JP2008304261A - In-vehicle navigation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To offer information about a facility having a toilet, which is selected appropriately by considering availability of the toilet. <P>SOLUTION: An in-vehicle navigation apparatus (1) which can offer the information about a location of the toilet to an occupant, is equipped with a memory means (20) for holding the information about the facility, and an availability evaluating means (48A) for evaluating the availability of the toilet contained in the facility stored in the memory means. The in-vehicle navigation apparatus is characterized in that the information about the facility having the toilet is offered to the occupant based on the availability of the toilet evaluated by the availability evaluating means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an in-vehicle navigation device that can provide information on the location of a toilet to an occupant.

Conventionally, an invention has been disclosed regarding a navigation device that includes emergency reception means for receiving an emergency situation that needs to be stopped and guides the vehicle to a stop position close to the current position of the vehicle according to the content of the emergency situation ( For example, see Patent Document 1). In this invention, the contents of the emergency include the occupant's convenience, and in this case, the location of the toilet close to the vehicle is guided.
JP 2002-340597 A

  However, the conventional apparatus does not take into consideration the convenience of the toilet. Therefore, the position of a convenience store, a gas station, or the like is simply guided according to the positional relationship with the vehicle.

  This invention is for solving such a subject, and relates to the facility which has a toilet, and mainly providing the vehicle-mounted navigation apparatus which can provide more suitable information in consideration of the convenience of the toilet. Objective.

  A first aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object is an in-vehicle navigation device capable of providing information on the location of a toilet to an occupant, the storage means storing information about the facility, and stored in the storage means Convenience evaluation means for evaluating the convenience of a toilet possessed by the facility, and providing information on the facility having the toilet to the occupant based on the convenience of the toilet evaluated by the convenience evaluation means In-vehicle navigation device. Here, “providing information on facilities having toilets to passengers based on convenience of toilets” means, for example, “information on facilities having toilets selected based on convenience of toilets to passengers” Means “provide”.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the convenience evaluation means for evaluating the convenience of the toilet is provided, and the occupant is informed of the facility having the toilet based on the convenience of the toilet evaluated by the convenience evaluation means. Therefore, it is possible to provide more appropriate information considering the convenience of the toilet.

  In the first aspect of the present invention, the convenience evaluation means estimates, for example, the walking time from the parking position corresponding to the facility to the toilet of the facility, and determines the convenience of the toilet based on the estimated walking time. It is a means to evaluate.

  In the first aspect of the present invention, the convenience evaluation means is means for evaluating the ease of finding a toilet in a facility and evaluating the convenience of the toilet of the facility based on the evaluated ease of discovery. There may be.

  Further, in the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided existence probability estimation means for estimating the existence probability of a toilet in a facility, and information on the facility having a toilet is further taken into account by further adding the existence probability estimated by the existence probability estimation means. It is good also as what is provided for.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an in-vehicle navigation device capable of providing information on the location of a toilet to an occupant, the storage means holding information on the facility, and the presence probability of the toilet in the facility stored in the storage means. Presence probability estimating means for estimating, and providing information on the location of the toilet to the occupant based on the existence probability estimated by the existence probability estimating means. Here, “providing information on a facility having a toilet to the occupant based on the probability of existence of the toilet” means, for example, “information on the facility having the toilet selected based on the probability of existence of the toilet to the occupant” Means “provide”.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the apparatus includes presence probability estimation means for estimating the existence probability of the toilet, and provides information on the location of the toilet to the occupant based on the existence probability estimated by the existence probability estimation means. More appropriate information in consideration of the probability of existence of the toilet can be provided.

  In addition, the 2nd aspect of this invention aims at providing the more suitable information which considered the presence probability of the toilet regarding the facility which has a toilet.

  Moreover, in the 1st or 2nd aspect of this invention, it is provided with the emergency level specific | specification means which specifies the emergency level regarding a user's toilet use, and the facility which has a toilet further considering the emergency level specified by the emergency level specific means It is preferable to provide the occupant with information regarding the above.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, regarding the facility which has a toilet, the information selected appropriately considering the convenience of the toilet can be provided.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  Hereinafter, an in-vehicle navigation device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[Configuration and basic functions]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of the in-vehicle navigation device 1. The in-vehicle navigation device 1 includes a GPS receiver 10, a memory 20, an HMI 30, and a navigation computer 40 as main components. Note that the arrows in the figure indicate the flow of information communication between devices performed using an appropriate communication protocol such as CAN (Controller Area Network), BEAN, AVC-LAN, or FlexRay via multiple communication lines or the like.

  The GPS receiver 10 receives radio signals including satellite orbit and time data from GPS satellites and outputs them to the navigation computer 40.

  The memory 20 is a storage medium such as a hard disk, DVD, or CD-ROM, and stores map information 22. The map information 22 has coordinates (latitude, longitude; the same shall apply hereinafter), a node point representing an intersection, etc., and a link that connects the node points and stores a road width and road curvature along with the road shape. Including a road shape DB (database) 22A and point information (Point Of Interest) 22B. The point information 22B includes coordinates or coordinate areas of major facilities (eg, department stores, convenience stores, gas stations, parks, theme parks, tourist facilities, service areas, interchanges, intersections, etc.) that serve as data labels. It is stored in a data table together with attached information such as (type), scale (size), contact means, and positions of nearby parking lots.

  The HMI 30 is, for example, a device group that serves as an input / output interface between a user (refers to a driver or a passenger including a passenger; the same applies hereinafter) and an in-vehicle navigation device. It consists of a display device configured to allow various input operations, a microphone, a speaker, a buzzer, etc. for voice input / output.

  The navigation computer 40 is, for example, a computer unit in which a ROM, a RAM, and the like are connected to each other via a bus with a CPU at the center, and other storage media such as an HDD (Hard Disc Drive) and a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) I / O port, timer, counter, etc. are provided. The ROM stores programs and data executed by the CPU. The navigation computer 40 is always input with the output of a vehicle sensor such as a vehicle speed sensor or a gyro sensor. The navigation computer 40 includes a current position specifying unit 42, a destination setting unit 44, a route, and the like as main functional blocks that function when the CPU stores (executes) a program stored in the ROM and executes the program. A guide unit 46 and a toilet information providing unit 48 are provided.

  The current position specifying unit 42 specifies the current position (latitude, longitude, altitude) of the host vehicle by a calculation based on the time difference of the radio signal received by the GPS receiver 10. In addition, the current position of the host vehicle is corrected based on outputs from various sensors such as a vehicle speed sensor and a gyro sensor, and various information received via the beacon receiver and the FM multiplex broadcast receiver. The current position of the host vehicle specified by the current position specifying unit 42 is output to the route guide unit 46 and the toilet information providing unit 48.

  The destination setting unit 44 prompts the user to set the destination with the HMI 30 at an appropriate timing (when boarding, when starting the engine, etc.), and when the user sets the destination by voice or touch input, the destination is searched from the map information. Then, the coordinates of the destination are output to the route guide unit 46.

  The route guide unit 46 generates a recommended route from the current position of the host vehicle specified by the current position specifying unit 42 to the destination output by the destination setting unit 44 using the Dijkstra method or the like. Navigation display and voice guidance by the HMI 30 are performed so that the host vehicle can travel along the road. In other words, the HMI 30 is controlled so as to provide guidance for turning left and right at intersections, usage guidance for expressways, guidance that the destination is approaching, and the like.

[Providing toilet location information]
For example, when the user touches a GUI (Graphical User Interface) switch for requesting toilet information on the touch panel of the HMI 30 or when the user requests toilet information by voice, the toilet information providing unit 48 provides a route guidance unit 46. The position of the facility having the toilet is displayed so as to be superimposed on the navigation display (see FIG. 2).

  Here, not all facilities close to the current position of the host vehicle are displayed as facilities having toilets, but (1) convenience of toilets, (2) probability of existence of toilets, and (3) urgency of toilet use Displays the facility selected based on. The toilet information providing unit 48 includes a convenience evaluation unit 48A, an existence probability estimation unit 48B, and an urgency level specification unit 48C as sub-functional blocks for realizing these functions. The urgency of using the toilet represents the user's convenience and is specified by a user operation or estimated by some method.

  (1) For example, the convenience evaluation unit 48A estimates the walking time from the parking position corresponding to the toilet to the toilet, and evaluates that the convenience of the toilet is better as the estimated walking time is shorter. Here, the walking time is calculated based on the distance between the position of the parking lot around the facility and the coordinates of the facility itself, which is included in the point information 22B. In addition, when the parking lot and the facility are located across the road, the walking time may be corrected to be longer. Note that “evaluation” means, for example, outputting a numerical value indicating convenience.

  In addition, the convenience evaluation unit 48A may evaluate the ease of discovery of a toilet, and may evaluate that the convenience of the toilet is better as the evaluated ease of discovery is higher (easier discovery). Here, the ease of discovery is evaluated based on the attribute of the facility included in the point information 22B. In other words, if the facility having a toilet is a large-scale station (more specifically, a coordinate area occupied by the facility is a predetermined size or more) or a store, it is evaluated that the ease of discovery is low. In addition, if the parking lot around the facility is large, it is evaluated that the ease of discovery is low. On the other hand, if the facility is a convenience store or a small park, it is evaluated that the facility is easy to find.

  In addition, you may evaluate the convenience of a toilet in consideration of both walk time and discoverability. In this case, for example, the convenience of the toilet is evaluated by multiplying each evaluation value by a weighting coefficient to obtain a weighted sum.

The existence probability estimation unit 48B estimates the existence probability of the toilet based on the facility attribute included in the point information 22B. For example, when a facility is a toilet itself, that is, when a public toilet or the like is registered in the point information 22B as a facility, or when information on the presence of a toilet is assigned to the facility attribute, The toilet existence probability is estimated to be 100 [%]. On the other hand, even if the existence probability of the toilet in the facility cannot be determined, if the facility is a service area or a gas station, it is estimated as 100 [%]. Further, for example, in the case of a convenience store or the like, the existence probability according to the existence probability table 24A (set as A chain-70 [%], B chain -50 [%],...) Corresponding to the chain store in advance. In the case of a bookstore or the like, the existence probability table 24B (200 [m ² ] or more −80 [%], 100 to 200 [m ² ] −50 [%], etc.) corresponding to the store area is set. The probability of existence is estimated according to Note that these existence probability tables are stored in the memory 20 in advance, and are used.

  For example, the urgency level specifying unit 48C sets the GUI switch 34 for specifying the urgency level on the display device after the user requests toilet information by touch operation or voice as described above (see FIG. 2). The urgent level of toilet use is specified according to the touch operation on the switch. The question may be made by voice. In addition, a weight sensor is attached to the cup holder, the amount of water ingested by the occupant is estimated based on a decrease in the output value of the weight sensor, and the urgency level is determined based on the amount of water ingested and the passage of time from the intake May be.

  The processing from when the user requests toilet information until the facility is selected and displayed is performed, for example, according to the flowchart shown in FIG. This flow is started when the user requests toilet information by touch operation or voice as described above.

  First, the toilet information providing unit 48 acquires the current position of the host vehicle from the current position specifying unit 42 (S100).

  Next, the point information 22B is searched using the acquired current position of the own vehicle, and the vicinity of the own vehicle (for example, a region within a predetermined distance around the own vehicle or a predetermined region in the traveling direction of the own vehicle) Information regarding facilities that can be defined is acquired (S110). Here, the facilities to be acquired may be limited to those within business hours (opening hours). Information on business hours and the like is included in point information.

  When the information about the facility is acquired, the facility is selected based on the convenience of the toilet, the existence probability of the toilet, and the urgency of using the toilet as follows (S120 to 140). Here, “selection” is not limited to selecting one facility, and a plurality of facilities may be selected.

  First, it is determined whether or not the emergency level specifying unit 48C specifies that the emergency level of toilet use is high (S120).

  When it is not specified that the urgent level of toilet use is high (when the urgent level of toilet use is low to medium, or when no information on the urgency level is available) (Including), a facility is selected by a selection method when the degree of urgency is not high (S130). For example, the facility is set in the order of (A) presence probability estimated by the presence probability estimation unit 48B, (B) convenience of the toilet evaluated by the convenience evaluation unit 48A, and (C) distance from the own vehicle. Select. Alternatively, a facility may be selected by calculating a weighted sum by multiplying the elements (A) to (C) by a weighting coefficient and evaluating the weighted sum.

  On the other hand, when it is specified that the urgent level of toilet use is high, the facility is selected by the selection method when the urgent level is high (S140). For example, the priority order is (C) distance from the host vehicle, (A) presence probability estimated by the existence probability estimation unit 48B, and (B) convenience of the toilet evaluated by the convenience evaluation unit 48A. Select. Alternatively, the facility may be selected by calculating a weighted sum by multiplying the elements (A) to (C) by a weighting coefficient different from S130 and evaluating the weighted sum.

  Each of these selection methods is merely an example, and may be changed in any manner. Further, the selection method may be settable by the user.

  Then, the facility selected by the process of S130 or S140 is displayed and / or output by the HMI 30 (S150). This situation has already been shown in FIG. In addition, when displaying the facility which has a toilet superimposed on a navigation display, the display position of the facility which has a toilet changes relatively according to the change of the present position of the own vehicle.

  By such processing, information on the facility appropriately selected according to the convenience of the toilet and the probability of existence of the facility, the urgency of using the toilet, and the like is provided to the user by display or the like. Accordingly, it is possible to provide information appropriately selected in consideration of the convenience of the toilet and the like.

  The facility may be selected without considering one or two factors among (1) convenience of the toilet, (2) probability of existence of the toilet, and (3) urgency of using the toilet. When (1) is not taken into account, the convenience evaluation unit 48A is not necessary, and a facility selection method that does not include toilet convenience may be used. When (2) is not taken into consideration, the existence probability estimation unit 48B is not necessary, and a facility selection method that does not use the toilet existence probability as an element may be used. When (3) is not taken into consideration, the urgency specifying unit 48C is not necessary, and the facility may be selected by one selection method by omitting S120 in FIG.

[Other embodiments]
The best mode for carrying out the present invention has been described above with reference to the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. And substitutions can be added.

  For example, what is shown in FIG. 4 can be considered as an example of the flow of processing for facility selection when the degree of urgency is not taken into account. This flow is a processing method for selecting a facility having a toilet that has a certain probability of existence of toilets and is convenient and providing information to the user. Similar to the flow of FIG. Started when toilet information is requested by touch operation or voice.

  First, the current position of the host vehicle is acquired from the current position specifying unit 42 (S200), and information relating to facilities (that are within business hours or opening hours) existing around the host vehicle is acquired (S210).

  Then, one facility is selected from the acquired facilities (S220), whether or not the facility is a toilet itself, whether or not information of “with toilet” is added to the facility attribute, It is determined whether the facility is presumed to exist (S230, 240, 250). In S250, for example, when the existence probability obtained from the existence probability table is equal to or higher than a predetermined probability, it may be determined that “it is estimated that a toilet is present”.

  If a negative determination is obtained in any of S230 to S250, it is determined whether or not the determination has been completed for all facilities (S260), and if the determination has not been completed for all the facilities, the next facility is determined. The process from S220 onward is executed. When the determination is completed for all the facilities, guidance is provided for the facilities included in the selected facility list stored in the memory 20 as described later (S270).

  On the other hand, when a positive determination is obtained in any of S230 to S250, it is determined whether or not the convenience of the toilet of the facility is good (S280). Whether or not “convenience is good” is determined by comparing the evaluation value of the convenience evaluation unit 48A with a threshold value, for example.

  When it is determined that the convenience is good in S270, the facility is added to the selected facility list set on the memory 20 (S290), and it is determined whether the determination is finished for all the facilities (S260). ). On the other hand, if it is not determined that the convenience is good in S270, it is determined whether or not all the facilities have been determined without adding the facility to the selected facility list (S260).

  By such processing, a facility having a toilet having a toilet having a certain probability or higher and a convenient convenience is presented to the user. Accordingly, it is possible to provide information appropriately selected in consideration of the convenience of the toilet and the like.

  The present invention can be used in the automobile manufacturing industry, the automobile parts manufacturing industry, and the like.

It is a figure which shows an example of the whole structure of the vehicle-mounted navigation apparatus. It is a figure which shows a mode that it superimposes on the navigation display currently performed by HMI30 and the route guidance part 46, and displays the position of the facility which has a toilet. It is a figure which shows the flow of a process after a facility is requested | required by a user until a facility is selected and displayed. It is a figure which shows the other example of the flow of a process after a facility is requested | required by a user until a facility is selected and displayed.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 In-vehicle navigation apparatus 10 GPS receiver 20 Memory 22 Map information 22A Road shape DB
22B point information 24A, 24B existence probability table 30 HMI
40 navigation computer 42 current position specifying unit 44 destination setting unit 46 route guide unit 48 toilet information providing unit 48A convenience evaluation unit 48B existence probability estimating unit 48C urgency level specifying unit

Claims (6)

An in-vehicle navigation device that can provide information on the location of the toilet to the passenger,
Storage means for holding information about the facility;
Convenience evaluation means for evaluating the convenience of the toilets of the facilities stored in the storage means;
With
An in-vehicle navigation device that provides information on a facility having a toilet to an occupant based on the convenience of the toilet evaluated by the convenience evaluation means. The in-vehicle navigation device according to claim 1,
The in-vehicle navigation device, wherein the convenience evaluation unit is a unit that estimates a walking time from a parking position corresponding to a facility to a toilet of the facility and evaluates the convenience of the toilet based on the estimated walking time. . The in-vehicle navigation device according to claim 1 or 2,
The convenience evaluation means is a means for evaluating the ease of discovery of a toilet in a facility and evaluating the convenience of a toilet of the facility based on the evaluated ease of discovery.
Car navigation system. The in-vehicle navigation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A presence probability estimating means for estimating the existence probability of a toilet in a facility;
An in-vehicle navigation device characterized in that information on a facility having a toilet is provided to an occupant in consideration of the existence probability estimated by the existence probability estimating means. An in-vehicle navigation device that can provide information on the location of the toilet to the passenger,
Storage means for holding information about the facility;
Existence probability estimation means for estimating the existence probability of a toilet in the facility stored in the storage means,
An in-vehicle navigation device characterized in that information relating to the location of a toilet is provided to an occupant based on the presence probability estimated by the presence probability estimation means. The in-vehicle navigation device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
Equipped with urgent level identification means to identify the urgency level of the user's toilet use,
An in-vehicle navigation device characterized in that information relating to a facility having a toilet is provided to an occupant in consideration of the urgency specified by the urgency specifying means.

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