JP2008185488A - Navigation device, its control method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To further certainly guide a user to a next best route when a vehicle cannot pass through a smart IC without using a special apparatus such as a beacon receiver. <P>SOLUTION: When a navigation means 22 guides a route where the vehicle travels on an express highway and goes out of it at the smart IC, an arrival detecting means 24 detects (arrival detecting processing) the arrival to the interchange or junction other than the smart IC at least next before the smart IC. When the arrival is detected, a determination retrieving means 26 determines whether the smart IC can be used. When it cannot be used, the determination retrieving means 26 re-retrieves a route that does not use the smart IC. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an improvement in navigation technology.

  In recent years, with the development of information processing and wireless communication technology, ETC (Non-stop automatic toll collection system) that performs toll collection at highway interchanges (referred to as “ICs”) by wireless communication between in-vehicle devices and roadside devices .Registered trademark) is spreading. An IC using unmanned ETC is also provided, which is called a smart IC.

  As for highways and ICs, so-called navigation devices that guide and guide routes to destinations by automobile are naturally handled by route search and guidance (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The possible operating time, that is, business hours, is limited, and how to handle such smart ICs with a navigation device becomes a problem.

  First, for smart ICs with limited travel time, it is conceivable to set the travel time in map data as restriction data according to a general road with limited travel time. In addition, when a route that is subject to time regulation is included in the route being guided, it may be possible to perform a route re-search when the route reaches a predetermined distance before the section subject to time regulation (for example, patent document). 2).

In addition, it is also conceivable to periodically calculate the expected arrival time at the start point of the time regulation target section and perform route re-search when the time falls within a time zone during which traffic cannot pass (for example, Patent Document 3 and Patent Document 4). .
JP-A-5-341712 Patent 3453988 Patent 3491867 Patent 3718991

  However, among the above, in the correspondence of performing route re-search before a predetermined distance in the time regulation target section, for example, the distance between the smart IC at the exit and the IC just before that, that is, the IC just before that is longer than the predetermined distance. In this case, the route re-search timing is after passing through the immediately preceding IC. Then, if it is impossible to pass the smart IC, it is possible that such an option will be sealed off and a roundabout circuit may occur even if it is best to get off at the previous IC instead.

  On the other hand, in the case of the correspondence for calculating the estimated arrival time at the start point of the time regulation target section, it is necessary to introduce a dynamic travel time acquisition system such as a beacon receiver in order to calculate with high accuracy. In addition, even in that case, depending on the timing of the re-search, even if the route to get off at the previous IC is optimal, the route has already been passed, so that the route cannot be presented as described above. There was a problem similar to the route re-search before a predetermined distance of the time regulation target section.

  The present invention solves the problems of the prior art as described above, and its purpose is to more reliably provide a user with a second best route when a smart IC cannot pass without using a special device such as a beacon receiver. To guide you.

  Based on the above object, one aspect of the present invention is a navigation device that outputs guidance based on a vehicle position that is sequentially detected and a route to a destination. When guiding the route to descend, arrival detection means for detecting arrival at an interchange or junction other than the smart IC at least two before the smart IC, and when the arrival is detected, the smart IC It is characterized in that a judgment search means for determining whether or not the smart IC can be used and re-searching for a route not using the smart IC is realized.

  In this way, even if the smart IC cannot be reached by the end of business hours by performing route re-search when it passes through the IC two previous to the smart IC scheduled to get off, the next IC, that is, immediately before the smart IC is reached. It is possible to reliably leave the current highway by IC or the like, and the probability that a better next-best route can be guided to the user is greatly increased as compared with the conventional case.

  Another aspect of the present invention further includes business date and time data that can be used for each smart IC in advance, and the determination unit compares the current date and time with the data of the smart IC, It is characterized by determining whether a smart IC can be used.

  Thus, by preparing and determining data such as days of the week and time zones that can be passed in advance for each smart IC, accurate re-search can be supported.

  The method and program also conform to the above-described aspects.

  According to the present invention as described above, it is possible to more reliably guide the user on the second best route when the smart IC cannot pass without using a special device such as a beacon receiver.

  Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that assumptions common to the explanation in the background art and problems are omitted as appropriate.

[1. Constitution〕
A navigation device (hereinafter referred to as “this device”) in the present embodiment is mounted on a vehicle and outputs guidance guidance based on the vehicle position and the route to the destination that are sequentially detected. The following elements shown in the block diagram are provided.

  First, the apparatus 1 includes a disk device 2 such as an HDD that stores detailed road data and highway data. Here, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the detailed road data is data representing an actual road configuration, and each link representing each road section has a unique link ID and two or more for expressing the shape. Has coordinate data.

  In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the highway data includes IC (interchange), JCT (junction), SA (service area) / PA (in this application, including a motorway such as a toll road in this application). This is data that simply expresses connection relations such as parking areas), and is composed of facility information indicating IC, JCT, etc., and link data indicating a route between facilities, and the link data is one or more detailed road data. Has a link ID.

  In addition, the GPS receiver 3, the gyro 4, the vehicle speed pulse sensor 5, and the back signal sensor 6 are navigation sensor groups for detecting the position and direction of the own vehicle. In addition, this apparatus includes an input interface device such as a remote control light receiver 7 and a remote control 8 or a touch panel type liquid crystal display 9 in order to accept operations such as destination designation and route search requests from the user. In addition, a display device such as a liquid crystal display 9 is provided to visually present a map, a route, and other necessary information to the user.

  A navigation program including a route search function is stored in the ROM 10 in the apparatus, and is expanded in the RAM 11 as needed when the apparatus is activated. When a route search is executed by a route search request from the user, a necessary portion of the detailed road data stored in advance in the disk device 2 is read into the RAM, and the read detailed road data is interpreted by the CPU 12 and is considered appropriate. Find a route. The obtained route is displayed in a form superimposed on a map by a display device such as the liquid crystal display 9 provided in the present device.

  That is, the CPU 12 is an arithmetic control unit of a computer, and realizes the navigation means 22, the arrival detection means 24, and the judgment search means 26 under the control of the navigation program. Each of these means is processing means for realizing and executing the functions and operations of the present invention and this embodiment as described below. It should be noted that navigation processing similar to that in the prior art by the navigation means 22, that is, own vehicle position detection, destination designation reception, route search, guidance guidance output, and the like are not main features of the present invention, and details thereof are omitted as appropriate.

[2. (Overview of action)
In the present embodiment configured as described above, when the navigation means 22 guides the route that passes through the highway and exits with the smart IC, the arrival detection means 24 is the one other than the smart IC, which is two times before the smart IC. When arrival at an interchange or a junction is detected (arrival detection processing), and when this arrival is detected, the judgment search means 26 determines whether the smart IC can be used. Re-search for unused routes (judgment search processing).

[3. (Specific processing contents)
More specifically, this apparatus repeatedly executes the following processing procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG. That is, first, the vehicle position is calculated from signal data from the GPS receiver 3, the gyro 4, the vehicle speed pulse sensor 5, the back signal sensor 6, and the like (step S1). The detailed road data of the area including the vehicle position is read from the disk device 2 into the RAM 11 (step S2), and the currently running road is estimated (step S3).

  Then, an exit road that is a smart IC is included on the route that is currently being guided (step S4), the estimated traveling road is a highway (step S5), and information on the road is obtained. When there is highway data including (step S6), the highway data is read from the disk device 2 into the RAM 11 (step S7), and it is estimated which section the vehicle is traveling on and the estimated position The number of exit ICs and JCTs that are not smart ICs is counted from the exit smart IC to the exit smart IC and stored in the memory (step S8).

  If the counted value is 2 or more in the previous time and 1 or less this time (step S9), it is considered that the IC or JCT that is two before the smart IC has passed and is currently incorporated in the route. It is determined whether or not the smart IC can be used (step S10). If the smart IC cannot be used, route re-search is started (step S11).

  It is not essential to determine whether or not a smart IC can be used prior to route re-search. By re-searching without making this determination, the same route can be adopted and used if a smart IC can be used. It is also possible for the path to change if it is not possible.

  In any case, the determination as to whether or not the smart IC can be used is not shown in the figure, but it has data on the business date and time that can be used for each smart IC in advance. What is necessary is just to judge whether the smart IC can be used by collating the present date and time obtained with the data of the smart IC.

[4. effect〕
As described above, in this embodiment, even if the smart IC cannot be reached by the end of the business hours by performing route re-search when it passes the IC two previous to the smart IC scheduled to get off, the next IC That is, it is possible to definitely include the option of leaving the current highway with an IC immediately before the smart IC, and the probability that a better next-best route can be guided to the user is greatly increased as compared with the prior art.

  Further, in the present embodiment, accurate re-search can be supported by preparing and determining data such as days of the week and time zones that can be passed in advance for each smart IC.

[5. Other embodiments]
In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, The thing illustrated below and other embodiment other than that are included. For example, the contents of the configuration (FIG. 1), the highway data (FIG. 2), the road data (FIG. 3), the flowchart (FIG. 4) and the explanations corresponding to them are merely examples, and can be appropriately changed. Needless to say.

  As an example, if you make a decision on re-search not only two smart ICs before, but also three or four prior to the average vehicle speed, etc., you have more flexibility in response to traffic conditions. Reroute is possible.

The figure which shows the structure of embodiment of this invention. The figure which illustrates detailed road data in the embodiment of the present invention. The figure which illustrates highway data in an embodiment of the present invention. The flowchart which illustrates the process sequence in embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... This apparatus 2 ... Disk apparatus 3 ... Receiver 4 ... Gyro 5 ... Vehicle speed pulse sensor 6 ... Back signal sensor 7 ... Remote control light receiver 8 ... Remote control 9 ... Touch panel type liquid crystal display 10 ... ROM
11 ... RAM
12 ... CPU
22 ... Navigation means 24 ... Arrival detection means 26 ... Judgment search means

Claims (4)

In a navigation device that outputs guidance guidance based on the vehicle position that is sequentially detected and the route to the destination,
By computer control unit,
An arrival detection means for detecting an arrival at an interchange or junction other than the smart IC, at least two times before the smart IC, when guiding a route that goes down the highway through the smart IC;
A determination search means for determining whether or not the smart IC can be used when the arrival is detected, and for re-searching a route not using the smart IC if the smart IC cannot be used;
A navigation device characterized by realizing the above. We have data of business hours and zones that can be used for each smart IC in advance,
The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines whether or not the smart IC can be used by comparing the current date and time with the data of the smart IC. In a control method of a navigation device that outputs guidance guidance based on a vehicle position that is sequentially detected and a route to a destination,
The computer control unit realizes arrival detection means for detecting the timing of re-search and determination search means for controlling re-search,
When the route to get off with a smart IC through an expressway is being guided, the arrival search means detects arrival at an interchange or junction other than the smart IC at least two times before the smart IC. And
When the arrival is detected, it is determined whether the smart IC can be used. If the smart IC cannot be used, a determination search process for re-searching a route not using the smart IC is executed by the determination search means. A control method of a navigation device characterized by the above. In a control program for a navigation device that outputs guidance guidance based on the vehicle position and the route to the destination that are sequentially detected,
The control program realizes arrival detection means for detecting the timing of re-search and determination search means for controlling re-search by controlling the arithmetic control unit of the computer,
When guiding the route to get off at the smart IC through the highway, the arrival search means executes the arrival detection process for detecting the arrival at the interchange or junction other than the smart IC at least two times before the smart IC. Let
When the arrival is detected, it is determined whether or not the smart IC can be used. If the smart IC cannot be used, the determination search means is configured to perform a search for searching for a route that does not use the smart IC. A navigation apparatus control program characterized by the above.

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