JP2006208157A - Navigation system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently download predicted traffic information from a server. <P>SOLUTION: Predicted traffic information is narrowed down to information having a high possibility to be used for routing and downloaded. This navigation system downloads predicted traffic information on detailed roads, main roads, and arterial roads in the periphery of a current position, waypoints, and a destination, downloads only predicted traffic information on main roads and arterial roads in other areas, and does not download at prescribed dates and times (for example, at midnight and in the early morning) nor in the case of the absence of peripheral links provided with predicted traffic information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a navigation device, and more particularly to a method for downloading traffic information of an in-vehicle navigation device.

  Patent Document 1 describes an in-vehicle navigation device that performs route search using predicted traffic information. The predicted traffic information is traffic information after the current time generated from past traffic information and current traffic information. This in-vehicle navigation device downloads predicted traffic information from a server and uses it for route search.

JP 2000-76580 A

  By the way, the predicted traffic information is updated on the server side. Therefore, in order to search for a route that is more realistic, the navigation device should download the latest predicted traffic information. However, if all the predicted traffic information is always downloaded, the amount of communication becomes enormous. Also, predicted traffic information that has not been used for navigation processing such as route search is wasted.

  An object of the present invention is to efficiently download predicted speed information with a simple process. Specifically, it is to narrow down and download to predicted traffic information that is highly likely to be used for navigation processing (for example, route search).

  In order to solve the above problems, the navigation device of the present invention includes means for connecting to a server device that stores predicted traffic information, which is traffic information after the present, for each road type, and a road that determines the road type of the predicted traffic information to be downloaded. A type determining unit; and a unit for downloading predicted traffic information related to the road type determined by the road type determining unit from the server device. Then, the road type determining means determines the road type according to the area on the map of the predicted traffic information to be downloaded.

  In addition, the navigation apparatus stores the prediction from the storage unit that stores the date and time to download or the server device that stores the predicted traffic information that is the traffic information after the present when the current date and time is the download date and time of the storage unit. If the traffic information is downloaded and the current date and time is a date and time when the storage means is not downloaded, there may be means for not downloading the predicted traffic information from the server device.

  In addition, the navigation device downloads the predicted traffic information from the server device that stores the predicted traffic information when the number of links to which the predicted traffic information is provided is equal to or less than a predetermined number or a predetermined ratio around the current position. It may not be performed.

  The navigation device also downloads the predicted traffic information from the server device that stores the predicted traffic information when the number of links to which the predicted traffic information is provided is less than a predetermined number or less than a predetermined ratio on the route. It may not be possible.

  The navigation device may change the time interval for downloading the predicted traffic information from the server device that stores the predicted traffic information according to the date and time.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a navigation system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the navigation system of the present embodiment includes an in-vehicle navigation device 100 and a traffic information distribution server 200. The vehicle-mounted navigation device 100 and the traffic information distribution server 200 are connected to a radio base station (not shown) via a network 400. Traffic information from the traffic information distribution server 200 is also transmitted to the in-vehicle navigation device 100 by the FM multiplex broadcasting station 201 and the beacon 202.

  The traffic information distribution server 200 is a server device that distributes traffic information to the in-vehicle navigation device 100. The traffic information distribution server 200 holds the predicted traffic information 210 in its own storage device.

  The predicted traffic information 210 is future traffic information from now on. The predicted traffic information 210 is generated from past traffic information and current traffic information, for example.

  FIG. 2 is a configuration example of the predicted traffic information 210. The predicted traffic information 210 includes a travel time for each time zone for the link. That is, for each mesh area identification code (mesh ID) 211 that divides the area on the map, a link identification code (link ID) 212 constituting a road, a time zone 213, and a travel time 214 of the link, Congestion level 215 is included.

  Such predicted traffic information can be generated based on traffic information collected in the past. FIG. 3 shows an example of a method for generating predicted traffic information.

  In FIG. 3, the code | symbol 41 shows the time-dependent change of the travel time Td of a certain link calculated | required from the traffic information collected in the past. Reference numeral 42 indicates a change with time of the travel time Td 'of the link obtained from the current traffic information. Let t be the current time.

First, a difference 43 between the link travel time Td′42 obtained from the current traffic information and the past link travel time Td41 is obtained at predetermined time intervals. Then, an average 44 of the obtained differences is obtained. The predicted travel time Td ′ (t + n) at time (t + n) is
Td (t + n) + (average of differences)

  The predicted traffic information is not limited to that generated by the above method. The time series data of the past day and the time series data of the current day may be compared and generated using data of similar days.

  The storage device of the traffic information distribution server 200 includes map data having the same configuration as the map data held by the vehicle-mounted navigation device 100 described later, or the road type and traffic information of each link included in the map data. A table representing the relationship with each link is stored. That is, the road type of each link can be specified from the map data.

  Further, the traffic information distribution server 200 may distribute current traffic information.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of the in-vehicle navigation device 100. As shown in the figure, the in-vehicle navigation device 100 includes an arithmetic processing unit 1, a display 2, a storage device 3, a voice input / output device 4, an input device 5, a wheel speed sensor 6, a geomagnetic sensor 7, It has a gyro sensor 8, a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver 9, an in-vehicle LAN device 11, an FM multiplex broadcast receiver 12, a beacon receiver 13, and a network communication device 14.

  The arithmetic processing unit 1 is a central unit that performs various processes. For example, the present location is detected based on information output from the various sensors 6 to 8 and the GPS receiver 9. Further, map data necessary for display is read out from the storage device 3 based on the obtained current location information. Further, the read map data is developed in graphics, and a mark indicating the current location is superimposed on the map data and displayed on the display 2. Further, using the map data stored in the storage device 3 and the time-series traffic information received from the traffic information distribution server 200, an optimum route (recommended) connecting the destination instructed by the user and the current location (departure location) Route). Further, the user is guided using the voice input / output device 4 and the display 2.

  The display 2 is a unit that displays graphics information generated by the arithmetic processing unit 1. The display 2 is composed of a CRT, a liquid crystal display, or the like. The signal S1 between the arithmetic processing unit 1 and the display 2 is generally connected by an RGB signal or an NTSC (National Television System Committee) signal.

  The storage device 3 is composed of a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, HDD, or IC card. In this storage medium, the predicted traffic information 210 downloaded from the traffic information distribution server 200 is stored. Map data 310 is also stored.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of the map data 310. The map data 310 includes, for each mesh ID 311, link data 312 for each link constituting the road included in the mesh area.

  The link data 312 includes, for each link ID 3121, coordinate information 3122 of two nodes (start node and end node) constituting the link, road type information 3123 including the link, and link length information 3124, 2 indicating the link length. A link ID (connection link ID) 3126 of a link connected to each of the nodes is included. Here, by distinguishing the start node and the end node for the two nodes constituting the link, the upward direction and the downward direction of the same road are managed as different links. The map data 310 also includes information (name, type, coordinate information, etc.) of map components other than roads included in the corresponding mesh area. The type information 3123 includes road types such as detailed roads (fine roads, narrow roads (for example, roads having a width of 5 m or less), general roads, main roads, and main roads).

  Returning to FIG. The voice input / output device 4 converts the message to the user generated by the arithmetic processing unit 1 into a voice signal and outputs it. Also, a process of recognizing the voice uttered by the user and transferring the contents to the arithmetic processing unit 1 is performed.

  The input device 5 is a unit that receives instructions from the user. The input device 5 includes a hard switch such as a scroll key and a scale change key, a joystick, a touch panel pasted on a display, and the like.

  The sensors 6 to 8 and the GPS receiver 9 are used for detecting the current location (vehicle position) by the vehicle-mounted navigation device 100. The wheel speed sensor 6 measures the distance from the product of the wheel circumference and the measured number of rotations of the wheel, and further measures the angle at which the moving body is bent from the difference in the number of rotations of the paired wheels. The geomagnetic sensor 7 detects the magnetic field held by the earth and detects the direction in which the moving body is facing. The gyro 8 is configured by an optical fiber gyro, a vibration gyro, or the like, and detects an angle at which the moving body rotates. The GPS receiver 9 receives a signal from a GPS satellite and measures the distance between the mobile body and the GPS satellite and the rate of change of the distance with respect to three or more satellites to thereby determine the current position, travel speed, and travel of the mobile body. Measure orientation.

  The in-vehicle LAN device 11 receives various information of the vehicle on which the in-vehicle navigation device 100 is mounted, such as door opening / closing information, light lighting state information, engine status, failure diagnosis result, and the like.

  The FM multiplex broadcast receiver 12 receives the approximate current traffic data, traffic regulation information, and weather information sent from the FM multiplex broadcast station 201 as an FM multiplex broadcast signal.

  The beacon receiving device 13 receives current traffic data including the link travel time sent from the beacon 202.

  The network communication device 14 mediates exchange of information between the in-vehicle navigation device 100 and the traffic information distribution server 200. In addition, the traffic information distribution server 200 is accessed periodically or during route search, and predicted traffic information and current traffic information are received.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the arithmetic processing unit 1.

  As shown in the figure, the arithmetic processing unit 1 includes a user operation analysis unit 41, a route search unit 42, a route storage unit 43, a route guidance unit 44, a current position calculation unit 46, a display processing unit 45, and a communication. A processing unit 47 and a reception information storage unit 48 are included.

  The current position calculation unit 46 uses distance data and angle data obtained as a result of integrating the distance pulse data S5 measured by the wheel speed sensor 6 and the angular acceleration data S7 measured by the gyro 8, respectively. The current position (X ′, Y ′), which is the position after the vehicle travels, is periodically calculated from the initial position (X, Y). Further, by performing map matching processing using the calculation result, the current location is matched with the road (link) having the highest shape correlation.

  The user operation analysis unit 41 receives a request from the user input to the input device 5, analyzes the request content, and controls each unit of the arithmetic processing unit 1 so that processing corresponding to the request content is executed. To do. For example, when the user requests a search for a recommended route, the display processing unit 45 is requested to display a map on the display 2 in order to set a destination. Further, it requests the route search unit 42 to calculate a route from the current location (departure location) to the destination.

  The route search unit 42 uses a Dijkstra method or the like to search for a route that minimizes the cost (for example, travel time) of a route connecting two designated points (current location, destination). The route storage unit 43 stores information on the route searched for by the route search unit 42.

  The route guidance unit 44 performs route guidance using the route searched by the route search unit 42. For example, the information on the route is compared with the information on the current location, and the voice input / output device 4 is used to inform the user by voice whether the vehicle should go straight before passing an intersection or the like. Further, the route guiding unit 44 displays the direction to travel on the map displayed on the display 2 and notifies the user of the recommended route.

  The display processing unit 45 receives map data in an area required to be displayed on the display 2 from the storage device 3, and at a specified scale and drawing method, roads, other map components, current location, destination, A map drawing command is generated so as to draw a mark such as an arrow for the guide route. Then, the generated command is transmitted to the display 2.

  Upon receiving the predicted traffic information download request, the communication processing unit 47 connects to the traffic information distribution server 200 via the network communication device 14 and requests the predicted traffic information to be downloaded. The downloaded predicted traffic information is stored in the received information storage unit 48. In addition, the communication processing unit 47 stores the traffic information received from the FM multiplex broadcasting station 201 and the beacon 202 in the reception information storage unit 48. When the storage device 3 is configured by a rewritable HDD, flash ROM, or the like, the communication processing unit 47 may store the received information in the storage device 3.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the arithmetic processing unit 1.

  As illustrated, the arithmetic processing unit 1 has a configuration in which devices are connected by a bus 32. The arithmetic processing unit 1 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 21 that executes various processes such as numerical calculation and control of each device, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) that stores map data, arithmetic data, and the like read from the storage device 3. ) 22, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 23 for storing programs and data, a DMA (Direct Memory Access) 24 for transferring data between the memories and between the memory and each device, and graphics drawing. In addition, a drawing controller 25 that performs display control, a video random access memory (VRAM) 26 that stores graphics image data, a color palette 27 that converts image data into RGB signals, and an A / D that converts analog signals into digital signals. Converter 28 and an SCI (Serial Communication Interface) that converts the serial signal into a parallel signal synchronized with the bus. ace) 29, a PIO (Parallel Input / Output) 30 that puts a parallel signal on the bus in synchronization with the bus, and a counter 31 that integrates the pulse signal.

  [Description of Operation] Next, the operation of the in-vehicle navigation device 100 will be described.

  Upon receiving a download condition setting request from the user via the input device 5, the user operation analysis unit 41 displays a download condition setting screen on the display 2 via the display processing unit 45.

  FIG. 8 is an example of such a setting screen 530. As illustrated, the setting screen 530 displays several options 531 to 533 so that the timing for downloading the predicted traffic information can be selected. In this embodiment, there are several modes as download conditions. For example, there are a “do not download at midnight / early morning” mode, a “download on weekday morning / evening” mode, a “do not download on Sunday” mode, and the like. The mode of the condition not to download is provided for setting the date and time for which downloading is unnecessary in consideration of the fact that there is little change in the predicted traffic information. It is possible to set a plurality of modes at the same time, but when the conditions for downloading overlap with the conditions for not downloading, the conditions for downloading have priority. Details will be described later.

  The user operation analysis unit 41 sets the download condition mode with the content selected by the user.

  Next, a flow of processing when the user operation analysis unit 41 receives a route search request from the user via the input device 5 will be described. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an outline of such an operation.

  First, the user operation analysis unit 41 sets a departure place and a destination. The user operation analysis unit 41 normally sets the current location obtained by the current position calculation unit 46 as a departure location. The user operation analysis unit 41 also sets a destination based on a user instruction. For example, the user operation analysis unit 41 reads a map constituent registered in the map data from the storage device 3. The user operation analysis unit 41 displays these map components on the display 2 via the display processing unit 45. The user operation analysis unit 41 causes the user to select a destination from the information of the displayed map constituent via the input device 5. The user operation analysis unit 41 also sets a departure time. When the current time is set as the departure time, the current time acquired when the recommended route search request is received is set as the departure time using a built-in timer (not shown) or the like (S102).

  Next, the route search unit 42 determines whether or not the predicted traffic information need not be downloaded based on the date and time (S103). Specifically, first. The route search unit 42 refers to the download condition mode set by the user operation analysis unit 41.

  When the mode is set to “not download at midnight / early morning”, the route search unit 42 determines that the download is not necessary when the current time is midnight or early morning (for example, 23: 00 to 5:00). (Yes in S103).

  When the “download on weekday morning / evening” mode is set, the route search unit 42 indicates that the current date and time is Monday to Friday morning or evening (for example, 5:00 to 10:00, or 16: 00 to 19:00), it is determined that the download is necessary (No in S103).

  When the mode is set to “not download on Sunday” mode, the route search unit 42 determines that the download is not required when the current day of the week is Sunday (Yes in S103).

  If the set download condition (download required) and the non-download condition (download unnecessary) overlap, the download is prioritized (No in S103).

  If the route search unit 42 determines that the download is unnecessary (Yes in S103), the route search unit 42 proceeds to S110 and starts the route search.

  On the other hand, when it is not determined that the download is unnecessary (No in S103), the route search unit 42 specifies a mesh (related mesh) related to the route from the departure point to the destination (S104). Specifically, the route search unit 42 first uses the map data to search for a route having the minimum total cost with the link length as the cost. In addition, when the route of the same starting point and the destination was searched previously and memorize | stored in the route memory | storage part 43, the route should just be used and it is not necessary to search a route newly.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 10, using map data, a mesh 305 including a link constituting a route 304 from the departure point 302 to the destination 303 is specified and set as a related mesh. In FIG. 10, reference numeral 301 indicates a partitioned mesh on the map, and 305 indicates a related mesh.

  In addition, it is good also considering the mesh in the range of predetermined distance (for example, 10 km) from the straight line which connects a starting point and the destination as a related mesh, without performing route search. When a route is not searched, a mesh around the current position (for example, within 20 km) may be used as a related mesh.

  When the related mesh is specified, the route search unit 42 determines the target of the predicted traffic information to be downloaded for each related mesh (S105). The route search unit 42 causes the predicted traffic information related to roads used in route search, in other words, links (candidate links) that are candidates for links constituting the route to be downloaded. In the route search, as will be described later, a route search including a detailed road (narrow road) is performed in the vicinity of the departure point, the waypoint, and the destination. In other areas, the route search is performed using only the main road and the main road without including the detailed road. Accordingly, the route search unit 42 predicts traffic information including the road type targeted by the route search process, that is, the detailed road, main road, and the related mesh including the departure point (current position), the waypoint, and the destination. Predicted traffic information related to roads and main roads is to be downloaded. On the other hand, for other related meshes, the predicted traffic information of the link including the road type targeted by the route search process, that is, the predicted traffic information related to the main road and the main road is the target of download.

  When the download target is determined, the route search unit 42 generates download request information 390 as shown in FIG. Specifically, the route search unit 42 creates one record for one related mesh in the download request information 390. In each record, the mesh ID of the related mesh is stored as the mesh ID 391. As the road type 392, the road type to be downloaded of the related mesh is stored.

  In this way, the route search unit 42 determines the target of the predicted traffic information to be downloaded for all the related meshes, and generates the download request information 390. The download request information 390 is temporarily stored in the memory.

  Next, the route search unit 42 instructs the communication processing unit 47 to download the predicted traffic information. In response to this, the communication processing unit 47 transmits the download request information 390 to the traffic information distribution server 200. Then, the traffic information distribution server 200 is requested to download the predicted traffic information (S107).

  In response to this, the traffic information distribution server 200 extracts predicted traffic information in a range specified by the download request information 390 from the predicted traffic information 210 stored in its own storage device. Specifically, the traffic information distribution server 200 includes the predicted traffic of the link ID 212 of the link belonging to the road type 392 that has the same mesh ID 391 as the mesh ID 391 included in the download request information 390 from the predicted traffic information 210. Information (link travel time 214 for each time zone 213, traffic jam information 215) is extracted. Then, the extracted predicted traffic information is transmitted (downloaded) to the in-vehicle navigation device 100. The traffic information distribution server 200 determines which road type the link belongs to based on the map data stored in its own storage device.

  The communication processing unit 47 of the in-vehicle navigation device 100 receives the predicted traffic information from the traffic information distribution server 200 and stores it in the received information storage unit 48 (S108).

  Next, the route search unit 42 performs route search using the predicted traffic information (S110). Specifically, a link travel time in a time zone corresponding to the expected travel time of the link is used as the link cost to search for a route that minimizes the total cost from the departure point to the destination. At this time, for a link whose link travel time is included in the predicted traffic information, the link travel time is set as the cost of the link. For a link that does not include the link travel time in the predicted traffic information, the link travel time of the current traffic information stored in the reception information storage unit 48 is used as the cost of the link. When the current travel information does not include the link travel time, the link travel time obtained from the link data 312 (the value obtained by dividing the link length by a predetermined moving speed (for example, 40 km per hour)) is linked to the candidate link. Travel time.

  In addition, the route search is performed by including a detailed road (narrow road) as candidates for the route for the departure point, the waypoint, and the vicinity of the destination. For other areas, the route search is performed using only main roads and main roads as candidates without including detailed roads.

  The route search unit 42 displays the searched route on the display 2 via the display processing unit 45 (S112).

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described above.

  According to this embodiment, it is possible to set a date and time that does not require downloading in consideration of a case where there is little change in the predicted traffic information. For the departure point, waypoints, and destinations, the predicted traffic information related to fine roads is subject to download, and for the others, only the predicted traffic information related to main roads and main roads is subject to download. Therefore, since it downloads focusing on the predicted traffic information with high possibility of being used for navigation processes, such as route search, communication efficiency is good.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made.

  For example, the predicted traffic information may be downloaded only when the current date and time is a predetermined date and time.

  In such a case, the storage device 3 stores information related to the download date and time as shown in FIG. In this information, a download day 371 and a time zone 372 are stored.

  When determining whether or not to download in step S103 of the flow illustrated in FIG. 9, the route search unit 42 determines whether or not the current date and time is the designated download date 371 and the time zone 372. Like that. If it is not the specified download date and time, it is determined not to download. On the other hand, in the case of the designated download date and time, the process of shifting to S104 is performed.

  In this way, downloading can be performed only at a predetermined date and time.

  Further, it may be determined whether or not to download the predicted traffic information according to the place where the route is searched.

  For example, the route search unit 42 does not include a link to which the predicted traffic information is provided around the departure place (current position) (for example, a mesh including the departure place), or the ratio of the links to which the predicted traffic information is provided. Is less than a predetermined value, it is determined not to download the predicted traffic information. It is assumed that a link for which current traffic information is provided is a link for which predicted traffic information is provided. Alternatively, information for specifying a link to which the predicted traffic information is provided is stored in the storage device 3 in advance. If there is no link for which current traffic information is provided in the links included in the mesh including the departure place, or less than a predetermined number or less than a predetermined percentage (the number of links for which current traffic information is provided for the number of links included in the mesh) Is less than a predetermined value (for example, 50% or less), it is determined not to download.

  Moreover, even if it is determined that the predicted traffic information is not downloaded when there is no link for which the predicted traffic information is provided for the related mesh specified in S104, when the number is less than a predetermined number, or when the number is less than a predetermined ratio. Good.

  Also, if there is no link for which the predicted traffic information is provided on the route that has been temporarily searched to identify the related mesh, the predicted traffic information is downloaded if it is less than a predetermined number or less than a predetermined ratio. You may decide not to.

  Further, even when the route guidance unit 44 downloads predicted traffic information during route guidance and performs a reroute search, the route guidance unit 44 determines whether or not to download the route as shown in FIG. A target may be determined. In such a case, the route guidance unit 44 generates download request information 390 and makes a request for downloading predicted traffic information to the traffic information distribution server 200 via the communication processing unit 47.

  For example, the route guidance unit 44 may determine whether to download the predicted traffic information according to the date and time.

  Specifically, the route guidance unit 44 prevents the predicted traffic information from being downloaded when the current date and time match the non-download condition set by the user operation analysis unit 41.

  Further, the route guiding unit 44 may vary the download interval depending on the download date and time. For example, when the current time is midnight or early morning (for example, 23: 00 to 5:00), the route guiding unit 44 makes the download interval longer than other time zones. For example, a place where downloading is normally performed at intervals of 20 minutes is downloaded at intervals of 30 minutes. Further, the storage device 3 may store a table in which the date and time are associated with the download interval, and the route guiding unit 44 may determine the download interval with reference to the table.

  In the above embodiment, the in-vehicle navigation device 100 narrows down the download target and makes a download request to the traffic information distribution device 200. The present embodiment is not limited to this, and the traffic information distribution device 200 may narrow down the download target and perform the download.

  In addition, although the example which applied this invention to the vehicle-mounted navigation apparatus was demonstrated, this invention is applicable also to navigation apparatuses other than vehicle-mounted.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a navigation system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a configuration example of predicted traffic information. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a method of generating predicted traffic information. FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of the in-vehicle navigation device 100. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of map data stored in the storage device 3. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the arithmetic processing unit 1. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the arithmetic processing unit 1. FIG. 8 is a display example of a download condition setting screen. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an outline of processing of the in-vehicle navigation device 100. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining how the related mesh is specified from the route. FIG. 11 is a configuration example of download request information. FIG. 12 is a configuration example of information specifying the download date and time.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Car-mounted navigation apparatus, 200 ... Traffic information delivery server, 400 ... Network,
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Arithmetic processing part, 2 ... Display, 3 ... Memory | storage device, 4 ... Audio | voice input / output device, 5 ... Input device, 6 ... Wheel speed sensor, 7 ... Geomagnetic sensor, 8 ... Gyro, 9 ... GPS receiver, 11 ... In-car LAN device, 12 ... FM multiplex broadcast receiving device, 13 ... beacon receiving device, 14 ... network communication device, 21 ... CPU, 22 ... RAM, 23 ... ROM, 24 ... DMA, 25 ... drawing controller, 26 ... VRAM, 27 ... Color palette, 28 ... A / D converter, 29 ... SCI, 30 ... PIO, 31 ... Counter, 41 ... User operation analysis unit, 42 ... Route search unit, 43 ... Route storage unit, 44 ... Route guidance unit, 45 ... Display processing unit, 46 ... Current position calculation unit, 47 ... Communication processing unit

Claims (11)

A navigation device,
Means for connecting to a server device for storing predicted traffic information, which is traffic information after the present for each road type;
Road type determining means for determining the road type of the predicted traffic information to be downloaded;
Means for downloading predicted traffic information related to the road type determined by the road type determination means from the server device;
The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the road type determining means determines a road type according to an area on the map of the predicted traffic information to be downloaded. In claim 1,
The road type determining means is
A navigation device characterized in that a road type of an area around a current position or a destination is determined so as to include a finer road than a road type of another area. A navigation device,
Means for connecting to a server device for storing predicted traffic information, which is traffic information after the present, for each divided mesh region and road type on the map;
Area determining means for determining a mesh area of the predicted traffic information to be downloaded;
Road type determining means for determining the road type of the predicted traffic information to be downloaded for the mesh area determined by the area determining means, and predicted traffic information relating to the mesh area determined by the area determining means, wherein the road type determining means And a means for downloading predicted traffic information relating to the road type determined in step 1 from the server device. A navigation device,
Means for connecting to a server device for storing predicted traffic information, which is traffic information after the present, for each partitioned area and road type on the map;
An area determining means for determining an area of predicted traffic information to be downloaded;
For the area determined by the area determining means, road type determining means for determining the road type of the predicted traffic information to be downloaded;
Means for downloading, from the server device, predicted traffic information relating to the area determined by the area determining means and the predicted traffic information relating to the road type determined by the road type determining means;
Route search means for performing route search by changing the road type of a road (candidate road) as a candidate for a road constituting a route according to an area on the map,
The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the road type determining means determines the road type of a road that is a candidate road for the area in the route search means as the road type of the predicted traffic information to be downloaded. In claim 4,
The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the route search performs a route search so that a road type of a candidate road in a region around a current position or a destination includes a road that is finer than a road type of a candidate road in another region. In the navigation equipment,
Storage means for storing the date and time of downloading or not,
If the current date and time is the date and time when the storage means downloads, download the predicted traffic information from the server device that stores the predicted traffic information that is traffic information after the current time,
A navigation device comprising means for not downloading the predicted traffic information from the server device when the current date and time is a date and time when the storage means is not downloaded. In claim 6,
Means for accepting the date and time of downloading or not,
A navigation device comprising means for storing in the storage means the received download date and time. A navigation device,
In the vicinity of the current position, when the number of links to which the predicted traffic information is provided is a predetermined number or less or a predetermined ratio or less, the predicted traffic information is not downloaded from the server device that stores the predicted traffic information. Navigation device. A navigation device,
When the number of links on which the predicted traffic information is provided is less than or equal to a predetermined number or a predetermined ratio, the predicted traffic information is not downloaded from the server device that stores the predicted traffic information. Navigation device. A navigation device,
A navigation device characterized in that the time interval for downloading the predicted traffic information from the server device that stores the predicted traffic information is changed according to the date and time. A method for downloading traffic information of a navigation device,
For each road type, having means for connecting to a server device that stores predicted traffic information that is traffic information from now on,
A road type determining step for determining a road type of the predicted traffic information to be downloaded;
Downloading predicted traffic information related to the road type determined in the road type determination step from the server device,
The road information determining method includes determining a road type according to an area on a map of predicted traffic information to be downloaded.

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