JP2007017209A - Navigation system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a navigation system for improving user's convenience, by extracting a specific facility used for specifying one's own vehicle position when the vehicle travels on an outward road and by guiding it to the specific facility extracted on the outward road when the vehicle travels on a homeward road. <P>SOLUTION: The navigation system associates a homeward road candidate number as well as the link numbers of one or more links with each other and registers (S14, S15) it as a homeward road candidate on a homeward road candidate table 23 when the vehicle travels via a highway on the outward road from a starting point to a destination, then determines (S24, S25) whether each link of the homeward road candidate registered on the homeward road candidate table 23 is suitable for route guidance in descending order of high priority when the vehicle travels on the homeward road from the destination, and retrieves and guides (S4, S5) the route to the homeward road candidate determined to be suitable. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a navigation device that provides route guidance to a user based on traveling data of an outbound route to a destination when traveling on a return route from the destination, and in particular, specifies the position of the vehicle when traveling on the outbound route. The present invention relates to a navigation apparatus that improves user convenience by extracting a specific facility and providing guidance to the specific facility extracted on the outward path when traveling on a return path.

  In recent years, a navigation device is often mounted on a vehicle that provides vehicle travel guidance so that a driver can easily reach a desired destination. Here, the navigation device detects the current position of the vehicle with a GPS receiver or the like, acquires map data corresponding to the current position through a recording medium such as a DVD-ROM or a network, and displays it on a liquid crystal monitor. This is an apparatus capable of searching for a recommended route to the destination set by the operator and displaying it on the map displayed on the liquid crystal monitor. Furthermore, such a navigation device has a route search function for searching for the optimum route from the vehicle position to the destination when a desired destination is input, and displays the guidance route on the display screen and approaches the intersection. In such a case, the driver is surely guided to a desired destination by providing voice guidance.

In addition, the conventional navigation device searches the return route from the destination to the departure point based on the traveling data of the outgoing route from the departure point to the destination in order to reduce the memory burden and more easily perform the route search. And guidance was carried out. For example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-320194, a passing node of a vehicle is detected in the memory in order from the time when a registration start key is pressed at the departure point to the time when the registration end key is pressed at the destination. A navigation device is described that can create a route from a destination to a departure point in a forward route by storing and using the passing nodes in reverse order as guidance route data for a return route.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-320194 (pages 3 to 6, FIGS. 2 to 7)

  However, in the navigation device described in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to create a route from the destination to the departure point on the outbound route, and it is necessary to perform guidance processing for the route. The load will increase. Further, for the user, it is sometimes sufficient to guide the user on the way back to the middle of the outward route, and it may be troublesome to be guided to the departure point on the outward route.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described conventional problems, and it is possible to provide an effective return route guidance for a return trip from the destination according to the traveling state of the vehicle to the destination with the minimum necessary guidance processing. An object of the present invention is to provide a navigation device that can be performed and has improved user convenience.

In order to achieve the above object, a navigation device according to claim 1 of the present application is a navigation device having facility information storage means for storing facility information and current location detection means for detecting the current location of the own vehicle. When traveling to the ground, facility extraction means for extracting a specific facility for identifying the vehicle position detected by the current location detection means from the facility stored in the facility information storage means, and the vehicle travels from the destination At this time, it has facility guidance means for guiding to a specific facility extracted by the facility extraction means.
The “facility” includes roads such as highways and national roads, and buildings such as stations and hospitals.

  The navigation device according to claim 2 is the navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the facility guidance unit searches for a route to the specific facility extracted by the facility extraction unit and is searched. According to a route, route guidance to the specific facility is performed.

  The navigation device according to claim 3 is the navigation device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the facility is a road, and the facility extraction means uses the road on which the vehicle is currently traveling as a specific road. It is characterized by extracting.

  Further, the navigation device according to claim 4 is the navigation device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the facility extraction means is located within a predetermined range from the vehicle position detected by the current location detection means. The facility stored in the facility information storage means is extracted as a specific facility.

  A navigation device according to claim 5 is the navigation device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the priority order of the specific facilities extracted by the facility extraction means is in ascending order. The facility guide means guides to a specific facility set with the highest priority by the priority order setting means.

  Further, a navigation device according to claim 6 is the navigation device according to claim 5, wherein the navigation device is acquired based on information acquisition means for acquiring information relating to the specific facility, and information acquired by the information acquisition means. Guidance determining means for determining whether or not to perform guidance to a specific facility related to the information, and the facility guidance means includes, among the specific facilities determined to be guided by the guidance determination means, Guidance to a specific facility with the highest priority set by the priority setting means is performed.

  In the navigation device according to claim 1 having the above-described configuration, when the host vehicle travels from the destination, guidance is provided to a specific facility that identifies the position of the host vehicle extracted when the host vehicle travels to the destination. Therefore, effective return route guidance for the return trip from the destination can be performed with the minimum necessary guidance processing in accordance with the traveling state of the vehicle to the destination. Therefore, the load on the navigation device can be reduced and the convenience for the user is also improved.

  Further, in the navigation device according to claim 2, when the host vehicle travels from the destination, route search and route guidance to a specific facility that specifies the position of the host vehicle extracted when the host vehicle travels to the destination. Thus, effective return route search and guidance for the return trip from the destination can be performed with the minimum necessary search processing and guidance processing in accordance with the traveling state of the vehicle to the destination. Therefore, the load on the navigation device can be reduced and the convenience for the user is also improved.

  In the navigation device according to claim 3, when the host vehicle travels from the destination, when the host vehicle travels to the destination, guidance to the specific road on which the host vehicle has traveled is performed. Effective return route guidance for the return trip from the destination according to the traveling road of the vehicle can be performed with the minimum necessary guidance processing. Therefore, the load on the navigation device can be reduced and the convenience for the user is also improved.

  In the navigation device according to claim 4, when the vehicle travels from the destination, guidance is given to a specific facility located within a predetermined range when the vehicle travels to the destination. The effective return route guidance for the return trip from the destination according to the travel route of the vehicle can be performed with the minimum necessary guidance processing. Therefore, the load on the navigation device can be reduced and the convenience for the user is also improved.

  In the navigation device according to claim 5, when the vehicle travels from the destination, it is extracted latest among the specific facilities that identify the position of the vehicle extracted when the vehicle travels to the destination. Since the guidance to the specific facility is performed, more efficient guidance can be performed on the way back from the destination.

  Further, in the navigation device according to claim 6, when the host vehicle travels from the destination, guidance is provided in a specific facility that specifies the position of the host vehicle extracted when the host vehicle travels to the destination. Since the guidance to the specific facility that is most suitable and extracted the latest is performed, more efficient guidance based on the situation of the special facility can be performed.

  Hereinafter, a navigation apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail based on first and second embodiments embodied in the navigation apparatus 1 with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
First, a schematic configuration of the navigation device 1 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a navigation device 1 according to the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the navigation apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment includes a current location detection processing unit (current location detection means) 11 that detects the current position of the vehicle, and a data recording unit (facility information) in which various data are recorded. (Storage means) 12, navigation control unit (facility extraction means, facility guidance means, priority order setting means, guidance determination means) 13 for performing various arithmetic processes based on the input information, and operations from the operator Communication is performed between an operation unit 14 that receives information, a liquid crystal display 15 that displays information such as a map to the operator, a speaker 16 that outputs voice guidance related to route guidance, and an information center such as a traffic information transmission center. And a communication device (information acquisition means) 17. The navigation control unit 13 is connected to a vehicle speed sensor 21 that detects the traveling speed of the vehicle.

  The components constituting the navigation device 1 will be described below. The current location detection processing unit 11 includes a GPS 31, a geomagnetic sensor 32, a distance sensor 33, a steering sensor 34, a gyro sensor 35 as an orientation detection unit, and an altimeter (not shown). And the like, and it is possible to detect the current position, direction, distance to a target (for example, an intersection), and the like.

  Specifically, the GPS 31 detects the current location and current time of the vehicle on the earth by receiving radio waves generated by artificial satellites, and the geomagnetic sensor 32 measures the direction of the vehicle by measuring the geomagnetism. The distance sensor 33 detects a distance between predetermined positions on the road. Here, as the distance sensor 33, for example, the rotational speed of a wheel (not shown) of the vehicle is measured, a sensor that detects the distance based on the measured rotational speed, the acceleration is measured, and the measured acceleration is 2 A sensor that integrates the times and detects the distance can be used.

  The steering sensor 34 detects the rudder angle of the host vehicle. Here, as the steering sensor 34, for example, an optical rotation sensor attached to a rotating portion of a steering wheel (not shown), a rotation resistance sensor, an angle sensor attached to a wheel, or the like is used.

  And the gyro sensor 35 detects the turning angle of the own vehicle. Here, as the gyro sensor 35, for example, a gas rate gyro, a vibration gyro, or the like is used. Further, by integrating the turning angle detected by the gyro sensor 35, the vehicle direction can be detected.

  The data recording unit 12 reads an external storage device and a hard disk (not shown) as a recording medium, an information DB 22 recorded on the hard disk, a return path candidate table 23 (see FIG. 4), a predetermined program, and the like and And a recording head (not shown) which is a driver for writing predetermined data. In the first embodiment, a hard disk is used as the external storage device and storage medium of the data recording unit 12, but in addition to the hard disk, a magnetic disk such as a flexible disk can be used as the external storage device. Also, a memory card, magnetic tape, magnetic drum, CD, MD, DVD, optical disk, MO, IC card, optical card, etc. can be used as an external storage device.

  Here, various information necessary for route guidance and map display is recorded in the information DB 22, for example, map data for displaying a map, intersection data regarding each intersection, node data regarding node points, and a kind of facility Road data relating to a road, search data for searching for a route, building data relating to a building which is a kind of facility, search data for searching for a point, and the like.

  Here, in particular, as node data, the coordinates (positions) of node points set for each predetermined distance according to the turning points of actual roads (including intersections, T-junctions, etc.) and the curvature radius of each road. A node attribute indicating whether the node is a node corresponding to the intersection, a connection link number list which is a list of link numbers of links connected to the node, and a list of node numbers of nodes adjacent to the node via the link Data on the adjacent node number list, the height (altitude) of each node point, etc. is recorded.

  The road data includes the width, slope, cant, bank, road condition, road lanes, locations where the number of lanes decreases, locations where the width becomes narrower, railroad crossings, etc. The data representing the radius of curvature, the intersection, the T-junction, the entrance and exit of the corner, etc. regarding the corner, the data representing the downhill road, the uphill road, etc. regarding the road attribute, the national road, In addition to general roads such as prefectural roads and narrow streets, data representing expressways and toll roads such as expressways, urban expressways, and toll roads are recorded. In addition, regarding highway / toll roads, data related to entrance and exit attachment roads (rampways), toll gates, etc. are recorded.

  Further, as building data, data related to buildings such as hotels, hospitals, gas stations, parking lots, and tourist facilities in each region is recorded together with a facility ID that identifies the building. The information DB 22 also records audio output data for outputting predetermined information from the speaker 16 of the navigation device 1.

  The contents of the information DB 22 are updated by transferring information from a recording medium such as an externally connected memory card or downloading information from a specific information center or the like via the communication device 17.

  In addition, the return route candidate table 23 is the main road (in the first embodiment, 4 roads such as a highway, a car road, a national road, and a prefectural road) among the roads on which the vehicle traveled on the outbound route from the departure place to the destination. This is a table in which when a vehicle travels, the time when the main road starts to travel, the time when the travel ends, and the link number that identifies the link of the main road that traveled are recorded in the order of travel. The return path candidate table 23 will be described in detail later with reference to FIG.

  In addition, the navigation control unit 13 is used as a working device and a CPU 41 as a computing device and a control device that perform overall control of the navigation device 1 and when the CPU 41 performs various computing processes, and when a route is searched for In addition to the RAM 42 in which route data and the like are stored, a control program, a route guidance processing program that searches for a route to the destination, and guides the searched guidance route, a main traveling on the outbound route from the departure point to the destination In addition to recording roads, a ROM 43 in which a round trip guidance processing program (see FIG. 5) to be described later for performing route guidance to the main road recorded on the return route from the destination to the departure point is recorded, and a program read from the ROM 43 are recorded. An internal storage device such as a flash memory 44 is provided. As the RAM 42, ROM 43, flash memory 44, etc., a semiconductor memory, a magnetic core or the like is used. As the arithmetic device and the control device, an MPU or the like can be used instead of the CPU 41.

  In the first embodiment, various programs are recorded in the ROM 43, and various data are recorded in the data recording unit 12. However, the programs, data, and the like are stored in the same external storage device, memory, and the like. It is also possible to read a program, data, etc. from a card or the like and write it into the flash memory 44. Further, the program, data, etc. can be updated by exchanging a memory card or the like.

  Furthermore, the navigation control unit 13 is electrically connected to peripheral devices (actuators) of the operation unit 14, the liquid crystal display 15, the speaker 16, and the communication device 17.

  The operation unit 14 is operated when correcting the current location at the start of travel and inputting a departure point as a guidance start point and a destination point as a guidance end point. The operation unit 14 includes a plurality of operation switches (such as various keys and buttons). (Not shown). The navigation control unit 13 performs control to execute various corresponding operations based on switch signals output by pressing the switches. In particular, in the navigation device 1 according to the first embodiment, by depressing a return route guidance button (not shown) provided on the operation unit 14, the route guidance of the return route is started based on the return route candidate table 23 (FIG. 5). reference). As the operation unit 14, a keyboard, a mouse, a barcode reader, a remote control device for remote operation, a joystick, a light pen, a stylus pen, or the like can be used. Furthermore, it can also be configured by a touch panel provided on the front surface of the liquid crystal display 15.

  The liquid crystal display 15 also has operation guidance, operation menus, key guidance, guidance route from the current location to the destination, guidance information along the guidance route, traffic information, news, weather forecast, time, mail, TV program, etc. Is displayed. Instead of the liquid crystal display 15, it is also possible to use a CRT display, a plasma display, or the like, or a hologram device that projects a hologram onto the windshield of a vehicle.

  In addition, the speaker 16 outputs voice guidance for guiding traveling along the guidance route based on an instruction from the navigation control unit 13. Here, examples of the voice guidance to be guided include “Please turn right at the intersection 200 meters ahead” and “The next national highway No. XX is congested”. In addition to the synthesized voice, the voice output from the speaker 16 can output various sound effects and various guidance information recorded in advance on a tape, a memory, or the like.

  Then, the communication device 17 receives traffic information, regulation information, parking lot information, traffic accident information, service area congestion transmitted from the traffic information transmission center 2, for example, a VICS (registered trademark: Vehicle Information and Communication System) center or the like. It is a beacon receiver that receives traffic information including information such as the situation as a radio beacon, an optical beacon, and the like via a radio beacon device, an optical beacon device, and the like arranged along a road. The communication device 17 is a network that enables communication in a communication system such as a LAN, WAN, intranet, cellular phone line network, telephone line network, public communication line network, dedicated communication line network, and communication line network such as the Internet. It may be a device. In addition to the information from the information center, the communication device 17 includes an FM receiver that receives FM multiplex information including information such as news and weather forecast as FM multiplex broadcast via an FM broadcast station. The beacon receiver and the FM receiver are unitized and arranged as a VICS receiver, but can be arranged separately.

  Here, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a communication system 4 including a traffic information transmission center 2 such as a VICS center, a navigation device 1 and a network 3. As shown in FIG. 2, the traffic information transmission center 2 and the navigation device 1 are configured to be able to receive various types of traffic information via the network 3.

  The traffic information transmission center 2 includes a server 101, an information DB 105 as an information recording unit connected to the server 101, and a center side communication device 106. Further, the server 101 is based on an arithmetic device that performs overall control of the server 101, a CPU 102 as a control device, a RAM 103 that is used as a working memory when the CPU 102 performs various arithmetic processes, and communication from the navigation device 1. An internal storage device such as a ROM 104 in which various control programs for extracting appropriate traffic information from the information DB 105 and transmitting it to the navigation device 1 is provided. Further, an MPU or the like can be used instead of the CPU 102.

  Next, the return path candidate table 23 recorded in the data recording unit 12 will be described using a specific example with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. Here, in the return route candidate table 23, as described above, in the outbound route from the departure point to the destination, the own vehicle is particularly a main road (in the first embodiment, four types of highways, exclusive roads, national roads, and prefectural roads). ), The time when the main road starts to travel, the time when the travel ends, and the link number that identifies the link of the main road that traveled are recorded in the order of travel.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the case where the vehicle travels on the outward route from the departure point S to the destination G via the main road 1, the main road 2, and the main road 3 will be described below as an example. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a travel route from the departure point S of the own vehicle to the destination G. FIG. 4 is a return route candidate table recorded when the own vehicle travels on the travel route shown in FIG. FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3, when the own vehicle 50 departs from the departure point S and enters the main road 1 from the node point A, the return route candidate table 1 has the node number 1 as the return route candidate number 1 as shown in FIG. 4. 13:45 on May 23, which is the time when the point A is passed, is recorded as the travel start time, and the link number XX1 of the traveling link 51 is recorded. When the vehicle further travels on the main road 1 after passing through the node point B, the link number XX3 of the traveling link 52 is recorded. When the vehicle continues to travel on the main road 1 through the node point C, the link number XX6 of the traveling link 53 is recorded. Thereafter, when entering a road other than the main road 1 from the node point D, 14:10 on May 23, which is the time of passing through the node point D, is recorded as the travel end time, and the main road having the return path candidate number 1 The return path candidate registration process 1 ends.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 3, when the own vehicle 50 enters the main road 2 from the node point E, the return path candidate table 23 has a return path candidate number 2 as shown in FIG. May 23, 14:47 is recorded as the traveling start time, and the link number YY2 of the traveling link 54 is recorded. Then, when the vehicle continues to travel on the main road 2 through the node point F, the link number YY4 of the traveling link 55 is recorded. When the vehicle continues to travel on the main road 2 through the node point G, the link number YY6 of the traveling link 56 is recorded. After that, when entering a road other than the main road 2 from the node point H, the time when the node point H was passed is recorded as the travel end time on May 23, 15:00, and the main road which is the return candidate number 2 2 is completed.

  Thereafter, when the host vehicle 50 enters the main road 3 from the node point I as shown in FIG. 3, the return route candidate table 23 has the return route candidate number 3 as shown in FIG. On May 23, 15:10 is recorded as the travel start time, and the link number ZZ7 of the traveling link 57 is recorded. Then, when the vehicle continues to travel on the main road 3 after passing through the node point J, the link number ZZ6 of the traveling link 58 is recorded. After that, when entering a road other than the main road 3 from the node point K, the main road that is the return path candidate number 3 is recorded as the travel end time on May 23, 15:20, which is the time of passing through the node point K. 3 is completed.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 4, the return path candidate table 23 in which the travel information of the main road that has passed through when traveling on the outbound path from the departure place to the destination is recorded is then used when traveling on the return path from the destination. Used for route guidance. Specifically, it is acquired from the traffic information transmission center 2 such as the VICS center in order from the link that is the main road associated with the largest return path candidate number and that is recorded the latest (in other words, the link that traveled the latest). Based on the traffic information, it is determined whether or not it is suitable for traveling on the return path, and when it is determined that it is suitable, control is performed so as to perform route search and route guidance to the link.

  Next, a round trip guidance processing program executed by the CPU 41 in the navigation device 1 having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the round trip guidance processing program according to the first embodiment. Here, the round-trip guidance processing program records the main road that has traveled on the outbound route from the departure point to the destination in the return route candidate table 23 and the main road recorded in the return route candidate table 23 on the return route from the destination to the departure point. It is a program that provides route guidance to the road. Note that the programs shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 5 to 7 below are stored in the RAM 42 and the ROM 43 provided in the navigation device 1 and executed by the CPU 41.

  First, in step (hereinafter abbreviated as S) 1 in the round-trip guidance processing program, the CPU 41 performs the forward travel process of FIG. In the outbound travel process, as will be described later, on the outbound route from the departure place to the destination, the own vehicle passes through the main roads (in the first embodiment, four kinds of expressways, exclusive roads, national roads, and prefectural roads). When the vehicle travels, the time when the travel on the main road is started, the time when the travel is finished, and the link number that identifies the link of the traveled main road are recorded in the return path candidate table 23 in the travel order.

Thereafter, in S2, the CPU 41 determines whether or not the own vehicle has finished traveling on the forward path and has started traveling on the return path. Specifically, the CPU 41 determines whether or not a return route guidance button (not shown) included in the operation unit 14 has been pressed based on the reception of operation information from the operation unit 14. When the button is pressed, it is determined that the vehicle has started traveling on the return path.
The determination as to whether or not the vehicle has started traveling on the return path is not limited to the determination based on the operation of the return path guidance button. For example, the destination location is set in the navigation device 1 in advance. If it is, the CPU 41 can determine that the host vehicle has reached the destination based on the current position of the host vehicle and the map data, and then starts traveling on the return path after leaving the destination. It is also possible to store the travel history of the vehicle and make a determination based on the stored travel history.

  Next, in S3, the return path candidate determination process of FIG. 7 is performed. In the return route candidate determination process, as described later, the return route candidate table 23 recorded in S1 and the main road that has traveled on the outbound route based on the traffic information acquired from the traffic information transmission center 2 such as the VICS center, travels as a return route. A process of determining a link of the most suitable main road as an optimal return path candidate is performed.

  Thereafter, in S4, a route search from the current position of the vehicle to the link that is the optimal return path candidate determined in S3 is performed based on various information recorded in the information DB 22.

  Further, in S5, the current location detection processing unit 11 detects the current location and traveling direction of the host vehicle, and performs route guidance to the optimal return route candidate as the destination according to the route searched in S4. Specifically, route guidance at an intersection to be turned left and right, and route guidance at a branch point are displayed on the liquid crystal display 15 together with a map, and guidance voice is output from the speaker 16. Note that S4 and S5 correspond to the processing of the facility guidance means.

  Next, the sub-process of the forward travel process performed in S1 in the navigation device 1 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a sub-processing program for forward travel processing in the navigation device 1 according to the first embodiment.

  In the forward travel processing, first, in S11, based on the current position of the vehicle detected by the current location detection processing unit 11 and the node data recorded in the information DB 22, whether or not the road link on which the vehicle travels has been updated. That is, it is determined whether or not the own vehicle has passed the node point and is located on a new link.

  When it is determined that the road link is not updated (S11: NO), that is, when it is determined that the road is continuously traveling, the forward travel process is terminated and The process proceeds to the determination process of S2. On the other hand, when it is determined that the road link has been updated (S11: YES), the process proceeds to S12.

  In S12, it is determined based on the road data in the information DB 22 whether or not the updated link (link where the vehicle has newly entered) is a main road. Here, the main roads are set to roads belonging to four types of highways, automobile roads, national roads, and prefectural roads. In addition, you may comprise so that the road used as the object of a main road can be changed into roads other than the said 4 types.

  If it is determined that the updated link is a main road (S12: YES), whether or not the updated link is a new return route, that is, the return route to the return route candidate table 23 in S14 described later. It is determined whether the link is for a main road that has not yet been registered as a candidate (S13).

As a result, when it is determined that the updated link is a new return route (S13: YES), the return route candidate number and the node point that is the start point of the link are passed as shown in the return route candidate table 23 of FIG. The travel start time that is the recorded time is recorded, and the link number that identifies the updated link is extracted from the information DB 22 and recorded. Thereby, registration of a new return path candidate is started (S14). Thereafter, the forward traveling process is terminated and the process proceeds to the determination process of S2.
The return route candidate number recorded in S14 is a number corresponding to the reverse order of the priority order of the return route candidates that perform route guidance later in the optimum return route candidate determination process in S3 (see FIG. 7). It is determined whether or not the candidate is a return route suitable for performing route guidance in order from the recorded return route candidate (see S21 and S29 in FIG. 7).

On the other hand, if it is determined that the updated link is not a new return route (S13: NO), that is, if it is determined that a new link has been updated in the main road that has already started registration in S14, A link number that identifies the updated link in the registered return path candidate is extracted from the information DB 22, added, and recorded (S15). Thereafter, the forward traveling process is terminated and the process proceeds to the determination process of S2.
Whether or not the link number added in S15 is a link suitable for performing route guidance in order from the latest added link in the optimal return route candidate determination process (see FIG. 7) in S3 later. A determination is made (see S22 to S24 in FIG. 7). S14 and S15 correspond to the processing of the facility extraction means and priority order setting means.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the link updated in S12 is not a main road (S12: NO), whether or not the return path candidate currently associated with the predetermined return path candidate number is registered, that is, It is determined whether the vehicle is traveling on the main road (S16).

If it is determined that the return path candidate is registered (S16: YES), the time when the node point that is the end point of the link is passed is recorded as the travel end time, and the return path candidate that was being registered is recorded. The registration process ends.
On the other hand, when it is determined that the return path candidate is not registered (S16: NO), the forward path progress process is terminated and the process proceeds to the determination process of S2.

  Next, the sub process of the optimal return path determination process performed in S3 in the navigation device 1 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a sub-processing program for optimal return path determination processing in the navigation device 1 according to the first embodiment.

  In the optimum return route determination process, first, in S21, the largest return route candidate number is associated with the return route candidates registered in the return route candidate table 23 (see FIG. 4) recorded in the forward route progress process of S1. Return route candidates (in other words, return route candidates with the highest priority) are extracted.

  Further, in S22, the link number of the latest recorded link is read out from one or a plurality of link numbers recorded in the return path candidate extracted in S21.

  Subsequently, in S23, the traffic information of the link corresponding to the link number read in S22 is acquired from the traffic information transmission center 2 such as the VICS center via the communication device 17. Here, the traffic information acquired from the traffic information transmission center 2 includes, for example, information on traffic jams, information on road closure due to snow and construction, speed regulation, and the like. Moreover, in S23, it acquires also about the road information (whether it is a one-way road or a road with traffic restrictions in a time zone) from the road data of information DB22.

  Thereafter, in S24, it is determined whether or not there is a traffic restriction in the corresponding return path candidate link. Here, as a case where there is a traffic restriction, for example, when the link is blocked by snow or construction on the link from the information acquired from the traffic information transmission center 2, the link is prohibited from traveling in the traveling direction of the return path. However, when the road is a one-way road, it may be a road with traffic restrictions that are not allowed at the current time detected by the GPS 31.

  If it is determined that there is no traffic restriction on the return path candidate link (S24: NO), whether or not there is further traffic congestion on the return path candidate link is based on the traffic information acquired in S23. It is determined (S25). S24 and S25 correspond to the processing of the guidance determination unit.

  As a result, when it is determined that no traffic jam has occurred in the return route candidate link (S25: NO), the return route candidate link is set as the optimal return route candidate (S26). Thereafter, the route search to the link set as the optimum return route candidate in S4 and S5 of FIG. 5 is performed, and the route guidance to the optimum return route candidate as the destination is performed according to the searched route. For example, in the case of the own vehicle 50 that has traveled the route shown in FIG. 3 on the outward path, the processing of S22 to S25 is performed in the order of link 58 → link 57 → link 56 →. Route guidance to links set as candidates.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that there is traffic restriction on the return path candidate link (S24: YES), and when it is determined that traffic congestion has occurred on the return path candidate link (S25: YES), the link is It is determined that it is inappropriate as a return route candidate for performing route guidance, and the process proceeds to S27.

  In S27, it is determined whether all the links recorded in the return path candidates extracted in S21 and S29 have been read and the processes in S22 to S25 have been performed. If it is determined that a link that has not yet been read is registered (S27: NO), the process returns to S22, and the link number of the latest registered link is read from the remaining links.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that all the links have been read (S27: YES), it is subsequently determined whether all the return path candidates registered in the return path candidate table 23 have already been extracted (S28). ).

  If it is determined that there are still return candidates not extracted in the return route candidate table 23 (S28: NO), the return route candidate having the largest return route candidate number is extracted from the remaining return route candidates (S29). The same processing is performed after S22.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that all the return path candidates registered in the return path candidate table 23 have been extracted (S28: YES), the optimum return path candidate determination process is terminated, and the process proceeds to S4. In this case, since the optimum return route candidate is not set, the subsequent route guidance processing in S4 and S5 is not performed.

As described in detail above, in the navigation device 1 according to the first embodiment, when the main road passes through the main road on the outbound route from the departure place to the destination, the link of one or more links is provided. The return route candidate number is associated with the number and registered in the return route candidate table 23 as a return route candidate (S14, S15), and then each link of the return route candidate registered in the return route candidate table 23 when traveling on the return route from the destination. Are determined to be suitable for route guidance in descending order of priority (S24, S25), and route search and guidance to the return candidate determined to be suitable are performed (S4, S5). In addition, the effective return route search and guidance for the return trip from the destination according to the traveling state of the vehicle to the destination can be performed with the minimum necessary search processing and guidance processing. In addition, route guidance can be performed appropriately even when route guidance cannot be performed properly on the return route simply by reading the forward route in reverse order. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the memory load and improve the convenience for the user.
In addition, when the vehicle travels from the destination, route guidance to the latest registered main road link among the main road links registered when the vehicle travels to the destination is performed. More efficient return route search and guidance can be performed on the way home from the destination.
Further, since it is determined whether the registered return route candidate is a suitable return route candidate for guidance based on the traffic information acquired from the VICS center or the like and the road data in the information DB 22, More accurate return route search and guidance based on the situation can be performed.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a navigation device according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following description, the same reference numerals as those of the navigation device 1 according to the first embodiment in FIGS. 1 to 7 denote the same or corresponding parts as those of the navigation device 1 according to the first embodiment. is there.

The schematic configuration of the navigation device according to the second embodiment is substantially the same as that of the navigation device 1 according to the first embodiment. Various control processes are also substantially the same as those in the navigation apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment.
However, while the navigation device 1 according to the first embodiment registers the main road on which the vehicle has traveled as a return route candidate and provides travel guidance to the registered main road, the navigation device according to the second embodiment travels. This is different from the navigation apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment in that a main building near the main road is registered and travel guidance to the main building is performed.

First, the return path candidate table 60 recorded in the data recording unit 12 of the navigation device 1 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9 with a specific example.
Here, as described above, the return path candidate table 60 according to the second embodiment is such that the own vehicle is particularly a main road (in the second embodiment, a highway, an automobile exclusive road, When traveling via four types of national roads and prefectural roads), the time when the main road started to travel, the time when the travel ended, and the link number that identifies the link of the main road traveled are recorded in the order of travel. In addition, when there is a main building (in the second embodiment, a building belonging to several tens of kinds of preset attributes such as a hotel, a hospital, a school, a department store, a park, etc.) within 50 m around the link, It is a table to be recorded.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 8, a case where the own vehicle travels from the departure point S to the destination G via the main road 1, the main road 2, and the main road 3 will be described below as an example. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a travel route from the departure point S to the destination G of the own vehicle. FIG. 9 is a return route candidate table recorded when the vehicle travels on the forward route shown in FIG. FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 8, when the own vehicle 50 departs from the departure place S and enters the main road 1 from the node point A, the return route candidate table 23 shows the return route candidate number 1 as shown in FIG. 13:45 on May 23, which is the time when the point A is passed, is recorded as the travel start time, and the link number XX1 of the traveling link 51 is recorded. On the other hand, the H hotel 61 located within 50 m around the link 51 is detected as a main building, and the facility ID 203 that identifies the H hotel 61 is also recorded. When the vehicle further travels on the main road 1 after passing through the node point B, the link number XX3 of the traveling link 52 is recorded. When the vehicle continues to travel on the main road 1 through the node point C, the link number XX6 of the traveling link 53 is recorded. On the other hand, a J department store 62 located within 50 m around the link 53 is detected, and a facility ID 145 that identifies the J department store 62 is also recorded. Thereafter, when entering a road other than the main road 1 from the node point D, 14:10 on May 23, which is the time of passing through the node point D, is recorded as the travel end time, and the main road having the return path candidate number 1 The return path candidate registration process 1 ends.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 8, when the own vehicle 50 enters the main road 2 from the node point E, the return path candidate table 60 has a return path candidate number 2 as shown in FIG. May 23, 14:47 is recorded as the traveling start time, and the link number YY2 of the traveling link 54 is recorded. On the other hand, the B high school 63 located within 50 m around the link 54 is detected as a main building, and the facility ID 344 that identifies the B high school 63 is also recorded. Then, when the vehicle continues to travel on the main road 2 through the node point F, the link number YY4 of the traveling link 55 is recorded. On the other hand, an I park 64 located within 50 m around the link 55 is detected, and a facility ID 789 that identifies the I park 64 is recorded. When the vehicle continues to travel on the main road 2 through the node point G, the link number YY6 of the traveling link 56 is recorded. On the other hand, the T bank 65 located within 50 m around the link 56 is detected, and the facility ID 562 that identifies the T bank 65 is also recorded. After that, when entering a road other than the main road 2 from the node point H, the time when the node point H was passed is recorded as the travel end time on May 23, 15:00, and the main road which is the return candidate number 2 2 is completed.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 8, when the own vehicle 50 enters the main road 3 from the node point I, the return path candidate table 60 has a return path candidate number 3 as shown in FIG. On May 23, 15:10 is recorded as the travel start time, and the link number ZZ7 of the traveling link 57 is recorded. Then, when the vehicle continues to travel on the main road 3 after passing through the node point J, the link number ZZ6 of the traveling link 58 is recorded. On the other hand, the S hospital 66 located within 50 m around the link 58 is detected as a main building, and a facility ID 349 that identifies the S hospital 66 is also recorded. After that, when entering a road other than the main road 3 from the node point K, the main road that is the return path candidate number 3 is recorded as the travel end time on May 23, 15:20, which is the time of passing through the node point K. 3 is completed.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 9, the return route candidate table 60 in which the travel information of the main road that has passed through when traveling on the outbound route from the departure place to the destination is recorded is then used when traveling the return route from the destination. Used for route guidance. Specifically, it is acquired from the traffic information transmission center 2 such as the VICS center in order from the link that is the main road associated with the largest return path candidate number and that is recorded the latest (in other words, the link that traveled the latest). Based on the traffic information, it is determined whether or not it is suitable for traveling on the return route. When it is determined that the vehicle is suitable, route search and route guidance to main buildings located around the link are performed. Control.

  Next, the sub-process of the forward travel process performed in S1 in the navigation device 1 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a sub-processing program for forward travel processing in the navigation device 1 according to the second embodiment.

  Here, the processes corresponding to S111 to S117 of the forward travel process executed by the navigation device 1 according to the second embodiment are the same as S11 to S17 executed by the navigation device 1 according to the first embodiment. Details thereof are omitted.

  In S118, the main road link newly registered as a return route candidate in S114 or a building located within 50 m around the link added to the return route candidate in S115 is searched based on the building data in the information DB 22.

  In S119, it is determined whether or not there is a main building among the buildings searched in S118. Here, the main buildings are buildings belonging to several tens of types of attributes set in advance by the navigation device 1, such as hotels, hospitals, schools, department stores, and parks. In addition, you may comprise the attribute of the building which belongs to a main building so that change is possible. Furthermore, instead of defining the main building by the building attributes as described above, the main building may be defined by conditions such as the site area and height of the building, for example.

  If it is determined that there is a main building within 50 m around the updated link (S117: YES), the facility ID that identifies the searched building is recorded as shown in the return path candidate table 60 of FIG. (S118). On the other hand, when it is determined that there is no main building within 50m around the updated link (S117: NO), the forward travel process is terminated and the process proceeds to the determination process of S2.

  Next, sub processing of the optimum return path determination processing performed in S3 in the navigation device 1 according to the second embodiment will be described based on FIG. FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a sub-processing program for optimal return path determination processing in the navigation device 1 according to the second embodiment.

  Here, the processes corresponding to S121 to S123 of the optimum return path determination process executed by the navigation device 1 according to the second embodiment are the same as S21 to S23 executed by the navigation device 1 according to the first embodiment. Therefore, the details are omitted.

  In S124, it is determined whether or not there is a main building registered in S118 in association with the link read in S122. If it is determined that there is a main building registration (S124: YES), the process proceeds to S125. If it is determined that there is no main building registration (S124: NO), the process proceeds to S128. .

  In S125, it is determined whether or not there is a traffic restriction on the corresponding return path candidate link. Here, as a case where there is a traffic restriction, for example, when the link is blocked by snow or construction on the link from the information acquired from the traffic information transmission center 2, the link is prohibited from traveling in the traveling direction of the return path. However, when the road is a one-way road, it may be a road with traffic restrictions that are not allowed at the current time detected by the GPS 31.

  If it is determined that there is no traffic restriction on the return route candidate link (S125: NO), it is further determined based on the traffic information acquired in S123 whether traffic congestion has occurred on the return route candidate link. (S126).

  As a result, when it is determined that no traffic jam has occurred in the return route candidate link (S126: NO), the return route candidate link is set as the optimum return route candidate (S127). After that, the route search to the main building registered in association with the link set as the optimum return route candidate in S4 and S5 in FIG. 5 is performed, and around the optimum return route candidate as the destination according to the searched route Route guidance to the main building located in For example, in the case of the own vehicle 50 that has traveled the route shown in FIG. 8 on the outward route, the processing of S122 to S126 is performed in the order of link 58 → link 57 → link 56 →. Route guidance is performed to main buildings (for example, S hospital 66 at link 58 and T bank 65 at link 56) located around the link set as a candidate.

  The processes corresponding to S128 to S130 of the optimal return path determination process executed by the navigation device 1 according to the second embodiment are the same as S27 to S29 executed by the navigation device 1 according to the first embodiment. The details are omitted.

As described above in detail, in the navigation device 1 according to the second embodiment, when the main road passes through the outbound route from the departure place to the destination, the link of one or more links of the relevant main road The return candidate number is associated with the main building located around the number and the link and registered as a return candidate in the return candidate table 23 (S114, S115, S118), and then when returning on the return path from the destination, the return candidate It is determined whether or not each link of the return route candidates registered in the table 23 is suitable for route guidance in descending order of priority (S124 to S126), and around the return route candidates determined to be suitable. Since the route search and guidance to the main building is performed (S4, S5), it is effective for the return route from the destination according to the driving situation of the vehicle to the destination. The road search and guidance can be carried out in the minimum search process and guidance processing. In addition, route guidance can be performed appropriately even when route guidance cannot be performed properly on the return route simply by reading the forward route in reverse order. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the memory load and improve the convenience for the user.
In addition, when the vehicle travels from the destination, route guidance to the latest registered main road link among the main road links registered when the vehicle travels to the destination is performed. More efficient return route search and guidance can be performed on the way home from the destination.
Further, since it is determined whether or not the registered return route candidate is a suitable return route candidate for guidance based on the information acquired from the VICS center or the road data in the information DB 22, the attributes of the main road and the current situation Based on this, it is possible to perform more efficient return route search and guidance.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
For example, in the first and second embodiments, the route search to the main road and the main building is performed (S4), and the route guidance is performed according to the searched route (S5). Without searching for routes to facilities, for example, highlighting major roads and major facilities on the map, and displaying directions from the vehicle to the major roads and major facilities with arrows on the map It is good to do.

  Further, in the first and second embodiments, whether the priority is a suitable return route candidate by increasing the priority order in the order of the registered time among the main roads and main buildings registered in the return route candidate tables 23, 60. It is configured to perform route guidance to major roads and buildings that are judged to be appropriate, but priority is given to major roads and buildings that are close to the destination rather than the registered time. It is also possible to raise the ranking.

  Further, in the second embodiment, when information on the registered business hours and opening hours is acquired and it is determined that the current time is within the business hours and opening hours, the route to the main building is obtained. Guidance may be provided.

It is the block diagram which showed the navigation apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is the block diagram shown about the communication system which consists of the navigation apparatus and traffic information transmission center which concern on 1st Embodiment. It is the schematic diagram which showed an example of the driving | running route from the departure place S of the own vehicle to the destination G. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a return path candidate table recorded when the vehicle travels on the travel route shown in FIG. It is a flowchart of the round trip guidance processing program which the navigation apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment performs. It is a flowchart of the sub process program of the outward travel process which the navigation apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment performs. It is a flowchart of the sub process program of the optimal return path determination process which the navigation apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment performs. It is the schematic diagram which showed an example of the driving | running route from the departure place S of the own vehicle to the destination G. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a return path candidate table recorded when the vehicle travels on the travel path shown in FIG. 8. It is a flowchart of the sub-process program of the outward travel process which the navigation apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment performs. It is a flowchart of the sub process program of the optimal return path determination process which the navigation apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment performs.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Navigation apparatus 2 Traffic information transmission center 12 Data recording part 15 Liquid crystal display 16 Speaker 17 Communication apparatus 22 Information DB
23, 60 Return path candidate table 31 GPS
32 Geomagnetic sensor 41 CPU
42 RAM
43 ROM

Claims (6)

Facility information storage means for storing facility information;
In a navigation device having a current position detecting means for detecting the current position of the own vehicle,
Facility extraction means for extracting a specific facility for identifying the vehicle position detected by the current location detection means from the facilities stored in the facility information storage means when the vehicle travels to a destination;
Facility guidance means for guiding the specific vehicle extracted by the facility extraction means when the host vehicle travels from the destination;
A navigation device characterized by comprising:   The navigation according to claim 1, wherein the facility guidance unit performs route search to the specific facility extracted by the facility extraction unit, and performs route guidance to the specific facility according to the searched route. apparatus. The facility is a road;
The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the facility extraction unit extracts a road on which the vehicle is currently traveling as a specific road.   The facility extraction means extracts a facility stored in the facility information storage means located within a predetermined range from the own vehicle position detected by the current location detection means as a specific facility. Item 3. The navigation device according to Item 2. Priority order setting means for setting priorities in order from the lowest extracted order of the specific facilities extracted by the facility extraction means;
The navigation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the facility guidance unit performs guidance to a specific facility set with the highest priority by the priority order setting unit. Information acquisition means for acquiring information relating to the specific facility;
Guidance determination means for determining whether or not to perform guidance to a specific facility related to the information acquired based on the information acquired by the information acquisition means,
The facility guidance means provides guidance to a specific facility that has been determined to be guided by the guidance determination means and that has the highest priority set by the priority setting means. Item 6. The navigation device according to Item 5.

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