JP2006258515A - Navigation device and method of searching recommended route - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem wherein, in a conventional method of searching recommended route, when an operator designates a road desired to pass, a search cost for the designated road is changed and re-search is performed, and therefor a pertinent road is required to be designated on a displayed map in order to set the search cost, and the operator is required to perform a troublesome operation in order to achieve it actually. <P>SOLUTION: A branch point or a road used as a base point of edition is selected by extracting main branch points or roads from route information of a recommended route searched for by a plurality of set search conditions, and the selected spots and the recommended route between the spots are re-searched for by the plurality of search conditions, and each route information of the recommended route re-searched for and the recommended route searched for beforehand is edited into one route information, to thereby generate simply the optimum recommended route. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to, for example, a mobile navigation device mounted on a car or carried by an operator, and creates an optimal recommended route using information on routes searched under a plurality of search conditions. The present invention relates to a navigation device having a new recommended route creation function. In addition, although this invention is a navigation apparatus of a mobile body, the example of a motor vehicle is demonstrated for convenience of explanation.

  In a navigation device mounted on a general automobile, a GPS signal from a GPS satellite, a gyro signal from a gyro sensor, a vehicle speed pulse signal from a vehicle speed sensor, etc. are acquired to obtain the current automobile position (coordinate values indicated by latitude and longitude). ), The direction of travel of the car, the traveling speed, etc., and map data including road data stored in a recording medium such as a DVD-ROM or hard disk is searched to include the current car position (coordinates). The map and the vehicle position mark are displayed on the display screen of the navigation device so that a triangular icon (hereinafter referred to as the vehicle position mark) indicating the position of the vehicle is located at a predetermined position based on the read map data. It is designed to display above.

As a main function of such a navigation apparatus, a guidance guidance function for searching for a recommended route from the vehicle position to the destination set by the operator and guiding the vehicle to the destination using voice or the like is provided.

  This guidance and guidance function generally searches for a recommended route that gives the shortest travel distance to the destination, giving priority to either toll roads or general roads. Some have been proposed that can be searched under multiple search conditions, such as those that search preferentially, and those that search for a recommended route that can reach the destination with the lowest possible cost considering the tolls of expressways and toll roads. Yes.

  However, although such a conventional search method includes a plurality of recommended route candidates, it is simply calculated on the basis of physical numerical values such as distance, time, or fee. There is a problem that the recommended route desired by the operator is not searched as expected, such as when it is known that the speed delay does not matter so much, or when the operator is not using a familiar road that the operator always uses there were.

JP 2002-121186 A

  As one method for solving such a problem, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-121186 (Patent Document 1) discloses a search cost for a designated road when an operator designates a road that the user does not want to pass in the recommended route. Techniques for changing and re-searching have been proposed. Here, the search cost is a weighting coefficient for the road, and is generally defined as an index that increases the priority as the weighting coefficient decreases.

  However, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, in order to set the search cost, the corresponding road must be specified on the map displayed on the display screen. There was a problem that the operator had to perform troublesome operations and was unusable.

  In view of such a point, the present invention provides a navigation device having a new guidance route creation function capable of searching for a recommended route to a destination in accordance with an operator's wishes as easily as possible. Objective.

  The feature of the present invention is that an extraction means for extracting main branch points and roads from route information of recommended routes searched under set search conditions, and branch points and roads serving as editing base points from the branch points and roads. The search means for selecting and re-searching the recommended route between the selected point and the set point in the search condition, and the route information of the recommended route searched again and the recommended route searched before is 1 The navigation apparatus is characterized by comprising means for editing one piece of route information.

  Since such a new guidance route creation function is provided, it is possible to obtain a navigation device that can freely create a recommended route to the destination by a simple operation for the operator.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, it is needless to say that the present invention can be variously modified and applied without being limited to the embodiment described below.

First, an example of the internal configuration of a navigation device mounted on an automobile according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
The navigation device 1 includes an arithmetic processing unit 10, an external storage device 20, a sensor unit 30, a display unit 40, an external information receiving unit 50, an input / output unit 60, and the like.

  The arithmetic processing unit 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, a storage device 12 including a Flash ROM (Read Only Memory), and a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) 13. Of course, there are other elements constituting the arithmetic processing unit 10, but illustration of elements not related to the description of the present invention is omitted.

  The CPU 11 is used for performing various calculations in addition to executing application programs described later. For example, a signal from the sensor unit 30 is calculated according to a predetermined logic, or the current position of the vehicle is calculated based on information from a GPS (Global Positioning System) signal receiving unit 51, and necessary for display from the calculated current position information. The map information is read from the external storage device 20 and displayed on the display unit 40 together with the vehicle position mark as the current position.

The storage device 12 stores application programs for various functions of the navigation device 1 and data necessary for the calculation thereof. Here, the Flash ROM 12 is used, but an EPROM or the like having equivalent functions is used. Also good.
The DRAM 13 is used as a work area being processed or used for temporarily storing map data, etc. Map information and calculation data such as position information of a designated place on the touch panel described later and a selected road are used. For example, it stores point information and the like.

The external storage device 20 stores information necessary for navigation processing, such as map data, road types, road data for route calculation such as nodes constituting the road data and link configuration information, facility information such as coordinate values, telephone numbers, and addresses. Is building as.
The external storage device 20 is configured by one or a combination of one or both of a DVD drive 21 in which a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) 23 storing the above-described information is inserted and a PC card interface 22 in which a memory card 24 is inserted. ing.

The sensor unit 30 includes an azimuth sensor 31 and a gyro 32. The azimuth sensor 31 detects the direction of the automobile by detecting the magnetic field of the earth. Used to detect the angle of rotation of the car.
The signals detected by the azimuth sensor 31 and the gyro 32 are converted into digital signals by an analog-digital converter (A / D) 34 and sent to the arithmetic processing unit 10 via the internal bus 70.

  Further, the sensor unit 30 includes a wheel speed sensor 33. The wheel speed sensor 33 detects a travel distance signal of the automobile by counting a pulse signal output with the rotation of the wheel by a counter 35. Similarly, the distance signal is sent to the arithmetic processing unit 10 via the internal bus 70.

  The GPS signal receiving unit 51 receives a signal from a GPS satellite via the GPS antenna 54, and measures the distance between the vehicle and the satellite and the rate of change of the distance, whereby the current position, traveling direction, and traveling direction of the vehicle. These measurement data are sent from the SCI (Serial Communication Interface) 53 to the arithmetic unit 10 via the internal bus 70.

  Further, the traffic information receiving unit 52 periodically receives the VICS information superimposed on the FM broadcast via the FM multiplex receiver 55, captures traffic information such as traffic jam information, traffic regulation and traffic accident occurrence information, Information is sent from the SCI 53 to the computing unit 10 via the internal bus 70, and the traffic information is displayed on the display unit 40 together with the map information.

The display unit 40 includes display control means including a display driver 41, a controller 43, a buffer 44, and the like, and a liquid crystal panel 42, and stores data sent from the arithmetic processing unit 10 via the internal bus 70 in the buffer 44. Based on this, the display device 42 displays a map, a guidance route, a vehicle position, and the like.

  The controller 43 also receives a signal from a number of proximity sensors provided on the touch panel 45 provided on the liquid crystal panel 42 and performs processing for detecting a position pressed by an operator's finger or the like. Information about the above is interrupted and sent to the CPU 11. In addition, the touch panel screen which combined the liquid crystal panel 42 and the touch panel 45 provided with the touch sensor is described below as the display screen 100 as shown in FIG.

The input / output unit 60 is a key PAD 62 configured by a hard switch or a jog switch that receives an instruction from the user, a remote control light receiving unit 61 that receives an optical signal from a remote control 65 operated by the user, and a user generated by the arithmetic processing unit 10. Is converted to a voice signal by a speaker (SP) 66, and a voice code inputted through a microphone 68 is taken in and converted by a CODEC 63 or the like.
These exchange data with the arithmetic processing unit 10 via a PIO (Port Input / Output) 64 and an internal bus 70.

  In the navigation apparatus configured as described above, a plurality of recommended route search processes according to the present invention will be described next with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. These processes are actually executed by the CPU 11. .

  The process until the route editing process is performed will be described with reference to FIG. 2. When the destination is first set by the operator, the multiple route search process is activated.

  When the multi-route search process is activated, a menu screen for selecting a search condition appears in step 102 (hereinafter, step is abbreviated as S), and a desired search condition is selected from the menu screen. When the enter key is pressed, a search process for a recommended route to the destination is performed based on the selected search condition. Since this menu screen is a well-known screen, it will not be described in detail here.

  Next, when all routes are searched under the conditions set by the recommended route in S102, the process proceeds to S104, and the recommended route searched with the highest search condition priority, for example, with priority on toll roads, is displayed on the other roads on the map. In order to distinguish them from each other, they are displayed in different colors, and information about the route is displayed in the form as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 4 is a display example of route information related to a recommended route searched with priority on a toll road. The route information screen 102 is overwritten on the map displayed on the display screen 100, and the guide road which is the recommended route on this map display. Is highlighted. In addition, the recommended road corresponding to this highlighted display is displayed with the broken line.

The route information screen 102 displays the main position points on the recommended route. For example, an interchange (IC) serving as a starting point and a destination, an intersection for making a right or left turn, a main road, an entrance to an expressway, and an exit. Are displayed in the form of enumeration in the order in which they pass.
Furthermore, in the display example of FIG. 4, there are displayed keys named “Determination” key 104, “Next” key 106, and “Previous” key 108. These keys are used to select a route to be edited. Details on the key will be described later.

  Next, in S106, it is determined from the signal on the touch panel 45 whether somewhere on the display screen is pressed. If no button is pressed, the presence / absence of the signal on the touch panel 45 is determined again. When any key is pressed from the signal on the touch panel 45 in S106 (in the case of “Y” in S106), the process proceeds to S108, and whether or not the signal is a signal when the “OK” key 104 shown in FIG. 4 is pressed. judge.

If it is the “OK” key 104 that is pressed in S108 (in the case of “Y” in S108), the route information displayed at that time is edited and the process proceeds to the route editing process shown in FIG. .
On the other hand, if it is not the “OK” key 104 that was pressed in S108, it is determined whether or not it is the “next” key 106 in S110, and if it is the “next” key 106 (“Y” in S110). Proceeding to S112, the next candidate route information (for example, the route information searched with priority given to general roads) is displayed.

If not (if “N” in S110), the process proceeds to S114 to determine whether the key is the “next” key 108, and if it is the “next” key 108 (“Y” in S114). In the case of (1), the process proceeds to S116 and the previous candidate route information is displayed.
On the other hand, if not (if “N” in S114), the process returns to S106 and waits so as to determine from the signal on the touch panel 45 whether any part of the display screen is pressed.

Next, the route editing process when the “OK” key 104 is pressed in S108 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3, 5, 6, and 7. FIG.
When the route editing process is activated, first, in addition to the route information of FIG. 4 described above in S202, a determination key 104 and a re-search key 110 are displayed on the display screen as shown in FIG.

Then, in S204, it is determined from the signal on the touch panel 45 whether somewhere on the display screen is pressed. If no button is pressed, the presence / absence of the signal on the touch panel 45 is determined again.
When the touch sensor 45 is pressed in S204 (in the case of “Y” in S204), the process proceeds to S206, and whether or not the pressed position is a point (intersection or the like) or a road constituting the recommended route on the route information screen 102. judge.

If a point or road is selected in S206 (in the case of “Y” in S206), the process proceeds to S208 where the selected point or the selected road is registered, and the process returns to S204 and the touch panel 45 is pressed. stand by.
On the other hand, if the location touched in S206 is not a point or road on the route information screen 102 (in the case of “N” in S206), the process proceeds to S210 to determine whether or not the touched position is the “decision” key 104. To do.

If it is the “ENTER” key 104 in S210 (in the case of “Y” in S210), the process returns to the normal process and the vehicle guidance is started based on the selected route information.
On the other hand, if it is not the “OK” key 104 in S210 (in the case of “N” in S210), the process proceeds to S212 to determine whether it is the “research” key 110, and if it is not the “research” key 110. Returns to S202 and performs the same processing as described above.

  If it is the “research” key 110 in S210 (in the case of “Y” in S210), the process proceeds to S214 to determine whether there is one registered point or the like. (Normally, two are assumed.) Proceed to S216 and set the recommended route between the starting point and the destination as the registered points (the latest two if three or more are registered) The search is re-searched under the plurality of search conditions, the recommended road re-searched after the search is completed is edited with the previous recommended road, and the process returns to S104 in FIG.

  In addition, when there is one point registered in S214 (in the case of “Y” in S214), the process proceeds to S218, where the departure place (when no re-search has been performed before) or editing is performed. Using the point where re-search was performed as the base point as the departure point, multiple routes to the registered point are searched as described above, and the recommended roads re-searched after the search is completed are edited with previous recommended roads. Returning to the process of S104 of No. 2. By repeatedly performing such processing, the route desired by the operator can be created.

  The above is the basic concept of the route editing process. When a general road, for example, a national road ** is selected on the display screen shown in FIG. 4 so that the route can be edited in more detail, FIG. Other branch point names (names of branch points other than right and left turn points of the recommended route) on the selected national highway ** as shown in FIG. It may be possible to set a base point for editing from the inside.

  Also, as shown in FIG. 6, when the Y expressway is selected, a submenu 114 appears that displays the name of the interchange between the entrance and exit interchanges, for example, the AB interchange, the AC interchange, and the BA interchange. It has become.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, when the BB interchange serving as the entrance and exit of the expressway is selected, a submenu 116 on which the BA interchange, BC interchange, etc. before and after the selected BB interchange are displayed appears. It is like that.
In this state, when an interchange IC before and after the interchange serving as an exit is selected and the re-search key 110 is pressed, the route from this interchange to the destination is re-searched.
Further, when the interchange before and after the interchange serving as the entrance is selected and the re-search key 110 is pressed, the route from the departure place to this interchange is re-searched. By such processing, a route closer to the route desired by the operator can be created.
5, 6, and 7 are not shown by omitting roads and the like of the map as shown in FIG. 4, but roads and the like are displayed as in FIG. 4.

  In the embodiment described above, instructions from the operator are directly captured by the touch panel. However, the target route or road can be selected with the up and down keys of the hard keys or the jog keys on the remote control provided on the side of the screen. It can be realized by changing the road selected with this key and flashing it on the screen and confirming with the enter key. By doing so, it is possible to confirm after editing which part to edit. It is possible to prevent erroneous input.

It is a figure explaining the internal structure of the navigation apparatus which is one Example of this invention. It is a flowchart figure explaining the process to the route edit process in the navigation apparatus which is one Example of this invention. It is a flowchart figure explaining the route edit process in the navigation apparatus which is one Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the route information of the recommended route in the navigation apparatus which is one Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display at the time of the route edit in the navigation apparatus which is one Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the other example of a display at the time of the route edit in the navigation apparatus which is one Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the other example of a display at the time of the route edit in the navigation apparatus which is one Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Navigation apparatus, 10 ... Arithmetic processing part, 11 ... CPU, 12 ... Flash ROM, 13 ... DRAM, 20 ... External storage device, 21 ... DVD drive, 22 ... PC card I / F, 30 ... Sensor part, 40 ... Display unit 51 GPS signal receiving unit 52 Traffic information receiving unit 60 Input / output unit 70 Bus 100 Display screen 102 Route information screen

Claims (3)

Storage means for storing information necessary for navigation processing such as map data and road data, and a current position is detected and a map around the current position is searched from the storage means. On the searched map In a navigation device comprising control means for displaying the current position on a display screen in an overlapping manner,
The control means includes
An extraction means for extracting main branch points and roads from the route information of recommended routes searched under the set search conditions;
Search means for selecting a branch point or road as a base point for editing from the branch point or road, and re-searching a recommended route between the selected point and the point set in the search conditions;
A navigation device comprising means for editing route information of a re-searched recommended route and a recommended route previously searched into one route information. A reading means for retrieving and reading desired information from a storage medium storing map information and road information necessary for navigation;
Input means capable of capturing operator instructions such as selection and determination;
Display control means for displaying the edited data;
A route information creating unit that creates route information based on information input or selected by the operator from the input unit and road information read by the reading unit;
An extraction unit for extracting data to be edited from the route information;
A re-search unit for re-searching a route under a preset condition for a part of the route information;
A navigation apparatus comprising: a control unit including a route editing unit that integrates route information of a re-searched route and original route information. Storage means for storing information necessary for navigation processing such as map data and road data, and a current position is detected and a map around the current position is searched from the storage means. On the searched map In a navigation device comprising control means for displaying the current position on a display screen in an overlapping manner,
The control means includes
Extract major branch points and roads from the route information of recommended routes searched under the set search conditions, and display them on the display screen.
When an operator selects a branch point or road as a base point for editing from the branch point or road displayed on the display screen, a recommendation between the selected point and the set point based on the search condition is performed. Re-search the route,
A recommended route searching method for a navigation device, wherein route information of a re-searched recommended route and a recommended route searched before is edited into one route information and displayed on the display means.

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