JP2008249656A - Travel guidance device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a travel guidance device which does not decrease concentration power of a driver due to unnecessary guidance even in a condition in which the matching of the current position of the own vehicle is temporarily interrupted. <P>SOLUTION: When the matching of the current position of the own vehicle is not maintained, a positional coordinate of the school in a school zone where the own vehicle is located is stored in a school coordinate DB 23. Thereafter, when the matching is recovered, it is determined whether or not the coordinate of the school of the school zone where the own vehicle is located in its area agrees with the coordinate of the school stored in the school coordinate DB 23. When it is determined that it agrees therewith, because the guidance for the same school zone is already performed, the guidance by a speaker 16 is not performed, and the guidance of the school zone where the own vehicle is located is performed only by an image using a display 15. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a travel guide device for guiding a facility surrounding area around a specific facility.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a navigation device is often mounted on a vehicle that provides vehicle travel guidance so that a driver can easily arrive at a desired destination. Here, the navigation device detects the current position of the vehicle by a GPS receiver or the like, acquires map data corresponding to the current position through a recording medium such as a DVD-ROM or HDD or a network, and displays it on a liquid crystal monitor. It is a device that can do. Furthermore, such a navigation device has a route search function for searching for the optimum route from the vehicle position to the destination when a desired destination is input, and displays the guidance route on the display screen and approaches the intersection. In such a case, the driver is surely guided to a desired destination by providing voice guidance.

Moreover, in the conventional navigation apparatus, it is also performed to guide that the user has entered the facility surrounding area around the specific facility. For example, in the area around the school, there are many roads that children use as school routes, so it is desirable to guide the children so that they are careful when driving. In view of this, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-250632 describes a travel guidance device that guides the entry into the school zone when the vehicle enters the school zone, which is an area within a predetermined range centered on the school. ing.
JP 2002-250632 A (pages 4 to 6, FIGS. 2 to 4)

  Here, in the travel guidance device described in Patent Document 1, it is determined whether or not the current position is within the school zone when traveling along the travel route. Accordingly, when the current position deviates from the road constituting the travel route and returns to the travel route, it was erroneously recognized that the school zone had already entered again.

  Hereinafter, the conventional problem will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, when the vehicle 101 enters the school zone 103 defined around the school 102, the school zone 103 is first guided at the point A where the vehicle 101 has entered. Thereafter, when the matching of the vehicle 101 is temporarily interrupted at the point B and returned to a state where the matching can be performed at the point C, the school zone 103 is also guided at the point C. Therefore, although the guidance for the school zone 103 was performed at the point A, the guidance for the school zone 103, which is the same area, was also performed at the point C, resulting in a decrease in the driver's concentration. .

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described conventional problems, and even in a situation where the matching of the current position of the own vehicle is temporarily interrupted, the facility of the specific facility that has already been guided Since guidance related to the surrounding area is limited after return, an object is to provide a travel guidance device that does not reduce the driver's concentration due to unnecessary guidance.

In order to achieve the above object, a travel guidance device (1) according to claim 1 of the present application includes a map information storage means (22) for storing map information relating to a map, and a predetermined range centered on a specific facility on the map. An area acquisition means (13) for acquiring a facility peripheral area that defines the vehicle, a map matching processing means (13) for matching the current position of the host vehicle to a road on the map, and a self-matching by the map matching processing means When it is determined that the current position of the own vehicle matched by the position determination means (13) for determining whether the current position of the car is located in the facility peripheral area and the position determination means is located in the facility peripheral area In the travel guidance device having guidance means (15, 16) for guiding the vehicle, the map is in a state where the current position of the vehicle is located in the facility peripheral area, and A history storage means (23) for storing a specific facility in the area around the facility where the vehicle is located when the current position of the vehicle cannot be matched with the road on the map by the etching processing means, and the map matching processing means When the current position of the host vehicle is matched from the state that cannot be matched to the road on the map, the current position of the host vehicle matched by the position determination unit is stored in the history storage unit. A coincidence determination means (22) for determining whether or not the vehicle is located within the facility peripheral area of the specific facility, and the facility peripheral area of the specific facility in which the current position of the vehicle is stored in the history storage means by the match determination means And a guidance restriction means (13) for restricting guidance by the guidance means when it is determined that the position is located at the position.
Here, “store the specific facility” includes storing information for identifying the specific facility (for example, a position coordinate or a facility ID where the facility is installed).

  Further, the travel guide device (1) according to claim 2 is the travel guide device according to claim 1, wherein the specific facility is a school, and the area around the facility is within a predetermined range centered on the school. It is a school zone that stipulates.

  Further, the travel guide device (1) according to claim 3 is the travel guide device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the guide means (15, 16) is an image guide means for guiding by an image. (15) and voice guidance means (16) for performing voice guidance, wherein the guidance restriction means (13) limits guidance of the guidance means so as not to perform voice guidance. To do.

  Furthermore, the travel guide device (1) according to claim 4 is the travel guide device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the current position of the host vehicle is located in a facility peripheral area, and Guidance determination means (13) for determining whether or not guidance on the area around the facility where the vehicle is located has already been given when the current position of the vehicle cannot be matched on the map by the map matching processing means (13). And the history storage means (23) stores a specific facility in the facility peripheral area where the vehicle is located when it is determined by the guidance determination means that guidance on the facility peripheral area has already been performed. And

  According to the travel guidance device according to claim 1, having the above-described configuration, even if the matching of the current position of the own vehicle is temporarily interrupted, the same specific facility before the suspension of the matching and after the return When the vehicle is located in the facility surrounding area, guidance on the facility surrounding area is limited after the return, so that the driver's concentration is not reduced by unnecessary guidance.

  Further, according to the travel guidance device according to claim 2, even when the guidance of the school zone that prescribes the surrounding area of the school is performed, the matching of the current position of the own vehicle is temporarily interrupted. If the vehicle is located in the school zone of the same school before and after the match is interrupted, guidance on the school zone is restricted after the return, so the driver's concentration is reduced by unnecessary guidance. I will not let you.

  Further, according to the travel guidance device of the third aspect, the guidance is restricted so that guidance by an image that is considered to have little influence even if frequently performed is performed, but guidance by voice is not performed. It is possible to notify the driver of at least the existence of the area around the facility of the specific facility while suppressing a decrease in concentration of the vehicle. Therefore, even when the driver has not heard the guidance about the facility surrounding area of the specific facility in the past, it is possible to notice that the vehicle has entered the facility surrounding area of the specific facility.

  Furthermore, according to the travel guidance device of the fourth aspect, even if the matching of the current position of the own vehicle is temporarily interrupted, the own vehicle is located in the facility surrounding area of the specific facility that has already provided guidance. In the case of being located, guidance regarding the facility surrounding area is limited after the return, so there is no possibility of reducing the driver's concentration by repeatedly guiding the same facility surrounding area.

  Hereinafter, a travel guidance device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings based on an embodiment embodied in a navigation device. First, a schematic configuration of the navigation device 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a navigation device 1 according to this embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the navigation apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is based on a current position detection unit 11 that detects the current position of the vehicle, a data recording unit 12 that records various data, and input information. A navigation ECU (area acquisition means, map matching means, position determination means, coincidence determination means, guidance restriction means, guidance determination means) 13 for performing various arithmetic processes, and an operation unit 14 for receiving operations from an operator, A display (guidance means) 15 that displays a map of the vicinity of the vehicle and guidance for the school zone to the operator, a speaker (guidance means) 16 that outputs voice guidance for route guidance, guidance for the school zone, and the like, and a program Communication with an information center such as a DVD drive 17 that reads a DVD, which is a storage medium storing traffic information, and a traffic information center A communication device 18 which performs, and a. The navigation ECU 13 is connected to a vehicle speed sensor 19 that detects the traveling speed of the vehicle.

Below, each component which comprises the navigation apparatus 1 is demonstrated in order.
The current position detection unit 11 includes a GPS 31, a geomagnetic sensor 32, a distance sensor 33, a steering sensor 34, a gyro sensor 35 as an azimuth detection unit, an altimeter (not shown), and the like. It is possible to detect a distance to an object (for example, an intersection).

  The data recording unit 12 includes an external storage device and a hard disk (not shown) as a recording medium, a map information DB (map information storage means) 22 recorded on the hard disk, a school coordinate DB (history storage means) 23, A recording head (not shown), which is a driver for reading a predetermined program and the like and writing predetermined data to the hard disk, is provided.

  Here, the map information DB 22 stores various map data necessary for route guidance, traffic information guidance, and map display. Specifically, the school zone data 25 that stores an area within a radius of 500 m centered on the school (hereinafter referred to as a school zone) among the facilities data 24 related to the facility such as a school and the facilities stored in the facility data 24. , Link data regarding road (link) shape, node data regarding node points, intersection data regarding each intersection, search data for searching for a route, facility data regarding facilities, search data for searching for points, maps, roads, traffic It consists of image drawing data for drawing an image such as information on the display 15. Then, the navigation ECU 13 uses the current position of the own vehicle detected by the current position detection unit 11 and the map data stored in the map information DB 22 to match the current position of the own vehicle with a road on the map. I do.

  The school coordinate DB 23 is a DB that stores the position coordinates of the school in the school zone where the host vehicle is located last when the current position of the host vehicle cannot be matched by the navigation device 1. Then, the navigation ECU 13 restricts guidance for the school zone when matching is restored, as will be described later, based on the coordinate information stored in the school coordinate DB 23.

  On the other hand, the navigation ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 13 performs a guidance route setting process for setting a guidance route from the current position to the destination when the destination is selected, and sets the current position of the vehicle to the road on the map. The electronic control unit performs overall control of the navigation device 1 such as map matching processing for matching and school zone guidance processing for guiding the school zone when the vehicle is located in the school zone. The CPU 41 as an arithmetic device and a control device, the RAM 41 that is used as a working memory when the CPU 41 performs various arithmetic processes, stores route data and the like when a route is searched, and a control program In addition, an internal storage device such as a ROM 43 in which a school zone guidance processing program (see FIGS. 2 and 3) is recorded and a flash memory 44 in which a program read from the ROM 43 is recorded is provided.

  The operation unit 14 is operated when inputting a departure point as a guidance start point and a destination point as a guidance end point, and includes a plurality of operation switches (not shown) such as various keys and buttons. Then, the navigation ECU 13 performs control to execute various corresponding operations based on switch signals output by pressing the switches. The touch panel provided on the front surface of the display 15 can be used.

  The display 15 includes a map image including a road, traffic information, operation guidance, operation menu, key guidance, a guide route from the current position to the destination, guide information along the guide route, news, weather forecast, time Mail, TV programs, etc. are displayed. In addition, when the vehicle enters the school zone, a mark or a guidance sentence for guiding that the vehicle has entered the school zone is displayed.

  The speaker 16 outputs voice guidance for guiding traveling along the guidance route and traffic information guidance based on instructions from the navigation ECU 13. Also, when the vehicle enters the school zone, it outputs a voice that indicates that it has entered the school zone. However, in the navigation device 1 according to the present embodiment, when the own vehicle is located in the school zone when the current position of the own vehicle returns from the state in which the current vehicle cannot be matched to the state in which matching is possible, the voice is used as described later. School zone guidance is restricted.

  The DVD drive 17 is a drive that can read data recorded on a recording medium such as a DVD or a CD. The map information DB 22 is updated based on the read data.

  In addition, the communication device 18 is a traffic composed of various information such as traffic jam information, regulation information, parking lot information, traffic accident information, and the like transmitted from a traffic information center such as a VICS (registered trademark: Vehicle Information and Communication System) center. It is a beacon receiver that receives information as a radio beacon, an optical beacon, or the like via a radio beacon device, an optical beacon device, or the like disposed along a road.

  On the other hand, the vehicle speed sensor 19 is a sensor that generates a vehicle speed pulse in accordance with the rotation of the vehicle wheel and detects the travel distance and the vehicle speed of the vehicle.

  Next, a school zone guidance processing program executed by the navigation ECU 13 in the navigation device 1 having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the school zone guidance processing program according to this embodiment. Here, the school zone guidance processing program is a program that is executed at a predetermined interval (for example, every 200 ms) after the ignition of the vehicle is turned on, and guides the school zone to the vehicle that has entered the school zone. 2 and 3 are stored in the RAM 42 and the ROM 43 provided in the navigation device 1, and are executed by the CPU 41.

  First, in step (hereinafter abbreviated as S) 1 in the school zone guidance processing program, the CPU 41 acquires navigation information. Here, the navigation information acquired in S1 includes the current position of the vehicle, the direction of the vehicle, map information around the vehicle, and the like.

  In S <b> 2, the CPU 41 determines whether or not the current position of the host vehicle is being matched with a road on the map. If the matching position has moved to a parallel road, or if it is determined that the current position of the vehicle is not being matched due to GPS reception failure or the like (S2: NO), go to S3. And migrate. On the other hand, if it is determined that the current position of the host vehicle is being matched (S2: YES), the process proceeds to S6, and a guidance execution process (FIG. 3) for guiding the school zone is performed.

  In S3, the CPU 41 has already provided guidance to the school zone of the school whose coordinates were last acquired in S15 (to be described later) in the navigation device 1 (that is, the school zone where the vehicle was located last before matching could not be performed). It is determined whether or not.

  If it is determined that guidance is being provided for the school zone of the school from which the coordinate was last acquired (S3: YES), the coordinate of the school from which the coordinate was last acquired is stored in the school coordinate DB 23. (S4). On the other hand, if it is determined that guidance is not provided for the school zone of the school whose coordinates were last acquired (S3: NO), the coordinates of the school whose coordinates were last acquired are stored in the school coordinate DB 23. Discard without storing (S5). Note that S3 corresponds to the processing of the guidance determination means.

  Next, the guidance execution process executed by the navigation ECU 13 in S6 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the guidance execution processing program according to the present embodiment.

  First, in S11, in the guidance execution processing program, the CPU 41 acquires, from the map information DB 22, information related to a school zone that defines an area within a radius of 500 m centered on the school. Note that S11 corresponds to the processing of the area acquisition unit.

  Thereafter, in S12, the CPU 41 is in a state where the own vehicle is located in one of the school zones as a result of the map matching process, and the navigation device 1 is in a state capable of guiding the school zone on which the navigation screen is displayed. It is determined whether or not.

  As a result, when it is determined that the own vehicle is not located in any school zone, or when it is determined that the navigation device 1 is in a state where the current school zone cannot be guided (S12: NO). Finishes the guidance execution processing program without guiding the school zone.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the vehicle is located in any school zone and the navigation device 1 is in a state where the school zone can be guided (S12: YES), the vehicle is in the area. Data related to schools (specifically, school position coordinates) in all school zones determined to be located within is read from the map information DB 22 (S13). Note that S12 corresponds to the processing of the position determination means.

  Next, in S14, the CPU 41 determines whether or not the distance data from the vehicle position to the school has been checked for all the schools read out in S13. And when the check of the distance data of all the schools is not completed (S14: NO), it waits until the check is completed. On the other hand, when the check of the distance data of all schools is completed (S14: YES), the process proceeds to S15.

  In S15, the CPU 41 selects the school closest to the vehicle as the school in the school zone to be guided by the navigation device 1 based on the current position of the vehicle and the school position coordinates acquired in S13. And get the coordinates.

Thereafter, in S16, the CPU 41 determines whether or not the school coordinates selected in S15 coincide with the school coordinates stored in the school coordinate DB 23. Note that the school coordinates DB 23 stores the school coordinates of the school zone in which the vehicle is located last before the matching cannot be performed by the processes of S4 and S5.
Therefore, when a matching is possible from a state where matching cannot be performed, if the school zone is located in the same school zone as before the matching cannot be performed and the school zone has already been guided, it is stored in the school coordinate DB 23. It is determined that it matches the school coordinates.
On the other hand, (1) When the vehicle enters a new school zone, (2) When it is in a matching state from a state where it cannot be matched, if it is located in a different school zone before the matching can no longer be performed, (3) When the matching is not possible and the matching is possible, the school coordinates DB 23 is located in the same school zone as before the matching cannot be performed. It is determined that it does not match the school coordinates stored in.

  If it is determined that it does not match the school coordinates stored in the school coordinate DB 23 (S16: NO), the display of the school zone in which the vehicle is located is guided using the display 15 and the speaker 16 as usual. This is performed by image and sound (S17). On the other hand, if it is determined that the school coordinates match the school coordinates stored in the school coordinate DB 23 (S16: YES), the guidance for the same school zone has already been made. The display 15 is used to guide the school zone where the vehicle is located by using only the image (S18). Note that the school coordinate DB 23 is initialized after the guidance execution process first performed after the return of matching. Further, the school coordinate DB 23 is similarly initialized when the ignition is turned off. This prevents erroneous school zone guidance. Note that S16 corresponds to the process of the coincidence determination means, and S18 corresponds to the process of the guidance restriction means.

Next, a specific example of school zone guidance by the guidance execution process will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 4, when the own vehicle 51 enters the school zone 53 of the school 52 for the first time, the position coordinates of any school are not stored in the school coordinate DB 23. Accordingly, in S16, it is determined that the coordinates of the school 52 closest to the vehicle 51 and the school coordinates stored in the school coordinate DB 23 do not match, and the school is used using the display 15 and the speaker 16 as usual. Guidance for the zone 53 is performed by both images and sounds.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 5, at the stage where the own vehicle 51 enters the school zone 53 of the school 52 and cannot be matched at the point X, the own vehicle is finally put before the matching cannot be performed in S3. It is determined that guidance for the located school zone 53 has already been performed. Therefore, the coordinates of the school 52 are stored in the school coordinate DB 23 in S4.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 6, at the stage where the own vehicle 51 returns from a state where it cannot be matched in the school zone 53 of the school 52 to a state where matching is possible at the point Y, the school 52 closest to the own vehicle 51 in S15. Is selected. And in S16, since it determines with agree | coinciding with the school 52 memorize | stored in school coordinate DB23, guidance of the school zone 53 is performed only by an image using the display 15, without performing guidance by the speaker 16. FIG. Thereby, it is possible to prevent repeated guidance of the school zone 53 by voice.

As described above in detail, in the navigation device 1 according to the present embodiment, when the current position of the own vehicle cannot be matched (S3: NO), the position coordinates of the school in the school zone where the own vehicle is located Is stored in the school coordinate DB 23 (S4), and then the school coordinates of the school zone in which the vehicle is located within the range and the school coordinates stored in the school coordinate DB 23 when the vehicle is returned to the matching state. Are determined to match (S16), and if it is determined that they match (S16: YES), the guidance for the same school zone has already been made, so the guidance by the speaker 16 is not performed and the display is performed. 15 is used to guide the school zone in which the vehicle is located only by an image (S18), so that the matching of the current location of the vehicle is temporarily suspended. Also become, there is no possibility to reduce the concentration of the driver by repeating the guidance of unnecessary school zone.
In addition, guidance is limited so that voice guidance is not performed while performing guidance with images that are considered to have little impact even if frequently performed, so at least in the school zone while suppressing a decrease in concentration on the driver. The presence can be notified to the driver. Therefore, even when the driver has not heard the guidance of the school zone that has been performed in the past, it is possible to make the driver aware that the vehicle has entered the school zone.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
For example, in the present embodiment, the case of guiding a school zone that defines the surrounding area of the school has been described. However, the present invention can also be applied to the case of guiding the surrounding area of another facility (for example, a hospital or a fire department). is there.

  Further, in this embodiment, in order to identify the school zone located immediately before the matching is disabled, the school position coordinates of the school zone are stored in the school coordinate DB 23 (S4). The facility ID may be stored. Moreover, you may make it memorize | store the information which specifies not a school but a school zone.

It is a block diagram of the navigation device concerning this embodiment. It is a flowchart of the school zone guidance processing program which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart of the guidance implementation process program which concerns on this embodiment. It is the schematic diagram which showed the stage which the own vehicle entered the school zone. It is the schematic diagram which showed the stage which became the state which cannot be matched in the point X after the own vehicle approached the school zone. It is the schematic diagram which showed the stage which became the state which can be matched in the point Y from the state which cannot be matched after the own vehicle approached the school zone. It is explanatory drawing explaining the conventional problem.

Explanation of symbols

1 Navigation device 13 Navigation ECU
15 Display 16 Speaker 22 Map information DB
23 School coordinates DB
41 CPU
42 RAM
43 ROM

Claims (4)

Map information storage means for storing map information relating to the map;
Area acquisition means for acquiring a facility peripheral area that defines a predetermined range centered on a specific facility on the map;
Map matching processing means for matching the current position of the vehicle with the road on the map;
Position determination means for determining whether or not the current position of the vehicle matched by the map matching processing means is located in a facility peripheral area;
In a travel guidance device having guidance means for performing guidance when it is determined that the current position of the own vehicle matched by the position determination means is located in a facility peripheral area,
The area around the facility where the vehicle is located when the current position of the vehicle is in the facility surrounding area and the map matching processing means cannot match the current position of the vehicle with the road on the map. A history storage means for storing the specific facility,
When the map matching processing means changes the current position of the own vehicle from a state where it cannot be matched to the road on the map, the current position of the own vehicle matched by the position determining means is the history storage means. A coincidence determining means for determining whether or not it is located in a facility peripheral area of the specific facility stored in
Guidance restriction means for restricting guidance by the guidance means when it is determined by the coincidence determination means that the current position of the host vehicle is located within the facility peripheral area of the specific facility stored in the history storage means. A travel guide apparatus characterized by that. The specific facility is a school,
The travel guidance device according to claim 1, wherein the facility peripheral area is a school zone that defines a predetermined range centered on the school. The guiding means includes
Image guidance means for guiding by image;
Voice guidance means for performing voice guidance;
With
The travel guidance apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guidance restriction unit restricts guidance of the guidance unit so that voice guidance is not performed. The area around the facility where the vehicle is located when the current position of the vehicle is in the facility surrounding area and the map matching processing means cannot match the current position of the vehicle to the road on the map. Having guidance determination means for determining whether or not guidance on the area has already been performed;
The history storage unit stores a specific facility in the facility peripheral area where the vehicle is located when it is determined by the guidance determination unit that guidance on the facility peripheral area has already been performed. Item 4. The travel guide device according to any one of items 3 to 4.

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