JP2007085766A - Navigation system, and method for searching toll - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a navigation system which calculates a toll in response to specifying a departure time in the case where a toll road to which time-of-day saving can be applied is present on a route. <P>SOLUTION: A user inputs a departure point, a destination, and a scheduled departure time, whereby an operation of searching a guidance route connecting the departure point to the destination is carried out. As a result of the searching, if the toll road is present on a derived route, and the time-of-day saving is set on the toll road, an estimated driving time which elapses to move from the departure point to an interchange of the toll road is obtained from road information and the like. Then a determination is made which toll is adapted in the case the user departs at the scheduled departure time from the obtained estimated driving time. Tolls of respective toll roads are calculated from a result of the determination. If two or more toll roads are present on the guidance route, respective tolls are totalized, thereby calculating the total toll of the toll roads in the guidance route as a whole. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle-mounted navigation device, and more particularly to a fee search method when a toll road is included in a route in route search processing.

  In recent years, in-vehicle navigation devices tend to be provided with many functions. Particularly useful for the user is a route search function that automatically searches for a route from a departure point to a destination and displays the searched route as a guide route on a map. If this function is used, the departure route and the destination are input from the input device, and the guidance route connecting the departure location and the destination with the optimum route is automatically searched and displayed on an LCD (liquid crystal display) or the like. It can be displayed on the device.

  In addition, when the user travels according to the retrieved guidance route, there is a guidance function that guides the user to the destination by displaying the guidance route on a map and displaying the vehicle position. If this function is used, for example, when an intersection is approached while traveling, an enlarged view of the intersection (a map displayed within a predetermined display range of the display device with a reduced number of display elements) For example, it is possible to notify the user of various information related to the traveling route in real time.

  In addition, when there are toll roads (highways, etc.) on the searched guidance route, in order to smoothly settle tolls on toll roads, the on-board equipment installed in the vehicle and the roadside provided at the toll gate There is an automatic fee payment system called ETC (Electronic Toll Collection System) that performs fee settlement non-stop by transmitting and receiving information to and from an antenna. ETC transmits and receives various information (vehicle number, passing time, etc.) by performing short-range wireless communication between a roadside antenna provided at a payment place such as a toll booth and an in-vehicle device installed in a vehicle. This is a system for conducting toll payments.

  In the above ETC (automatic fee payment system), by inserting a dedicated credit card (commonly known as an ETC card) into the vehicle-mounted device installed in the vehicle, the short-range wireless communication automatically when the vehicle approaches the roadside antenna You can start to communicate and pay for tolls. When the user gets out of the vehicle, the ETC card is removed from the in-vehicle device and stored in order to prevent the ETC card from being stolen.

  However, in the conventional navigation device having the various functions described above, there are problems that the number of operations required by the user increases due to the large number of functions and that intuitive operations are difficult to perform. For example, in the above route search function, when a toll road exists in the middle of the route, the travel time and the toll fee change depending on whether the toll road is used or not. For this reason, the user has to select which route to select as a guide route at any time, and there is a problem that it is difficult to intuitively determine which route is the most suitable route for his / her purpose. . As described above, the amount of information obtained due to the rich functions increases, but there is a problem that the convenience for the user may be impaired.

  In Patent Document 1 relating to the above problem, a navigation device that can provide a user with a new benefit related to a toll on a toll road without requiring a complicated operation for the user, and A method for notifying a toll for a navigation device is disclosed. The navigation device of Patent Document 1 and the toll notification method for the navigation device calculate a toll to be paid on a toll road existing on the route from the departure place to the destination, and control for notifying the calculated toll Means are provided. In the above configuration, when the route to the destination is calculated, the toll to be paid on the toll road existing on the calculated route is automatically calculated.

  In addition, for the calculated plurality of routes to the same destination, a toll to be paid on each route is acquired, and a route with the lowest acquired toll is calculated. As a result, a route that can arrive at the destination at a lower cost is automatically searched. At this time, the user can specify the upper limit of the total amount of the toll to be paid on the toll road existing on the detected route by inputting the amount.

  According to the above-mentioned patent document 1, when searching for a route to the destination, the user can confirm information on tolls on the toll road included on the route without any operation. This makes it possible to receive new benefits related to toll road tolls without performing complicated operations. In addition, the toll to be paid on the toll road existing on the route to the calculated destination is acquired, and the total amount of the acquired toll is informed to the user along the calculated route. Immediately inform you of the cost required to go to your destination. In addition to obtaining tolls to be paid on toll roads that exist on the route to the calculated destination, and calculating and notifying the total amount for each type of toll road, the calculated route is given to the user. The cost required to go to the destination along the road can be immediately notified for each type of toll road.

The conventional navigation device represented by the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 has a function of displaying both a normal fee and a discounted fee when a discount is applied to the fee depending on the time zone in which the toll road is used. There is something. However, for example, when there are a plurality of toll roads on the route, the total amount of the toll varies depending on the time of passing through each toll road. For this reason, the user has to calculate the total amount of tolls by adding the tolls after considering when to pass each toll road. For example, when starting from the current time as the departure time (that is, starting now), it is assumed whether the time zone discount is applied to each toll road by assuming the time of passing each toll road based on the current time. You will have to check each one and manually calculate the total toll based on the results. As described above, when there is a toll road to which the time zone discount is applied on the route, there is a problem that it is difficult to easily and intuitively confirm the toll.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-141982

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problem, and the object of the present invention is to search for a route by a user and to provide one or more toll roads to which a time zone discount can be applied on the searched guidance route. An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle-mounted navigation device having a function of automatically calculating a total amount of tolls by designating a departure time and presenting it to a user.

In order to achieve the above object, the navigation device of the present invention provides:
Route setting means for setting a guidance route connecting the departure point and the destination when the departure point and the destination are input; and
In the route setting means, departure time setting means for setting a departure time;
A toll calculation means for calculating a toll charged when the toll road is used when a toll road exists on the guide route;
A discounted toll calculation for calculating a toll in the discounted time zone when a discounted time zone in which a discount on the toll is applied by using the toll road in a specific time zone is set for the toll road Means,
In a navigation device comprising
Estimated travel time calculating means for calculating an estimated travel time for travel from the departure place to an interchange that is a boundary between the toll road and a normal road existing on the guidance route;
Discount discriminating means for discriminating whether or not the toll road can be used in the discount time zone when leaving at the departure time using the estimated traveling time and the discount time zone;
It is characterized by having.

According to this configuration
As a result of a search that searches for a guide route connecting the departure point and the destination by the user entering the departure point, destination, and scheduled departure time, there is a toll road on the calculated route and there is a charge When a time zone discount (a discount applied by using a toll road at a specific time zone) is set for the road, the toll road interchange from the departure point (the boundary between the toll road and the normal road, toll) The estimated travel time required to travel to the point where the road usage fee is charged is calculated based on road information and the like. Based on the calculated estimated travel time, it is determined which fee (ordinary fee or time zone discount applicable fee) is applied when departing at the scheduled departure time.
In order to achieve the above object, the navigation device of the present invention provides:
When there is one or more toll roads on the guide route, by using the discount discriminating means, whether the toll road can be used in the discount time zone when departing at the departure time. It is characterized in that there is provided a usage fee calculation means for determining for each toll road and calculating the total of the usage fee for the toll road and the toll road usage fee for the entire guide route based on the determination result.

According to this configuration
When there is one or more toll roads on the guidance route calculated by the guidance route search process, the usage fee for each toll road when departing at the scheduled departure time is calculated using the discount discriminating means. When there are a plurality of toll roads on the guide route, the toll road use fees for the entire guide route are calculated by summing up the respective use fees.

In order to achieve the above object, the navigation device of the present invention provides:
Usage fee display means for notifying the user of the toll road usage fee for each toll road obtained by using the usage fee calculation means and the toll road usage fee for each guidance route to the user using a display unit It is characterized by having.

According to this configuration
Display the usage fee for each toll road calculated by the usage fee calculation means (normal fee or usage fee after time zone discount adaptation) and the toll road usage fee for the entire guidance route on an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) etc. Using the device, display along with the guide route information.

According to the first configuration of the present invention,
When there is a toll road on the route, the control unit automatically determines whether the time zone discount is applied to the toll road on the route by designating the scheduled departure time. This eliminates the need for the user to calculate the travel time required from the departure point to the toll road interchange and to consider whether the time zone discount is applied based on the travel time. For this reason, since it is possible to easily know whether or not the time zone discount can be used for each toll road, convenience for the user is improved.

According to the second configuration of the present invention,
By specifying the scheduled departure time when there are one or more toll roads on the route, the usage fee for each toll road on the route is automatically based on the result of whether the time zone discount is applied Calculate automatically. For this reason, the user calculates the travel time from the departure point to the interchange of each toll road, considers whether the time zone discount is applied based on that, and calculates the usage fee based on the result There is no need to do. Also, the calculation of the total usage fee for the entire guidance route is automatically calculated. As described above, since the total usage fee for each toll road and guidance route can be easily known, the convenience for the user is improved.

According to the third configuration of the present invention,
It is possible to notify the user together with the route information by displaying the usage fee for each toll road or guidance route calculated in the above process using a display unit or the like. Thereby, when the user performs a route search operation, the user can also check the toll road usage fee together with the route information. For this reason, the number of operations required by the user is reduced, and convenience is improved.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[Embodiment]
<1. About the internal configuration of the navigation device>
Here, the configuration of the main part of the electric circuit system of the navigation device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG.

  As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 2, the navigation apparatus 1 of the present invention includes at least a control unit 11, a memory 12, a storage unit 13, a ROM 14, an ETC processing unit 15, a current position detection unit 16, an operation button group 17, and The display unit 18 is configured to be included.

  The control unit 11 is a central processing unit for performing overall control of navigation processing (route search, map data display, etc.) by organically controlling the driving of each member of the navigation device 1. The control unit 11 is a central part that controls each device (for example, the storage unit 13 and the like), calculates data, processes, and the like.

  The memory 12 is a medium for temporarily storing various data held by the navigation device 1 and is configured by, for example, a writable RAM (Random Access Memory). The memory 12 serves as a buffer memory for temporarily storing, for example, processing data when various navigation processes are performed by the control unit 11 and instruction commands received from the user.

  The storage unit 13 is a storage medium for recording various data (road data, road fee data, etc.) held by the navigation device 1. Note that the storage unit 13 is physically divided into a plurality of regions (partitions), and it is more desirable to store each region according to the type of data to be stored. The storage unit 13 includes at least a road data storage area 13a that is an area for storing road data and a road charge data storage area 13b that is an area for storing road charge data.

  A ROM (Read Only Memory) 14 is a medium for storing program data for performing various types of processing (for example, route search processing) using the control unit 11, for example, and the user can only read information. ing.

  The ETC processing unit 15 is a processing circuit for extracting ETC information and card information for toll payment on toll roads, toll payment at various facilities, and the various information uses an antenna unit (not shown). Transmitted to the roadside antenna. Further, by transmitting the information received at the antenna unit to the control unit 11, the processing result can be displayed and reproduced from the display unit 18, for example. When performing toll payment on a toll road, the ETC processing unit 15 extracts, for example, ETC information recorded on an IC card chip, encrypts it, and transmits it using an antenna unit.

  The current position detection unit 16 is a circuit for specifying the current position of the navigation device (and thus the vehicle on which the navigation device is mounted). The current position detector 16 receives information from, for example, a geomagnetic sensor, a gyroscope, a vehicle speed sensor, and a GPS receiver for GPS (Global Positioning System) that detects the position of the vehicle based on radio waves from a satellite. . Based on the information acquired by these devices, the current position detection unit 16 specifies the current position of the vehicle.

The operation button group 17 is an input interface for the user to give a road search instruction, a road information display instruction, and the like to the navigation device 1. The display unit 18 is an output interface for displaying various information of the navigation device 1 to the user.
<2. About the route search process>
Here, the process steps of the route search process in the navigation device 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 1 and the block diagrams of FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the control unit 11 detects a route search function execution command from the user, and this process is started (S110). The route search function execution command is issued, for example, when the user presses the route search button using the operation button group 17.

  The control unit 11 that has received the execution instruction of the route search function waits for the input of the departure place and the destination from the user, and thus shifts to a standby state. The control unit that detects the input from the user in the standby state (S120) shifts to the standby state in order to wait for the next departure time input from the user (S130). A route search is performed based on the input information regarding the departure place, destination, and departure time, and road data stored in the road data storage area 13a of the storage unit 13 (S140). Note that when the departure point is set in the processing of S120, the current position detected by the current position detection unit 16 can be automatically set as the departure point.

  As a result of the route search processing in S140, the control unit 11 has a toll road to which a time zone discount (a service in which a usage fee is discounted when used in a certain time zone) can be applied on the searched route. It is confirmed whether or not (S150). If there is a toll road to which the time zone discount can be applied, the process proceeds to the next step S150. If there is no toll road to which the time zone discount can be applied, the same processing as the conventional route search processing is performed, and this processing is terminated. The details of the conventional route search process are omitted here.

  In the process of S140, when it is determined that there is a toll road to which the time zone discount can be applied on the route, the control unit 11 moves from the departure place on the route based on the road data stored in the road data storage area 13. Obtain distance, road information (speed limit, etc.), traffic conditions, etc. to each interchange (point where toll road starts or ends), and move from departure point to each interchange based on various information obtained The estimated time (estimated travel time) is calculated (S160).

  The control unit 11 uses the departure time input by the user, the estimated travel time calculated in S160, and discount time zone information of each toll road, and discounts at each toll road when departing at the departure time. It is confirmed whether a charge is applied (S170). For example, as shown in FIG. 3, it is assumed that the route from a certain point (starting point A) to the home (destination D) is acquired by route search. There is one toll road (section indicated by arrow β) in this route. The toll road has an interchange B and an interchange C, and when passing through these two points, the ETC control unit 15 is used to communicate various information with the roadside antenna, thereby charging a toll.

  Here, for example, it is assumed that a discount fee is applied when the vehicle passes through interchange B between 1 am and 4 am (assuming that there is no restriction on the time for passing through interchange C). It is assumed that the departure time input by the user is 2:00 am and the estimated traveling time calculated by the process of S160 is one hour. In this case, the estimated travel time (one hour) has elapsed from the departure time (2 am), and the vehicle will pass through the interchange B at 3 am. Since this time is within the range of the discount time zone (from 1 am to 4 am), the discount fee will be applied.

  Further, for example, in the process of S170, an example in which a plurality of toll roads exist on the route will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, it is assumed that a route from a point (starting point A) to a home (destination F) is acquired by route search. There are two toll roads on this route, toll road β1 (section indicated by arrow β1) and toll road β2 (section indicated by arrow β2). Each toll road has an interchange E from an interchange B, and the toll is charged by communicating various information with the roadside antenna using the ETC control unit 15 when passing through each point.

  Here, for example, it is assumed that a discount fee is applied to the toll road β1 when passing through the interchange B between 1 am and 4 am. Further, it is assumed that a discount fee is applied to the toll road β2 when passing through the interchange D between 0:00 pm and 5:00 pm. The departure time input by the user is 2:00 am, the estimated travel time to the interchange B (estimated travel time 1) calculated by the process of S160 is one hour, and the estimated travel time to the interchange D (estimated travel time). Suppose that time 2) is four hours.

  In this case, the estimated travel time 1 (one hour) has passed from the departure time (2 am), and the vehicle will pass through the interchange B at 3 am. Since this time is within the discount time zone of the toll road β1 (from 1 am to 4 am), the discount fee is applied to the toll road β1. Moreover, the estimated travel time 2 (four hours) has elapsed from the departure time (2 am), and the vehicle will pass through the interchange D at 6 am. Since this time is outside the range of the discount time zone (from 0:00 am to 5:00 am) of the toll road β2, the discount fee is not applied to the toll road β2. The process when there are three or more toll roads on the route is the same.

The control unit 11 displays the toll for each toll road or the total toll based on the result confirmed in S170 (whether the time zone discount is applied to each toll road). The user is notified using the unit 18 or the like (S180).
[Other embodiments]
The present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments and examples. However, the present invention is not necessarily limited to the above embodiments and examples, and various modifications may be made within the scope of the technical idea. Can be implemented.

  For example, a storage medium recording software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to the navigation apparatus 1, and a computer (for example, CPU) in the navigation apparatus 1 reads the program codes stored in the storage medium. Needless to say, it can also be achieved through implementation.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

  As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like is used. it can.

  Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (operating system) operating on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the actual processing and the processing is included.

  Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion is performed based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the CPU or the like provided in the board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

  In this embodiment, data stored in the storage unit 13 is used as road data for calculating tolls for toll roads, road toll data, and the like. However, from an external organization by communication means such as wireless communication. Toll calculation may be performed using the obtained data. In addition, when calculating the estimated travel time to specify the entry and exit times to and from the toll road, traffic congestion information provided from an external organization is received via wireless communication etc., and the estimated travel time is calculated taking them into account May be performed.

  It goes without saying that the same effect can be obtained even when the route search method of the present invention is used in an information processing apparatus other than the navigation apparatus. As information processing apparatuses other than the navigation apparatus, for example, a personal computer, a PDA, a digital TV, a mobile phone, and the like are conceivable.

It is a processing flowchart of the route search process by the navigation apparatus of this invention. It is the block diagram which showed the principal part structure inside the navigation apparatus of this invention. It is the block diagram which showed an example of the route search process by the navigation apparatus of this invention. It is the block diagram which showed an example of the route search result by the navigation apparatus of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Navigation apparatus 11 Control part 12 Memory 13 Storage part 14 ROM
15 ETC processing unit 16 Current position detection unit 17 Operation button group 18 Display unit

Claims (6)

Route setting means for setting a guidance route connecting the departure point and the destination when the departure point and the destination are input; and
In the route setting means, departure time setting means for setting a departure time;
A toll calculation means for calculating a toll charged when the toll road is used when a toll road exists on the guide route;
A discounted toll calculation for calculating a toll in the discounted time zone when a discounted time zone in which a discount on the toll is applied by using the toll road in a specific time zone is set for the toll road Means,
In a navigation device comprising
Estimated travel time calculating means for calculating an estimated travel time for travel from the departure place to an interchange that is a boundary between the toll road and a normal road existing on the guidance route;
Discount discriminating means for discriminating whether or not the toll road can be used in the discount time zone when leaving at the departure time using the estimated traveling time and the discount time zone;
A navigation device characterized by comprising: When there is one or more toll roads on the guide route, by using the discount discriminating means, whether the toll road can be used in the discount time zone when departing at the departure time. And a usage fee calculating means for determining for each toll road and calculating a total of the toll road usage fee and the toll road usage fee for the entire guide route based on the determination result. Item 4. The navigation device according to Item 1. Usage fee display means for notifying the user of the toll road usage fee for each toll road obtained by using the usage fee calculation means and the toll road usage fee for each guidance route to the user using a display unit The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: A route setting step for setting a guidance route connecting the departure point and the destination when the departure point and the destination are input;
In the route setting step, a departure time setting step for setting a departure time; and
A toll calculation step for calculating a toll charged when the toll road is used when a toll road exists on the guide route; and
A discounted toll calculation for calculating a toll in the discounted time zone when a discounted time zone in which a discount on the toll is applied by using the toll road in a specific time zone is set for the toll road Process,
In the fee search method having
An estimated travel time calculating step for calculating an estimated travel time for travel from the departure place to an interchange that is a boundary between the toll road and a normal road existing on the guidance route;
A discount determination step of determining whether the toll road can be used in the discount time period when the estimated travel time and the discount time period are used and the vehicle departs at the departure time;
A charge search method characterized by comprising: In the case where one or a plurality of toll roads exist on the guidance route, the toll road can be used in the discount time zone when the toll road departs at the departure time by the discount determination step. 5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising: a usage fee calculating step of determining for each of the two, and calculating a total of the toll road usage fee and the toll road usage fee for the entire guide route based on the determination result. Price search method. A usage fee display step of notifying the user of the toll road usage fee in units of the toll road obtained in the usage fee calculation step and the toll road usage fee in units of the guidance route using a display unit; 6. The charge retrieval method according to claim 4 or 5, wherein:

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