JP2009014423A - Information providing server, navigation system, information providing method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To acquire a travel state and travel result precisely about a route which is one of candidate routes presented by a route searching operation and was not selected for the travel. <P>SOLUTION: An information providing server communicates with a plurality of navigation systems and receives travel data. Furthermore, data of unselected route representing the candidate route which is not selected by a user, are received from a navigation system performing a route searching operation. Then, travel data of a virtual vehicle are created about the unselected route, based on actual travel data of a vehicle received from another navigation system. Therefore, the user can precisely acquire the travel state in a supposed case where an unselected route was travelled. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a route search process of a navigation device.

  In a navigation apparatus, a route search function and a route guidance function are known. The route search function automatically calculates a route to a destination designated by the user and presents a plurality of candidate routes to the user. The route guidance function is a route selected by the user among a plurality of candidate routes, and the vehicle position is displayed on the map according to the guidance route, the traveling direction is displayed at the intersection, and voice is displayed. This is a function that guides the vehicle by outputting a message.

  In the basic route search function and the route guidance function, no information can be obtained for a route that is not selected by the user from among a plurality of candidate routes obtained by the route search. On the other hand, Patent Document 1 discloses a navigation device that performs a travel simulation when traveling on a route that is not selected by the user, displays the result, and enables comparison with the travel result of the guide route. Has been.

JP 2005-345168 A

  However, in the method of Patent Document 1, a travel simulation of a route not selected by the user is performed based on the link data. In other words, the travel time set for the link is used, or the required time is calculated based on the reference vehicle speed corresponding to the link length and the road type. Therefore, the travel time obtained by the simulation is often different from the actual travel time of the vehicle, and sufficient accuracy cannot always be obtained.

  Examples of the problem to be solved by the present invention include the above. It is an object of the present invention to obtain a traveling state and a traveling result with high accuracy when traveling on a route not selected from candidate routes presented by route search.

  The invention according to claim 1 is an information providing server capable of communicating with the navigation device, and receives data of a non-selected route that the user has not selected from the plurality of candidate routes from the first navigation device. It is assumed that the virtual vehicle was traveling on the non-selected route based on the first reception unit, the second reception unit that receives the travel data from the other navigation device, and the travel data acquired from the other navigation device. Virtual vehicle travel data creating means for creating virtual vehicle travel data that is travel data of the virtual vehicle in the case.

  The invention according to claim 8 is an information providing method executed in an information providing server capable of communicating with a navigation device, and is not selected from a plurality of candidate routes by a user from the first navigation device. Based on the first receiving step for receiving route information, the second receiving step for receiving travel data from other navigation devices, and the travel data acquired from other navigation devices, the virtual vehicle is not connected to the non-selected route. A virtual vehicle travel data creating step of creating virtual vehicle travel data that is travel data of the virtual vehicle when it is assumed that the vehicle has traveled.

  The invention according to claim 9 is an information providing program that is executed in an information providing server that includes a computer and can communicate with a navigation device, and is selected by the user from a plurality of candidate routes from the first navigation device. Based on the first receiving means for receiving information on the non-selected route that has not been received, the second receiving means for receiving travel data from other navigation devices, and the travel data acquired from other navigation devices, The information providing server functions as virtual vehicle travel data creating means for creating virtual vehicle travel data that is travel data of the virtual vehicle when it is assumed that the vehicle has traveled on the non-selected route.

  The invention according to claim 11 is a navigation device capable of communicating with the information providing server, wherein a route search means for executing a route search according to a search condition and determining a plurality of candidate routes, and among the plurality of candidate routes Route guidance means for performing route guidance according to the selected route selected by the user, and transmission means for transmitting data of non-selected routes not selected by the user among the plurality of candidate routes to the information providing server, Receiving means for receiving virtual vehicle travel data on the non-selected route from the information providing server, and based on the virtual vehicle travel data, the traveling state of the vehicle on the guide route and the virtual vehicle on the non-selected route Presenting means for presenting the running state to the user.

  The invention according to claim 13 is a route guidance method executed in a navigation device communicable with an information providing server, wherein a route search step is performed for executing a route search according to a search condition and determining a plurality of candidate routes. A route guidance process for performing route guidance according to a selected route selected by a user among the plurality of candidate routes, and data on a non-selected route that has not been selected by the user among the plurality of candidate routes. A receiving step for receiving virtual vehicle travel data on the non-selected route from the information providing server, a travel state of the host vehicle on the guide route based on the virtual vehicle travel data, and A presentation step of presenting a running state of the virtual vehicle on the non-selected route to the user.

  The invention according to claim 14 is a route guidance program that is executed in a navigation device that includes a computer and is capable of communicating with an information providing server, wherein a route search is executed according to a search condition and a plurality of candidate routes are determined. Search means, route guidance means for executing route guidance according to a selected route selected by a user among the plurality of candidate routes, and data of non-selected routes not selected by the user among the plurality of candidate routes A transmitting means for transmitting to a providing server; a receiving means for receiving virtual vehicle travel data on the non-selected route from the information providing server; a travel state of the vehicle on the guide route based on the virtual vehicle travel data; and Causing the computer to function as a presentation means for presenting the running state of the virtual vehicle on the non-selected route to the user

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the information providing server that can communicate with the navigation device receives the data of the non-selected route that the user did not select from among the plurality of candidate routes from the first navigation device. When it is assumed that the virtual vehicle is traveling on the non-selected route based on the reception means, the second reception means that receives the travel data from another navigation device, and the travel data acquired from the other navigation device Virtual vehicle travel data creating means for creating virtual vehicle travel data that is travel data of the virtual vehicle.

  The information providing server communicates with a plurality of navigation devices and receives travel data. Further, data on a non-selected route indicating candidate routes that the user has not selected is received from the navigation device that has performed the route search. Then, based on the actual vehicle travel data received from another navigation device, the travel data of the virtual vehicle is created for the non-selected route. Thereby, the user can know the traveling state when it is assumed that the user traveled on the route that was not selected.

  One aspect of the information providing server includes transmission means for transmitting the virtual vehicle travel data to the first navigation device. In this aspect, the travel data of the virtual vehicle corresponding to the non-selected route is transmitted to the navigation device.

  Another aspect of the information providing server includes a comparison data creating unit that creates running state comparison data of a virtual vehicle based on virtual vehicle running data corresponding to a plurality of non-selected routes, and a running state of the virtual vehicle. Transmitting means for transmitting comparison data to the first navigation device. In this aspect, the traveling state comparison data of the virtual vehicle is created based on the virtual vehicle traveling data and transmitted to the navigation device.

  In another aspect of the information providing server, the virtual vehicle travel data creating means combines travel data received from navigation devices mounted on a plurality of vehicles, and the virtual vehicle virtual data on one non-selected route. Create vehicle travel data. In this aspect, even when there is no single vehicle traveling on the same route as the non-selected route, the traveling data of the virtual vehicle traveling on the non-selected route can be created by combining the traveling data of a plurality of vehicles. It becomes possible.

  In another aspect of the information providing server, the virtual vehicle travel data creating means creates virtual vehicle travel data based on travel data received from another navigation device within a predetermined period from the present time. The virtual vehicle travel data creation means creates virtual vehicle travel data based on past travel data when there is no travel data received from another navigation device within the predetermined period. Thereby, the accuracy of the virtual vehicle travel data can be ensured as much as possible.

  In another aspect of the information providing server, the virtual vehicle travel data creation means averages the travel data obtained from a plurality of navigation devices by excluding travel data having a value outside a predetermined range. Create virtual vehicle travel data. Thereby, virtual vehicle travel data can be created with high accuracy based on data excluding unique data.

  In another embodiment of the present invention, an information providing method executed in an information providing server capable of communicating with a navigation device includes: an unselected route that is not selected by a user from a plurality of candidate routes from a first navigation device. A virtual vehicle travels on the non-selected route based on a first reception process for receiving information, a second reception process for receiving travel data from another navigation device, and travel data acquired from another navigation device. A virtual vehicle travel data creating step of creating virtual vehicle travel data that is travel data of the virtual vehicle when it is assumed that the vehicle has traveled. This method also allows the user to know the traveling state when it is assumed that the user has traveled on a route that has not been selected.

  In another embodiment of the present invention, an information providing program executed in an information providing server that includes a computer and can communicate with a navigation device is not selected by the user from a plurality of candidate routes from the first navigation device. Based on the first receiving means for receiving the information on the non-selected route, the second receiving means for receiving the travel data from the other navigation device, and the travel data acquired from the other navigation device, the virtual vehicle is The information providing server functions as virtual vehicle travel data creating means for creating virtual vehicle travel data that is travel data of the virtual vehicle when it is assumed that the vehicle has traveled on the selected route. By executing this program, the user can know the traveling state when it is assumed that the user has traveled on a route not selected. This program can be stored and handled in a storage medium.

  In another embodiment of the present invention, a navigation device capable of communicating with an information providing server performs route search according to a search condition and determines a plurality of candidate routes, and a user among the plurality of candidate routes. Route guidance means for performing route guidance according to the selected route selected by the above, transmission means for sending data of a non-selected route that was not selected by the user among the plurality of candidate routes, and the information Receiving means for receiving virtual vehicle travel data on the non-selected route from the providing server, and based on the virtual vehicle travel data, the travel state of the host vehicle on the guide route and the travel of the virtual vehicle on the non-selected route Presenting means for presenting the state to the user.

  Said navigation apparatus transmits the data of the non-selected route which the user did not select among a plurality of candidate routes obtained by route search to the information providing server. And the driving | running | working data of the virtual vehicle which drive | works on a non-selection path | route are received from an information provision server, and a virtual vehicle and the driving | running state of the own vehicle are shown to a user. Thereby, the user can know the traveling state when it is assumed that the user traveled on the route that was not selected.

  In a preferred example of the above navigation device, the presenting means includes the line segment indicating the guide route and the non-selected route, and the vehicle mark of the own vehicle and the virtual vehicle arranged on the line segment. An image indicating the degree of progress of the car and the virtual vehicle is displayed.

  In another embodiment of the present invention, a route guidance method executed in a navigation device capable of communicating with an information providing server includes a route search step of executing a route search according to a search condition and determining a plurality of candidate routes; A route guidance step of performing route guidance according to the selected route selected by the user from among the candidate routes, and data of non-selected routes not selected by the user among the plurality of candidate routes are transmitted to the information providing server A transmitting step, a receiving step of receiving virtual vehicle travel data on the non-selected route from the information providing server, a travel state of the host vehicle on the guide route and the non-selection based on the virtual vehicle travel data And a presentation step of presenting the traveling state of the virtual vehicle on the route to the user. This method also allows the user to know the traveling state when it is assumed that the user has traveled on a route that has not been selected.

  In another embodiment of the present invention, a route guidance program that is provided in a navigation device that includes a computer and can communicate with an information providing server executes route search according to a search condition and determines a plurality of candidate routes. A route guidance unit that performs route guidance according to a selected route selected by a user among the plurality of candidate routes, and data of a non-selected route that has not been selected by the user among the plurality of candidate routes. Transmitting means for receiving, receiving means for receiving virtual vehicle travel data on the non-selected route from the information providing server, based on the virtual vehicle travel data, the travel state of the host vehicle on the guide route and the non-selection The computer is caused to function as a presentation means for presenting the traveling state of the virtual vehicle on the route to the user. By executing this program, the user can know the traveling state when it is assumed that the user has traveled on a route not selected. This program can be stored and handled in a storage medium.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[Configuration of information provision system]
FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of an information providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated, the information providing system includes an information providing server 100 and a navigation device 200. In the example of FIG. 1, two navigation devices 200 are illustrated for convenience, but a large number of navigation devices 200 are actually used. The navigation device 200 is mounted on a vehicle and transmits / receives information to / from the information providing server 100 by wireless communication.

  FIG. 2 shows a configuration of the navigation device 200. As shown in FIG. 2, the navigation device 200 includes a self-supporting positioning device 10, a GPS receiver 18, a system controller 20, a disk drive 31, a data storage unit 36, a communication interface 37, a communication device 38, a display unit 40, and a voice output. A unit 50 and an input device 60 are provided.

  The autonomous positioning device 10 includes an acceleration sensor 11, an angular velocity sensor 12, and a distance sensor 13. The acceleration sensor 11 is made of, for example, a piezoelectric element, detects vehicle acceleration, and outputs acceleration data. The angular velocity sensor 12 is composed of, for example, a vibrating gyroscope, detects the angular velocity of the vehicle when the direction of the vehicle is changed, and outputs angular velocity data and relative azimuth data. The distance sensor 13 measures a vehicle speed pulse composed of a pulse signal generated with the rotation of the vehicle wheel.

  The GPS receiver 18 receives radio waves 19 carrying downlink data including positioning data from a plurality of GPS satellites. The positioning data is used to detect the absolute position of the vehicle from latitude and longitude information.

  The system controller 20 includes an interface 21, a CPU 22, a ROM 23, and a RAM 24, and controls the entire navigation device 200.

  The interface 21 performs an interface operation with the acceleration sensor 11, the angular velocity sensor 12, the distance sensor 13, and the GPS receiver 18. From these, vehicle speed pulses, acceleration data, relative azimuth data, angular velocity data, GPS positioning data, absolute azimuth data, and the like are input to the system controller 20. The CPU 22 controls the entire system controller 20. The ROM 23 includes a nonvolatile memory (not shown) in which a control program for controlling the system controller 20 is stored. The RAM 24 stores various data such as route data preset by the user via the input device 60 so as to be readable, and provides a working area to the CPU 22.

  A system controller 20, a disk drive 31 such as a CD-ROM drive or a DVD-ROM drive, a data storage unit 36, a communication interface 37, a display unit 40, an audio output unit 50, and an input device 60 are mutually connected via a bus line 30. It is connected to the.

  The disk drive 31 reads and outputs content data such as music data and video data from a disk 33 such as a CD or DVD under the control of the system controller 20. The disk drive 31 may be either a CD-ROM drive or a DVD-ROM drive, or may be a CD and DVD compatible drive.

  The data storage unit 36 is composed of, for example, an HDD and stores various data used for navigation processing such as map data and facility data.

  The communication device 38 includes, for example, an FM tuner, a beacon receiver, a mobile phone, a dedicated communication card, and the like, and traffic congestion and traffic information distributed from a VICS (Vehicle Information Communication System) center via the communication interface 37. Receive road traffic information and other information.

  The display unit 40 displays various display data on a display device such as a display under the control of the system controller 20. Specifically, the system controller 20 reads map data from the data storage unit 36. The display unit 40 displays the map data read from the data storage unit 36 by the system controller 20 on a display screen such as a display. The display unit 40 includes a graphic controller 41 that controls the entire display unit 40 based on control data sent from the CPU 22 via the bus line 30 and a memory such as a VRAM (Video RAM), and can display image information that can be displayed immediately. A buffer memory 42 that temporarily stores, a display control unit 43 that controls display of a display 44 such as a liquid crystal display or a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) based on image data output from the graphic controller 41, and a display 44 are provided. . The display 44 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display device having a diagonal of about 5 to 10 inches, and is mounted near the front panel in the vehicle.

  The audio output unit 50 is a D / A converter that performs D / A conversion of audio digital data sent from the CD-ROM drive 31, DVD-ROM 32, RAM 24, or the like via the bus line 30 under the control of the system controller 20. 51, an amplifier (AMP) 52 that amplifies the audio analog signal output from the D / A converter 51, and a speaker 53 that converts the amplified audio analog signal into sound and outputs the sound into the vehicle. Yes.

  The input device 60 includes keys, switches, buttons, a remote controller, a voice input device, and the like for inputting various commands and data. The input device 60 is disposed around the front panel and the display 44 of the main body of the in-vehicle electronic system mounted in the vehicle. When the display 44 is a touch panel system, the touch panel provided on the display screen of the display 44 also functions as the input device 60.

[First embodiment]
FIG. 3A shows a functional configuration of the information providing server 100 according to the first embodiment. The information providing server 100 receives data of candidate routes (hereinafter referred to as “non-selected routes”) not selected by the user from the navigation device 200, and creates travel data of virtual vehicles traveling on the non-selected routes. Provided to the navigation device.

  Specifically, the information providing server 100 includes a communication unit 111, a virtual vehicle travel data creation unit 112, a comparison data creation unit 113, a map database (hereinafter, “database” is referred to as “DB”) 114, A travel data DB 115 is provided.

  The communication unit 111 transmits / receives data to / from the navigation device 200. Specifically, the communication unit 111 receives data of a non-selected route that the user has not selected from the navigation device 200. The non-selected route data specifically includes, for example, data of a departure place, a waypoint, a destination, and a road link connecting them.

  In addition, the communication unit 111 transmits virtual vehicle travel data indicating the travel state of the virtual vehicle traveling on the non-selected route to the navigation device 200. Furthermore, the communication part 111 receives the driving data of the vehicle in which they are mounted from other navigation apparatuses 200 other than the navigation apparatus 200 that has transmitted the non-selected route.

  The virtual vehicle travel data creation unit 112 creates virtual vehicle travel data indicating the travel state of a virtual vehicle traveling on a non-selected route using travel data received from the navigation device 200 mounted on another vehicle. . When the information providing server 100 receives data of a plurality of non-selected routes from the navigation device 200, the virtual vehicle travel data creating unit 112 creates virtual vehicle travel data for each non-selected route.

  The comparison data creation unit 113 creates travel state comparison data indicating a comparison result of the travel state of each virtual vehicle based on the virtual vehicle travel data for each non-selected route. The traveling state comparison data includes comparison data during traveling on the guide route to the destination and comparison data after completion of traveling to the destination.

  The map DB 114 stores map data. The virtual vehicle travel data creation unit 112 and the comparison data creation unit 113 create virtual vehicle travel data and travel state comparison data with reference to map data as necessary.

  The travel data DB 115 stores travel data received from a number of navigation devices 200 mounted on an actual vehicle. The travel data stored in the travel data DB 115 includes data from the present to the past predetermined time. Thereby, the virtual vehicle travel data creation unit 112 can create virtual vehicle travel data based on past travel data when there is no current travel data obtained from another vehicle.

  FIG. 3B shows a functional configuration of the navigation device 200 according to the first embodiment. The navigation device 200 includes a communication unit 211, a display control unit 212, a route search unit 213, a comparison data creation unit 214, and a map DB 215. The communication unit 211 transmits / receives data to / from the information providing server 100 by wireless communication or the like. Specifically, the communication unit 211 transmits traveling data of the own vehicle to the information providing server 100. Further, when the user performs a route search, the communication unit 211 transmits data on the non-selected route to the information providing server 100 and receives the traveling state comparison data created by the information providing server 100.

  The route search unit 213 searches for a route to the destination according to the search condition specified by the user, and creates a plurality of candidate routes. The map DB 215 stores map data. This map data is referred to, for example, when the route search unit 213 performs a route search.

  The comparison data creation unit 214 adds travel data of the host vehicle to the travel state comparison data of the virtual vehicle transmitted from the information providing server 100, and creates travel state comparison data including the host vehicle and the virtual vehicle. The display control unit 212 displays the travel state comparison data thus created on the display 44.

  Next, the virtual vehicle travel comparison process according to the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the virtual vehicle travel comparison process. This process is executed by each component of the information providing server 100 and the navigation device 200 shown in FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b).

  First, in the navigation device 200, when the user inputs a search condition, the route search unit 213 performs a route search (step S101). Note that the route search in this case includes a case of a new search performed by newly specifying a destination, and a case of a re-search that performs a search again while traveling on a route that has already been determined by the route search. The route search unit 213 calculates a plurality of candidate routes by route search and presents them to the user. On the other hand, the user selects one desired route, and the route search unit 213 receives this selection input (step S102). Here, among the plurality of route candidates calculated by the route search unit 213, the route selected by the user is a guide route, and the remaining routes not selected by the user are non-selected routes. And the navigation apparatus 200 transmits the data of a non-selected route to the information provision server 100 through the communication part 211 (step S103).

  In the information providing server 100, the communication unit 111 receives the data of the non-selected route transmitted from the navigation device 200, and the virtual vehicle travel data creation unit 112 creates virtual vehicle travel data (step S104). The virtual vehicle travel data creation process will be described later. Then, the comparison data creation unit 113 creates virtual vehicle travel state comparison data based on the virtual vehicle travel data for a plurality of non-selected routes (step S105), and transmits it to the navigation device 200 (step S106).

  In the navigation device 200, the communication unit 211 receives the traveling state comparison data of the virtual vehicle (step S107). Here, the traveling state comparison data of the virtual vehicle transmitted from the information providing server 100 includes only the traveling state of the virtual vehicle, and does not include the traveling data of the vehicle (own vehicle) on which the navigation device 200 is mounted. . Therefore, the comparison data creation unit 214 adds the traveling data of the own vehicle to the traveling state comparison data of the virtual vehicle received from the information providing server 100, creates the traveling state comparison data including the own vehicle, and displays the display 44. (Step S108).

  Next, the virtual vehicle travel data creation process executed in step S104 will be described in detail. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the virtual vehicle travel data creation process. This process is mainly executed by the virtual vehicle travel data creation unit 112 of the information providing server 100.

  First, the virtual vehicle travel data creation unit 112 selects one non-selected route from among a plurality of non-selected routes transmitted from the navigation device 200 (step S201), and an actual vehicle (hereinafter referred to as the non-selected route). , Referred to as “actual vehicle”) is determined whether or not the travel data is in the travel data DB 115 (step S202). Here, the travel data of the actual vehicle corresponding to the non-selected route is travel data transmitted from the navigation device 200 of another vehicle that is actually traveling on the road included in the non-selected route. The travel data includes, for example, data on a road link on which the vehicle is traveling, a traveling direction (direction), a traveling speed, and the like.

  Here, the travel data of the actual vehicle corresponding to the non-selected route is not limited to the travel data of a single vehicle, and may be travel data of a plurality of vehicles. That is, when there is another vehicle that travels on the entire non-selected route, if the travel data of that vehicle is acquired, it can be used as the travel data of the actual vehicle corresponding to the non-selected route. However, in reality, the probability that there is another vehicle traveling on the same route as the non-selected route is not so high. In that case, the non-selected route may be divided into a plurality of partial routes, and travel data may be acquired from separate vehicles traveling on the divided partial routes. As a simple example, when the non-selected route is a route of point A → point B → point C → point (destination) D, traveling data of the vehicle X traveling from point A → point B and point B → point C The traveling data of the actual vehicle corresponding to the non-selected route may be created by combining the traveling data of the vehicle Y traveling the vehicle and the traveling data of the vehicle Z traveling from the point C to the point D.

  When there is travel data of a real vehicle corresponding to the non-selected route (step S202), the virtual vehicle travel data creation unit 112 determines whether the travel data is data within a certain period from the current time (step S202). S203). Thereby, old traveling data is excluded as much as possible, and the accuracy of the traveling data of the virtual vehicle is ensured.

  When the traveling data of the actual vehicle is data within a certain period (step S203; Yes), the process proceeds to step S205. On the other hand, when the travel data of the actual vehicle is not data within a certain period (step S203; No), the virtual vehicle travel data creation unit 112 obtains past travel data of the actual vehicle corresponding to the non-selected route from the travel data DB 115. Obtain (step S204).

  Next, the virtual vehicle travel data creation unit 112 excludes data having a specific value from the travel data of the actual vehicle acquired in steps S202 to S204 (step S205). Here, the unique value data is data inappropriate for calculating the running state of the virtual vehicle, and specifically, data having a value outside a predetermined range. For example, traveling data of a vehicle that is abnormally faster or slower than the average speed may be used. Assume that the legal speed ± 30 km is a predetermined range, and a value exceeding this is a unique value. When the driving data of the highway with the legal speed of 100 km / h is obtained from five vehicles, the driving data of 100 km / h, 110 km / h, 180 km / h, 60 km / h and 112 km / h, respectively, the driving data of 180 km / h and 60 km / h Are excluded because they are unique data.

  Next, the virtual vehicle travel data creation unit 112 averages the travel data after the removal of the unique value data in Step 205 and sets it as travel data of the actual vehicle (Step S206). In the above example, the travel data of 100 km / h, 110 km / h and 112 km / h are averaged, and 107.3 km / h is used as the travel data of the actual vehicle.

  Next, the virtual vehicle travel data creation unit 112 determines whether travel data corresponding to the entire unselected route has been prepared (step S207), and if not, repeats step S202 to step S207. As described above, when there is a single actual vehicle traveling on the entire non-selected route, the traveling data of the actual vehicle can be used. On the other hand, when the non-selected route is divided into a plurality of partial routes, travel data of the actual vehicle is acquired for each partial route, and the entire non-selected route is covered as a combination thereof.

  Thus, when the real vehicle travel data corresponding to the entire unselected route selected in step S201 is obtained, the virtual vehicle travel data creation unit 112 creates virtual vehicle travel data using them. (Step S208). For example, when a certain non-selected route is divided into three partial routes, and the travel speed is obtained as the actual vehicle travel data for each, the virtual vehicle travel data creation unit 112 determines the distance and travel speed of each partial route. Based on this, it is calculated at which time the virtual vehicle is located.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S202 that no travel data of the virtual vehicle exists, the travel data of the virtual vehicle for the non-selected route cannot be created, so the process proceeds to step S209 and the non-selection is performed. The process for the route ends. Therefore, even if the travel data of other vehicles corresponding to only a part of one non-selected route is insufficient, the travel data of the virtual vehicle cannot be created for the non-selected route, and the process ends. Will do.

  Thus, when the virtual vehicle travel data corresponding to one non-selected route is created, the virtual vehicle travel data creating unit 112 determines whether or not the process has been completed for all the non-selected routes. Thus, virtual vehicle travel data is created for all non-selected routes transmitted from the navigation device 200.

  FIG. 6 shows an example of travel state comparison data of the virtual vehicle and the host vehicle. The running state comparison data is created by the comparison data creation unit 214 in step S108.

  FIG. 6A is an example of traveling state comparison data showing the entire route from the departure point S to the destination G. The vehicle V is shown on the guide route 301 and on one non-selected route 302. A virtual vehicle V1 is shown. Note that the example of FIG. 6A is a display example when the host vehicle is traveling, that is, before the host vehicle arrives at the destination, and the host vehicle V follows the guide route 301 on the map as time passes. As the vehicle travels, the virtual vehicle V1 also travels on the non-selected route 302.

  FIG. 6B is an example schematically showing the degree of progress of the host vehicle and the plurality of virtual vehicles, and is an example in the middle of traveling of the host vehicle. The guide route and the three non-selected routes are indicated by line segments, and the marks of the own vehicle V and the three virtual vehicles V1 to V3 are shown thereon, respectively. The position of the mark on the line segment indicates the degree of progress.

  FIG. 6C is an example showing a traveling state when the host vehicle reaches the waypoint P on the guide route. The own vehicle V has arrived at the waypoint P, the virtual vehicle V2 is ahead of the own vehicle V, and the virtual vehicle V1 is behind the own vehicle V. Further, the distance difference and the time difference of the virtual vehicle with respect to the own vehicle are indicated by numerical values. In addition, it is good also as displaying the final arrival result to the destination with the same display mode.

  As described above, in the first embodiment, for the non-selected route that was not selected by the user who performed the route search, the travel data of the virtual vehicle is created based on the travel data of the vehicle actually traveling on the route. And since it displays compared with the own vehicle which is drive | working a guidance route, the user can know the driving | running | working state at the time of passing a non-selection route with high precision.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment will be described. In the first embodiment, in the information providing server 100, the virtual vehicle travel data creation unit 112 creates virtual vehicle travel data for each non-selected route based on travel data of a real vehicle traveling on the non-selected route, and further compares the comparison data. The creation unit 113 creates virtual vehicle travel state comparison data and transmits it to the navigation device 200. On the other hand, in the second embodiment, the navigation device 200 executes the process of creating the travel comparison data of the virtual vehicle.

  FIG. 7A shows a functional configuration of the information providing server 100 of the second embodiment. Compared with FIG. 3A, it can be seen that there is no comparison data creation unit 113. Other than that, it is the same as the information providing server 100 of the first embodiment.

  FIG. 7B shows a functional configuration of the navigation device 200 of the second embodiment. As can be seen from comparison with FIG. 3B, the configuration is similar to that of the navigation device 200 of the first embodiment. However, in the second embodiment, the comparison data creation unit 214 receives a plurality of non-information from the information providing server 100. The virtual vehicle travel data corresponding to the selected route is received, and travel state comparison data for the host vehicle and the virtual vehicle is created based on the travel data of the host vehicle and the host vehicle. Other points are the same as in the first embodiment.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the virtual vehicle travel comparison process according to the second embodiment. This process is executed by each component shown in FIGS. 7 (a) and 7 (b).

  In FIG. 8, steps S301 to S304 are the same as steps S101 to S104 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. The virtual vehicle travel data creation process in step S304 is the same as the process of the first embodiment shown in FIG. When virtual vehicle travel data is created for each non-selected route by the virtual vehicle travel data creation process, the communication unit 111 of the information providing server 100 transmits the virtual vehicle travel data to the navigation device 200 (step S305).

  In the navigation device 200, the communication unit 211 receives virtual vehicle travel data (step S306), and the comparison data creation unit 214 creates travel state comparison data (step S307). Specifically, the comparison data creation unit 214 uses the virtual vehicle travel data corresponding to the plurality of non-selected routes received from the information providing server 100 and the travel data of the host vehicle, and the comparison data creation unit 214 uses FIGS. The traveling state comparison data as illustrated in (c) is created. Then, the display control unit 212 displays the created traveling state comparison data on the display 44 (step S308).

  As described above, in the second embodiment, the process of creating the running state comparison data is executed on the navigation device 200 side based on the virtual vehicle running data of the non-selected route. The processing load on the information providing server 100 side can be reduced.

The structure of the information provision system by an Example is shown. The structure of a navigation apparatus is shown. The functional structure of the information provision server of 1st Example and a navigation apparatus is shown. It is a flowchart of the virtual vehicle travel comparison process of 1st Example. It is a flowchart of virtual vehicle travel data creation processing. The example of a display of driving state comparison data is shown. The function structure of the information provision server of 2nd Example and a navigation apparatus is shown. It is a flowchart of the virtual vehicle travel comparison process of 2nd Example.

Explanation of symbols

10 Independent positioning device 18 GPS receiver 20 System controller 22 CPU
36 Data storage unit 40 Display unit 60 Input device 65 Camera 100 Information providing server 200 Navigation device 111, 211 Communication unit 112 Virtual vehicle travel data creation unit 113, 214 Comparison data creation unit 213 Route search unit

Claims (15)

An information providing server capable of communicating with a navigation device,
First receiving means for receiving data of a non-selected route that the user did not select from among the plurality of candidate routes from the first navigation device;
Second receiving means for receiving travel data from another navigation device;
Virtual vehicle travel data creating means for creating virtual vehicle travel data that is travel data of the virtual vehicle when it is assumed that the virtual vehicle traveled on the non-selected route based on travel data acquired from another navigation device An information providing server comprising:   The information providing server according to claim 1, further comprising transmission means for transmitting the virtual vehicle travel data to the first navigation device. Comparison data creating means for creating virtual vehicle running state comparison data based on virtual vehicle running data corresponding to a plurality of non-selected routes;
The information providing server according to claim 1, further comprising: a transmission unit that transmits the traveling state comparison data of the virtual vehicle to the first navigation device.   The virtual vehicle travel data creation means creates travel data received from navigation devices mounted on a plurality of vehicles, and creates virtual vehicle travel data for virtual vehicles on one non-selected route. Item 4. The information providing server according to any one of Items 1 to 3.   5. The virtual vehicle travel data creating means creates virtual vehicle travel data based on travel data received from another navigation device within a predetermined period from the present time. Information providing server described.   6. The virtual vehicle travel data creation means creates virtual vehicle travel data based on past travel data when there is no travel data received from another navigation device within the predetermined period. Information providing server described.   The virtual vehicle travel data creating means creates travel data acquired from a plurality of navigation devices, averages the travel data having a value outside a predetermined range, and creates virtual vehicle travel data. The information providing server according to any one of claims 1 to 6. An information providing method executed in an information providing server capable of communicating with a navigation device,
A first receiving step of receiving information on a non-selected route that the user did not select from among the plurality of candidate routes from the first navigation device;
A second receiving step of receiving travel data from another navigation device;
A virtual vehicle travel data creation step of creating virtual vehicle travel data that is travel data of the virtual vehicle when it is assumed that the virtual vehicle traveled on the non-selected route based on travel data acquired from another navigation device An information providing method comprising: An information providing program executed in an information providing server that includes a computer and can communicate with a navigation device,
A first receiving means for receiving, from the first navigation device, information on a non-selected route that the user did not select from among a plurality of candidate routes;
Second receiving means for receiving travel data from another navigation device; and
Virtual vehicle travel data creating means for creating virtual vehicle travel data that is travel data of the virtual vehicle when it is assumed that the virtual vehicle traveled on the non-selected route based on travel data acquired from another navigation device And an information providing program for causing the information providing server to function.   A storage medium storing the information providing program according to claim 9. A navigation device capable of communicating with an information providing server,
A route search means for executing a route search according to a search condition and determining a plurality of candidate routes;
Route guidance means for performing route guidance according to a selected route selected by the user among the plurality of candidate routes;
A transmission unit that transmits data of a non-selected route that has not been selected by the user among the plurality of candidate routes to the information providing server;
Receiving means for receiving virtual vehicle travel data on the non-selected route from the information providing server;
A navigation apparatus comprising: presenting means for presenting to a user a traveling state of the host vehicle on the guidance route and a traveling state of the virtual vehicle on the non-selected route based on the virtual vehicle traveling data.   The presenting means is an image showing the degree of progress of the host vehicle and the virtual vehicle to the destination by a line segment indicating the guide route and the non-selected route, and a vehicle mark of the host vehicle and the virtual vehicle arranged on the line segment. The navigation device according to claim 11, wherein the navigation device is displayed. A route guidance method executed in a navigation device capable of communicating with an information providing server,
A route search step of performing a route search according to a search condition and determining a plurality of candidate routes;
A route guidance step of performing route guidance according to a selected route selected by the user among the plurality of candidate routes;
A transmitting step of transmitting data of a non-selected route that has not been selected by the user among the plurality of candidate routes to the information providing server;
A receiving step of receiving virtual vehicle travel data in the non-selected route from the information providing server;
A route guidance method comprising: presenting a user with a traveling state of the host vehicle on the guidance route and a traveling state of the virtual vehicle on the non-selected route based on the virtual vehicle traveling data. . A route guidance program that is executed in a navigation device that includes a computer and can communicate with an information providing server,
A route search means for executing a route search according to a search condition and determining a plurality of candidate routes;
Route guidance means for performing route guidance according to a selected route selected by the user among the plurality of candidate routes;
A transmitting means for transmitting data of a non-selected route that has not been selected by the user among the plurality of candidate routes to the information providing server;
Receiving means for receiving virtual vehicle travel data on the non-selected route from the information providing server;
Based on the virtual vehicle travel data, the computer is caused to function as a presentation unit that presents to the user the travel state of the host vehicle on the guide route and the travel state of the virtual vehicle on the non-selected route. Route guidance program.   A storage medium storing the route guidance program according to claim 14.

Images