JP2008204256A - Information management providing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processor capable of efficiently providing a user with information adapted to his/her taste. <P>SOLUTION: The evaluation information of evaluators is managed for each evaluator, and pinpointed to information suitable for a retrieval condition desired by a user for a group of the evaluators whose evaluation on the same things agrees to the user's evaluation. Thus, the user can be provided with information adapted to his/her taste. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information management providing system that searches and provides useful information to a user.

  Many pieces of word-of-mouth information provide information of a large number of unspecified evaluators in a row, and it takes a lot of time to obtain information that the user feels effective. In addition, the reliability is not necessarily high, and the possibility of being an imagination or an advertisement cannot be denied depending on the information. Thus, as a means for efficiently searching for information, an information guidance system with an information evaluation value that narrows down information by digitizing evaluation and setting a search condition by a user has been proposed (see Patent Document 1). ).

JP-A-10-247201

  In the configuration of Patent Document 1, a user inputs a predetermined search condition, searches the database based on the search condition, outputs a search result obtained by the search, and based on a predetermined evaluation element Each search result is evaluated, an evaluation value is assigned to each search result, each search result is displayed on a predetermined display means, and an evaluation value is added to each search result for display. The preference of the user who performed is unknown. In other words, it is not known whether the evaluation result matches the user's preference. This is because the user's preference may belong to the minority. In addition, the reliability of information has not been solved.

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

  When a guide route is searched, a road on which the user has traveled in the past is preferentially selected from the travel history, but it is not known whether the road meets the user's preference. Even in a configuration in which the guide route searched by the guide route search server is downloaded and used via the communication network, the user's preference is not reflected when searching the server.

  With the above problem as a background, an object of the present invention is to provide an information management providing system capable of efficiently providing information according to the user's preference.

Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention

  An information management providing system for solving the above problems includes a road map data storage means for storing road map data, a destination setting means for setting a destination on the road map, and a current position specified on the road map The route search setting means for searching and setting the route to the set destination on the road map and the predetermined data items of the road map data were extracted and used uniquely for each route setting event. Setting record database that registers setting record data as data for each set user, current user specifying means for specifying a current user to newly set a destination, and setting corresponding to the current user on the set record database The actual data is extracted as the current user actual data, and the data item is compared with the current user actual data. Similar user result data extracting means for searching / extracting set result data of other users having a predetermined similarity as similar user result data, and a set of the extracted similar user result data as support base data And destination setting support information creating / outputting means for creating and outputting destination setting support information for supporting the destination setting by the current user based on the base data.

  With the above configuration, the current user's destination setting is supported based on the setting results data of other users having a predetermined similarity, that is, similar preferences, so the time until acquiring the destination setting support information And the reliability of the current user's destination setting support information is improved.

  Further, the similar user record data extracting means in the information management providing system of the present invention is configured to extract the set record data whose contents at least partially match the current user record data in the data item as the similar user record data. You can also.

  With the above configuration, it is possible to extract setting result data of other users whose preferences are similar to those of the current user.

  In addition, the information management providing system of the present invention includes user evaluation input means for inputting a user evaluation concerning a data item for each route setting event by the route search setting means, and the user who has input the setting result data in the setting result database The similar user result data extracting means registered as including the evaluation result may be configured to extract the set result data having the same user evaluation result in the data item as the similar user result data.

  If user evaluation is common, it can be considered that tastes are also similar. With the above configuration, it is possible to extract setting result data of other users whose preferences are similar to those of the current user. Also, since the user's evaluation is not always constant, the setting result data can be always kept up-to-date by making the user evaluation input possible.

  In addition, the information management providing system of the present invention can be configured such that the data items of the registered setting result data are determined as the destination or waypoint for the set route.

  With the above-described configuration, it is possible to use the setting record data when searching for route guidance.

  Further, the similar user record data extracting means in the information management providing system of the present invention is configured to extract the set record data including one or more destinations or waypoints that are the same as the current user record data as the similar user record data. You can also.

  If the same destination or waypoint as the current user record data is included, it can be considered that the preference is similar. With the above configuration, it is possible to create and output destination setting support information that is more useful and reliable for the current user.

  In addition, the information management providing system of the present invention includes user evaluation input means for inputting a user evaluation concerning a data item for each route setting event by the route search setting means, and the user who has input the setting result data in the setting result database The similar user performance data extraction means is registered as including the evaluation result, and the similar user performance data extraction means extracts the setting performance data having the same user evaluation result in the data item as similar user performance data. It is also possible to configure so that setting result data in which a destination or waypoint where an evaluation result of a certain level or more is registered matches one or more current user result data is extracted as similar user result data.

  Also with the above configuration, it is possible to create and output destination setting support information that is more useful and reliable for the current user.

  Also, the information management providing system of the present invention stores in the setting result database the names of points or facilities that can be set as destinations or waypoints in the road map data storage means in a form classified according to a predetermined category. The destination setting means is configured to be able to narrow down a spot name or a facility name based on the category, and the similar user achievement data extraction means is a destination selected in the category selected by the current user during the destination setting means. Setting result data whose location or waypoint matches one or more of the current user result data is extracted as similar user result data, and the destination setting support information creation / output means matches the current user result data from the support base data. Create and output a selection list of destinations or waypoints as destination setting support information It can also be configured sea urchin.

  Also with the above configuration, it is possible to create and output destination setting support information that is more useful and reliable for the current user. In addition, since time is narrowed down by category in advance, the time required for creating and outputting the destination setting support information can be shortened.

  In addition, the information management providing system of the present invention can be configured such that the data item of the registered setting result data is road data that constitutes the set route.

  With the above configuration, a road suitable for the preference of the current user can be output as destination setting support information.

  Further, the route search setting means in the information management providing system of the present invention provides a route that preferentially uses the road data included in the similar user performance data to the destination set from the current position specified on the road map. It can also be configured to search and set as a recommended route.

  With the above configuration, it is possible to search for a guidance route suitable for the current user's preference and output it as destination setting support information.

  In addition, the information management providing system of the present invention includes a facility evaluation database for registering evaluation data about a facility for each user, a current user specifying means for specifying a current user who intends to newly acquire an evaluation regarding the facility, and a facility evaluation database. In the above, the facility evaluation data corresponding to the current user is extracted as the current user evaluation data, and the facility evaluation data of other users having a predetermined similarity with the current user evaluation data is searched for as similar user evaluation data. The same kind of user evaluation data extracting means to extract, and a set of the extracted similar user evaluation data as support base data, and evaluation support information for supporting the evaluation of the facility by the current user based on the support base data Creating and outputting evaluation support information to be created and output If it can also be configured with.

  With the above configuration, it is possible to efficiently provide evaluation support information according to the user's preference.

  Further, the information management providing system of the present invention includes a user evaluation input means for inputting a user's evaluation about a facility, and the facility evaluation data is registered in the facility evaluation database as including the input user evaluation result, and the like. The user evaluation data extraction means can also be configured to extract facility evaluation data having a common user evaluation result as similar user evaluation data.

  If user evaluation is common, it can be considered that tastes are also similar. With the above configuration, it is possible to extract facility evaluation data of other users who have similar preferences to the current user. In addition, since the user evaluation is not always constant, the facility evaluation data can always be kept up-to-date by adopting a configuration in which the user evaluation can be input.

  The user evaluation input means in the information management providing system of the present invention inputs the user's evaluation for each of one or a plurality of evaluation items included in the evaluation data, and the similar user evaluation data extraction means is the current user evaluation. The facility evaluation data of other users including one or more evaluation items in which the same evaluation result as the data is registered can be extracted as similar user evaluation data.

  If the same evaluation result as the current user evaluation data is included, it can be considered that the preference is similar. With the above configuration, it is possible to create and output evaluation support information that is more useful and reliable for the current user.

  Further, the similar user evaluation data extracting means in the information management providing system of the present invention uses the similar user evaluation data for the facility evaluation data of another user that matches the current user evaluation data in a facility where an evaluation result of a certain level or more is registered. It can also comprise so that it may extract as.

  Also with the above configuration, it is possible to create and output evaluation support information that is more useful and reliable for the current user.

  In addition, the facilities in the information management providing system of the present invention are stored in the facility evaluation database in a form classified according to a predetermined category, and include a category selection means for the current user to select a category, and the evaluation support information creation / output The means may be configured to create and output, as evaluation support information, a selection list of facilities that match the current user evaluation data from the support base data at facilities included in the category selected by the current user.

  Also with the above configuration, it is possible to create and output evaluation support information that is more useful and reliable for the current user. In addition, since it is narrowed down by category in advance, the time required for creating and outputting the evaluation support information can be shortened.

  Further, the information management providing system of the present invention includes a facility selecting means for selecting a facility for which the current user wants to acquire facility evaluation data, and the evaluation support information creating / outputting means is a facility selected by the current user from the support base data. The facility evaluation data corresponding to can be generated and output as evaluation support information.

  With the configuration described above, it is possible to create and output evaluation support information that is more useful and more reliable for the current user for the facility selected by the current user.

  The information management providing system of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a configuration diagram of an information management providing system. The information management providing system includes a center 200 including a database (DB) server 201, a vehicle navigation device (hereinafter abbreviated as a navigation device) 100, and a personal computer 300. Since the configuration including the personal computer 300 is a modification of the configuration including the vehicle navigation device 100, an outline will be described later.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the DB server 201 is configured as a well-known personal computer or workstation, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 203, a communication unit 204, a display unit 205, an operation unit 206, and a control in which these are connected. A circuit 202 is provided.

  The HDD 203 stores an OS program 203s that functions as an operating system (OS) for operating the DB server 201, an application program 203p that operates on the OS, a database (DB) 203d (details will be described later), and the like. The database 203d corresponds to the setting result database and facility evaluation database of the present invention.

  The communication unit 204 is for communicating with the navigation apparatus 100 directly or via a communication network such as the Internet. For example, the communication unit 204 is configured as a known wireless communication device or network connection device. The communication unit 204 corresponds to the evaluation support information creation / output means of the present invention.

  The display unit 205 includes a display device such as a liquid crystal display or a CRT display. The operation unit 206 includes a pointing device such as a mouse and operation means such as a keyboard.

  The control circuit 202 includes a CPU 202a, ROM 202b, RAM 202c, an input / output interface (I / O) 202d, and a bus line 202e for connecting these configurations. The CPU 202a performs control based on the OS program 203s stored in the HDD 203. The OS program 203s is executed on the RAM 202c with the OS work memory 202s as a work area. The application program 203p is executed on the RAM 202c with the application work memory 202p as a work area.

  The control circuit 202 corresponds to the similar user result data extraction means, destination setting support information creation / output means, similar user evaluation data extraction means, and evaluation support information creation / output means of the present invention.

  FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of the 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 sensors described above may be used, and further, a steering rotation sensor (not shown), a wheel sensor of each rolling wheel, for example, a vehicle speed sensor 23 or the like may be used.

  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.

  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. Operation switch group 7, remote control terminal 12, touch panel 22, and microphone corresponding to the destination setting means, route search setting means, current user specifying means, user evaluation input means, category selection means, and facility selection means of the present invention. By 31, various instructions can be input.

  The transceiver 13 is, for example, a VICS (Vehicle Information and Communication System: registered trademark) center 14 by an optical beacon or a radio beacon output from a transmitter (not shown) provided along the road. It is a device for receiving road traffic information from 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 includes a well-known CPU 81, ROM 82, RAM 83, I / O 84, which is an input / output circuit, an A / D conversion unit 86, a drawing unit 87, a clock IC 88, and a bus line 85 that connects these components. ing. 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 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 10 from road map data 21m (described later), display data, and display color data stored in the HDD 21 or the like.

  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.

  In addition to the navigation program 21p, the HDD 21 stores so-called map matching data for improving the accuracy of position detection and road map data 21m, which is a map database including road data representing road connections. The road 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, road width, number of lanes, speed limit, and the like. The node information is information defining an intersection (branch road) or the like, and is composed of position coordinates, the number of right / left turn lanes, a connection destination road link, and the like. In addition, data indicating whether or not traffic is possible is set in the inter-link connection information. The road map data 21m corresponds to the road map data storage means of the present invention.

  In addition, 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 navigation program 21p, road map data 21m, user data 21u, and database 21d can be added / 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.

  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 device 10 corresponds to the evaluation support information creation / 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 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 well-known wireless transceiver, and is used to connect to a public communication network such as the center 200 (DB server 201) or the Internet. 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, the navigation device 100 allows the user to operate the operation switch group 7, the touch panel 22, the remote control terminal 12, or from the microphone 31 when the navigation program 21 p is activated by the CPU 81 of the control circuit 8. When route guidance processing for displaying the destination route on the display 10 is selected from a menu displayed on the display 10 by voice input, the following processing 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 of 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. In addition, at least one of the display 10 and the speaker 15 performs notification of a message according to an operation guidance or an operation state.

  As a method for automatically setting an optimum guide route, a method such as the Dijkstra method is known. The cost of each node of the route and the cost of each link at the time of searching for the guide route are obtained by calculation based on the node information and link information in the route data, and the cost of the node is temporarily stored in the RAM 83. The node cost is calculated by multiplying a predetermined value by a factor corresponding to the road type, road width, right / left turn angle, etc. for each driving situation, such as when going straight through the node or turning left or right at an intersection. It is done.

  The link cost is calculated using the following equation. Link cost = link length × road width coefficient × road type coefficient × road left / right coefficient. Here, the road width coefficient and the road type coefficient are set to predetermined values according to the road width and road type obtained from the link information by the control circuit 8. The road left / right coefficient is a coefficient indicating whether the destination is on the right side or the left side, and is calculated and set based on the relationship between the destination and the road. Then, from the starting point (current location) to the destination, the search for the road (link) to the next reachable intersection (node) and the cost (evaluation value) are sequentially performed, and the destination is minimized. Select the route (link string) that will be the cost.

  The concept of a similar user in the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The DB server 201 registers and manages the results evaluated by a plurality of evaluators with respect to things in a database (DB 203d). For example, evaluator A evaluates things a, b, c, e as (1, 1, 0, 1) (d is not evaluated), and evaluator B evaluates things a, c, d as (0, 1, Assume that 1) is evaluated (b and e are not evaluated). 1 is positive or positive evaluation, and 0 is negative or negative evaluation. These evaluation results are registered in the database. Evaluators A and B correspond to other users.

  Here, if a user (equivalent to the current user) who evaluates things a and c as (1, 0) (b, d and e are not evaluated) searches for an object with an evaluation of 1, things a and c The evaluator group that evaluates (1,0) and its evaluation data are extracted. In the example of FIG. 4, the evaluator A is extracted, and things a, b, and e are output as search results. This means that the evaluator B who evaluates (a, c) as (0, 1) does not match the user's preference and therefore does not trust the evaluation. Since information can be narrowed down by this, the user can obtain desired information in a short time, and can acquire the thing b which the user himself has not evaluated as information suitable for his taste.

  In addition, when the user wants to obtain the evaluation information of the thing c, both a good evaluation and a bad evaluation can be obtained as the evaluation of the thing c of the evaluator group having the same evaluation. It is also possible to provide information on an object e that is evaluated higher than the object c. In addition, when the user wants to obtain the evaluation information of the thing c, the thing c of the evaluator group (including the evaluator B) not matching the evaluation as well as the evaluator group (including the evaluator A) having the same evaluation. An assessment of can also be provided to the user as an objection.

  Since there can be a plurality of evaluator groups, it is desirable to provide the users in ascending order according to the degree of coincidence of evaluation with the user. As a simple determination, the number of matching items can be cited. When the evaluation scale is not binary, for example, a 10-level evaluation is made, it is determined that the degree of coincidence is high in ascending order. When there are a plurality of evaluation items for one thing, the degree of coincidence is observed for each evaluation item. Or you may determine only by comprehensive evaluation.

  In addition, things can be classified into categories. Therefore, the accuracy can be further improved by performing the above search after narrowing down the search target by category. For example, the category may be a category further subdividing “meal” such as “meal”, “sport facility”, “Japanese restaurant”, and “Western restaurant”.

  In addition, the present invention is applicable not only to facilities but also to all things that people evaluate. For example, in a vehicular navigation apparatus, a road through which a driver passes can be said to be a result of evaluation by a driver. Therefore, it can be considered that a road that passes toward a certain destination is given a good evaluation by the driver, and a road that does not pass is given a bad evaluation.

  When a user sets a destination, a road that passes toward a point that the user has set as a destination in the past and another point toward the same point (or the vicinity) stored in the DB (203d) By selecting the road with the highest evaluation from the matched driver group (evaluator group) toward the current destination based on the degree of coincidence of the road through which the driver (evaluator) passes, the user's preference You can guide the right road for you. At this time, it is possible to provide a more reliable guide route by preferentially using the evaluation of the driver whose home is in the vicinity of the destination.

  A facility evaluation data registration process for registering evaluation data about a facility will be described with reference to FIGS. This process is included in the navigation program 21p and is repeatedly executed together with other processes of the navigation program 21p. First, on the display device 10, a facility evaluation menu screen as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed from a menu screen (not shown) (S11). Next, the “user ID” button is pressed to input the user ID (S12). A password may be used, or a device ID that is stored in advance in the ROM 82 or the memory 9 and that can individually identify the navigation device 100 without inputting a user ID may be used.

  When the user ID is correctly input, the display returns to the display screen of FIG. Here, when a “facility evaluation registration” button is pressed, a screen for selecting a facility category as shown in FIG. 7 is displayed, and a facility category is selected (S13). The configuration may be such that step S13 is skipped and the facility category is not selected.

  Next, since a screen as shown in FIG. 8 is displayed, a facility to be evaluated is selected (S14). The facility selection method is based on the above-described method for setting the destination.

  Next, since a screen as shown in FIG. 9 is displayed, an evaluation for the selected facility A is input (S15). For the evaluation, either a method of inputting an evaluation value for each evaluation item or a method of inputting an evaluation value of the entire facility may be used. The evaluation value may be either a method using a predetermined evaluation level value such as 1 to 5 or A to E, or a method using evaluation words such as “good”, “normal”, and “bad”.

  Finally, when the “Register” button is pressed on the display screen of FIG. 9, communication with the DB server 201 is performed via the communication unit 25, and the facility evaluation data indicates the user ID or the user ID of the navigation device 100. The data is transmitted to the DB server 201 together with the identifiable data (S16).

  The DB server 201 stores facility evaluation data in the DB 203 for each user (evaluator). This process is included in the application program 203p. FIG. 10 shows an example of the stored contents of the facility evaluation data. You may include the registration date of facility evaluation data.

  The facility list display 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, the facility evaluation screen as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed (S31), the “user ID” button is pressed, and the user ID is input (S32).

  When the user ID is correctly input, the display returns to the display screen of FIG. Here, the “facility list” button is pressed. At this time, a screen for selecting a facility category as shown in FIG. 7 is displayed. For example, a “shopping” button is pressed (S33). Thereafter, communication with the DB server 201 is performed via the communication unit 25, and the facility list request data is transmitted to the DB server 201 together with data that can identify the user such as the user ID or the device ID of the navigation device 100 (S34). ).

  After the facility category is selected, a facility list request may be transmitted to the DB server 201 after a “request” button (not shown) is pressed.

  The DB server 201 that has received the facility list request creates and outputs a facility list (S35, described later).

  Then, the facility list is received from the DB server 201 (S36). Finally, the facility list is displayed on the display 10 (S37). FIG. 13 shows an example of the facility list display screen.

  The facility evaluation information list display 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, a facility evaluation screen as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed (S51), a “user ID” button is pressed, and a user ID is input (S52).

  When the user ID is correctly input, the display returns to the display screen of FIG. Here, the “evaluation information list” button is pressed. At this time, a screen for selecting a facility category as shown in FIG. 7 is displayed. For example, a “shopping” button is pressed (S53).

  Next, since a screen for selecting a facility as shown in FIG. 8 is displayed, a facility requiring an evaluation information list is selected (S54). The facility selection method is the same as step S14 in FIG. When a facility is selected, communication with the DB server 201 is performed via the communication unit 25, and the evaluation information list request data is stored in the DB server 201 together with data that can specify a user such as a user ID or a device ID of the navigation device 100. It is transmitted (S55).

  The DB server 201 that has received the evaluation information list request creates and outputs an evaluation information list (S56, described later).

  Then, the evaluation information list is received from the DB server 201 (S57). Finally, the evaluation information list is displayed on the display 10 (S58). FIG. 14 shows an example of the evaluation information list display screen. The display form of the evaluation information list may be a graph display or a list display.

  The facility evaluation list creation / output process corresponding to step S35 in FIG. 11 and step S56 in FIG. 12 and included in the application program 203p of the DB server 201 will be described with reference to FIG. First, the facility evaluation list or evaluation information list request data and data that can identify the user such as the user ID or the device ID of the navigation device 100 are received from the navigation device 100 (S71).

Next, the facility of another user (evaluator) having a predetermined similarity such that the user evaluation result is common to the user facility evaluation data (current user evaluation data) corresponding to the received user ID, for example. Evaluation data is extracted as similar user evaluation data, which is used as support base data (S72). The similar user evaluation data is extracted as follows.
(1) The facility evaluation data of other users including one or more evaluation items in which the same evaluation result as the current user evaluation data is registered is extracted as similar user evaluation data.
(2) For example, in a facility where an evaluation result of a certain level or higher such as “B rank” or higher or “good” or higher is registered, the facility evaluation data of other users that matches the current user evaluation data is the same user evaluation. Extract as data.

Next, a search is performed from the support base data as follows (S73).
(1) When a facility evaluation list is requested, a facility included in the category is searched.
(2) When an evaluation information list is requested, a search is made for items containing evaluation values for the facility.

  The search results are sorted, for example, in the order of evaluation, and a list or graph is created (S74). Finally, the created list or graph is transmitted to the navigation device 100 as evaluation support information (S75).

  A guide route evaluation data registration process for registering evaluation data for a guide route 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, a “user ID” button is pressed on the display screen of FIG. 6 or another menu screen (not shown) to input a user ID (S91).

  Next, a map is displayed on the display 10 (S92). Next, a “destination setting” button (not shown) is pressed (S93). At this time, the center coordinates of the map displayed on the display 10 are set as the destination (S94). The destination may be set by the other method described above.

  When the setting of the starting point (may be the current position of the vehicle detected by the position detector 1) and the destination are completed, a screen as shown in FIG. 17 is displayed. A guide route is calculated using the guide route search function of the apparatus 100 (S95). Then, route guidance is performed based on the guidance route calculation result (S96).

  Lastly, when the route guidance is completed in the middle of route guidance or when arriving at the destination and the route guidance is terminated, an inquiry is made as to whether or not a guidance route (or a route actually traveled) as shown in FIG. 18 is registered in the database (DB 203d). Since a message is displayed, if the user wishes to register, the “Register” button is pressed (S97). At this time, as shown in FIG. 19, the evaluation of each road section, waypoint, and destination may be input. Thereafter, the guidance route (link string) and data for identifying the user or the navigation device 100 are transmitted to the DB server 201, and the DB server 201 sets the received data in the DB 203d for each user (evaluator). Store as actual data.

  FIG. 20 shows an example of the stored contents (setting result database) of the guide route in the DB 203d. The guide route is stored with an ID for each road section (may be a link). In addition to the road section, a transit point (which may be a node) and a facility serving as a mark included in the road section may be stored. At this time, the waypoints and destinations may be classified and stored by category. Further, the registration date and time of the guide route may be included.

  A route guidance process using the destination setting support information 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, the destination is set by the same method as steps S91 to S94 in FIG. 16 (S111 to S114).

  When the setting of the departure place (which may be the current position of the vehicle detected by the position detector 1) and the destination are completed, a screen as shown in FIG. 17 is displayed, and the “search at center” button is pressed. At this time, the navigation device 100 transmits the departure point, the destination, and data identifying the user or the navigation device 100 to the DB server 201 of the center 200 (S115).

  The DB server 201 that has received the above calculates and outputs a guide route based on the data (S116, described later).

  When the navigation device 100 receives the guidance route from the DB server 201 of the center 200 (S117), the navigation device 100 performs route guidance based on the guidance route (S118).

  Finally, a message asking whether to register the guide route (or the actually traveled route) in the database as shown in FIG. 18 is displayed during route guidance or when arriving at the destination and finishing the route guidance. If the user wants to register, the user presses the “Register” button (S119). The operation at this time is the same as the processing in step S97 in FIG.

  The route calculation process included in the application program 203p of the DB server 201 corresponding to step S116 in FIG. 21 will be described with reference to FIG. First, a guide route calculation request as described above is received from the navigation device 100 (S131).

  Next, on the setting record database of the DB 203d, setting record data corresponding to the received user ID (current user) is extracted as current user record data, and similar in advance to the current user record data in the data item. Setting result data of other users having a degree is searched and extracted as similar user result data, and this is used as support base data (S132).

The results of similar user evaluation data are as follows.
(1) The setting result data with a common user evaluation result is extracted as similar user result data. That is, setting result data of other users whose one or more of the traveling road, the departure place, and the destination coincide are extracted.
(2) For example, a destination or waypoint where an evaluation result of a certain level or higher, such as “B rank” or higher or “good” or higher, is registered with the current user record data is at least one The setting result data to be extracted is extracted.

  Further, other users included in the support base data extracted above may be narrowed down depending on whether or not they are included in the above-mentioned similar users.

  Then, the cost of the traveling road (see FIG. 20) included in the support base data is made lower than the cost of the link corresponding to the traveling road stored in the road map data 21m (S133).

  You may make it lower the cost of the traveling road currently used by more of other users on a setting results database, without performing search / extraction of similar user results data.

  Then, a candidate for a guide route from the departure point to the destination is searched (S134), and the route cost of each candidate is calculated using the previously reduced cost (S135). Finally, the guide route with the minimum route cost is determined as a recommended route, and is transmitted to the navigation device 100 as destination setting support information (S136).

  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.

  For example, a personal computer (hereinafter abbreviated as PC) 300 can be used instead of the navigation device 100 as shown in FIG. If the PC 300 includes a position detector 1, road map data 21m, navigation program 21p, communication unit 25, etc., the facility evaluation data registration, facility list display, evaluation information list display, guidance route registration, DB It is possible to receive a guide route from the server 201. That is, if there is a portable terminal such as the PC 300, the destination setting support information or the evaluation support information can be acquired even when the vehicle does not move.

The block diagram which shows the structure of an information management provision system. The block diagram which shows the structure of DB server. The block diagram which shows the structure of the navigation apparatus for vehicles. The figure explaining the concept of the similar user in this invention. The flowchart explaining a facility evaluation data registration process. The figure which shows the example of a screen display in a facility evaluation data registration process. The figure which shows the example of a screen display in the facility evaluation data registration process following FIG. The figure which shows the example of a screen display in the facility evaluation data registration process following FIG. The figure which shows the example of a screen display in the facility evaluation data registration process following FIG. The figure which shows an example of the memory content of facility evaluation data. The flowchart explaining a facility list display process. The flowchart explaining an evaluation information list display process. The figure which shows the example of a display screen of a facility list. The figure which shows the example of a display screen of an evaluation information list. The flow figure explaining facility list creation and output processing. The flowchart explaining a guidance route evaluation data registration process. The figure which shows the example of a display screen at the time of guide route search. The figure which shows the example of a display screen at the time of guide route registration. The figure which shows the example of a display screen at the time of evaluation input of a guidance route. The figure which shows an example of the memory content of a guidance route. The flowchart explaining the route guidance process using the destination setting assistance information. The flowchart explaining the route calculation process in DB server.

Explanation of symbols

1 position detector 7 operation switch group (destination setting means, route search setting means, current user specifying means, user evaluation input means, category selection means, facility selection means)
8 Control circuit 10 Display (Evaluation support information creation / output means)
12 Remote control terminal (Destination setting means, route search setting means, current user specifying means, user evaluation input means, category selection means, facility selection means)
15 Speaker 21 Hard disk drive (HDD)
21d database 21m road map data (road map data storage means)
22 Touch panel (Destination setting means, route search setting means, current user identification means, user evaluation input means, category selection means, facility selection means)
31 Microphone (Destination setting means, route search setting means, current user specifying means, user evaluation input means, category selection means, facility selection means)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Vehicle-mounted navigation apparatus 200 Center 201 Database (DB) server 202 Control circuit (similar user performance data extraction means, destination setting support information creation / output means, similar user evaluation data extraction means, evaluation support information creation / output means)
203d database (DB) (setting results database, facility evaluation database)
204 Communication unit (Evaluation support information creation / output means)
300 Personal computer (PC)

Claims (15)

Road map data storage means for storing road map data;
Destination setting means for setting a destination on the road map;
Route search setting means for searching and setting a route from the current position specified on the road map to the destination set on the road map;
For the predetermined data items of the road map data, a setting result database for registering setting result data for each setting user, which is data extracted and used for each individual route setting event;
Current user specifying means for specifying a current user who intends to newly set the destination;
On the setting record database, setting record data corresponding to the current user is extracted as current user record data, and another user's setting having a predetermined similarity to the current user record data in the data item Similar user result data extracting means for searching and extracting result data as similar user result data;
A destination for generating / outputting destination setting support information for supporting the destination setting by the current user based on the support base data, using the extracted set of similar user performance data as support base data Setting support information creation / output means,
An information management providing system characterized by comprising:   2. The information according to claim 1, wherein the similar user performance data extraction unit is configured to extract, as the similar user performance data, setting performance data whose contents at least partially match the current user performance data in the data item. Management providing system. For each route setting event by the route search setting means, a user evaluation input means for inputting a user evaluation concerning the data item,
In the setting result database, the setting result data is registered as including the input user evaluation result,
2. The information management providing system according to claim 1, wherein the similar user performance data extracting unit extracts setting performance data having the same user evaluation result in the data items as the similar user performance data.   The information management providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the data item of the setting result data to be registered is determined as a destination or a waypoint for the set route.   5. The information management providing system according to claim 4, wherein the similar user performance data extraction unit is configured to extract setting performance data including one or more destinations or waypoints that are the same as the current user performance data as the similar user performance data. . Comprising the requirements of claim 3;
The similar user record data extracting means extracts, as the similar user record data, set record data in which a destination or waypoint where an evaluation result of a certain level or more is registered matches one or more of the current user record data The information management providing system according to claim 4. Point names or facility names that can be set as the destination or waypoint in the road map data storage means are stored in the setting results database in a form classified according to a predetermined category,
The destination setting means is configured to be capable of narrowing down the location name or facility name based on the category,
The similar user record data extraction unit extracts the set record data in which the destination or the waypoint matches one or more of the current user record data in the category selected by the current user during the destination setting unit. Which is extracted as data,
The destination setting support information creation / output means creates and outputs a selection list of destinations or waypoints matching the current user record data as the destination setting support information from the support base data. 6. The information management providing system according to 6.   The information management providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the data item of the setting result data to be registered is road data constituting the set route.   The route search setting means searches for a route preferentially using road data included in the similar user record data as a recommended route from the current position specified on the road map to the destination. The information management providing system according to claim 8 to be set. A facility evaluation database for registering evaluation data on facilities by user;
A current user specifying means for specifying a current user who intends to newly acquire an evaluation concerning the facility;
On the facility evaluation database, facility evaluation data corresponding to the current user is extracted as current user evaluation data, and the facility evaluation data of other users having a predetermined similarity with the current user evaluation data is similar. Similar user evaluation data extraction means for searching and extracting as user evaluation data;
Create and output evaluation support information for supporting evaluation of the facility by the current user based on the support base data using the set of extracted similar user evaluation data as support base data. Output means;
The information management provision system of any one of Claim 1 thru | or 9 provided with these. Comprising user evaluation input means for inputting user evaluation of the facility;
In the facility evaluation database, the facility evaluation data is registered as including the input user evaluation result,
The information management providing system according to claim 10, wherein the similar user evaluation data extracting unit extracts facility evaluation data having the same user evaluation result as the similar user evaluation data. The user evaluation input means inputs a user evaluation for each of one or more evaluation items included in the evaluation data,
12. The similar user evaluation data extracting unit extracts facility evaluation data of another user including one or more evaluation items registered with the same evaluation result as the current user evaluation data as the similar user evaluation data. Information management providing system described in 1.   The similar user evaluation data extracting means extracts facility evaluation data of another user that matches the current user evaluation data as the similar user evaluation data in a facility where an evaluation result of a certain level or more is registered. Item 12. The information management providing system according to Item 11. The facilities are stored in the facility evaluation database in a form classified according to a predetermined category,
Category selection means for the current user to select the category;
The evaluation support information creation / output means creates and outputs a selection list of facilities that match the current user evaluation data as the evaluation support information from the support base data in the facilities included in the category selected by the current user. The information management providing system according to claim 12 or claim 13. Facility selection means for selecting a facility for which the current user wants to acquire the facility evaluation data;
14. The evaluation support information creation / output unit is configured to create and output facility evaluation data corresponding to the facility selected by the current user as the evaluation support information from the support base data. Information management and provision system described.

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