JP2007205947A - Route guide system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a route guide system for coping with unclear wish of a user, various wishes and wish changing with time. <P>SOLUTION: The route guide system has three ways having a normal mode, a simple mode and a tour mode around a town and provides route guide information on a terminal such as a mobile phone of the user. The normal mode provides a route from a start point to a destination. The simple guide mode does not provide a route and displays guide on what kind of buildings or the like exist at each passage passed by the user. The tour mode around the town provides a plurality of routes in which passing via-points are different to the user, and indicates evaluation values by being divided into genres such as shopping and restaurants on the basis of kinds of things existing on the periphery of each route. A simple guide and a tour around a town achieves practical route guide along wishes of the user in order to determine a route corresponding to wishes at that time by the user by self determination on the basis of provided information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a route guidance system that provides a user with information that can be used when determining a route, and performs route guidance while leaving the route determination to the user.

  There has been proposed a route guidance system for a vehicle or a pedestrian that searches for and guides an optimum route from a specified departure place to a destination. The route guidance system refers to network data in which paths are represented by nodes and links, and searches for a route that minimizes the evaluation value assigned to each link, that is, the total cost. There has also been proposed a route guidance system capable of designating various requests for a searched route. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a system that can specify a search condition such as a desired walking route in addition to conditions such as a shortest route and a specified time route when route guidance is provided for a pedestrian. Patent Document 2 discloses a system that presents a route including a detour such as a meal or a night view to a user when there is a sufficient time to reach a destination in a route search for a vehicle. Similarly, Patent Document 3 discloses a system capable of searching for a route via a road having a good scenery suitable for a detour.

JP 2002-286491 A JP 2003-139553 A JP 2003-185453 A

  In the conventional route guidance system, a specific route to the destination is designated to the user as described above. Once the route guidance is started, the user tends to blindly follow the instructed route of the route guidance system. In such route guidance, the user's freedom to determine the route has been lost, so in order to improve the practicality of the system, the route that best suits the user's request should be presented. Therefore, there has been a tendency to require detailed input of user requests in advance. However, in the state where the detailed request for the route is required in the route search, another problem that the usability of the route guidance system is deteriorated is caused.

  In addition, although a route search meeting the user's request is realized, there is a problem that the user's request is not always clearly determined from the beginning. For example, in an unfamiliar place such as a tourist spot, the user may perform a route search with a final destination and a desired arrival time, but without any other intention. In such a case, it is not necessary to arrive quickly to the final destination by the shortest route. This is because the user has a desire to walk while watching various tourist spots as long as time permits. The techniques described in Patent Documents 2 and 3 search for a detour route, but in a state where the user's request is not clear, it is not possible to present a route that sufficiently meets the user's request. was there.

  Furthermore, even if the requested items are clear at the beginning of the route search, the requests may change during the route movement. For example, although the route search was initially performed for shopping purposes, there is a case where the user wants to eat while moving along the route. In the conventional route guidance system, when the request changes, it is necessary to retry the route search by specifying the requested item again.

  Thus, on the premise that a fixed route is presented as in the conventional route guidance system, there is a limit to presenting a route that sufficiently meets the user's request. In order to solve such a problem, the present invention provides a route guidance system that allows a user to take a route suitable for his / her request at that time by performing route guidance that leaves the user freedom of route determination. The purpose is to provide.

  The configuration of the route guidance system of the present invention guides a route by providing the user with information for supporting route determination by the user. The route guidance system may be configured to be able to operate stand-alone, or may be configured to include a terminal connected to a network and one or more servers. The route guidance system of the present invention is classified into the following three types according to the content of information presented to the user and the process for presenting the information. However, each route guidance system does not guide the user along the searched specific route, but has a feature that the user presents information that is useful when the route is determined by the user. . In the route guidance system of the present invention, since the user himself / herself determines the route in this way, there is an advantage that it is possible to flexibly cope with the user's request at that time without having to specify detailed requirements for the route. is there. However, the three types of route guidance systems can only be established exclusively, and can be configured as a route guidance system having a plurality of types of functions.

  The first route guidance system stores a map database that stores guidance information including types and positions of candidate sites visited by a user in association with a passage in the region for guidance, in a region to be guided. Use. Candidate sites include, for example, various shops, public facilities, landmarks and other features, sightseeing spots with good scenery, and the like. The route guidance system also obtains the current position of the user, and identifies a path on which the user can proceed based on the current position, that is, a path including the current position and a path connected to the current position. When the user is at the intersection, a plurality of passages are specified, and when the user is not at a branch, only the front and the rear can travel. The route guidance system extracts guidance information associated with each identified passage from the map database based on a predetermined extraction condition. Then, the extracted guidance information is associated with each passage and presented to the user. For example, it is possible to adopt a mode in which a map near the current position of the user is displayed and guidance information is displayed near each passage. A method of displaying a list of passage names and guidance information near the current position of the user may be adopted.

  According to the first route guidance system, the user can know what candidate sites exist for each path through which the user can travel. Therefore, the user only has to select and proceed with the path most suitable for his / her request at that time. By providing such information, the first route guidance system can realize route guidance that can flexibly respond to user requests.

  In the first route guidance system, designation regarding the genre of guidance information may be accepted from the user. Only one genre may be designated, or a plurality of genres may be designated. In the latter case, priority may be included. The route guidance system can present guidance information suitable for the genre, and can more efficiently present information according to the user's request. The suitability for the genre can be determined based on the type stored in the guidance information. For example, the type of guidance information itself may be used as a “genre”. Further, an item “genre” obtained by integrating a plurality of types may be included in the guide information in advance. As such a mode, for example, a mode in which a “genre” of “restaurant” is further attached to a store with a classification such as “Japanese restaurant”, “Western restaurant”, and “Hakata ramen”. In addition to the guidance information, a genre definition table that associates “type” with “genre” is prepared, and it is possible to extract guidance information corresponding to the specified “genre” by referring to this table. Good.

  The first route guidance system may be capable of automatically setting extraction conditions for extracting guidance information. As basic data for automatic setting, for example, at least one of a user attribute and a time period for guidance can be used. Examples of user attributes include gender, age, and occupation. The date may be included in the time zone. By using these basic data, for example, when a “high school girl” provides route guidance during the “after school” time period, “fast food”, “karaoke”, “shopping”, “library” It can be determined that a candidate site such as is desired. An action pattern table that associates basic data with candidate sites in advance may be prepared separately. Furthermore, in addition to the basic data described above, attributes of areas to be guided such as shopping streets and sightseeing spots may be used. According to these aspects, it is possible to efficiently present guidance information that can be utilized by the user without the user inputting a request, and the convenience of the system can be improved.

  Information can be presented to the user in various ways. For example, the extracted guidance information may be listed and presented directly in the form of a list or the like. Further, a predetermined evaluation index may be obtained based on the extracted guidance information and presented. Although the calculation method of the evaluation index can be arbitrarily determined, for example, it can be obtained by using the type included in each guide information extracted for each advancing passage. As an example, the extracted guidance information may be classified into the “genre” described above, and the number of guidance information for each genre may be used as the evaluation index. For each guide information, a “popularity index” representing popularity, topicality, etc. by a large number of users may be set, and a value obtained by tabulating the popularity index for each genre may be used as an evaluation index. Thus, according to the information presentation using the evaluation index, there is an advantage that the content of the presented information can be easily understood by the user even when a lot of guidance information exists.

  In the first route guidance system, a user's movable range may be specified based on a predetermined constraint condition, and guidance information may be extracted within the movable range. As the constraint condition, for example, a condition that it is within a predetermined distance from the departure place or the current position; a condition that it is possible to arrive at the destination by a designated desired arrival time can be adopted. According to this aspect, the user can use the presented information with peace of mind and determine the route without worrying about overturning or being late for the arrival time at the destination. It becomes.

  The first route guidance system may be provided with a function of searching for a route between two points with reference to network data in which paths in the region to be guided are represented by nodes and links. In this case, the route guidance system may search for a route from the current position to each candidate location, and extract the guidance information by reflecting the search result. For example, information about candidate locations far from a certain range from the current location may be reflected, or guidance information to be presented may be sorted according to the distance from the current location to the candidate location and the required time. it can. This makes it possible to present information in a form that is easier for the user to use.

  The second route guidance system provides information by utilizing the route search function described above. First, the second route guidance system accepts a user's designation of a departure place and a destination and searches for a route from the departure place to the destination. The current position may be used as the departure place. However, the second route guidance system performs route search under conditions that are relaxed within a predetermined range from the optimum route. The optimum route can be searched by using the Dijkstra method for searching for a route that minimizes the cost attached to the nodes and links. When the Dijkstra method is used, the above-described route search can be realized by selecting a route while allowing a cost that is larger than the minimum cost by a predetermined value or a predetermined ratio. The route selected in this way is a route that allows the user to make a detour within the allowable range even if it is not optimal among the routes to the destination, and the range where these routes exist is the user's movement It will be possible. The second route guidance system presents information for assisting the user to move within the movable range. By presenting such information, the user can arbitrarily select a route with his / her own intention without worrying about excessive detours.

  For this information presentation, for example, a method of presenting information for preventing the user from entering, such as “x”, for a passage that may protrude from the movable range can be adopted. In addition, as the timing of presenting information, it may be presented before entering these passages, and when entering, it informs the user that the passage should not proceed. Information may be presented.

  As another aspect of presenting information, a method of displaying that “passable” is possible only for a passage that is movable within the above-described movable range may be employed. For example, the aspect which displays only such a passage which can be passed in blue is included. This information presentation may also be presented prior to the user's movement, or may be presented when the user deviates from a passage that the user can pass through.

  In the second route guidance system, the above-described information may be presented for all passages regardless of the current position of the user. Further, based on the current position of the user, a path in which the user can travel, that is, a path including the current position and a path connected to the current position may be specified, and information may be presented for this path. According to the former aspect, there is an advantage that the user can grasp the movable range widely by the wide area map. According to the latter mode, there is an advantage that information can be efficiently presented by narrowing down only the portion most needed by the user. Furthermore, the above-described information is not limited to a mode of displaying each passage as a target. For example, when the user starts traveling in a direction that protrudes from the movable range, a mode in which a large “x” is displayed on the entire screen or an alarm sound is generated may be employed.

  In the second route guidance system, the range for relaxing the route search conditions may be set by the following method. First, the route guidance system obtains a predicted arrival time at the destination when the optimum route is traveled from the current position of the user to the destination. Then, based on the time difference between the estimated arrival time and the desired arrival time designated by the user, a range for relaxing the search condition is determined. The relationship between the time difference and the relaxation range can be set in advance by experiments or the like. By adopting this mode, it becomes possible to set the movable range under the condition that the destination can be reached at the desired arrival time.

  In the second route guidance system, the user may be able to hold a passage that has been passed as a travel history. By doing so, it is possible to present information for assisting the user to move while avoiding the passage that has been passed. For such information presentation, for example, a mode of presenting information for deterring entry such as “x” for a passage that has already been passed, or that a passage that is not allowed to pass is indicated. A mode of displaying is included. By utilizing these pieces of information, the user can avoid useless movements such as going back and re-passing a passage that has already been passed.

  In the second route guidance system, it is possible to search for the optimum route from the current position of the user to the destination at a predetermined timing after the guidance is started, and this optimum route is presented to the user in addition to the above information presentation. May be. By doing so, the user can determine the traveling direction while being aware of the optimum route. The search for the optimum route may be performed periodically, or at a timing determined based on the movement state of the user, such as when the user arrives at an intersection or when the user re-passes a passage that has already been passed. May be. When the user passes the passage that has already been passed, the user may be at a loss, so the convenience of the route guidance system can be improved by presenting the optimal route at this timing.

  The second route guidance system may execute the re-development of the movable range at a predetermined timing after the guidance is started, using the current position of the user as the departure place. If the user's moving speed is slower than originally assumed, or if the user departs on the way, he / she wants to arrive at the destination even if he / she is moving within the originally defined movable range. You may not be able to arrive at the time. Thus, the movable range can be affected according to the circumstances after the user starts moving. According to the above aspect, since the movable range can be updated at a predetermined timing, the user can determine the route with peace of mind.

  Information presentation described in the first route guidance system may be combined with the second route guidance system. By doing so, it is possible to present guidance information, evaluation indices, and the like to the user, and there is an advantage that the user can select a route that meets the demand more.

  The third route guidance system searches for a route from the departure point designated by the user to the destination, and presents the evaluation result obtained by the following method for this route to the user. First, the route guidance system extracts guidance information associated with the searched route based on a predetermined extraction condition, and obtains an evaluation index using each guidance information. For extracting the guidance information and calculating the evaluation index, the same method as the first route guidance system can be adopted. As a result, an evaluation index is obtained for each type and genre of internal information. The route guidance system may present the evaluation index as it is as an evaluation result, or may indicate the highest type or genre among the evaluation indices. Also, a general name representing a type or genre having a high evaluation index such as “shopping street” may be set, and the name may be presented as information. By these methods, the user can easily determine whether or not the presented route meets his / her request, and can easily determine whether or not to select the route.

  The third route guidance system may search for a plurality of routes having different waypoints and present an evaluation index for each route. By doing so, the user can easily select a route most suitable for his / her request from the presented routes.

  The third route guidance system may present a plurality of evaluation results for each route. For example, a plurality of general names such as “shopping district” and “business district” may be presented in parallel. Further, the general name and the evaluation index may be presented in parallel. By doing so, the user can grasp the characteristics of the route from various angles.

  The third route guidance system obtains a plurality of types of evaluation results having different associations with the types for each route, sets superiority or inferiority of the evaluation results based on a predetermined rule, and evaluates each according to superiority or inferiority. You may change the presentation mode of a result. For example, it is possible to obtain an evaluation index for a plurality of genres described above for each route, set a superiority or inferiority of the genre based on this evaluation index, and change the presentation mode of each genre according to the superiority or inferiority. it can. For example, a display that enhances the visibility of the most advantageous evaluation result can be performed. More specifically, display with high luminance, display with a highly visible color such as red, display with bold or large size characters, and the like can be performed. Alternatively, a method of selecting and displaying only the most significant evaluation result or only the evaluation result within a predetermined order from the most advantageous one may be adopted.

  The information presented by the third route guidance system may be updated at a predetermined timing after the guidance is started. That is, the route guidance system may obtain guidance information that is associated with an inaccessible portion for each route, and may present the information reflecting the guidance information thus obtained. Guidance information associated with the non-passing portion can be obtained based on the current position of the user and the previous passing history. A method of extracting the guidance information of the non-passing portion anew may be employed, or a method of deleting the guidance information associated with the passage portion from the guidance information extracted before the start of the guidance may be employed.

  In general, various features such as stores and offices are distributed along each route. Therefore, for example, even if the route is evaluated as a “shopping district” where there are many stores, after the user passes through an area where there are many stores, there are almost no stores on the route ahead. In some cases, it cannot be evaluated as a “shopping street”. In the above-described aspect, since the evaluation result for the route is updated based on the user's current position or the travel history, the user can determine the route to be traveled from now without being confused by the initial evaluation result before starting the guidance. It becomes possible.

  In the route search described above, the route point may be specified by the user, but the route guidance system may be automatically set by the following method. First, the route guidance system extracts candidate sites that should be transit points from the departure point to the destination from the map database according to predetermined conditions. For this extraction, for example, the same conditions as the guidance information can be used. In addition, in the case where the “popularity index” described above is attached to the guidance information, candidate sites whose popularity index is within the upper predetermined range may be extracted. The route guidance system may search for a route that passes through at least a part of the waypoints thus extracted. At the time of route search, a route that passes through all of the extracted waypoints may be searched. Further, the route points used for one route search may be narrowed down under the condition that the required time or distance is within a predetermined range. Group the waypoints in advance, such as the waypoints that belong to the right side and the waypoints that belong to the left side of the straight line connecting the starting point and the destination. Also good.

  The three types of route guidance systems described as the present invention are not necessarily configured as exclusive systems as described at the beginning. It can also be configured as a system having the characteristics of multiple types of route guidance systems. The features described in each type of route guidance system need not be all provided, but can be applied by omitting or combining some of them as appropriate. The present invention may be configured as a route guidance method that provides the functions of the above-described route guidance system by a computer, or may be configured as a computer program for realizing these functions. Furthermore, a recording medium on which the computer program is recorded, for example, a flexible disk, a CD-ROM, a magneto-optical disk, an IC card, a ROM cartridge, a punch card, a printed matter on which a code such as a barcode is printed, an internal storage device of the computer ( It can also be configured as various media that can be read by a computer, such as a memory such as a RAM and a ROM, and an external storage device.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following order.
A. System configuration:
B. Route guidance process:
C. Simple guidance processing:
C1. Extraction target setting process:
C2. Feature extraction processing:
C3. Information presentation process:
C4. Modification (1):
C5. Modification (2):
D. Town tour guide processing:
D1. Route setting process:
D2. Route search process:
D3. Information presentation process:

A. System configuration:
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a route guidance system as an embodiment. In the present embodiment, a configuration example as a route guidance system for pedestrians is shown, but it can also be configured as a route guidance system for vehicles. The route guidance system is configured by connecting a terminal 100 using a mobile phone and a server 200 via a network INT. The network INT is a network using wireless communication, and may be limited such as a LAN or an intranet, or may be a wide area such as the Internet. As the terminal 100, a mobile phone, a so-called vehicle navigation device, a PDA, a personal computer having a network communication function, and the like can be used. When configured as a route guidance system for pedestrians, it is desirable that the vehicle navigation device be removed from the vehicle and portable.

  The terminal 100 has a function for transmitting instructions necessary for route search and route guidance to the server 200 in accordance with user operations. In the figure, functional blocks of the terminal 100 are also shown. The terminal 100 incorporates a microcomputer having a CPU, a RAM, and a ROM as a control device, and this CPU executes software stored in the ROM to constitute each functional block shown in the figure. These functional blocks can be configured in hardware as well as in software.

  The communication unit 120 has a function of communicating with the server 200 via the network INT. The GPS 140 detects the latitude and longitude of the current position of the terminal 100 using a global positioning system. The command input unit 130 inputs commands related to route search and route guidance based on a user operation on a switch or the like. Examples of the command include designation of a route search destination and selection of a guidance route depending on a route guidance mode, as illustrated. The display control unit 150 displays these command input menus on the display of the terminal 100 or displays a map based on the route guidance data received from the server 200. The main control unit 110 controls the overall functions of the terminal 100 by performing overall control of the functional blocks described above.

  Based on commands from the terminal 100, the server 200 performs route search and route guidance while referring to various databases. In the figure, examples of functional blocks and databases for realizing these functions are shown. Each functional block is configured by software by a computer program executed by the CPU of the server 200, but may be configured by hardware.

  Databases used by the server 200 are a map DB 250 and a user DB 260. The map DB 250 includes link data 251 and node data 252 representing a passage (hereinafter, both may be collectively referred to as “network data”), drawing data 254 including map drawing polygons and character data, and feature data. H.253. The feature data 253 is data that is referred to in order to generate information to be provided to the user at the time of route guidance, and various shops, public facilities, landmarks and other features, sights and other sightseeing spots with good scenery Is a database that stores information such as type, position, and the like. The data structure of the map DB 250 will be exemplified later.

  The user DB 260 records bibliographic registration information such as a user ID and name, and attributes such as a user's gender, address, and age, and search conditions. The search conditions include, for example, conditions related to a search mode such as distance priority and time priority, and conditions related to desired items for a route such as giving priority to a route that avoids stairs and uphills.

  The communication unit 220 controls communication with the terminal 100 via the network INT. The main control unit 210 has a function of managing the user DB 260 in accordance with an instruction from the terminal 100. The main control unit 210 performs integrated control of the functional blocks shown in the figure to realize the route search and route guidance described below. In this embodiment, three modes of “normal guidance”, “simple guidance”, and “city tour guidance” are provided. “Normal guidance” is a mode realized by the normal guidance unit 230, in which a route from the departure point designated by the user to the destination is searched, and the user is guided to move along the searched route. is there. “Simple guidance” is a mode realized by the simple guidance unit 232 and presents information indicating what features exist for each path that the user can travel at an intersection or the like. In this mode, the route guidance is performed while leaving the user freedom of route determination. “City tour guide” is a mode realized by the city tour guide unit 234, and presents a plurality of routes from the departure point specified by the user to the destination, and characteristics of each route for shopping, sightseeing, etc. This is a mode for presenting an evaluation result representing.

  When searching for a route according to instructions from the normal guide unit 230 and the city tour guide unit 234, the route search unit 240 refers to the map DB 250 and searches for a route between two designated points by the Dijkstra method. Play. The Dijkstra method is a well-known search method for searching for a route that minimizes the cost attached to nodes and links. When a route search is performed according to an instruction from the simple guide unit 232, the route search is executed while allowing a predetermined range cost to be greater than the minimum.

  The map display unit 242 generates route guidance data for displaying and guiding the searched route on the map, and transmits the route guidance data to the terminal 100. As described above, the route search is performed based on various search conditions. The map display unit 242 realizes guidance display reflecting these conditions. A display example will be described later.

  The guidance information acquisition unit 244 extracts the guidance information used for route guidance from the feature data 253 and provides it to the simple guidance unit 232 and the city tour guidance unit 234. When extracting guide information, user attributes stored in the user DB 260 may be used. The extracted information may be provided as it is, or may be provided after being processed into a format of image data that can be displayed on the terminal 100 by the information presentation unit 246.

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the contents of the map DB 250. The data structure will be described using the map shown at the upper left of the figure as an example. As shown in the figure, roads indicated by links L1 to L5 exist near the coast. Around the road, there are a department store B1, an amusement park B2, a scenic sightseeing spot B3, and the like.

  The link data 251 stores link ID, link shape, and attributes such as type, distance, and feature. “Link ID” is identification information of each link. The shape indicates a point sequence through which the link passes. In the example in the figure, the link L1 connects the nodes N1 and N2, and therefore, the node ID “N1, N2” is stored in the “shape”. When a point other than the node passes, the coordinates of the passing point such as latitude and longitude may be stored. “Type” represents the type of road such as a national road or a prefectural road. “Distance” is the distance of the link. In “features”, feature IDs representing features, scenery spots, etc. existing around the link are registered. In the example of the figure, since the building B1 exists around the link L1, the feature ID B1 is stored in the “feature” column. A plurality of features can be stored in the “feature” column. In the present embodiment, in the “feature” column, in addition to the features such as the building B1 and the landmark B2, a landmark such as the tourist spot B3 is stored in the same format.

  The node data 252 stores information such as a node ID, a position, a regulation, and a feature. “Node ID” is identification information of each node. “Position” stores coordinate values of the node such as latitude and longitude. “Regulation” stores node traffic restrictions such as right / left turn prohibition. In the example of the figure, the restriction is not stored in particular. In “features”, feature IDs representing features, scenery spots, and the like located around the node are registered. In the example of the figure, the feature ID represents a state where it is not registered.

  The feature data 253 stores information such as a feature ID, type, name, evaluation, position, link, and equipment. The “feature ID” is identification information representing a feature, a landscape spot, or the like. “Type” stores information indicating the type of a feature such as a store or a restaurant, and information indicating a landscape such as a beach or along a river. “Name” is a proper noun such as a feature or a landscape spot. “Evaluation” is an index representing popularity, recommendation degree, and the like. In this example, the evaluation was made in five stages. “Evaluation” can be set based on, for example, the frequency at which the user designates the feature or the scenery spot as the destination. “Position” is a coordinate value of a feature or a landscape spot. In the example of the figure, a state in which coordinate values are registered in the form of (latitude, longitude) is illustrated.

  “Link” stores identification information of a link and a node associated with a feature and a landscape spot. In the example shown in the figure, since the building B1 is located around the link L1, identification information L1 is stored. By using the “link”, it is possible to refer to the information of the link and node where the building B1 is located. Conversely, by using the “feature” information stored in the link data 251, it is possible to refer to the feature data 253 from the link data 251. Thus, in this embodiment, the feature data 253, the link data 251, and the node data 252 can be referred to each other.

  “Equipment” stores information on the facilities of the feature and the scenery spot. In the example of the figure, it can be seen that the building B1 is provided with a restaurant, toilet, ATM, and air conditioning. The “facility” information can be used to determine whether the feature or the scenery spot is a place that meets the user's request.

  The data structures of the link data 251, node data 252, and feature data 253 are not limited to the illustrated example, and various types of information may be added, or some of the illustrated information may be omitted. Various settings can be made for the data format.

B. Route guidance process:
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of route guidance processing. As described above with reference to FIG. 1, in this embodiment, route search and guidance can be executed in three modes: “normal guidance”, “simple guidance”, and “city tour guidance”. FIG. 3 shows a process corresponding to a main routine executed by the function of the main control unit 210 shown in FIG. 1, and is a process executed by the CPU of the server 200 in terms of hardware.

  In this process, the CPU inputs the destination and desired arrival time from the terminal 100 (step S10). The current position of the terminal 100 may be used as the destination. The CPU also inputs a guidance mode designation (step S12). An example interface screen DISP for designating the guidance mode is shown in the figure. This represents a screen displayed on the terminal 100. As shown in the figure, three guidance modes, a normal mode, a simple mode, and a city tour mode, are listed, and the user can select one using a pointing device or the like. The example in the figure represents a state in which “simple mode” in which black and white are reversed is selected.

  The CPU executes a process corresponding to the guidance mode thus designated. When the normal mode is designated (step S14), the route search condition including the desired items for the route such as the designation of the departure point, the designation of the search mode such as the distance priority / time priority, and the avoidance of stairs and uphill is input ( Step S16). Conditions other than those shown may be specified. The CPU searches for a route from the departure point to the destination according to the specified condition (step S18), and executes a process for guiding the searched route (step S20). The route guidance can be performed by, for example, a method of displaying a map near the current position of the user, a symbol indicating the current position, and a route that the user should travel on the screen of the terminal 100.

  When the simple mode is designated (step S14), the simple guidance process is executed (step S100). As shown in the figure, the simple guidance refers to guidance that displays a map of the vicinity of the current position of the user and presents information on what features and scenery spots exist for each path that the user can travel. The route that the user should follow is not specified. The contents of the simple guidance process will be described later.

  When the city tour mode is designated (step S14), a city tour guidance process is executed (step S300). As shown in the figure, the city tour guide presents a plurality of routes with different waypoints to the user and, in order to facilitate the user's route selection, targets each route to a genre such as a restaurant or a shop. This is a guide for presenting a corresponding evaluation value. The contents of the city tour guidance process will be described later.

C. Simple guidance processing:
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of simple guidance processing. A processing example will be described by taking the map shown in FIG. 4A as an example. Black squares R1, R2, etc. in the figure represent restaurants, black circles S1-S3, etc. represent shops, and white triangles LM1-LM3, etc. represent landmarks and scenery spots. .

  In the simple guidance, an arc-shaped area having a radius R and an angle θ (hereinafter referred to as “feature extraction area”) is set around the current position PP of the user, and exists as a guide information generation target. The features to be extracted are extracted. The example of the figure shows the feature extraction area for the front passage, and the restaurant R1 and shops S1 to S3 are extracted.

  FIG. 4B shows an example of a simple guidance display screen. A map around the current position of the user PP is displayed, and sub-windows Wb1 and Wb2 are displayed in the front and left passages, respectively. The sub window Wb1 displays guidance information for the front passage. For the passage in front, the guide information indicates that there are the features R1 and shops S1 to S3 extracted by the method shown in FIG. The time required to reach these features is also displayed.

  The guidance information set by the same processing is also displayed for the sub window Wb2. Although illustration is omitted, an arc-shaped feature extraction area including the passage on the left side is set, and features and scenery spots in the arc are extracted as display targets. Then, the extracted features and scenery spots are displayed in the sub window Wb2. In the example of the figure, the passage direction on the left is a landscape spot along the river, indicating that there are sights LM1, restaurant R2, and the like. The required time to these features is also displayed. Also, if there are no features and scenery spots in the feature extraction area, the example in the figure suggests that there is no information such as “?” Instead of a subwindow as shown in the passage on the right side. The symbol is displayed. As described above, in the simple guidance, a sub-window indicating what features and scenery spots are present in the direction of the passage is displayed in association with each passage through which the user can pass.

  FIG. 4C shows another display screen example of simple guidance. In FIG.4 (c), it displays on subwindow Wc1, Wc2. In the sub-window Wc1, the evaluation values for the genres of restaurants, shops, and tourism are shown in a graph with respect to the front passage direction. These evaluation values are obtained based on the number of features and landscape spots existing in the feature extraction area corresponding to the front passage. Similarly, the evaluation value for the left passage is displayed in the sub-window Wc2.

  In this embodiment, the screens of FIGS. 4B and 4C can be selected. Since a specific feature name or the like is displayed on the screen of FIG. 4B, the user can determine which path to proceed by paying attention to each specific feature or the like. Since the screen of FIG. 4C is displayed as an evaluation value, the user cannot know a specific feature name or the like, but is provided when there are many features around the passage. The information can be simplified, and the user can grasp the characteristics of each passage generally. The screen in FIG. 4 (c) is highly useful information in a situation where the specific feature name is not specified only by a vague purpose such as “I want to eat” or “I want to shop”. Can be presented.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the simple guidance process. This process corresponds to step S100 in FIG. 3, and corresponds to the function of the simple guide unit 232 (FIG. 1). The CPU first inputs the current position of the user from the terminal 100 (step S110), and determines whether or not the user is at an intersection (step S112). If it is not an intersection, it is determined that there is no branch in the direction of travel of the user and there is no need to present guidance information about the new direction of travel, so the CPU continues to display the previous screen (step S180). In addition to the screen display, the CPU retains the acquired current position or the history of links that the user has traveled in the course of the simple guidance process.

When the vehicle is at an intersection, a process for generating new guidance information is executed. First, the CPU sets a feature extraction area based on the current position PP of the user (step S114). The installation method of the feature extraction area is also shown in the figure. It is assumed that there are three paths L1, L2, and L3 around the current position PP. The feature extraction area α corresponding to the link L1 is an arc-shaped region having a radius R that includes the link L1 and extends to the left and right. The left and right spread angles θ _L and θ _R are half of the angle formed between adjacent links. In other words, the angle theta _L is half the angle of the link L1 and the link L2, the angle theta _R is half the angle of the link L1 and the link L3. For the links L2 and L3, the feature extraction area is set in the same manner.

  The radius R can be set in various ways. Increasing the radius R increases the feature extraction area α, which may result in the generation of guidance information based on very distant features. There is a risk of causing. On the other hand, if the radius R is made small, the feature extraction region α becomes narrow, and features and the like are hardly extracted, and there is a possibility that sufficient information cannot be presented. The radius R may be set in consideration of these balances. For example, a fixed value set in advance or a distance that the user can move within a predetermined time may be used. Moreover, it is good also as variable according to the density of a feature etc.

  Next, the CPU performs an extraction target setting process (step S120). There are a wide variety of features and scenery spots in the feature extraction area, but information on all of these is not always useful to the user. The extraction target setting process is a process for narrowing down the features and scenery spots to be extracted in order to provide useful information to the user. Although a specific processing method will be described later, the genre of the feature to be extracted, such as a restaurant, a shop, or a sightseeing, is determined by this processing.

  The CPU executes the feature extraction process according to the genre thus determined, and extracts the feature, the position of the landscape spot, and the like from the feature data 253 (step S140). Then, an information presentation process for presenting the extracted information to the user is executed (step S160). This is a process of generating display data for performing the screen display shown in FIGS. 4B and 4C. The contents of the feature extraction process and the information presentation process will be described later. The CPU transmits the display data thus generated to the terminal 100 and displays a guidance screen (step S180). The CPU repeatedly executes the above processing until the user arrives at the destination (step S182).

C1. Extraction target setting process:
FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the extraction target setting process. This process corresponds to step S120 in FIG. 5 and corresponds to the function of the guidance information acquisition unit 244 (FIG. 1). In the extraction target setting process, the user selects one of the three extraction modes of “default”, “user setting”, and “automatic”, and the features and scenery to be extracted as guidance display targets in the selected extraction mode Narrow the spot.

  The user can operate the terminal 100 to make new designations of the three extraction modes described above and change previous designations for the server 200. When the CPU receives a signal from the terminal 100 and the extraction mode change is not designated (step S121), the CPU determines that it is not necessary to set a new extraction target, and ends the extraction target setting process as it is. . The new setting of the extraction mode when this process is executed for the first time is treated as synonymous with the change of the extraction mode.

  When the change of the extraction mode is designated (step S121), the CPU executes each process according to the designated extraction mode. When “default” is designated (step S122), the CPU sets a fixed genre prepared in advance as an extraction target (step S123). In the figure, an example is shown in which “restaurant, shopping, sightseeing” is set as an extraction target. As this extraction target, a genre common to all users may be used, or a user-specific genre registered in advance in the user DB 260 may be used.

  When “user setting” is designated (step S122), the CPU inputs designation of an extraction target by the user (step S124). The example of the interface screen displayed on the terminal 100 is shown in the figure. In this example, genres such as “restaurant, shopping, sightseeing” are displayed as a list, and the user can set an extraction target by checking. The interface is not limited to this type and can be set arbitrarily.

  When “automatic” is designated (step S122), the CPU automatically sets the extraction target according to the following procedure in accordance with the user attribute and the like. As basic data used for automatic setting, the CPU first reads user attributes from the user DB 260 (step S125), and also inputs the current position and date (step S126). Then, the CPU refers to the behavior pattern table based on such information (step S127) and determines the behavior pattern.

  An example of the behavior pattern table is shown in the figure. The behavior pattern table is a table that associates behavior patterns assumed to be taken by the person at that time based on basic data such as gender, age, date and time, and the distance from the address to the current location. For example, for basic data such as “weekdays”, “morning”, and “distance within the required time range of about 1 hour” at the age determined to be “student”, “commuting to school” Can be assigned. A plurality of behavior patterns may be assigned.

  The CPU sets an extraction target based on the determined behavior pattern (step S128). A setting example is shown in the figure. In this example, “restaurant, shopping, play spot” is assigned as the genre of guidance information requested by the user during commuting. In such a setting, for example, for commuting / commuting users, guidance information related to “tourism” is excluded from the extraction target. It is considered that commuting / commuting users do not request guidance information related to sightseeing, and there is an advantage that it is possible to avoid presenting unnecessary guidance information.

  In the present embodiment, the method of setting the extraction target via the behavior pattern table as described above is employed, but a method of directly assigning the extraction target to the basic data may be employed. In addition, the basic data is not limited to the items exemplified here, and some of the basic data may be omitted, or other items may be added.

C2. Feature extraction processing:
FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the feature extraction process. This process corresponds to step S140 in FIG. 5 and corresponds to the function of the guidance information acquisition unit 244 (FIG. 1). In this process, the CPU reads the extraction target setting result in the extraction target setting process (FIG. 6) (step S141), and extracts the corresponding feature and landscape spot.

  In this embodiment, since the guide information is presented in units of links that can be traveled by the user from the current position, features and the like are also extracted in units of links. The CPU selects a link to be processed from links around the current position (step S142), and reads a feature extraction area for the link (step S143). The feature extraction area has been set in step S114 of the simple guidance process (FIG. 5).

  Next, the CPU extracts a feature or the like corresponding to the extraction target in the feature extraction area (step S144) and stores the extraction result (step S145). An example of the feature extraction process is shown in the upper right of the figure. As shown in the figure, it is assumed that a feature extraction area α is set for the link L1. If the genre to be extracted is “restaurant, shopping, sightseeing”, the CPU extracts “restaurant Ra, Rb, shop Sa, landmark LMa” in the feature extraction area α. When only “restaurant” is designated as the extraction target, only “restaurant Ra, Rb” in the feature extraction area α is extracted, and the shop Sa and the landmark LMa are not extracted.

  Whether or not each feature or the like falls under the extraction target can be determined based on the type stored in the feature data 253. For example, when the genre of “restaurant” is designated, types such as “Japanese restaurant”, “Western restaurant”, and “Hakata ramen” are applicable. In this embodiment, a genre definition table that associates “type” with “genre” is prepared, and the CPU can specify the type corresponding to “genre” designated by referring to the genre definition table. did. For example, the “genre” may be added to the feature data 253 separately from the type, or the type itself may be used as the genre.

  When the features and the like are extracted in this way, the CPU stores the result in a predetermined memory area (step S145). The CPU repeats the above processing for all links (step S146) and ends the feature extraction processing.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in the storage result TAB at the lower right of the figure, the link to be processed and the extracted feature or the like are associated with each other and stored in a table format. By doing so, it is possible to easily use information such as features corresponding to each link in the information presentation process described later. It is sufficient to store the feature ID in the storage result TAB. However, information used in the information presentation process, for example, the position, type, and name of the feature may be directly stored.

C3. Information presentation process:
FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the information presentation process. This process corresponds to step S160 in FIG. 5 and corresponds to the function of the information presentation unit 240 (FIG. 1). In this embodiment, the information presentation shown in FIG. 4B (hereinafter referred to as “list mode”) and the information presentation shown in FIG. 4C (hereinafter referred to as “graphic mode”). Information was presented in two presentation modes. The presentation mode can be specified by the user operating the terminal 100, and can be changed during the guidance.

  The CPU first reads the feature extraction result (lower right in FIG. 7) (step S161). If the terminal 100 is instructed to change the presentation mode (step S162), a new presentation mode designation is input (step S163). The new designation of the presentation mode is treated the same as the change.

  As shown in FIGS. 4B and 4C, the guidance information is displayed in association with the passable link. Therefore, in the information presentation process, the CPU performs the processing target link according to the following procedure. Is selected (step S164), and sub-window display data is generated in units of links.

  When the user selects the passed link (step S165), the CPU generates data for displaying the passed mark (step S172), and proceeds to the processing of the next link (step S173). Whether or not the vehicle has been passed can be determined by checking the user's traffic history.

  When a non-passed link is selected, display data of a sub window for presenting guidance information is generated according to the designated presentation mode. When “list mode” is designated (step S166), the CPU calculates the required time from the current position to the feature etc. for each feature stored in the feature extraction result (step S167). The required time may be obtained by a route search using the current position as a departure point and a feature or the like as a destination, or may be obtained simply based on a straight line distance.

  The CPU then sorts the extracted features using the evaluation as the first key and the required time as the second key (step S168), and generates list display data for displaying the subwindow according to the sorting result (step S168). S169). “Evaluation” is an index representing popularity and recommendation level, and is data stored in the feature data 253 (FIG. 2). According to the above-described sorting, information such as a feature that has a high evaluation and is close to the current position is preferentially displayed. The key used for sorting is not limited to the above example, and various settings can be made.

  When “graphic mode” is designated (step S166), the CPU totals the evaluations stored in the feature data 253 such as each feature for each genre (step S170), and displays the result in graphics. Display data is generated (step S171). In this embodiment, the sum is simply obtained, but the weight may be changed according to the distance from the current position to the feature. For example, when “restaurant” or “shopping” is designated as the feature extraction target, the sum total for each genre corresponds to “summary” of evaluation of features corresponding to “restaurant” and “shopping”. This means that the evaluation of the features to be performed is separately performed.

  The CPU executes the above processing (steps S164 to S172) for all links (step S173). Thereafter, it is combined with a map around the current position to generate display data for displaying a guidance screen on the terminal 100 (step S174), and the information presentation process is terminated.

  According to the simple guidance described above, the user can know what features and scenery spots exist for each path that he can travel. Therefore, the user can proceed by selecting the passage most suitable for his / her request at that time. Simple guidance does not present a specific route to the user, but only presents the guidance information, so that the user can be free to determine the route and realize route guidance that can flexibly respond to the user's request. can do.

C4. Modification (1):
FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a feature extraction process as a modification. This process is an alternative to the process of FIG. In the modified example, features are extracted in consideration of the time required from each feature to the destination.

  In this process, as in the embodiment (FIG. 7), the CPU reads the extraction target setting result (step S141A). Thereafter, the processing target link is selected (step S142A), the feature extraction area corresponding to the selected link is read (step S143A), and the feature corresponding to the extraction target is extracted in the feature extraction area (step S143A). S144A).

Next, the CPU calculates an estimated time of arrival at the destination when it passes through the extracted features and the like (step S150). The estimated time can be obtained by route search using each place or the like as a transit point, but may be easily obtained by the illustrated method. The CPU calculates a linear distance d1 between the feature S1 and the like for which an expected time is to be calculated and the current position PP, and a linear distance d2 with the destination G. Then, the road is obtained by the following equation, and the required time, and thus the expected arrival time, is calculated by dividing the road by the average moving speed.
Road = (d1 + d2) × Cd;
Here, Cd is an average value of “distance / straight line distance”. Cd may be obtained by selecting several features as samples in the area to be guided. The value of Cd may be a fixed value, or may be a function of a linear distance between the current position PP and the destination G, or a ratio between this linear distance and (d1 + d2).

  Based on the predicted time thus calculated, the CPU determines whether or not the destination can be reached by the desired arrival time, and stores the reachable features and the like as extraction results (step S151). As a result storage method, the same method as in the embodiment (FIG. 7) can be adopted. The CPU executes the above processing for all links (step S152). According to the feature extraction process of the modified example, since the guide information is presented within a range that can be reached by the desired arrival time at the destination, the user can determine the route with peace of mind according to the presented guide information. There are advantages.

C5. Modification (2):
In the embodiment, an example is shown in which features and the like are extracted for all the areas to be guided. On the other hand, when the user designates the final destination G, guidance information may be presented within a range that avoids excessive circuitousness. Such processing will be described in a modified example (2).

  FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of setting a passable area. The passable area corresponds to the area that is not hatched in FIG. 10A, and means a range in which the user does not go too far when moving from the current position PP to the destination G. In the example of FIG. 10A, the route indicated by the thick arrow in the drawing is the shortest route ROU toward the destination. The passable area is obtained based on the shortest route ROU. When passing through a point in the hatched area PA, the required time to the route or the destination is excessively longer than the shortest route ROU, so it is determined that the vehicle is outside the accessible area. . The setting process of the passable area will be described later.

  As shown in FIG. 10A, it can be seen that at the current position PP of the user, the straight path and the left-side path are within the accessible area, and the right-side path protrudes from the accessible area. FIG. 10B shows an example of a guidance screen of the modification example (2). In this screen example, as in the embodiment (FIG. 4B), the subwindow is displayed for the straight path and the left-side passage, and a guidance display is made. For the passage on the right side, a display indicating that it should not proceed is displayed, such as a cross. By displaying in this way, the user can determine the route with peace of mind without worrying about taking a route that is excessively detoured. On the contrary, it is also possible to distinguish between a path that should not travel and a path that may travel by performing a display such as coloring the path in the accessible area in blue.

  In the present embodiment, instead of the screen of FIG. 10B, the display of FIG. 10A or a display whose scale has been changed may be presented to the user as a guidance screen. In other words, regardless of the current position of the user, a display indicating that the user should not proceed may be displayed for at least a part of the passage outside the accessible area. By doing so, there is an advantage that the user can grasp the passable area over a wide area.

  Further, the shortest route ROU may be displayed together on any of the guidance screens of FIGS. 10 (a) and 10 (b). The shortest route ROU may be displayed at all times, or may be displayed at a timing such as when the user comes to an intersection or when the user has re-passed a passage that has already been passed. In this case, it is preferable to display after searching again for the shortest route ROU to the destination according to the current position of the user.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart of the passable area setting process. This process can be executed before or after the current position input (step S110) in the simple guidance process (FIG. 5). The CPU searches for a route from the current location to the destination and calculates an estimated arrival time at the destination in order to use it as a reference for setting a passable area (step S101). This process corresponds to the search for the shortest path ROU in FIG.

Then, the CPU calculates a margin time from the difference between the estimated arrival time and the desired arrival time (step S102), and converts the margin time into a cost margin Cc using the following equation (step S103).
Cc = 1 + (allowance time / required time to the destination);
The cost margin is a value representing a range in which the circuit is allowed according to the margin time.

  Next, the CPU searches for an accessible route by the Dijkstra method (step S104). At this time, the route is not limited to the minimum cost, but is searched for while allowing the range of “minimum cost × Cc”. A search example is shown in the figure. Consider a case in which a route from point N1 to N2 is searched. It is assumed that the cost of each route is 10 for the route RO1, 15 for the route RO2, and 12 for the route RO3. Since the route RO1 has the lowest cost, the route RO1 is selected in the normal Dijkstra method. On the other hand, if the cost margin Cc is obtained as 1.3 from the calculation result shown in step S103, up to the cost 13 is selected as a route in the modification. As a result, in addition to the route RO1, RO3 is selected as the route, and the route RO2 is excluded from the route. By such a way of thinking, it is possible to obtain a route that can be passed and a route that is not.

  The CPU stores the obtained accessible area. In this embodiment, a method of setting a flag indicating whether or not each link is allowed to pass is adopted (step S105). In FIG. 10 (a), a flag indicating “no pass” is set for each link in the area excluding the passable area (hatched area in the figure), and “passable” is set for each link in the passable area. The flag shown is set.

  The setting of the passable area is not limited to the method described above. For example, the cost margin Cc can be set arbitrarily. In this embodiment, the cost margin Cc is used as a coefficient for multiplying the minimum cost, but it may be used as a term to be added to the minimum cost.

  The setting of the passable area may be performed only at the beginning of the simple guidance process, or may be repeatedly performed during the guidance process. When the cost margin Cc is set by the method shown in FIG. 11, since the margin time changes according to the movement to the user, setting the accessible area repeatedly is effective in terms of realizing more practical guidance. Is.

D. Town tour guide processing:
FIG. 12 is an explanatory view showing a processing example of city tour guidance. A processing example will be described by taking the map shown in FIG. Black squares in the figure represent restaurants, black circles represent shops, white triangles represent landmarks and scenery spots. In addition, it is assumed that the hotel HH is designated as a waypoint for the user to pass through. The waypoint can be specified by the user as described later, or can be automatically set by the route guidance system.

  In the city tour guidance, a route search from the current position PP of the user to the destination G is performed, a route of the search result is presented, and an evaluation value corresponding to a genre such as a restaurant or a shop is presented for each route. . The example of FIG. 12A shows a state in which RO1 and RO2 are searched for as a route from the current position PP to the waypoint HH, and RO3 and RO4 are searched as a route from the waypoint HH to the destination G. .

  FIG. 12B shows an example of a display screen for city tour guidance. A map around the current position of the user PP is displayed, and routes RO1 and RO2 to the waypoint HH are displayed. In each route, evaluation values for the respective routes are displayed together by the sub-windows Wr1 and Wr2. In the example of the figure, the route RO1 is a route with many shops (black circles), and therefore, the evaluation value of the shop is high. Since the route RO2 passes through many landscape spots (open triangles), the evaluation value for tourism is high. These evaluation values can be calculated by the same method as in the simple guidance (FIG. 4C). In addition to the graphic display as shown in FIG. 12 (b), the street tour guide display screen is a screen (see FIG. 4 (b)) showing features around the route in a list, “shopping street”, “tour route” A screen showing the general name corresponding to the evaluation value such as “” is also possible. A graphics display and a plurality of displays such as a list and general name display may be combined.

  The sub windows Wr1 and Wr2 may change the display mode for each genre according to the evaluation value. For example, in the sub-window Wr1, “shop” having the highest evaluation value can be highlighted more than other genres. The highlight display means a display that improves visibility, such as a display with high luminance, a display with a high visibility color such as red, or a display with bold or large size characters. By doing so, the user can easily grasp the characteristics of each route. Emphasis display is applicable not only to graphics display but also to list display and general name display.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart of the town tour guidance process. This process corresponds to step S300 of the route guidance process (FIG. 3), and corresponds to the function of the city tour guide unit 234 (FIG. 1). First, the CPU performs an extraction target setting process (step S320), and performs a waypoint setting process (step S340). The contents of the extraction target setting process are the same as in the case of the simple guidance process (FIG. 6). The extraction target setting result is used to calculate an evaluation value and automatically set a waypoint. The waypoint setting process is a process for performing designation or automatic setting by the user. The contents will be described later.

  When the above processing is completed, the CPU executes route guidance according to the movement of the user. First, the current position of the user is input (step S360), and it is determined whether or not the route being guided is off (step S361). If the route is not deviated, the previous guidance screen is continuously displayed (step S400).

  If the route has been deviated (step S361), a process for setting again (step S370) is performed by route search for guidance. The same treatment is applied when the city tour guidance process is executed first, that is, when the guidance route is not set. In this route search process, a route that passes through the waypoint is searched within a range that can reach the destination by the desired arrival time. When a plurality of waypoints are set, a plurality of routes are obtained. Specific contents of the route search process will be described later.

  Based on the route search result, the CPU performs an information presentation process for generating display data for displaying a subwindow for each route (step S380). In the present embodiment, guidance display is performed in two presentation modes, list and graphics. The CPU transmits the display data generated in this way to the terminal 100 to display the screen (step S400). The CPU repeatedly executes the above processing (steps S360 to S400) until the user arrives at the destination (step S401).

In the city tour guidance process of this embodiment, as described above, route search and information presentation are performed when the user leaves the route. The information presentation can be updated not only at the time when the user leaves the route but also at various timings such as when a certain time elapses after the guidance starts. By updating this information presentation, the latest evaluation result for each route is presented to the user.
For example, even if the route was initially evaluated to have many stores, the user's passage through such an area and the above-described route search and information presentation are retried, resulting in a decrease in store evaluation. There is also a case. By presenting the latest evaluation result to the user in this way, the user can appropriately select a route according to his / her wish.

D1. Route setting process:
FIG. 14 is a flowchart of the waypoint setting process. This is a process corresponding to step S340 of the city tour guide process (FIG. 13), and corresponds to the function of the city tour guide unit 234 (FIG. 1). This process is a process of setting a point to be routed and a point recommended to be routed in the process from the current position to the destination. In this embodiment, it is possible to set a waypoint in the “designation” mode and the “automatic” mode by the user. The mode can also be changed during the route guidance process.

  The CPU receives the signal from the terminal 100, and when the waypoint change is not designated (step S341), the waypoint setting process is terminated without performing a special process. When the waypoint change is designated and when no waypoint is set, the following processing is executed according to the mode selected by the user.

  If the “designation” mode has been selected by the user (step S342), the CPU inputs a waypoint designated by the user (step S343) and ends the waypoint setting process. The “designation” mode can be used, for example, when a tourist resort wants to stop at an accommodation hotel and then go to a destination, or when a place to visit is known based on information such as a guidebook.

  When the “automatic” mode has been selected by the user (step S342), the CPU sets a waypoint in the following procedure based on the setting result of the feature extraction target. First, the CPU sets a feature extraction area (step S344). An example of setting the feature extraction area α is shown in the figure. In the present embodiment, the feature extraction area α is a rectangular region having a width W on the left and right with the straight line DR connecting the current position PP and the destination G as the center. The width W can be arbitrarily set as long as it does not go too far when heading to the destination, and may be a fixed value, such as the distance from the current position PP to the destination G, the margin time to the desired arrival time, etc. It may be a function. As for the width W, a passable area (see FIGS. 10 and 11) may be obtained, and the width W may be set to fall within this range. The feature extraction area α does not necessarily have the illustrated rectangular shape. For example, the passable area itself may be used as the feature extraction area α.

  Next, the CPU extracts features corresponding to the extraction target within the feature extraction area (step S345), and sorts the extracted features based on the evaluation stored in the feature data 253. The upper predetermined number is set as a waypoint (step S346). In the figure, when the features R1 and S2 are evaluated 5 and the feature S2 is evaluated 4, only the top one is selected as a transit location. The number of waypoints to be selected can be arbitrarily set. It may be a fixed value or may be a function of a margin time to the destination.

D2. Route search process:
FIG. 15 is a flowchart of route search processing. This is a process corresponding to step S370 of the city tour guidance process (FIG. 13), and corresponds to the functions of the city tour guide unit 234 and the route search unit 240. In this process, as described above, a route from the current position to a destination through a preset waypoint is obtained. Since there is not always one waypoint, a plurality of routes are searched for while changing the combination of waypoints to pass.

  The CPU inputs the set waypoints (step S371) and sorts (step S372). The designation from the user is used as the first key, and the linear distance from the current position is used as the second key. By this sorting, the priority order of the waypoints designated by the user and the waypoints at a short distance are increased.

  Next, the CPU selects a waypoint to be routed at the time of route search from the sorted waypoints, performs a route search, and calculates an estimated arrival time at the destination (step S373). Then, a route that can arrive at the destination by the desired arrival time is selected (step S374).

  An example of this processing is shown on the right side of the figure. Here, it is assumed that five points of waypoints A and B designated by the user and route points C to E set automatically are set as waypoints. The waypoints C to E are sorted based on the distance from the current position. It is assumed that the desired arrival time is set to 1:00.

  As a first case, the CPU selects only the waypoints A and B designated by the user, performs a route search, and obtains an estimated arrival time of 12:40. Since this route can arrive at the destination by the desired arrival time 1:00, it is selected as a possible route. Next, as a second case, the CPU selects route point C closest to route points A and B and performs route search. In this case, in the example of the figure, the estimated arrival time is calculated as 12:42. This route is also selected because it can arrive by 1:00.

  Similarly, the CPU searches for a route by selecting the transit points C and D as the third case and the transit points C and E as the fourth case. The fourth case is selected as a route that can be reached by 1:00, but the third case is not selected because the estimated arrival time is 1:30.

  The CPU selects all the waypoints A to E as the fifth case. If a route search is performed for this route and the estimated arrival time is obtained, it can be determined whether or not the route can be selected in the same manner as in the first to fourth cases. However, the fifth case includes all the waypoints A to D selected in the third case. Therefore, since the third case is a non-selectable route, it is considered that the route of the fifth case cannot be selected. From this point of view, in this embodiment, a route including the same waypoint as a route that has already been determined to be unselectable is determined to be unselectable without performing a route search. In the example in the figure, this means that the estimated arrival time is not entered for the fifth case.

  Next, the CPU selects via-points A, B, and D as the sixth case. This case is different from the third case in that the waypoint C is missing. Therefore, the selection cannot be disabled by the process as in the fifth case. As in the first to fourth cases, the CPU searches for a route, obtains an estimated arrival time, and determines whether it can be selected.

D3. Information presentation process:
FIG. 16 is a flowchart of the information presentation process. This is a process corresponding to step S380 of the city tour guidance process (FIG. 13), and corresponds to the function of the information presentation unit 246 (FIG. 1). In this process, the setting result of the route search process is read (step S381), and features and scenery spots around the route are extracted for each set route to realize the guidance display shown in FIG. is there. The guidance display can be performed in either a “list” mode for displaying a list of extracted features or the like and a “graphics” mode for displaying an evaluation value calculated based on the extracted features or the like in a graph. it can.

  When the change of the presentation mode is not designated by the user (step S382), the CPU continues the previous guidance display. That is, the previous guidance display screen and the map and route display data are merged to generate the entire display data (step S390), and the information presentation process is terminated.

  When the change of the presentation mode is designated (step S382) including the case where the presentation mode is not designated, the CPU inputs the designation of the presentation mode from the terminal 100 (step S383). Then, the feature corresponding to the extraction target is extracted around each route (step S384). The extraction target follows the setting in step S320 of the town tour guidance process (FIG. 13). By referring to the link data 231 (FIG. 2) for each link constituting the route and referring to the “feature” information included therein, the feature around the route is specified, and the feature data for each feature. By referring to the type stored in H.253, it can be determined whether it corresponds to the extraction target.

  Next, the CPU generates display data corresponding to the presentation mode using information on the extracted features and the like. When the “list” mode is designated (step S385), the CPU sorts the extracted features based on the evaluation stored in the feature data 253 (step S386), and the upper predetermined number List display data is generated for the feature (step S387). The predetermined number can be arbitrarily set in consideration of the size of the subwindow.

  When the “graphics” mode is designated (step S385), the CPU totals the evaluations of each feature and the like for each genre (step S388), and generates display data for displaying the totaled result in graphics. (Step S389). The evaluation tabulation method is the same as the information presentation process (steps S170 and S171 in FIG. 8) in the simple guidance process.

  When the generation of the display data of the subwindow is completed in each of the “list” mode and the “graphics” mode, the CPU merges the display data of the map and the route to generate the entire display data (step S390). The information presentation process is terminated.

  According to the route guidance system of the embodiment described above, in simple guidance and city tour guidance, a route in which the route set by the route guidance system is not pressed against the user but the freedom of route determination is left for the user. You can give guidance.

  In simple guidance, the route guidance system only presents information useful for the user to determine a route and does not present a specific route. The user can determine the route by himself / herself using the presented information based on the user's request at that time. In the city tour guidance, a plurality of routes are presented, but the user can freely select a route according to his / her request with reference to the evaluation value of each route. Both aspects are common in that the guide information for determining the route is presented to the user. In simple guidance, a guidance display is generated within a range that is relatively close to the current position, whereas in city tour guidance, this guidance display generation range corresponds to a mode that is expanded to a wide area up to the destination. I can say.

  In this way, in this embodiment, by adopting a method in which a fixed route is not presented to the user, the user can conversely when the user's request is unclear or the request changes in the middle. Practical route guidance can be achieved in that the route most suitable for the user's request can be known at that time.

  In the embodiment, the case where the destination is specified is illustrated, but in the present embodiment, the present invention can also be applied to the case where the destination is not specified. Such route guidance can be used, for example, for a situation where sightseeing starts from a station until a predetermined departure time. In the simple guidance, since the feature extraction area can be set regardless of the destination, the processing of the present embodiment can be applied almost as it is. In the case where a trouble occurs when the departure point and the destination coincide with each other, such as when a route search from the departure point to the destination is performed, the transit point set in the transit point setting process (FIG. 14) is used as the temporary destination. The processing can be performed by setting it to the ground.

  As mentioned above, although the various Example of this invention was described, it cannot be overemphasized that this invention is not limited to these Examples, and can take a various structure in the range which does not deviate from the meaning. For example, the present embodiment does not have to include all the various processes described above, and some processes may be omitted. In the present embodiment, the route guidance system for pedestrians is illustrated, but it can also be configured as a system for vehicles.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the route guidance system as an Example. It is explanatory drawing which illustrates the content of map DB250. It is a flowchart of a route guidance process. It is explanatory drawing which shows the process example of simple guidance. It is a flowchart of a simple guidance process. It is a flowchart of extraction object setting processing. It is a flowchart of a feature extraction process. It is a flowchart of an information presentation process. It is a flowchart of the feature extraction process as a modification. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a setting of a passable area. It is a flowchart of a passable area setting process. It is explanatory drawing which shows the process example of a city tour guidance. It is a flowchart of a town tour guidance process. It is a flowchart of a waypoint setting process. It is a flowchart of a route search process. It is a flowchart of an information presentation process.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Terminal 110 ... Main control part 120 ... Communication part 130 ... Command input part 140 ... GPS
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 150 ... Display control part 200 ... Server 210 ... Main control part 220 ... Communication part 230 ... Normal guidance part 232 ... Simple guidance part 234 ... Town tour guidance part 240 ... Route search part 242 ... Map display part 244 ... Guidance information acquisition part 246 ... Information presentation unit 250 ... Map DB
251 ... Link data 252 ... Node data 253 ... Feature data 254 ... Drawing data 260 ... User DB

Claims (24)

A route guidance system for guiding a route by providing the user with information for supporting route determination by the user,
A map database reference unit that refers to a map database that stores guidance information including types and positions of candidate sites visited by a user in association with a passage in the region in a region to be guided;
An input unit for acquiring the current position of the user;
Based on the current position, from the map database, a path identifying unit that identifies a path that the user can travel,
From the map database, guidance information acquisition unit for extracting the guidance information associated with each identified passage based on a predetermined extraction condition;
A route guidance system comprising: an information presentation unit that presents the extracted guidance information to the user in association with each passage. The route guidance system according to claim 1,
The input unit accepts a specification related to a genre of the guidance information requested by the user;
The guidance information acquisition unit is a route guidance system that extracts guidance information corresponding to the designated genre based on a type stored in the guidance information. The route guidance system according to claim 1,
The input unit can acquire at least one of the attribute of the user and a time zone for guidance as basic data for setting an extraction condition,
The route guidance system provided with the extraction condition setting part which sets the said extraction conditions based on the said basic data. The route guidance system according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The information presenting unit is a route guidance system that presents a predetermined evaluation index determined in relation to the type included in each guidance information extracted for each advancing passage. A route guidance system according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A movable range specifying unit that specifies the movable range of the user based on a predetermined constraint condition;
The route guidance system, wherein the guidance information acquisition unit extracts the guidance information within the movable range. A route guidance system according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A route search unit for searching for a route between two points by referring to network data represented by a node and a link in the area to be guided;
The guidance information acquisition unit searches for a route from a current position to each candidate site using the route search unit, and extracts the guidance information based on a result of the search. A route guidance system for guiding a route by providing the user with information for supporting route determination by the user,
An input unit for accepting designation of the user's current position, departure place, and destination;
The route from the departure point to the destination is searched under a condition relaxed within a predetermined range from the optimum route with reference to the network data representing the path in the guidance target area as nodes and links. The route search unit for specifying the movable range of the user,
A route guidance system comprising: an information presentation unit that presents information for assisting the user to move within the movable range based on the network data. The route guidance system according to claim 7,
Based on the network data, a path specifying unit that specifies a path including the current position and a path connected to the current position,
The information presenting unit is a route guidance system that presents the information for the identified passage. The route guidance system according to claim 7 or 8,
The input unit inputs the current location of the user and designation of a desired arrival time at the destination,
The route search unit obtains a predicted arrival time at the destination when the optimum route is traveled from the current position of the user to the destination, and searches based on a time difference between the predicted arrival time and the desired arrival time. A route guidance system that determines the range to ease the time conditions. The route guidance system according to any one of claims 7 to 9,
A passage history holding unit for holding a passage that the user has already passed;
The information presenting unit is a route guidance system for presenting information for assisting the user to move while avoiding the passage that has been passed. A route guidance system according to any one of claims 7 to 10,
The route search unit can search for an optimum route from the current position of the user to the destination at a predetermined timing after the start of guidance,
The information presentation unit is a route guidance system that presents the searched optimum route together. The route guidance system according to any one of claims 7 to 11,
The route search unit is a route guidance system that performs re-development of the movable range by using the current position of the user as a departure place at a predetermined timing after the start of guidance. The route guidance system according to any one of claims 7 to 12,
A map database reference unit that refers to a map database that stores guidance information including types and positions of candidate sites visited by a user in association with a passage in the region in a region to be guided;
A guide information acquisition unit that extracts the guide information associated with each passage to be presented of the information from the map database based on a predetermined extraction condition;
The information presentation unit further provides a route guidance system that presents the extracted guidance information to the user in association with the passages. A route guidance system for guiding a route by providing the user with information for supporting route determination by the user,
A map database reference unit that refers to a map database that stores guidance information including types and positions of candidate sites visited by a user in association with a passage in the region in a region to be guided;
An input unit for accepting designation of the user's current position, departure place, and destination;
A route search unit that searches a plurality of routes from the departure point to a destination through at least a part of different waypoints with reference to network data representing paths in the region to be guided by nodes and links; ,
A guide information acquisition unit that extracts guide information associated with each searched route from the map database based on a predetermined extraction condition;
A route guidance system comprising, for each route, an information presentation unit that performs a predetermined evaluation determined in relation to the type included in each extracted guidance information and presents the evaluation result to the user together with the search result. 15. The route guidance system according to claim 14, wherein
The information presenting unit is a route guidance system that presents a plurality of evaluation results for each of the routes. The route guidance system according to claim 14 or 15,
The information presenting unit obtains a plurality of types of evaluation results having different associations with the type for each of the routes, and sets the superiority or inferiority of the evaluation results based on a predetermined rule. A route guidance system for changing a presentation mode of an evaluation result. The route guidance system according to any one of claims 14 to 16,
The guidance information acquisition unit obtains guidance information associated with a portion where the user is not permitted for each route at a predetermined timing after the guidance starts,
The information presenting unit reflects the guidance information obtained at the predetermined timing and presents the information. A route guidance system according to any one of claims 14 to 17,
A transit point setting unit that extracts candidate locations that should be transit points from the starting point to the destination according to predetermined conditions from the map database;
The route search unit is a route guidance system that searches for a route that passes through at least a part of the extracted waypoints. A route guidance method for guiding a route by providing the user with information for supporting route determination by the user,
As a process executed by the computer,
A map database reference step for referring to a map database that stores guidance information including types and positions of candidate sites visited by a user in association with a passage in the region in a region to be guided;
An input step of acquiring the current position of the user;
Based on the current position, from the map database, a path identifying step for identifying a path that a user can travel;
From the map database, guidance information acquisition step for extracting the guidance information associated with each identified passage based on a predetermined extraction condition;
A route guidance method comprising: an information presenting step of presenting the extracted guidance information to the user in association with each passage. A route guidance method for guiding a route by providing the user with information for supporting route determination by the user,
As a process executed by the computer,
An input process for accepting designation of the user's current position, departure place and destination;
The route from the departure point to the destination is searched under a condition relaxed within a predetermined range from the optimum route with reference to the network data representing the path in the guidance target area as nodes and links. By the route search process for specifying the movable range of the user,
A route guidance method comprising: an information presentation step of presenting information for assisting the user to move within the movable range based on the network data. A route guidance method for guiding a route by providing the user with information for supporting route determination by the user,
As a process executed by the computer,
A map database reference step for referring to a map database that stores guidance information including types and positions of candidate sites visited by a user in association with a passage in the region in a region to be guided;
An input process for accepting designation of the user's current position, departure place and destination;
A route search step of searching for a plurality of routes from the departure point to a destination through at least a part of different waypoints with reference to network data representing paths in the region to be guided by nodes and links; ,
From the map database, guidance information acquisition step for extracting guidance information associated with each searched route based on a predetermined extraction condition;
A route guidance method comprising: an information presentation step of performing a predetermined evaluation determined in relation to the type included in each extracted guidance information for each route, and presenting the evaluation result to the user together with the search result. A computer program for guiding a route by providing the user with information for supporting route determination by the user,
A map database reference subprogram that refers to a map database that stores guidance information including types and positions of candidate sites visited by a user in association with a passage in the region in a region to be guided;
An input subprogram for obtaining the current position of the user;
Based on the current position, from the map database, a passage identification subprogram for identifying a passage that a user can travel;
A guidance information acquisition subprogram for extracting guidance information associated with each identified passage from the map database based on a predetermined extraction condition;
A computer program comprising: an information presentation subprogram for presenting the extracted guidance information to the user in association with each passage. A computer program for guiding a route by providing the user with information for supporting route determination by the user,
An input subprogram that accepts the user's current location, departure location, and destination specification;
The route from the departure point to the destination is searched under a condition relaxed within a predetermined range from the optimum route with reference to the network data representing the path in the guidance target area as nodes and links. The route search subprogram for specifying the movable range of the user,
A computer program comprising: an information presentation subprogram for presenting information for assisting the user to move within the movable range based on the network data. A computer program for guiding a route by providing the user with information for supporting route determination by the user,
A map database reference subprogram that refers to a map database that stores guidance information including types and positions of candidate sites visited by a user in association with a passage in the region in a region to be guided;
An input subprogram that accepts the user's current location, departure location, and destination specification;
A route search subprogram for searching a plurality of routes from the departure point to a destination through at least a part of different waypoints with reference to network data representing the passages in the guidance target region as nodes and links When,
Guidance information acquisition subprogram for extracting guidance information associated with each searched route from the map database based on a predetermined extraction condition;
A computer program comprising, for each route, an information presentation subprogram that performs a predetermined evaluation determined in relation to the type included in each extracted guide information and presents the evaluation result to the user together with the search result.