JP2008070204A - Route-computing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a route-computing apparatus capable of computing a route whose economical effect is the largest from among a plurality of routes up to a destination, while taking into consideration the discount conditions for the tolls of the toll roads on the routes, when its vehicle travels the routes up to the destination. <P>SOLUTION: When a guide route, starting from the present position of the vehicle, up to the set destination which utilizes a plurality of times roads being charged is searched, this route-computing apparatus computes an ETC discount amount of a toll separately for each section of the road being charged by using ETC discount information, stored beforehand; extracts a section having the most beneficial ETC discount amount as a preferential ETC utilization section; and outputs guide information containing the preferential ETC utilization section. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a route calculation device that is mounted on a vehicle and calculates a route to a destination.

  As the vehicle travels, the current position is detected by GPS (Global Positioning System), etc., and the current position is displayed on the display together with a road map, and an appropriate route from the starting point to the destination The vehicle-mounted navigation device that guides the user with a display or a voice output device contributes to efficient and safe driving for the user.

  Some in-vehicle navigation devices include various functions in addition to guiding a route to a destination in order to improve user convenience. For example, when calculating the route cost from the departure point to the destination according to the search conditions and searching for the optimum route, the route cost created based on the usage distance and the usage fee is used as an in-vehicle route A guide device has been devised (see Patent Document 1).

  In recent years, an automatic toll collection (Electronic Toll Collection: ETC) system has been put into practical use for the purpose of nonstop at toll roads on toll roads, alleviation of traffic congestion, cashlessness, and reduction of human expenses. In this ETC system, an IC card that records contract information and the like is inserted into an in-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle, and traffic is achieved by wireless communication between the roadside device installed at the toll gate of the toll gate and the on-vehicle device. This is a system that records information such as tolls on both the toll road computer system connected to the roadside machine and the IC card, and can pass through the toll gate without stopping.

  As a measure for promoting the spread of the ETC system, an ETC discount system has been introduced in which a toll is discounted when passing through an ETC toll gate during a specific time zone or day of the week (see Non-Patent Document 1).

  Therefore, the toll road toll discount time zone is stored, and the route of the vehicle to the destination is reduced to the minimum cost by guiding the route so that the vehicle passes the toll road during the toll fee discount time zone. An in-vehicle navigation device that can be guided by the above has been devised (see Patent Document 2).

  In addition, by storing information on toll roads that can receive toll discounts, it is possible to determine whether toll roads that can receive toll discounts can be included in the searched guide route. When such a toll road is included, by outputting that the toll discount can be received on the guide route, the user can receive a toll discount on the toll road when going to the destination. A navigation device has been devised (see Patent Document 3).

JP 2002-303522 A JP 2001-041760 A JP 2005-073333 A “Discount Information” page of the ETC General Information Portal site (Internet URL, http://www.go-etc.jp/waribiki/waribiki.html), search date: September 6, 2006

  In toll discounts on expressways or toll roads (hereinafter sometimes referred to as toll roads), the number of passes, travel time zones, and travel distances, such as “discount only once during that time zone” In many cases, traffic conditions such as. In addition, in the prior art, the guide route is searched considering the discount condition only for the first toll road to be used, so even if the billing road section used after that has a greater discount effect, it is reflected in the search results. And cannot benefit from it. Therefore, the technique of Patent Document 1 has a problem that the most economical route is not calculated depending on the travel route of the toll road.

  In the techniques of Patent Documents 2 and 3, the number of times of travel and the distance of travel are not considered as conditions for discounting the toll, and the most economical route is not necessarily calculated.

  Against the background of the above problems, the object of the present invention is to calculate the route with the greatest economic effect in consideration of discount conditions for tolls on toll roads included on the route when traveling to a plurality of destinations. It is an object of the present invention to provide a route calculation apparatus capable of performing the above.

Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention

  A route calculation apparatus for solving the above problems is set from the current position on the road map data, position detection means for detecting the current position of the vehicle, road map data storage means for storing road map data. When a route search means for searching for a guide route to a destination, an ETC discount information storage means for storing ETC discount information on a toll road on road map data, and a guide route for using the toll road multiple times are searched. , A discount amount calculation means for calculating the ETC discount amount of the toll for each charged road section using the ETC discount information, and a section where the ETC discount amount is most advantageous among the charged road sections where the discount amount is calculated A priority ETC usage section extracting means for extracting as a priority ETC usage section; and guidance information output means for outputting guidance information including the extracted priority ETC usage section. And features.

  With the above configuration, guidance information is output so as to pass through a toll road or highway having the greatest discount effect on the guidance route. In the configuration of the present invention, the ETC discount amount is calculated for each section of the toll road, and the section in which the ETC discount amount is most advantageous is extracted as the priority ETC use section. The user can always travel on a route having the largest ETC discount amount.

  Further, the guidance information output means in the route calculation apparatus of the present invention is configured to output ETC usage suppression information for encouraging suppression of ETC usage for a toll road section other than the priority ETC usage section in a form included in the guidance information. You can also

  With the above-described configuration, it is possible to avoid using the ETC in a toll road section having a low discount rate other than the priority ETC use section or having no discount and not being able to receive the benefit of the most advantageous ETC discount amount.

  Further, the guidance information output means in the route calculation apparatus of the present invention is an alternative to search for an alternative general road section that does not require a toll corresponding to a charged road section other than the priority ETC use section on the road map data. It is also possible to have a road search means and output route guidance information using the searched alternative general road section as ETC use suppression information.

  With the above configuration, if route guidance is performed so that the route travels on a general road except for the priority ETC use section in the guide route, the ETC is erroneously applied to the charge road section with a low discount rate or no discount other than the priority ETC use section. , It is possible to avoid the loss of the benefits of the most advantageous ETC discount.

  Further, the guidance information output means in the route calculation apparatus of the present invention is configured to output route guidance information that prompts avoidance of ETC usage for a toll road section other than the priority ETC usage section in the guidance route as ETC usage suppression information. You can also

  With the above configuration, the user can avoid using the ETC by the output ETC usage suppression information, and the ETC is used most in the toll road section with a low discount rate or no discount other than the priority ETC use section. It is possible to avoid not being able to benefit from the advantageous ETC discount amount.

  Further, the guidance information output means in the route calculation apparatus of the present invention performs a display or voice output prompting not to use the ETC when the current position approaches a toll gate on a toll road other than the priority ETC usage section. It can also be configured.

  With the above-described configuration, the user can surely know the ETC usage suppression information, and can be prevented from passing through the ETC compatible gate of the toll gate by mistake.

  Further, the route search means in the route calculation apparatus of the present invention is based on the discount application condition information included in the ETC discount information, and the upper limit travel distance to which the ETC discount is applied in the toll road section included in the searched guide route. Discount so as to generate a non-discountable toll road section search means for searching for a non-discountable toll road section exceeding the above and a new discount target section having a larger ETC discount amount than the priority ETC use section included in the guide route A non-discountable toll road section dividing means that divides a non-target toll road section by an interchange existing in the section, and the priority ETC use section extracting means prioritizes a new discount target section having a large ETC discount amount. It can also be configured to include priority ETC usage section resetting means that resets the ETC usage section.

  For example, when the discount condition includes “the travel distance is less than a predetermined distance”, in the related art, if the toll road section exceeds a predetermined distance, the section is not searched as a discount target section. On the other hand, in the above configuration, even if the toll road section exceeds the predetermined distance, the condition that “the traffic distance is less than the predetermined distance” can be satisfied by appropriately dividing the section, and the ETC discount is applied. There is also. In addition, by dividing the section so that the ETC discount amount becomes the largest, the user can benefit from the most advantageous ETC discount amount.

  Further, the route calculation apparatus of the present invention has destination setting means for setting a plurality of destinations, and the route search means searches for a plurality of guide route candidates having different arrival orders of the plurality of destinations, The priority ETC usage section extraction means determines a priority ETC usage section for each searched guide route candidate, compares the ETC discount amount of each priority ETC use section of the guide route candidates, and the ETC discount amount is most advantageous. The guide route candidate according to the destination arrival order including the priority ETC use section as described above may be configured to include guide route determination means for determining as a final guide route.

  When a plurality of destinations are set, there may be no restriction on the arrival order of the destinations. With the above configuration, it is possible to search for a guide route with the largest ETC discount amount by changing the arrival order of destinations.

  Further, the destination setting means in the route calculation apparatus of the present invention includes a destination arrival order setting input means for the user to set and input the destination arrival order, and the guide route determination means is configured to input the destination arrival After determining the priority ETC use section for the user desired guide route candidate according to the order, search for an alternative guide route candidate obtained by changing the destination arrival order for the user desired guide route candidate, and prioritize the alternative guide route candidate for the previous period An alternative guide route candidate proposal for determining an ETC use section and proposing and outputting the alternative guide route candidate to the user when the ETC discount amount of the alternative guide route candidate is more advantageous than the ETC discount amount of the user desired guide route candidate The user selects and inputs the output means and any one of the user desired guide route candidate and the alternative guide route candidate as the final guide route. And guide path selecting input means because, based on the input result of the guide path selection input means, a guiding route determining means for determining a final guide route can also be configured to include.

  With the above configuration, the alternative guide route candidates are searched for and proposed after the user's intention is respected, so that the user is not confused or uncomfortable with the result of the guide route search. Moreover, since there remains room for selection by the user, it is possible to select an economical guide route according to the user's preference and the situation during travel.

  Hereinafter, an example in which the route calculation device of the present invention is configured as a part of the function of an in-vehicle navigation device will be described with reference to the drawings. Of course, it is good also as a structure independent as a route calculation apparatus, and it is good also as a structure as a part of other vehicle equipment. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an in-vehicle navigation device (hereinafter abbreviated as navigation device) 100. The navigation device 100 includes a position detector 1, a map data input device 6, an operation switch group 7, a remote control (hereinafter referred to as remote control) sensor 11, a voice synthesis circuit 24 for performing voice guidance, a speaker 15, a memory 9, and a display. 10, a transceiver 13, a hard disk device (HDD) 21, a LAN (Local Area Network) I / F (interface) 26, a control circuit 8 connected thereto, a remote control terminal 12, and the like.

  The position detector 1 is a well-known geomagnetic sensor 2, a gyroscope 3 that detects the rotational angular velocity of the vehicle, a distance sensor 4 that detects the travel distance of the vehicle, and a GPS receiver that detects the position of the vehicle based on radio waves from a satellite. Machine 5 is provided. Since these sensors 2, 3, 4, and 5 have errors of different properties, they are configured to be used while being complemented by a plurality of sensors. Depending on the accuracy, some of the above-described sensors may be used, and further, a steering rotation sensor or a wheel sensor of each rolling wheel, such as a vehicle speed sensor 23, may be used. The position detector 1 corresponds to the position detection means of the present invention.

  As the operation switch group 7, for example, a touch panel 22 integrated with the display device 10 or a mechanical switch is used. The touch panel 22 is pressed when an electric circuit is wired on the screen of the display 10 in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction through a gap called a spacer on a glass substrate and a transparent film, and the user touches the film. Since the voltage value changes due to short-circuiting of a part of the wiring, a so-called resistance film method for detecting this as a two-dimensional coordinate value (X, Y) is widely used. In addition, a known so-called capacitance method may be used. In addition to the mechanical switch, a pointing device such as a mouse or a cursor may be used. Moreover, you may arrange | position the mechanical switch of the operation switch group 7 in the escutcheon which covers the indicator 10 and its periphery and becomes a design frame.

  It is also possible to input various instructions using the microphone 31 and the voice recognition unit 30. In this method, a voice signal input from the microphone 31 is processed by a voice recognition technique such as a well-known hidden Markov model in the voice recognition unit 30, and converted into an operation command corresponding to the result. Various instructions are input by the operation switch group 7, the remote control terminal 12, the touch panel 22, and the microphone 31 corresponding to the destination setting means, destination arrival order setting input means, and guidance route selection input means of the present invention. Is possible.

  The transmitter / receiver 13 is connected to a road traffic from a VICS (Vehicle Information and Communication System) center 14 by an optical beacon or a radio beacon output from a transmitter (not shown) provided along the road, for example. It is a device for receiving information or receiving FM multiplex broadcasting. Moreover, it is good also as a structure which can be connected to external networks, such as the internet, using the transmitter / receiver 13. FIG.

  Further, by communicating with the ETC on-vehicle device 17, it is possible to capture the fee information received by the ETC on-vehicle device 17 from the roadside device (not shown) into the navigation device 100. Further, the ETC on-vehicle device 17 may be connected to an external network and communicate with the VICS center 14 or the like.

  The control circuit 8 is configured as a normal computer, and connects a well-known CPU 81, ROM 82, RAM 83, I / O 84 as an input / output circuit, A / D conversion unit 86, drawing unit 87, clock IC 88, and these components. A bus line 85 is provided. The CPU 81 controls the navigation program 21p and data stored in the HDD 21. The CPU 81 controls the reading / writing of data to / from the HDD 21. In addition, a program for performing a minimum necessary operation as the navigation device 100 may be stored in the ROM 82 in a case where the data read / write control from the CPU 81 to the HDD 21 becomes impossible.

  The control circuit 8 includes a route search means, discount amount calculation means, priority ETC use section extraction means, alternative general road search means, non-discounted toll road section search means, priority ETC use section resetting means, discount target according to the present invention. This corresponds to outside billing road section dividing means and guide route determining means.

  The A / D conversion unit 86 includes a well-known A / D (analog / digital) conversion circuit, and converts analog data input from the position detector 1 or the like to the control circuit 8 into digital data that can be calculated by the CPU 81, for example. It is.

  The drawing unit 87 generates display screen data to be displayed on the display unit 10 from map data 21m (described later) stored in the HDD 21 or the like, display data, and display color data.

  The clock IC 88 is also called a real-time clock IC, and sends or sets clock / calendar data in response to a request from the CPU 81. The CPU 81 acquires date / time information from the clock IC 88. Further, date and time information included in the GPS signal received by the GPS receiver 5 may be used. The date information may be generated based on a real-time counter included in the CPU 81. The acquired date / time information is used, for example, for travel history management.

  In addition to the navigation program 21p, the HDD 21 stores so-called map matching data for improving the accuracy of position detection, and map data 21m, which is a map database including road data representing road connections. The map data 21m stores predetermined map image information for display and road network information including link information and node information. The link information is predetermined section information constituting each road, and includes position coordinates, distance, required time, width, number of lanes, speed limit, and the like in the link attributes. The node information is information that defines an intersection (branch road) or the like, and includes position coordinates, the number of right / left turn lanes, a connecting road link, a distance cost, and the like. In addition, data indicating whether or not traffic is possible is set in the inter-link connection information. The map data 21m corresponds to the road map data storage means of the present invention.

  In the HDD 21, auxiliary information for route guidance, entertainment information, and other data can be written independently by the user and stored as user data 21u. Data and various information necessary for the operation of the navigation device 100 are also stored as the database 21d. The database 21d corresponds to the ETC discount information storage means of the present invention.

  The navigation program 21p, map data 21m, user data 21u, and database 21d can be added and updated from the storage medium 20 via the map data input device 6. The storage medium 20 is generally a CD-ROM or DVD based on the amount of data, but may be another medium such as a memory card. Moreover, you may use the structure which downloads data via an external network using the communication unit 25 (after-mentioned).

  The memory 9 is composed of a rewritable device such as an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable & Programmable Read Only Memory) or a flash memory, and stores information and data necessary for the operation of the navigation apparatus 100. Has been. The memory 9 holds the stored contents even when the navigation device 100 is turned off. Further, instead of the memory 9, information and data necessary for the operation of the navigation device 100 may be stored in the HDD 21. Further, information and data necessary for the operation of the navigation device 100 may be stored separately in the memory 9 and the HDD 21.

  The display 10 is composed of a known color liquid crystal display, and includes a dot matrix LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and a driver circuit (not shown) for performing LCD display control. The driver circuit uses, for example, an active matrix driving method in which a transistor is attached to each pixel so that the target pixel can be reliably turned on and off, and a display command sent from the control circuit 8 (drawing unit 87) and Display is performed based on the display screen data. Further, an organic EL (ElectroLuminescence) display or a plasma display may be used as the display 10. The display 10 corresponds to the guidance information output means and the alternative guidance route candidate proposal output means of the present invention.

  The speaker 15 is connected to a well-known voice synthesis circuit 24, and the digital voice data stored in the memory 9 or the HDD 21 in accordance with a command from the navigation program 21p is converted into analog voice by the voice synthesis circuit 24 and sent out. Note that speech synthesis methods include a recording / editing method in which speech waveforms are stored as they are or after being encoded and connected as necessary, and a text synthesis method in which corresponding speech is synthesized from character input information. The speaker 15 corresponds to guidance information output means and alternative guidance route candidate proposal output means of the present invention.

  The vehicle speed sensor 23 includes a rotation detection unit such as a known rotary encoder. For example, the vehicle speed sensor 23 is installed in the vicinity of the wheel mounting unit to detect the rotation of the wheel and send it to the control circuit 8 as a pulse signal. The control circuit 8 converts the rotation speed of the wheel into the speed of the vehicle, calculates the expected arrival time from the current position of the vehicle to a predetermined location, and calculates the average vehicle speed for each travel section of the vehicle.

  The communication unit 25 is configured as a known wireless communication device and is used for data communication with an external network. The communication unit 25 may be configured as an interface circuit between the mobile communication terminal and the control circuit 8 for performing data communication by connecting a mobile communication terminal (not shown) such as a mobile phone.

  The LAN I / F 26 is an interface circuit for exchanging data with other in-vehicle devices and sensors via the in-vehicle LAN 27. Further, data may be taken from the vehicle speed sensor 23 or connected to the ETC on-vehicle device 17 via the LAN I / F 26.

  With this configuration, when the navigation program 21p is activated by the CPU 81 of the control circuit 8, the navigation device 100 allows the user to operate the operation switch group 7, the touch panel 22, the remote control terminal 12, or the voice from the microphone 31. When a route guidance process for displaying a destination route on the display 10 is selected from a menu (not shown) displayed on the display 10 by input, the following process is performed.

  That is, first, the user searches for a destination. The destination search method is, for example, a method of specifying an arbitrary point on the map, a method of searching from the area where the destination is located, a method of searching from the telephone number of the destination, or a name of the destination from the Japanese syllabary table There are a method for searching by inputting the number of characters stored in the memory 9 as a facility frequently used by the user. When the destination is set, the current position of the vehicle is obtained by the position detector 1, and a process for obtaining an optimum guide route to the destination from the current position is performed. Then, the guidance route is displayed on the road map on the display 10 so as to guide the user to the appropriate route. As a method for automatically setting an optimum guide route, a method such as the Dijkstra method is known. Further, at least one of the display 10 and the speaker 15 outputs a message corresponding to the guidance during operation and the operating state.

  The route calculation process will be described with reference to FIG. This process is included in the navigation program 21p and is repeatedly executed together with other processes of the navigation program 21p. First, as described above, a guide route to the destination is searched (S10). When the searched guide route uses an expressway or a toll road (charged road of the present invention) (S11: Yes), whether the ETC discount is applied or not, that is, the expressway or toll road included in the guide route is an ETC. Check whether it is eligible for a discount.

  3 and 4 show excerpts of ETC discount contents of major road companies. This can be found on the ETC general information portal site "ETC discount chart" (Internet URL, http://www.go-etc.jp/waribiki/waribiki23.html, search date: September 6, 2006) Are listed. For example, although “commuting discount” in FIG. 3 is not illustrated, there are also a traffic count condition and a traffic distance condition in which the application frequency is one each in the morning and evening and the traffic distance is within 100 km. “Midnight discount” and “early morning and night discount” also have travel frequency conditions and travel distance conditions.

  The ETC discount content is stored in the database 21d as ETC discount information. The ETC discount information can be updated by an input operation of the user operation switch group 7 or the like. It is also possible to download from a WEB server or the like via the external unit via the communication unit 25.

  If the expressway or toll road does not fall under the ETC discount target (S12: No), the guide route searched in step S10 is displayed on the display 10 as the optimum route (S14).

  On the other hand, when it corresponds to the object of ETC discount (S12: Yes), it is investigated whether the highway or toll road is used a plurality of times in the guidance route searched in the above step S10. When not used a plurality of times (S13: No), the guide route searched in step S10 is displayed on the display 10 as the optimum route (S14).

  On the other hand, when the expressway or toll road is used a plurality of times (S13: Yes), it is checked whether there are a plurality of destinations. If there are not multiple destinations (S15: No), the toll for each road is checked, and if there is a road section that is subject to ETC discount by referring to the ETC discount information, the ETC discount for the toll is calculated. Calculate (S16).

  The toll data for the expressway or toll road is stored in the map data 21m or database 21d (not shown), and is referred to. Alternatively, the toll data may be examined by accessing a toll search site on the Internet.

  Then, the road section in which the ETC discount amount of the toll is maximized among the calculated tolls when the ETC discount is applied is determined (S17).

  Next, on the searched expressway or toll road, it is checked whether the ETC discount fee will be further increased by changing the toll booth to enter and exit. If the ETC discount fee further increases, the expressway or toll road The use section (the toll gate) is changed (S18, details will be described later).

  Next, the toll payment method is determined on the highway or toll road to be used determined above (S19). For example, if the same type of ETC discount service is available on two expressways that pass through two expressways, an expressway with a higher ETC discount rate (priority ETC use section) is used using ETC. Pass the road, and the other highway is determined not to use ETC, but to pass by cash payment. Alternatively, for an expressway that does not use ETC, a route that travels on a general road is searched as an alternative.

  Next, the date / time data is acquired from the clock IC 88, the ETC discount information is referred to, the target time zone of the corresponding ETC discount content is checked, and the preferential ETC use section is passed so as to satisfy the conditions of the ETC discount. The departure time at the departure place is determined (S20). The estimated required time to the priority ETC use section is obtained from the map data 21m from the departure point to the priority ETC use section, for example, 40km / h for general roads and 80km / h for expressways. Estimate by dividing the distance. The departure time at the departure place can be determined from the estimated required time to the priority ETC usage section and the target time zone of the ETC discount content. In addition, when the passage date and time (time zone) is separately specified, the determination is made based on the date and time.

  And this guidance information is output to the display 10 etc. by making the searched guidance route, the priority ETC utilization area in the guidance route, and the departure time of this departure place into guidance information (S14).

  On the other hand, when there are a plurality of destinations (S15: Yes), but the replacement of the destination arrival order is not permitted (S21: No), the processes of steps S16 to S20 described above are executed. Whether to change the destination arrival order is selected when the user searches for a guidance route.

  When the destination arrival order is allowed to be changed (S21: Yes), the guide route is searched in the state where the destination arrival order is changed, and the ETC discount amount of the toll on the expressway or toll road according to the guide route. Is calculated (S22), and the road with the maximum ETC discount is determined (S23). The calculation method in step S22 is the same as that in step S16.

  Then, the destination arrival order in which the ETC discount amount is maximized is determined from the ETC discount amount calculated above (S24). Thereafter, the processing after step S19 described above is executed.

  An example of the route calculation process of FIG. 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. In the example of FIG. 5, there are three (plural) destinations G1, G2, and G3, the arrival order is the order of destinations G1, G2, and G3, and the replacement of the arrival order is not permitted. In all routes from the departure point S to the destination G1, the destination G1 to the destination G2, the destination G2 to the destination G3, the guide route using the highway is searched. At this time, in the prior art, the ETC discount is applied on the first highway to be used, that is, between the departure point S and the destination G1, but in the present invention, the ETC between the destination G1 and the destination G2 is applied. If the discount amount is large, the priority ETC use section is set between the destination G1 and the destination G2, and the other roads between the destination S and the destination G1 and between the destination G2 and the destination G3 are given priority on the general road or by cash. Route calculation is performed so that it becomes a route to use a toll road or expressway.

  As a result, in the example of FIG. 5, the information indicating that the ETC is used between the destination G1 and the destination G2, which are the priority ETC usage sections, is displayed by the display 10 or the speaker 15, and the departure point S to the destination G1. Between the destination G2 and the destination G3, the searched alternative general road section is passed, or guidance information including route guidance information (ETC use suppression information) that prompts avoidance of ETC use is output in the charged road section. The The guide information may be stored in the memory 9 or the HDD 21.

  9 and 10 show an example of the route calculation result in FIG. FIG. 9 shows whether an ETC discount is applicable. This information is stored in the database 21d or the memory 9 as flag information, for example, and a flag area is secured for each discount type such as late night discount, early morning night discount, commuting discount, and the like. Whether or not these discount services are used can be determined from the travel history stored in the navigation device. Since the travel history includes a travel time and a travel route, when passing through an expressway or a toll road, the passage time and travel distance of the doorway can be obtained. It is determined whether the discount service is used from the passage time, the travel distance, and the ETC discount content (see FIGS. 3 and 4).

  In the example of FIG. 9, whether or not the ETC discount is available is stored, and if the ETC discount is already used, it can be used next when calculating the route or referring to the ETC discount contents. The remaining time until the time zone becomes is calculated.

  FIG. 10 shows an example of guidance information calculated by the route calculation processing (steps S16 to S20) in FIG. 2 for the searched guidance route. First, a toll that does not use any ETC discount is calculated ("Route 1 (no discount)"). Next, a more economical route is calculated with reference to the ETC discount content. In the case of “route 2 (normal)”, the ETC discount is used on the expressway between the departure point S and the destination G1, but the departure time at the departure point is 9:00 to 11:00 depending on the ETC discount condition. There is a restriction. In the case of “Route 2 (Economic)”, the highway between the departure point S and the destination G1 is used in cash, and the ETC discount is used on the highway between the destination G1 and the destination G2. Although most economical, there is a restriction that the departure time at the departure place is 11:00 to 15:00 due to the ETC discount condition.

  The guidance information in FIG. 10 is output collectively or individually by the display 10 or the speaker 15. In this case, when the departure time and the expected passage time for each section can be estimated, only the guide route including the ETC discount service that can be received at the estimated time may be output. 10 may be stored in the memory 9 or the HDD 21.

  When the contents of FIG. 10 are collectively displayed on the display 10, a desired route can be selected from the displayed contents by operating the operation switch group 7 or the like. Then, route guidance is performed based on the selected route.

  In the example of FIG. 6, the destination is one place of G, and there is a guide route using two highways (A high speed, B high speed) connected from the departure place S to the destination G across the toll gate. Has been searched. At this time, in the prior art, ETC discount is applied at the first highway A that passes, but in the present invention, when the highway B is larger in ETC discount amount, the highway B is set as the priority ETC usage section, At A highway, pay the toll by cash or search for alternative general roads.

  As a result, in the example of FIG. 6, information indicating that the ETC is used at the B high speed, which is the priority ETC use section, is displayed by the display 10 or the speaker 15, and ETC usage suppression information that prompts avoidance of ETC use at the A high speed Alternatively, guidance information including route guidance information indicating that the searched general high-speed alternative highway is passed is output. Similarly to the above, the guide information may be stored in the memory 9 or the HDD 21.

  In the example of FIG. 7, the destination is one place of G, and there is a guide route using two highways (A high speed, B high speed) connected from the departure place S to the destination G across the toll gate. Has been searched. At this time, the ETC discount is applied to the first route in the prior art, that is, A high speed, but in the present invention, the distance from the departure point S to the toll gate or the traffic time is less than a predetermined value, or A When the high-speed traveling distance is short and the effect of using the A high speed (for example, in terms of time) is small, a route that goes directly from the departure place to the toll gate without using the A high speed is searched. Then, the B high speed with a large ETC discount amount is set as the priority ETC use section.

  As a result, in the example of FIG. 7, the display 10 or the speaker 15 goes directly to the toll gate connecting the A high speed and the B high speed, and the guidance information that the ETC is used at the B high speed that is the priority ETC use section is output. Is done. Similarly to the above, the guide information may be stored in the memory 9 or the HDD 21.

  In the example of FIG. 8, the destination is one place of G. From the departure point S to the destination G, a guide route using the A highway that is a highway is searched. In addition, it is a non-discountable toll road section in which the traffic distance at A high speed exceeds the ETC discount application conditions. In this case, information to which ETC discount is not applied in the prior art (information with an ETC discount amount of 0 yen) is output. On the other hand, in the present invention, referring to the map data 21m, the distance between the interchange at the high speed A and the nearest interchange of the starting point S or the destination G is calculated, and the distance is set as the upper limit traffic distance to which the ETC discount is applied. The traffic section is divided as A1 and A2 so as to generate the nearest traffic section (new discount target section). For example, the traffic section A1 is set as the priority ETC use section.

  As a result, in the example of FIG. 8, when using the high-speed A by the display 10 or the speaker 15, the high-speed A is temporarily exited at the interchange IC in the ETC usage state, and the high-speed A is entered again from the same interchange IC. The guide information is output.

  In each example of FIGS. 5 to 8, the same contents as those in FIGS. 5 to 8 are displayed on the display screen of the display 10, and the optimum route is guided to the user.

  In step S18 of FIG. 2, the section division process as described above is performed for each toll road between the destinations to search for a new priority ETC use section. 5 to 7, the section division process may be performed.

  Further, in the condition determination in step S13 of FIG. 2, even when a plurality of highways or toll roads are not used (S13: No), the section division processing as shown in FIG. 8 may be performed. That is, after it is determined No in step S13, steps S18 to S20 are executed.

  The route calculation when the arrival order of destinations can be changed (corresponding to S21 in FIG. 2: Yes) will be described using display screen examples in the display 10 of FIGS. First, as described above, a guidance route is searched by designating a departure place and a destination. In FIG. 11, the departure point S and the destination are represented by G1, G2, and G3. At this time, the arrival order of destinations is in the order of G1, G2, and G3, which is set by the user. Changing the arrival order of destinations is a well-known function of navigation devices.

  If the departure date / time is not current, pressing the [Date / Time] button in FIG. 11 displays a departure date / time setting screen (not shown), and the departure date / time is set according to the display.

  When the [Search] button is pressed in FIG. 11, a guide route is displayed as shown in FIG. In the example of FIG. 12, the highway is used between the departure point S and the destination G1, the general road is used between the destination G1 and the destination G2, and the general road is used between the destination G2 and the destination G3. It is equivalent to the time, and commuting discounts are applied on the highway, making it 800 yen cheaper than usual.

  If the user is not satisfied with the guide route search result of FIG. 12, clicking the [Yes] button in FIG. 12 performs a guide route search by changing the arrival order of the destinations G1, G2, and G3. An example is shown in FIG. In FIG. 13, the arrival order of destinations is G3, G1, and G2, highway use between the departure point S and destination G3, general road use between destination G3 and destination G1, destination G1 to destination G2. During the period, it is used for general roads, and on highways, commuting discounts are applied, which is 1000 yen cheaper than usual. This is a much cheaper toll than the example of FIG.

  When the user clicks the [No] button in the guide route search result of FIG. 12, route guidance is performed based on the searched guide route.

  On the other hand, if the user is not satisfied with the guide route search result shown in FIG. 13, clicking the [Next Route] button in FIG. 13 changes the arrival order of the destinations G1, G2, and G3 and performs the guide route search again. Is called. In addition, when performing route guidance using the displayed guidance route, the [Enter] button is pressed.

  If the user is not satisfied with the guide route search result of FIG. 12 and clicks the [Yes] button in FIG. 12, the ETC discount amount is obtained for all the guide routes in which the destinations G1, G2, and G3 are replaced, and the ETC is the most. It is good also as a structure which displays the guidance route with a big discount amount on the indicator 10. FIG.

  With reference to FIGS. 14 to 19, guidance information when traveling along a preferential ETC use section or a toll road section other than the preferential ETC use section at the time of route guidance will be described with reference to display examples on the display device 10. FIG. 14 is an example of guidance information output when passing through the entrance toll gate. First, the current position of the vehicle is acquired from the position detector 1 (S31). When it is determined that the distance between the current position of the vehicle and the entrance toll gate of the toll road (highway or toll road) on the guide route is a predetermined value and the vehicle has approached the entrance toll gate (S32: Yes), It is checked whether the toll road ahead of the toll gate is a priority ETC use section.

  If the toll road ahead of the toll gate where the vehicle is about to enter is a priority ETC use section (S33: Yes), guidance is provided to pass through the ETC gate (S34). FIG. 16 shows a display screen example. A voice message may be sent from the speaker 15. On the other hand, if the toll road on which the vehicle is to enter is not a priority ETC use section (S33: No), guidance is provided so as to pass through a manned gate (general gate) that is not an ETC dedicated gate (S35). FIG. 17 shows a display screen example.

  FIG. 15 is an example of guidance information output when passing through the exit toll gate. First, the current position of the vehicle is acquired from the position detector 1 (S51). When the distance between the current position of the vehicle and the exit toll gate of the toll road (highway or toll road) on the guide route is a predetermined value, and it is determined that the vehicle has approached the exit toll gate (S52: Yes), It is checked whether the billing road that is currently running is a priority ETC use section.

  If the currently-charged toll road is a priority ETC use section (S53: Yes), guidance is provided so as to pass through the ETC gate (S54). FIG. 18 shows a display screen example. A voice message may be sent from the speaker 15. On the other hand, when the current toll road is not a priority ETC use section (S53: No), guidance is provided so as to pass through a manned gate (general gate) that is not an ETC dedicated gate (S55). FIG. 19 shows a display screen example.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and the knowledge of those skilled in the art can be used without departing from the spirit of the claims. Various modifications based on this are possible.

The block diagram which shows the structure of a vehicle-mounted navigation apparatus. The flowchart explaining a route calculation process. The figure which shows the excerpt of the ETC discount contents of the main road company. The figure which shows the excerpt of the ETC discount content of the main road companies following FIG. The figure which shows the example of route calculation. The figure which shows another example of route calculation. The figure which shows another example of route calculation. The figure which shows the example of the area division | segmentation in route calculation. The figure which shows the example of an ETC discount applicable situation. The figure which shows the example of a route calculation result. The figure explaining route calculation in case there are two or more destinations. The figure explaining the route calculation in case there are a plurality of destinations following FIG. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating route calculation when there are a plurality of destinations following FIG. 12. The flowchart explaining the guidance information output at the time of passing an entrance toll gate. The flowchart explaining the guidance information output at the time of passing an exit toll gate. The figure which shows the example of guidance information output at the time of passing an entrance toll gate. The figure which shows another example of the guidance information output at the time of passing an entrance toll gate. The figure which shows the example of guidance information output at the time of passing an exit toll gate. The figure which shows another example of the guidance information output at the time of passing an exit toll gate.

Explanation of symbols

1 Position detector (position detection means)
7 Operation switch group (Destination setting means, destination arrival order setting input means, guidance route selection input means)
8 Control circuit (route search means, discount amount calculation means, priority ETC use section extraction means, alternative general road search means, non-discountable charged road section search means, priority ETC use section resetting means, non-discountable chargeable road section division Means, guide route determination means)
10 Display (guidance information output means, alternative guidance route candidate proposal output means)
12 Remote control terminal (Destination setting means, destination arrival order setting input means, guidance route selection input means)
15 Speaker (guidance information output means, alternative guidance route candidate proposal output means)
21 Hard disk drive (HDD)
21d Database (ETC discount information storage means)
21m Map data (Road map data storage means)
22 Touch panel (Destination setting means, destination arrival order setting input means, guidance route selection input means)
23 vehicle speed sensor 24 speech synthesis circuit 30 speech recognition unit 31 microphone (destination setting means, destination arrival order setting input means, guidance route selection input means)
100 Car navigation system

Claims (8)

Position detecting means for detecting the current position of the vehicle;
Road map data storage means for storing road map data;
Route search means for searching for a guide route from the current position to the set destination on the road map data;
ETC discount information storage means for storing ETC discount information on a billing road on the road map data;
A discount amount calculating means for calculating an ETC discount amount of a toll for each section of the toll road using the ETC discount information when the guide route that uses the toll road is searched a plurality of times;
Priority ETC usage section extraction means for extracting, as a priority ETC usage section, a section in which the ETC discount amount is most advantageous among the sections of the toll road for which the discount amount has been calculated;
Guidance information output means for outputting guidance information including the extracted priority ETC use section;
A route calculation apparatus comprising:   2. The route according to claim 1, wherein the guidance information output unit outputs ETC usage suppression information that urges suppression of ETC usage for a toll road section other than the priority ETC usage section in a form included in the guidance information. Computing device.   The guidance information output means includes an alternative general road search means for searching an alternative general road section that does not require a toll corresponding to a charged road section other than the priority ETC use section on the road map data. 3. The route calculation apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the route guidance information using the searched alternative general road section is output as the ETC use suppression information.   3. The guidance information output means is configured to output route guidance information that prompts avoidance of ETC usage for a toll road section other than the priority ETC usage section in the guidance route as the ETC usage suppression information. Item 4. The route calculation apparatus according to Item 3.   The said guidance information output means performs the display or audio | voice output which urges not to use ETC, when the said current position approaches the toll gate of the toll road other than the said priority ETC utilization area. Route calculator. The route search means includes
Based on discount application condition information included in the ETC discount information, a search is made for a non-discountable charged road section exceeding the upper limit travel distance to which ETC discount is applied, among the charged road sections included in the searched guide route. A non-discountable charged road section search means;
Discount target for dividing the non-discountable toll road section by an interchange existing in the section so as to generate a new discount target section having an ETC discount amount larger than the priority ETC use section included in the guide route Including outside billing road section dividing means,
6. The priority ETC usage section extracting means includes priority ETC usage section resetting means for resetting a new discount target section with a large ETC discount amount as the priority ETC usage section. The route calculation apparatus according to claim 1. Destination setting means for setting a plurality of the destinations;
The route search means searches for a plurality of guide route candidates with different arrival orders of the plurality of destinations,
The priority ETC usage section extraction means determines the priority ETC usage section for each searched guide route candidate, compares the ETC discount amount of each priority ETC use section of the guide route candidates, and finds the most ETC discount amount. The route according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising guide route determining means for determining, as a final guide route, a guide route candidate according to a destination arrival order including an advantageous priority ETC use section. Computing device. The destination setting means includes destination arrival order setting input means for the user to set and input the destination arrival order,
The guide route determining means includes
After determining the priority ETC use section for a user desired guide route candidate according to the destination arrival order set and input, a search is made for an alternative guide route candidate obtained by switching the destination arrival order for the user desired guide route candidate. When the alternative guidance route candidate determines a prior period priority ETC use section and the ETC discount amount of the alternative guidance route candidate is more advantageous than the ETC discount amount of the user desired guidance route candidate, the alternative guidance route candidate is selected. Alternative guidance route candidate proposal output means for outputting a proposal to the user;
A guide route selection input means for allowing the user to selectively input either the user desired guide route candidate or the alternative guide route candidate as a final guide route;
The route calculation apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising: a guide route determination unit that determines the final guide route based on an input result of the guide route selection input unit.

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