JP2007041005A - Route searching device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique which performs a route search considering safety or the like of a pedestrian in a navigation system specialized for a person as an object. <P>SOLUTION: Digital map data used for an electronic route search stores: path data showing the connecting state of real paths by link data showing the paths and node data showing the joint points or end points of the paths; and peripheral cost data showing the safety of a path according to the peripheral state of the path in relation to the link data every pedestrian category classified considering at least one of the sex and age of the pedestrians. By using the digital map data, a safe route according to the feature of the pedestrian is retrieved. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a route search using electronic map data, and more particularly to a technique for searching a route for a pedestrian.

  In recent years, car navigation systems have become widespread, and a driver can search for an optimum route to a desired destination by setting a current position and a destination. In addition, as disclosed in Patent Document 1 below, a technique related to a navigation system for human beings that is an advancement of a car navigation system is being proposed.

JP-A-8-202982

  However, such a navigation system searches for a route on the assumption that all cars or people who are objects of route guidance have the same ability. Therefore, for example, a route including stairs may be guided to a wheelchair user. As described above, since the walking ability of a person differs greatly depending on age, sex, or use of a wheelchair or the like, the conventional route search cannot guide the optimum route for each user.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique for performing a route search in consideration of the safety and walking ability of a pedestrian in a navigation system specialized for a person.

In order to solve at least a part of the above problems, the present invention employs the following configuration. That is, the present invention is a route search device that performs route search electronically,
The walking path data representing the connection state of the actual walking path is stored by the link data representing the walking path and the node data representing the connection point or the end point of the walking paths, and the safety according to the situation around the walking path. An electronic map data storage unit that stores the peripheral cost data representing sex in association with each link data for each pedestrian category classified in consideration of at least one of the sex and age of the pedestrian,
As a condition for the route search, a search condition input unit for inputting information on a departure place, a destination, and the pedestrian classification,
A route search unit that searches for a route from the departure place to the destination based on the peripheral cost data corresponding to the input pedestrian classification and the connection state of the walking path represented by the walking path data; The gist is to provide.

  According to the route search device of the present invention, it is possible to search for a safe route according to the user's characteristics by properly using the peripheral cost data according to the sex and age of the pedestrian. The route search can be obtained from, for example, link data, node data, and peripheral cost data corresponding to the pedestrian classification using the Dijkstra method, which is a well-known route search algorithm.

  Peripheral cost data used for route search represents safety according to the situation around the walking path. For example, street light, police box, store, telephone box, school road, bus stop, station, various transportation facilities, open 24 hours It can be set for each pedestrian classification from the viewpoint of crime prevention depending on the presence or absence of a store, a family restaurant, a gas station, a place where a lot of molestations occur, a place where a lot of crawls occur, a house for children 110, and the like.

  In the route search device of the present invention, the pedestrian classification is classified according to gender and age, but in addition to these, for example, whether the pedestrian is a wheelchair user or has heavy luggage. It is good also as what is classified according to viewpoints, such as whether it is pushing a stroller, holding a child, etc.

  Furthermore, the route search device of the present invention may be configured to perform route search that avoids a walking path that frequently causes molesting or catching by providing a clock function. In addition, by providing means for detecting or inputting the weather, a route search may be performed with priority given to an underground shopping center or a covered walking path on rainy days.

The present invention can also be configured as the following electronic map data structure. That is,
A data structure of electronic map data to be referred to when a computer searches for a route,
A walking path data storage unit for storing walking path data representing a connection state of an actual walking path by link data representing the walking path and node data representing a connection point or an end point of the walking paths;
Peripheral cost data representing safety according to the situation around the pedestrian path is associated with each link data for each pedestrian category classified in consideration of at least one of the sex and age of the pedestrian A peripheral cost data storage unit for storing,
The walking path data and the peripheral cost data are the peripheral cost data corresponding to the pedestrian classification set by the user for the route from the starting point to the destination in the walking path data. The data structure of the electronic map data used when searching based on the connection state of the walking path represented by the walking path data.

  By using the electronic map data having such a data structure, the computer as the route search device can use the peripheral cost data depending on the gender and age of the pedestrian so that a safe route according to the user's characteristics can be obtained. Can be explored.

  In addition, the present invention can be configured as a route search method or a computer program for a computer to search for a route. The electronic map data having the above data structure and the computer program may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a flexible disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD, an MO, an IC card, a ROM cartridge, and a hard disk.

Hereinafter, in order to further clarify the operations and effects of the present invention described above, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on examples in the following order.
A. Configuration of navigation device:
B. Electronic map data structure:
C. Route search process:
D. Route search example:

A. Configuration of navigation device:
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a navigation device according to the present embodiment. The navigation device 100 includes a display unit 101 for displaying a map, a menu, and the like, and an operation unit 102 for inputting a command, and includes a control unit 103 therein. Through the operation, the operation unit 102 can move the cursor displayed on the map, change / scroll the map display scale, enter the route search starting point, destination, user information, and the like.

  The input of the command is not limited to input by the operation unit 102. By using the display unit 101 as a touch panel display unit, the display unit 101 may be directly touched and input using a finger or a touch pen 112.

  The control unit 103 is mainly composed of a CPU, RAM, and ROM. The ROM stores a program for realizing each functional unit shown in the figure, and the CPU executes the program using the RAM as a work area.

  The electronic map data input unit 104 inputs electronic map data from various recording media such as a memory card and a CD-ROM. Moreover, you may input from an external server etc. by using a GPS antenna, a wireless network, infrared communication, etc.

  The electronic map data input by the electronic map data input unit is stored in the electronic map data storage unit 105. The stored electronic map data is referred to from the main control unit 107 via the electronic map data reference unit 106.

  The main control unit 107 performs a route search using the route search unit 109 based on various commands such as a departure point, a destination, and user information input from the operation unit 102 via the command input unit 108. The starting point in the route search may be input by the position detection unit 110. In this case, the current position is input by connecting a GPS antenna or PHS to the navigation device 100.

  A result of the route search performed by the main control unit 107 and the route search unit 109 is displayed on the display unit 101 by the display control unit 111. The user can reach the desired destination using the search result displayed on the display unit 101.

B. Electronic map data structure:
FIG. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of electronic map data. The electronic map data is configured by hierarchically holding a background layer for displaying a map on the display unit 101 and a walking path layer used for route search. In addition, you may provide the character layer etc. for displaying a place name, a building name, etc. on a map as needed.

  In the background layer, figures such as walking paths and houses are reproduced in detail by latitude / longitude data. A result of a route search process to be described later is displayed on the display unit 101 so as to be superimposed on the background layer.

  As shown in the figure, the walking path layer holds node data, link data, and cost data. The node data represents points such as intersections and end points (dead ends / targets) of walking paths, a series of node numbers are assigned, and latitude / longitude data is held. The link data represents a walking path, and the start point and the end point are represented by the node numbers assigned to the nodes. Although not shown, the link data may include distance data representing the distance of the walking path. However, even if omitted, it can be calculated from the latitude / route data of the node data associated with the node number.

  In addition, link type and peripheral information are recorded in the link data. The link type represents the type of walking path represented by the link, and information such as sidewalks, stairs, hills, pedestrian crossings, pedestrian bridges, and railroad crossings is recorded. In the peripheral information, information for safely walking on the walking path, that is, information such as presence / absence of various stores such as police boxes, street lamps, and convenience stores is recorded. In addition, information such as a school route and a telephone box can be recorded in the peripheral information.

  In the cost data, a cost representing the difficulty of walking associated with the link type and a cost representing the safety of walking associated with the peripheral information are recorded. In the link type, a plurality of costs are set according to the pedestrian classification in which pedestrians are classified in consideration of age, sex, physical obstacles in walking, and the like. In this embodiment, the classifications “normal”, “wheelchair”, and “elderly” are set as pedestrian classifications. Note that a plurality of costs corresponding to the pedestrian classification may be set for the peripheral information.

  Here, the link data and the cost data are configured separately, but the cost data may be included in the link data. With such a configuration, for example, even with the same type of link, different costs can be assigned in consideration of the slope angle and distance of the slope. Even when the cost data is included in the link data, it is preferable to associate a plurality of cost data according to the pedestrian classification.

C. Route search process:
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of route search processing by the navigation device 100. First, the navigation device 100 inputs a destination, a departure place, and user information by operating the operation unit 102 by the user via the command input unit 108 (step S100).

  4-7 is a figure which shows an example of the screen for inputting these various search conditions. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an initial screen for inputting search conditions. On this screen, the user selects a parameter to be input.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a menu screen for inputting a departure place. When “input current position” is selected, the navigation apparatus 100 acquires the longitude / latitude information of the current position using the position detection unit 110 and sets it as the departure place. When “input with map” is selected, the navigation apparatus 100 displays a map on the display unit 101, and the user designates a departure place using the operation unit 102 or the touch pen 112. If the electronic map data includes a database of telephone numbers and addresses, a pre-registered location can be specified by selecting “Enter by phone number” or “Enter by address”. When “BACK” is selected, the screen returns to the initial screen of FIG.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a menu screen for inputting a destination. The destination input is performed in the same manner as the departure point input described above. However, the input using the position detection unit 110 cannot normally be performed.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a screen for inputting user information. Here, the user inputs his / her gender, age, and whether or not to use a wheelchair.

  With the above input, step S100 in FIG. 3 ends. Next, the navigation apparatus 100 sets the pedestrian classification used for route search according to the input user information (step S101). The pedestrian classification is determined by gender, age, and availability of wheelchair using a table as shown in the figure. For example, on the screen of FIG. 7, when the male and the age are input as the gender without using the wheelchair, “normal” is set as the pedestrian classification. “Normal + safety” in FIG. 3 means that the pedestrian classification is “normal” and a route search considering safety is performed.

  Next, the navigation apparatus 100 selects the cost to be used according to the set pedestrian classification. According to FIG. 2, when the pedestrian classification is “normal”, the costs of the links representing “sidewalk”, “stairs”, and “slope” are 1, 3, and 2, respectively. The navigation device 100 searches for a route having the minimum cost by the Dijkstra method, which is a route search algorithm, using the cost thus selected, the link, and the node (step S102). An example of this step will be described later.

  Finally, the navigation device 100 outputs the searched route to the display unit 101 (step S103) and ends the process. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of route display.

  In the above description, the user information is input every time the route search is performed, but the user information may be input before the route search is performed in advance.

D. Route search example:
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of route search. Here, the route is searched with the node N1 as the departure point and the node N4 as the destination. The Dijkstra method is a method of searching for a route by sequentially evaluating costs. Here, in order to simplify the explanation, a route A that reaches the node N4 from the node N1 via the node N3, and a node from the node N1 to the node N1. The description will be made by comparing the evaluation results of the two types of routes B that reach the node N4 via N2 and 3. As shown in the figure, the link data X holds various costs and safety costs according to the link distance / type and pedestrian classification. Although FIG. 2 shows an example in which cost data exists separately, in this figure, the link data includes cost data.

As cost evaluation methods, the following two methods can be considered. Any method may be applied to the route search.
The first method is a method of evaluating a route in consideration of only the cost related to difficulty in walking or safety regardless of the distance of each link. In this method, the distance of each link is supplementarily referred to when there are a plurality of routes having the same cost. The calculation result based on the first method is shown as Calculation Example 1 in the figure. According to this result, route A (total cost 3) is guided to normal pedestrians, and route B (total cost 13) is guided to wheelchair users. For an elderly person, the total cost of both routes is the same (total cost 7), so the route A with a shorter distance will be guided.

  The second method is a method of calculating a cost that comprehensively considers the difficulty of walking and the distance, and evaluates the route based on the calculated cost. In the figure, as a calculation example 2, the evaluation result based on the second method is shown. Here, the product of the cost based on walking difficulty and the distance of each link is used as the cost for route search. The cost for route search is not limited to the product and can be set by various operations. According to this result, route A (total cost 100 and 235, respectively) is guided to normal pedestrians and elderly people, and route B (total cost 550) is guided to wheelchair users.

  As described above, the route search can take various modes depending on the calculation method using the link and the cost. When searching for a route in consideration of safety, the cost may be evaluated using a product of a cost representing safety and a cost representing difficulty. In addition, when route guidance is provided for wheelchair users, it is possible to search for routes by avoiding links that hold parameters such as steps, stairs, slopes, and pedestrian bridges, or by lowering priority. As a method of lowering the priority, for example, a method of setting the cost associated with the link to an extremely large value can be used. However, if there is no other link that can be selected even if the link is a step, a staircase, or the like as shown in the link L4 in the figure, the wheelchair user may be guided to the route using the link.

  In addition, even if it is the same wheelchair user, the route which can be passed may differ according to the difference in the exercise ability. For example, wheelchair users with high athletic ability may be able to get over the road even if there is a step, depending on the height, and even on slopes with a certain inclination angle. There are cases where it is possible. Therefore, detailed user information such as the height of a step that can be overcome, the upper limit inclination angle of a hill that can be passed, and the like may be input, and a route search that considers such information may be performed. In this case, a parameter indicating the height of the step, the inclination angle of the slope, or the like is added to the link data, and the user information is compared with these parameters to determine whether the search target link is passable. Should be done. If it does in this way, even if it is the same wheelchair user, it will become possible to search for the course according to the user's athletic ability.

  In calculation example 2 shown in the embodiment, calculation of cost is required for each link. In order to promptly search for a route, a cost that comprehensively considers difficulty in walking, distance, and the like may be associated with each link in advance. In this case, the same route search as in the embodiment can be realized by properly using the plurality of costs stored in each link according to the pedestrian classification or the like.

In the embodiment, the cost is properly used according to the pedestrian classification such as “normal”, “elderly”, “wheelchair”, etc., but these are all expressed by weighting factors and the cost is calculated by the following formula. May be.
Cost = distance × pedestrian classification coefficient × safety coefficient In this case, the value 1 is used for each coefficient in the route search not considering the pedestrian classification and safety.

  As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to these Examples, A various structure can be taken in the range which does not deviate from the meaning. The various processes described above may be realized by software, or may be realized by hardware. When the route search apparatus is configured using a computer, the various processes described above can be realized as a computer program. The computer program can be recorded on various recording media.

It is a schematic block diagram of a navigation apparatus. It is a schematic structure figure of electronic map data. It is a flowchart of the route search process by a navigation apparatus. It is a figure showing the initial screen for search condition input. It is a figure showing the menu screen for inputting a departure place. It is a figure showing the menu screen for inputting the destination. It is a figure showing the screen for inputting user information. It is a figure which shows an example of a route display. It is a figure which shows the example of a route search.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Navigation apparatus 101 ... Display part 102 ... Operation part 103 ... Control part 104 ... Electronic map data input part 105 ... Electronic map data storage part 106 ... Electronic map data reference part 107 ... Main control part 108 ... Command input part 109 ... Path | route Search unit 110 ... position detection unit 111 ... display control unit 112 ... touch pen

Claims (5)

A route search device that performs route search electronically,
The walking path data representing the connection state of the actual walking path is stored by the link data representing the walking path and the node data representing the connection point or the end point of the walking paths, and the safety according to the situation around the walking path. An electronic map data storage unit that stores the peripheral cost data representing sex in association with each link data for each pedestrian category classified in consideration of at least one of the sex and age of the pedestrian,
As a condition for the route search, a search condition input unit for inputting information on a departure place, a destination, and the pedestrian classification,
A route search unit for searching for a route from the departure place to the destination based on the peripheral cost data corresponding to the input pedestrian classification and the connected state of the walking path represented by the walking path data; A route search device provided. A data structure of electronic map data to be referred to when a computer searches for a route,
A walking path data storage unit for storing walking path data representing a connection state of an actual walking path by link data representing the walking path and node data representing a connection point or an end point of the walking paths;
Peripheral cost data representing safety according to the situation around the pedestrian path is associated with each link data for each pedestrian category classified in consideration of at least one of the sex and age of the pedestrian A peripheral cost data storage unit for storing,
The walking path data and the peripheral cost data are the peripheral cost data corresponding to the pedestrian classification set by the user for the route from the starting point to the destination in the walking path data. The data structure of the electronic map data used when searching based on the connection state of the walking path represented by the walking path data.   A computer-readable recording medium on which electronic map data having the data structure according to claim 2 is recorded. A computer program for a computer to search for a route,
The walking path data representing the connection state of the actual walking path is stored by the link data representing the walking path and the node data representing the connection point or the end point of the walking paths, and the safety according to the situation around the walking path. A function for referring to electronic map data stored in association with each link data for each pedestrian category classified in consideration of at least one of gender and age of pedestrians, and surrounding cost data representing sex,
As a condition for the route search, a function of inputting a starting point, a destination, and information on the pedestrian classification,
A function of searching for a route from the departure place to the destination based on the peripheral cost data corresponding to the inputted pedestrian classification and the connection state of the walking path represented by the walking path data. Computer program for realizing.   The computer-readable recording medium which recorded the computer program of Claim 4.

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