.

-Fifth embodiment-
In the fifth embodiment, the history memory 110 includes a pair of a point where the ignition switch is turned on or off as a traveling history of the host vehicle, a count value of a point counter corresponding to the point, and a road that has traveled in the past. A link ID of the link, a count value of a link ID counter corresponding to the link ID, and a history set of points where the ignition switch is finally turned off after traveling on the road link are stored. Based on each point stored in the history memory 100, the count value of the point counter, and the link ID and the count value of the link ID counter, as shown in FIG. 12, the first, second, and fourth Similar to the embodiment, a range X having a high degree of familiarity with the user is calculated and set on the map.

  And when the own vehicle is driving | running the point V on the road link W shown with a broken line, when the road link W drive | worked in the past, the point where the ignition switch was finally turned off is searched. As a result, when at least one of the points where the ignition switch is finally turned off exists outside the range X set on the map, for example, when the vehicle has traveled on the road link W in the past, the ignition switch is finally turned off. If the determined point is point C, it is determined that the host vehicle is traveling at a point where there is a high possibility of entering the range where the degree of familiarity of the user is low, and guidance for automatically urging destination setting Output audio.

  Note that the size of the black spot representing the point in FIG. 12 and the meaning of the line width representing the link are the same as those in the first embodiment. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an embodiment of the navigation apparatus shown in FIG. 1, a block diagram showing a configuration example of the signal processing unit 107a shown in FIG. 2, and a history data storage process shown in FIG. Since the flowchart showing the flow is the same as that of the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of the familiarity determination process performed by the navigation device 100 according to the fifth embodiment. The process shown in FIG. 13 is executed by the control device 107 as a program that is activated when an ignition switch (not shown) is turned on. Note that the same step numbers are assigned to the processing in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 5 and the processing in the second embodiment shown in FIG. To do.

  In step S145, after the vehicle has traveled in the past on the road link on which the host vehicle is currently traveling, the point where the ignition switch is finally turned off is searched. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S146, and it is determined whether or not at least one of the points where the ignition switch has been turned off in the past exists outside the range X set on the map. At least one of the points where the ignition switch was turned off in the past does not exist outside the range X set on the map, that is, when driving for the first time on a road link that is currently running, or the point where the ignition switch was turned off in the past If everything is within the range X set on the map, the process returns to step S145. On the other hand, if it is determined that at least one of the points where the ignition switch has been previously turned off exists outside the range X set on the map, the process proceeds to step S150.

  According to the fifth embodiment described above, when the range X with a high level of user familiarity is set on the map and the road link currently being traveled travels in the past, the ignition switch is finally turned off. When at least one of the determined points exists outside the range X, the host vehicle determines that the vehicle is traveling at a point where the user is highly likely to enter the range where the familiarity of the user is low. Then, only when it is determined that the host vehicle is traveling at a point where there is a high possibility of entering the range where the degree of familiarity of the user is low, the guidance voice that prompts the destination setting is automatically output. As a result, the same effect as the first embodiment can be obtained.

In addition, it can also deform | transform as follows.
(1) By combining the first to fifth embodiments described above, it is determined whether or not the host vehicle is traveling at a point where there is a high possibility of entering the range where the user's familiarity is low. Good.

(2) In the fifth embodiment described above, when the range X where the user is highly familiar is set on the map and the road link currently being traveled has been traveled in the past, the ignition switch is finally turned off. When the determined point exists outside the range X, it is determined that the host vehicle is traveling at a point where there is a high possibility of entering the range where the user's familiarity is low. However, instead of the point where the ignition switch is finally turned off, a destination set while traveling on the road may be used.

(3) In the first to fifth embodiments described above, the history memory 110 may further store the history of the time when the ignition switch is turned on together with the point where the ignition switch is turned on as the travel history of the host vehicle. Good. In this case, when it is determined that the vehicle is traveling at a point where the user is likely to enter a low-level of familiarity with the user, the time when the user turned on the ignition switch will turn on the ignition switch in the past. Only when the vehicle is out of the time distribution range, it is determined whether or not the host vehicle is traveling at a point where there is a high possibility of entering the range where the degree of familiarity of the user is low.

  In this case, whether or not the time when the user turns on the ignition switch is out of the distribution range of the time when the ignition switch was turned on in the past is stored in the history memory 110 by dividing the day into one hour unit, for example. The total number of times for each time zone at a certain time is counted, and an average value of the total number of times is calculated. If the total number of time zones including the time when the user turns on the ignition switch is smaller than the average value of all time zones, it is determined that the time is out of the distribution range of the time when the ignition switch was turned on in the past.

  As a result, if the user leaves the car at a different time than usual, he / she has a low level of familiarity with the user in consideration of the high possibility of driving for a different purpose. It can be determined that the vehicle is traveling at a point that is likely to enter the range. Furthermore, since the guidance voice prompting the destination setting is automatically output only in this case, it is possible to further reduce the troublesomeness for the user.

(4) In the first to fifth embodiments described above, a sensor that counts the number of driving operations by the user (driver), for example, the number of steering operations, the number of accelerator pedal operations, and the number of brake pedal operations by the driver. And the total number of operations counted by each sensor in the traveled road link may be calculated as the number of driving operations. In this case, the history memory 110 stores a history of the number of driving operations in the road link ID together with the link ID of the road link that has traveled in the past and the count value as the travel history of the host vehicle.

  Then, when it is determined that the host vehicle is traveling at a point where there is a high possibility of entering the range where the user's familiarity is low, the average number of driving operations is calculated from the history of the number of driving operations, and the average operation Only when the number of times is less than a predetermined number, for example, less than 5 times, a guidance voice prompting the destination setting may be automatically output. As a result, the user can be prompted to set a destination only while the host vehicle is traveling on a road link with a low driving load, that is, a point with a low driving load, and the user can perform a destination setting operation with a margin. .

  It should be noted that whether or not the user's driving load is high at a point where the vehicle is currently traveling is determined when the number of driving operations during a predetermined time immediately before, for example, 1 minute is less than a predetermined number of times, for example, less than 5 times. It may be determined that the driving load on the user is low.

(5) In the first to fifth embodiments described above, the example in which the present invention is applied to a navigation device that can be operated by voice has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, navigation that can be operated by a touch panel or a joystick. You may apply to an apparatus.

(6) In the first to fifth embodiments described above, when it is determined that the host vehicle is traveling at a point where there is a high possibility of entering the range where the user's familiarity is low, the purpose is automatically set. The guidance voice that prompts the user to set the ground is output. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, there is a possibility that a guidance voice for notifying that the own vehicle is traveling at a point where the user is likely to enter a range where the degree of familiarity of the user is low, or that the vehicle may enter an unfamiliar road Other sounds such as a beep sound for warning that there is a certain sound may be output.

(7) In the first to fifth embodiments described above, the guidance voice that prompts the user to speak is output via the speaker 108. However, a guidance message that prompts the user to speak is displayed. It may be displayed on the monitor 109.

  The correspondence between the constituent elements of the claims and the embodiment will be described. The control device 107 corresponds to determination means and driving load determination means, the speaker 108 corresponds to output means, and the history memory 110 corresponds to storage means. Note that the present invention is not limited to the configurations in the above-described embodiments as long as the characteristic functions of the present invention are not impaired.

It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of one Embodiment of the navigation apparatus in 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the signal processing unit 107a. It is a figure which shows the specific example when the range with a high user familiarity is set on a map in 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart figure which shows the flow of the historical data storage process by the navigation apparatus 100 in 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart figure which shows the flow of the familiarity determination process by the navigation apparatus 100 in 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the specific example when the range with a high user familiarity is set on a map in 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart figure which shows the flow of the familiarity determination process by the navigation apparatus 100 in 2nd Embodiment. In 3rd Embodiment, it is a figure which shows the specific example in the case of calculating the point from which the count value is more than predetermined value, and the point used as the gravity center of distribution of a road link. It is a flowchart figure which shows the flow of the familiarity determination process by the navigation apparatus 100 in 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the specific example when the range with a high user familiarity is set on a map in 4th Embodiment. It is a flowchart figure which shows the flow of the familiarity determination process by the navigation apparatus 100 in 4th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the specific example when the range with a high user familiarity is set on a map in 5th Embodiment. It is a flowchart figure which shows the flow of the familiarity determination process by the navigation apparatus 100 in 5th Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Navigation apparatus 101 Vehicle speed sensor 102 GPS unit 103 Gyro sensor 104 Microphone 105 Input apparatus 106 Disk reader 106a Map disk 107 Control apparatus 107a Signal processing unit 108 Speaker 109 Monitor 110 History memory 111 Voice recognition dictionary

Claims (10)

Storage means for storing the traveling history of the host vehicle;
Based on the travel history of the host vehicle stored in the storage unit, a determination unit that determines whether or not the host vehicle is traveling at a point where the user is likely to enter a range where the familiarity of the user is low;
Output means for outputting guidance prompting the user to set a destination when the determination means determines that the host vehicle is traveling at a point where there is a high possibility that the user's familiarity with the user will enter a range where the user is less familiar And a navigation device. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein
The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the travel history includes information indicating a user's degree of recognition of the road. The navigation device according to claim 2, wherein
The information indicating the degree of recognition of the user's road includes the point data that is a pair of the point where the ignition switch is turned on or off, and the number of times the ignition switch is turned on or off at that point, and the identification of the road link that traveled Number, and identification number data paired with the number of times of traveling,
The determination means sets a range including a point where the number of times the ignition switch is turned on or off as a predetermined number of times and a road link where the number of times of traveling is a predetermined number of times or more as a high familiarity level of the user, However, when the vehicle reaches between the boundary of a predetermined distance from the boundary of the range where the user's familiarity is high and the boundary of the range where the familiarity of the user is high, the own vehicle has low familiarity with the user A navigation device that determines that the vehicle is traveling at a point that is likely to enter the range. The navigation device according to claim 2, wherein
The information indicating the degree of recognition of the user's road includes the point data that is a pair of the point where the ignition switch is turned on or off, and the number of times the ignition switch is turned on or off at that point, and the identification of the road link that traveled Number, and identification number data paired with the number of times of traveling,
The determination means sets a range including a point where the number of times the ignition switch is turned on or off as a predetermined number of times and a road link where the number of times of traveling is a predetermined number of times or more as a high familiarity level of the user, When the vehicle reaches the boundary of the range where the user's familiarity is high, it is determined that the host vehicle is traveling at a point where the vehicle is likely to enter a range where the user's familiarity is low. Navigation device. The navigation device according to claim 2, wherein
The information indicating the degree of recognition of the user's road includes the point data that is a pair of the point where the ignition switch is turned on or off, and the number of times the ignition switch is turned on or off at that point, and the identification of the road link that traveled Number, and identification number data paired with the number of times of traveling,
The determination means determines that the host vehicle reaches a point that is a predetermined distance or more away from a point where the number of times the ignition switch is turned on or off is a predetermined number or more and a point that is the center of gravity of the entire distribution of road links where the number of travels is a predetermined number or more. A navigation device characterized by determining that the vehicle is traveling at a point where the host vehicle is likely to enter a range in which the degree of familiarity of the user is low. The navigation device according to claim 2, wherein
The information indicating the degree of recognition of the user's road includes the point data that is a pair of the point where the ignition switch is turned on or off, and the number of times the ignition switch is turned on or off at that point, and the identification of the road link that traveled Number, and identification number data paired with the number of times of traveling,
The determination means sets a range including a point where the number of times the ignition switch is turned on or off as a predetermined number of times and a road link where the number of times of traveling is a predetermined number of times or more as a high familiarity level of the user, Is traveling on a main trunk road and the traveling direction of the host vehicle on the main trunk road extends outside the range in which the user is highly familiar, It is determined that the vehicle is traveling at a point where there is a high possibility that the vehicle will enter a low range. The navigation device according to claim 2, wherein
The information indicating the degree of recognition of the user's road includes the point data that is a pair of the point where the ignition switch is turned on or off, and the number of times the ignition switch is turned on or off at that point, and the identification of the road link that traveled Including a number, the number of times of traveling, and a history set of points where the ignition switch was finally turned off after traveling on the road link,
The determination means sets a range including a point where the number of times the ignition switch is turned on or off as a predetermined number of times and a road link where the number of times of traveling is a predetermined number of times or more as a high familiarity level of the user, When at least one point in the history of the point where the ignition switch corresponding to the road link on which the vehicle is currently traveling is finally present is outside the range where the user is highly familiar, A navigation device, characterized in that it is determined that the vehicle is traveling at a point where there is a high possibility of entering a range where the user's familiarity is low. The navigation device according to claim 2, wherein
The information indicating the degree of recognition of the user's road includes the point data that is a pair of the point where the ignition switch is turned on or off, and the number of times the ignition switch is turned on or off at that point, and the identification of the road link that traveled Including the number, the number of trips, and the set of destination histories that were set when the road link was run,
The determination means sets a range including a point where the number of times the ignition switch is turned on or off as a predetermined number of times and a road link where the number of times of traveling is a predetermined number of times or more as a high familiarity level of the user, When at least one destination out of the history of destinations corresponding to the road link on which the vehicle is currently traveling is outside the range where the user's familiarity is high, the user's familiarity with the vehicle is low A navigation device that determines that the vehicle is traveling at a point that is likely to enter the range. In the navigation device according to any one of claims 2 to 8,
The information indicating the degree of recognition of the user's road further includes a history of times when the ignition switch is turned on in association with points where the ignition switch is turned on,
The determination means, only when it is determined that the time when the ignition switch of the host vehicle is turned on is outside the distribution range of the time when the ignition switch was previously turned on, based on the history of the time when the ignition switch was turned on. A navigation device that determines whether or not the host vehicle is traveling at a point where there is a high possibility of entering the range where the degree of familiarity of the user is low. In the navigation device according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
It further has a driving load judging means for judging the driving load of the driver,
The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the output means outputs guidance prompting the user to set a destination only when the driving load determining means determines that the driving load is low.

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