JP2007263713A - Navigation device, navigation method, navigation program, and computer-readable recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To search for a route to an optional spot in the direction by inputting a prescribed direction without designating and inputting a destination to search for the route. <P>SOLUTION: First of all, an input part 101 receives an input of the destination of a moving body. Then, a route searching part 102 searches for the route to an optional spot in the direction, when receiving an input of a prescribed direction to the destination. Thereafter, a route guiding part 103 performs route guide based on the route searched for by the route searching part 102. An urging part 104 urges input of the destination, when the moving body reaches the periphery of the optional spot. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a navigation device, a navigation method, a navigation program, and a computer-readable recording medium for searching for a route to an input destination. However, the use of the present invention is not limited to the above-described navigation device, navigation method, navigation program, and computer-readable recording medium.

  In a conventional navigation apparatus, a destination is determined in advance, a route search to this destination is executed, and then a route is guided according to the searched route (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Here, the destinations are prepared according to the hierarchical structure, and when deciding the destination, the region is selected in order from the upper layer, and finally the destination belonging to the lower layer is selected. . Specifically, “Yamagata Prefecture” was selected as the highest hierarchy, “Tendo City” was selected as the lower hierarchy, and the final destination in this Tendo city was selected.

JP 2005-274239 A

  However, when selecting a destination, it is necessary to narrow down the hierarchy by genre, address, etc., so it takes time to go down the hierarchy to select a destination. In the above example, the final destination is not input immediately, but the final destination is input after specifying Yamagata Prefecture and Tendo City. Therefore, there is a problem that it takes time to start the route search and it takes time to finally start traveling.

  In addition, for example, in the case of travel, there is a case where a rough area is determined, but it is desired to start traveling without determining a specific destination and to determine the destination while traveling toward the area. In this case, in order to search for a route, the destination itself must be determined, and the route cannot be searched or a temporary destination that is not an actual destination must be set, and then the destination must be set again. The problem is given as an example.

  The navigation device according to the first aspect of the present invention includes an input means for receiving an input of a destination to be reached by the mobile body and an arbitrary point in the predetermined direction when an input of the predetermined direction to the destination is received. Route search means for searching for a route, route guide means for performing route guidance based on the route searched by the route search means, and input of a destination when the mobile body reaches the vicinity of the arbitrary point And prompting means for prompting.

  Further, the navigation method according to the invention of claim 5 includes an input step for receiving an input of a destination to be reached by the mobile body, and an arbitrary one of the predetermined directions when an input of the predetermined direction to the destination is received. A route search step for searching for a route to a point, a route guide step for guiding a route using the searched route, and a prompt to input a destination when the mobile body reaches the vicinity of the arbitrary point And a process.

  A navigation program according to a sixth aspect of the present invention causes a computer to execute the navigation method according to the fifth aspect.

  A computer-readable recording medium according to a seventh aspect of the invention records the navigation program according to the sixth aspect.

  Exemplary embodiments of a navigation device, a navigation method, a navigation program, and a computer-readable recording medium according to the present invention will be explained below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a navigation device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The navigation device according to this embodiment includes an input unit 101, a route search unit 102, a route guidance unit 103, and a reminder unit 104.

  The input unit 101 receives an input of a destination to be reached by the moving body. Specifically, the destination is input by operating the navigation device. Although the final destination can be input as the destination, a point including the final destination or around the final destination can be input in the form of “direction”. Here, a detailed address and a facility name can be designated as the final destination. In addition, the area, the prefecture, the city, the name of the famous facility, and the facility that becomes the landmark can be designated as the direction. When the input unit 101 receives an input of a predetermined direction to the destination, the input unit 101 can also receive an input of a toll road to be used when going to the predetermined direction.

  When the route search unit 102 receives an input of a predetermined direction to the destination, the route search unit 102 searches for a route to an arbitrary point in this direction. That is, when a direction is input as the destination instead of the final destination, a route toward this direction is searched. Although this direction may include a plurality of points, a route that is to be traveled in any direction of the plurality of points is searched.

  In addition, every time the route search unit 102 receives an input in a predetermined direction, the route search unit 102 can set an arbitrary point in the predetermined direction and search for a route to the arbitrary point. In addition, when a toll road is input by the input unit 101, the route search unit 102 can also search for a route to an arbitrary point in a predetermined direction using the input toll road.

  The route guidance unit 103 performs route guidance based on the route searched by the route search unit 102. For example, while the current position is displayed on the navigation device, the searched route can be displayed on the screen to indicate the traveling direction, or the traveling direction can be transmitted to the driver by voice.

  The prompting unit 104 prompts the input of the destination when the moving body reaches the vicinity of the arbitrary point. For example, it is possible to prompt the input of the destination when the moving body reaches a range of a specific distance by radius from the arbitrary point. Here, the prompting unit 104 can prompt the input of more detailed information than a predetermined direction corresponding to an arbitrary point where the moving body has reached the periphery. Specifically, it is possible to input from the direction further than the final destination, or it is possible to input the final destination.

  In addition, when an arbitrary point is set by the route search unit 102, the prompting unit 104 changes the destination every time the mobile body reaches the vicinity of the arbitrary point until receiving an input of the predetermined point as the destination. You can also prompt for input.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing processing of the navigation method according to the embodiment of the present invention. First, the input unit 101 receives an input of a destination to be reached by the mobile body (step S201). When the route search unit 102 receives an input of a predetermined direction to the destination, the route search unit 102 searches for a route to an arbitrary point in this direction (step S202).

  The route guiding unit 103 performs route guidance based on the searched route (step S203). The prompting unit 104 determines whether or not the moving body has reached the vicinity of the arbitrary point (step S204). If the moving body has not reached the vicinity (step S204: No), the process returns to step S203. When it arrives (step S204: Yes), the prompting part 104 prompts the input of the destination (step S205). Then, a route to the destination is guided (step S206), and the series of processes is terminated.

  According to the embodiment described above, it is possible to search for a route to an arbitrary point in this direction by inputting a predetermined direction without specifying and inputting a destination for route search. . Thereby, if it inputs to the direction, a route can be searched and driving | running | working can be started, without inputting to the destination. In addition, once you start traveling, you will be further prompted to enter your destination when you reach the vicinity of any point, so enter it roughly when you start traveling, and gradually enter details as you approach the destination. Can continue.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the navigation apparatus. In this example, the navigation device according to the above-described embodiment is applied to a navigation device mounted on a vehicle as a moving body. First, the hardware configuration of the navigation device of the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the navigation apparatus of the embodiment includes a CPU 301, a ROM 302, a RAM (memory) 303, a magnetic disk drive 304, a magnetic disk 305, an optical disk drive 306, an optical disk 307, an audio I / O. F (interface) 308, microphone 309, speaker 310, input device 311, video I / F 312, camera 313, display 314, communication I / F 315, GPS unit 316, various sensors 317, It has. In addition, the constituent units 301 to 317 are connected to each other by a bus 320.

  First, the CPU 301 governs overall control of the navigation device. The ROM 302 records programs such as a boot program and a navigation program. The RAM 303 is used as a work area for the CPU 301.

  Here, the navigation program is executed by the CPU 301 to receive an input of a destination to be reached by the moving body, and when an input of a predetermined direction to the destination is received, This is a program that searches for a route to an arbitrary point, guides a route based on the searched route, and prompts input of a destination when the mobile body reaches the vicinity of the arbitrary point.

  The magnetic disk drive 304 controls the reading / writing of the data with respect to the magnetic disk 305 according to control of CPU301. The magnetic disk 305 records data written under the control of the magnetic disk drive 304. As the magnetic disk 305, for example, an HD (hard disk) or an FD (flexible disk) can be used.

  The optical disk drive 306 controls the reading / writing of the data with respect to the optical disk 307 according to control of CPU301. The optical disk 307 is a detachable recording medium from which data is read according to the control of the optical disk drive 306. As the optical disc 307, a writable recording medium can be used. In addition to the optical disk 307, the removable recording medium may be an MO, a memory card, or the like.

  Another example of information recorded on the magnetic disk 305 or the optical disk 307 is map data used for route search / route guidance. The map data includes background data representing features (features) such as buildings, rivers, and the ground surface, and road shape data representing the shape of the road. The map data can be displayed two-dimensionally or three-dimensionally on the display screen of the display 314. Drawn. When the navigation device is in the route guidance, the map data and the current location of the vehicle acquired by the CPU 301 are displayed in an overlapping manner.

  The audio I / F 308 is connected to a microphone 309 for audio input and a speaker 310 for audio output. The sound received by the microphone 309 is A / D converted in the sound I / F 308. In addition, sound is output from the speaker 310. Note that the sound input from the microphone 309 can be recorded on the magnetic disk 305 or the optical disk 307 as sound data.

  Examples of the input device 311 include a remote controller having a plurality of keys for inputting characters, numerical values, various instructions, a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, and the like. Further, the input device 311 can be connected to another information processing terminal such as a digital camera or a mobile phone terminal to input / output data.

  The video I / F 312 is connected to a camera 313 for video input and a display 314 for video output. Specifically, the video I / F 312 includes, for example, a graphic controller that controls the entire display 314, a buffer memory such as a VRAM (Video RAM) that temporarily records image information that can be displayed immediately, and a graphic controller. Based on the output image data, the display 314 is configured by a control IC or the like.

  The camera 313 captures images inside and outside the vehicle and outputs them as image data. An image captured by the camera 313 can be recorded on the magnetic disk 305 or the optical disk 307 as image data. The display 314 displays icons, cursors, menus, windows, or various data such as characters and images. As the display 314, for example, a CRT, a liquid crystal display, a plasma display, or the like can be adopted.

  The communication I / F 315 is connected to a network via wireless and functions as an interface between the navigation device and the CPU 301. The communication I / F 315 is further connected to a communication network such as the Internet via wireless, and also functions as an interface between the communication network and the CPU 301.

  Communication networks include LANs, WANs, public line networks and mobile phone networks. Specifically, the communication I / F 315 is configured by, for example, an FM tuner, a VICS / beacon receiver, a wireless navigation device, and other navigation devices. get. VICS is a registered trademark.

  The GPS unit 316 receives radio waves from GPS satellites and outputs information related to the position of the vehicle on which the navigation device is mounted. The output information of the GPS unit 316 is used when the CPU 301 calculates the current location of the vehicle together with output values of various sensors 317 described later. The information indicating the current location is information for specifying one point on the map data, such as latitude / longitude and altitude.

  The various sensors 317 output information for determining the position and behavior of the vehicle, such as a vehicle speed sensor and an angular velocity sensor. The output values of the various sensors 317 are used for the calculation of the current position of the vehicle by the CPU 301 and the measurement of the change in speed and direction.

  Even if the destination is not completely determined by the above-described configuration of the navigation apparatus, guidance is started when the “destination direction” is determined, and a more detailed destination location is inquired when the destination approaches. Then, when approaching to some extent, the final destination is determined by the facility or address around the vehicle position. Since it becomes operation while driving | running | working, it can also operate by the interactive method using voice recognition.

  When detailed information is needed, the navigation device makes inquiries to the driver, and the destinations are gradually narrowed down in response. In addition, the standby word as the destination can be changed according to the distance from the vehicle position. In the case of specifying the direction, if it is a little far away, it can be the name of a municipality or a famous facility, and if it is far away, it can be a facility that becomes a prefecture, region, or landmark. When specifying the final destination, it can be a detailed address and a facility name. The facility to which “Direction” is added is set as an ambiguous destination, and when the ambiguous destination approaches or when a plurality of routes are candidates, inquires for more detailed destination information. If the destination does not have a “direction”, the route is guided as the final destination.

  FIG. 4 is a map displayed as a selection screen when selecting a destination direction from the departure point. The starting point 400 is Tokyo, from which a destination is selected. Here, although the destination is in Yamagata Prefecture indicated by the first direction 410, it is assumed that the destination in Yamagata Prefecture has not been determined at the start of traveling. At this time, if it is specified that the destination is within Yamagata Prefecture, the current travel route from Tokyo is fixed, so the destination is specified in the form of a first direction 410.

  When the first direction 410 is designated from the departure point 400 in this way, as a result of searching for a travel route, Kanetsu Expressway indicated by the route candidate 420 and Tohoku Expressway indicated by the first route 430 are listed as candidates. . Accordingly, the route candidate 420 and the first route 430 are displayed on the screen, and the selection of the route from the driver is accepted. Here, the first route 430 is selected as the route.

Specifically, the following dialogue is performed between the navigation device and the driver.
Navi: “How far are you going?”
Driver: “For Yamagata”
Navi: "Do you use Tohoku Expressway? Do you use Kanetsu Expressway?"
Driver: “Tohoku Expressway”
Navi: “Take the Tohoku Expressway to Yamagata.”

  FIG. 5 is a map displayed as a selection screen for selecting a more detailed direction when approaching the first direction. As described in FIG. 4, it is assumed that the vehicle has reached Fukushima indicated by the first waypoint 500 while traveling on the first route 430. Although the first direction 410 is specified as the destination, the area in the first direction 410 is too large to search for a further route when the vehicle travels to some extent on the first route 430. Therefore, it is necessary to select the direction in more detail when the first waypoint 500 that is the periphery of the first direction 410 is reached.

  Here, the case of selecting in a further direction will be described, but the destination itself can be designated at this point. In this case, all the routes to the destination are searched, and the subsequent route designation becomes unnecessary. However, there is a case where it is preferable to select the direction including the destination candidate when the destination is not considered yet. In order to realize this demand, a case of selecting a more detailed direction will be described.

  Therefore, Tendo in Yamagata Prefecture indicated by the first direction 410 is designated as the second direction 510. By selecting the second direction 510 when passing through the first waypoint 500, the route is further searched, and the Yamagata Expressway indicated by the second route 520 is displayed. Since only the second route 520 is a candidate at this time, the second route 520 is selected as the next route.

Specifically, the following dialogue is performed between the navigation device and the driver.
Navi: “You are approaching the direction of Yamagata Prefecture.
Driver: “Tendo City”
Navi: “Now I will guide you to Tendo City.”

  FIG. 6 is a map displayed as a selection screen when the final destination is selected. As described in FIG. 5, it is assumed that the vehicle reaches the Yamagata Zao IC indicated by the second waypoint 600 while traveling on the second route 520. Although the second direction 510 is designated as the destination, when the vehicle travels to some extent on the second route 520, the area is too wide in the second direction 510 to further search for the route. In order to search for a route, it is necessary to select a destination instead of the direction. Therefore, it is necessary to select a destination when the second waypoint 600 that is the periphery of the second direction 510 is reached.

  Therefore, the final destination 610 in the Tendo 510 is selected when passing through the second waypoint 600. When the final destination 610 is selected, the second route 620 and the third route 630 as the route to the final destination 610, and the Yamagata Kita IC indicated by the third waypoint 630 as a route change point are displayed on the screen. To display. And it guides along the path | route displayed here. As a result, it is possible to search for a route by designating the direction until it is sufficiently close to the final destination 610, and then designate the final destination 610.

Specifically, the following dialogue is performed between the navigation device and the driver.
Navi: “You are getting closer to Tendo City. How far are you going?”
Driver: “Final destination”
Navi: “Now I will guide you to the final destination.”

  Then, when the final destination is approaching, the navigation device guides the user that the final destination has been approached.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining a process for searching for a route by designating a destination in the direction. First, the input of the destination is received (step S701). Next, it is determined whether or not this destination has been input in the direction (step S702). If it is not input by the direction (step S702: No), that is, if it is input by the destination, it is not necessary to perform route guidance processing by the direction, and the process proceeds to step S711.

  When it is input in the direction (step S702: Yes), a route to an arbitrary point in the input direction is searched (step S703). That is, the road which goes when it goes to the point in the input direction is searched. In the case of FIG. 4, the route candidate 420 and the first route 430 are searched, and in the case of FIG. 5, the second route 520 is searched.

  Here, it is determined whether or not there are a plurality of routes (step S704). When there are not a plurality of routes (step S704: No), the process proceeds to step S706. When there are a plurality of routes (step S704: Yes), one is specified by an instruction input (step S705). In the case of FIG. 4, one of the route candidate 420 and the first route 430 is selected by input to the navigation device.

  Next, route guidance is performed along the searched route (step S706). Next, it is determined whether or not the vehicle has arrived around the destination (step S707). Specifically, in the case of FIG. 5, it is determined whether or not the route 500 is passed. If it is determined that it has not arrived (step S707: No), the process returns to step S706 to further guide route guidance. If it is determined that it has arrived (step S707: Yes), it is determined whether further narrowing of the direction is necessary (step S708). Specifically, when the vicinity of the first direction 410 in FIG. 5 is reached, it is necessary to further narrow down to the second direction 510. However, when the vicinity of the second direction 510 is reached in FIG. Therefore, it is determined that it is not necessary to narrow down the direction.

  If it is determined that further narrowing of the direction is necessary (step S708: Yes), the direction is input (step S709), and the process returns to step S703 to repeat the same processing. Further, when it is determined that there is no need to narrow the direction (step S708: No), the destination is input (step S710). Then, the route to the destination is searched (step S711), the route is guided to the destination (step S712), and the series of processes is terminated.

  According to the embodiment described above, even if a destination is not specified and input for route search, a place name such as a place name or a landmark name including a destination is input as a direction, The route to any point in this direction can be searched. Thereby, if it inputs to the direction, a route can be searched and driving | running | working can be started, without inputting to the destination.

  Specifically, by selecting only “Yamagata Prefecture” without going through the three stages of “Yamagata Prefecture”, “Tendo City”, and “Final Destination”, the route can be searched and the driving can be started. . And when Yamagata Prefecture approaches, you can specify “Tendo City”, and when Tendo City approaches, you can specify the final destination, so you can reduce the number of input operations required to start traveling This can shorten the time until the start of traveling. Moreover, since the input of the destination is further promoted when the vicinity of the arbitrary point is reached after the start of traveling, the input can be gradually advanced as the destination is approached.

  The navigation method described in this embodiment can be realized by executing a program prepared in advance on a computer such as a personal computer or a workstation. This program is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a hard disk, a flexible disk, a CD-ROM, an MO, and a DVD, and is executed by being read from the recording medium by the computer. The program may be a transmission medium that can be distributed via a network such as the Internet.

It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of the navigation apparatus concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the navigation method concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of a navigation apparatus. It is a map displayed as a selection screen when selecting the direction of the destination from the departure point. It is a map displayed as a selection screen when selecting a more detailed direction when approaching a 1st direction. It is a map displayed as a selection screen when selecting the final destination. It is a flowchart explaining the process which designates the destination by the direction and searches for a path | route.

Explanation of symbols

101 Input unit 102 Route search unit 103 Route guidance unit 104 Reminder unit

Claims (7)

An input means for receiving an input of a destination to be reached by the mobile body;
Route search means for searching for a route to an arbitrary point in the predetermined direction when receiving an input of the predetermined direction to the destination;
Route guidance means for performing route guidance based on the route searched by the route search means;
A prompting means for prompting input of a destination when the mobile body reaches the vicinity of the arbitrary point;
A navigation device comprising:   The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the prompting unit prompts input of more detailed information than a predetermined direction corresponding to the arbitrary point where the moving body has reached the periphery. Each time the route search means receives an input in a predetermined direction, it sets an arbitrary point in the predetermined direction and searches for a route to the arbitrary point,
The navigation according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the prompting means prompts input of a destination every time the mobile body reaches the vicinity of the arbitrary point until receiving an input of a predetermined point as a destination. apparatus. When the input means receives an input of a predetermined direction to the destination, the input means receives an input of a toll road used when going to the predetermined direction,
The navigation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the route search means searches for a route to an arbitrary point in the predetermined direction using the input toll road. An input process for receiving an input of a destination to be reached by the mobile body;
A route search step of searching for a route to an arbitrary point in the predetermined direction when receiving an input of the predetermined direction to the destination;
A route guidance process for performing route guidance using the searched route;
When the mobile body reaches the vicinity of the arbitrary point, a prompting step for prompting input of a destination,
A navigation method comprising:   A navigation program for causing a computer to execute the navigation method according to claim 5.   A computer-readable recording medium on which the navigation program according to claim 6 is recorded.

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