JP2009281814A - Navigation apparatus and program for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a navigation apparatus perform display in such a way as to enable its user to intuitively compare error ranges of estimated arrival times up to a destination concerning a plurality of routes to the destination. <P>SOLUTION: The navigation apparatus calculates the estimated arrival times up to the destination and the error ranges 23, 24 for the estimated arrival times concerning the plurality of routes up to the destination, and makes an image display device display together the error ranges calculated respectively for the plurality of routes. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a navigation device and a program for the navigation device.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a navigation device that guides a route to a destination, a technique is known in which an expected arrival time to a destination and an error range of the expected arrival time are represented by an angle range of a clock hand (Patent Document 1). reference).
JP 2006-47126 A

  However, the above technique displays the expected arrival time and error range for only one guide route. That is, the reliability information of the expected arrival time for the currently traveling route is merely displayed. Therefore, the error range of the expected arrival time for a plurality of routes cannot be displayed so that the user can compare intuitively.

  In view of the above points, an object of the present invention is to realize a display in which a user can intuitively compare error ranges of expected arrival times for a plurality of routes in a navigation device.

  In the invention according to claim 1 for achieving the above object, the navigation device calculates an expected arrival time to the destination and an error range of the predicted arrival time for a plurality of routes to the destination, The error range calculated for each of the plurality of routes is displayed on the display device (12).

  Thus, since the error ranges of the expected arrival times of a plurality of routes are displayed together, the user can intuitively compare them. For example, it is possible to determine at a glance a comparison such as which route has a small error width of the predicted arrival time (that is, the reliability of the predicted arrival time is high). That is, it is possible to provide the user with better route selectivity than before.

  In addition, as described in claim 2, the navigation device determines a route where the user is located among the plurality of routes based on the fact that the current position of the user has entered the first reference range from the destination. Only the calculated error range may be displayed on the display device.

  When the user of the navigation device approaches the destination to some extent, the difference between the predicted arrival times and error ranges of a plurality of routes is often small enough not to cause a problem for the user. Therefore, by displaying only the route currently being traveled based on the user approaching the destination as described above, information that is likely to be unnecessary for the user (that is, the error range of other routes) Information) is not displayed, and a display that provides simple information that is necessary for the user is realized.

  In addition, as described in claim 3, the navigation device controls each of the plurality of routes based on the fact that the current position of the user is outside the second reference range from the destination by controlling the display device. The calculated error range is expressed by the angle range of the hands of the analog clock, and is calculated for each of the plurality of routes based on the fact that the current position of the user has entered the second reference range from the destination. The error range may be expressed by the length of the error range image in the display image, and the length of the error range image per unit time may be reduced as the error range becomes shorter.

  The method of displaying the error range of each route in the angle range of the hands of the analog clock is advantageous in that the user can easily grasp the time width of the error range. However, when the user approaches the destination to some extent, the error range decreases, and as a result, the displayed angle becomes very narrow, which may be difficult for the user to see. Such a phenomenon that it becomes difficult to see due to the sharpening of the display angle becomes more prominent when the display of error ranges of a plurality of routes overlaps.

  Therefore, as described above, based on the fact that the current position of the user has entered the second reference range from the destination, each error range is represented by the length of the error range image in the display image, and the unit If the length of the error range image per time is reduced as the error range becomes shorter, even if the user approaches the destination and the error range decreases, the display of the error range becomes too small and difficult to see. There is nothing.

  In this way, by switching the display form of the error range according to the degree of proximity to the destination, it is possible to meet the user's request for visibility that changes depending on the degree of proximity to the destination.

  Further, as described in claim 4, the features of the invention of claim 1 can also be understood as a program.

  In addition, the code | symbol in the bracket | parenthesis in the said and the claim shows the correspondence of the term described in the claim, and the concrete thing etc. which illustrate the said term described in embodiment mentioned later. .

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. In FIG. 1, the structure of the navigation apparatus 1 for vehicles which concerns on this embodiment is shown. The vehicle navigation device 1 includes a position detector 11, an image display device 12, an operation unit 13, a speaker 14, a traffic information receiver 15, a map data acquisition unit 16, and a control circuit 17.

  The position detector 11 has a well-known acceleration sensor, geomagnetic sensor, gyro sensor, vehicle speed sensor, GPS receiver, and other sensors (not shown), and based on the characteristics of each of these sensors, Information for specifying the position, orientation, and speed is output to the control circuit 17.

  The image display device 12 displays a video based on the video signal output from the control circuit 17 to the user. Examples of the display image include a map centering on the current location.

  The operation unit 13 includes a plurality of mechanical switches provided in the vehicle navigation device 1 and an input device such as a touch panel provided on the display surface of the image display device 12. The user presses the mechanical switch and touches the touch panel. Is output to the control circuit 17.

  The traffic information receiver 15 repeatedly receives traffic information or the like wirelessly transmitted from an FM radio broadcasting station or a roadside device installed along the road (for example, every minute), and a storage medium such as the map data acquisition unit 16 It is a device that accumulates.

  The received traffic information includes information on the number of traveling vehicles for each link, the traveling speed, and the time required to travel on the road (hereinafter referred to as travel required time) at the time of transmission of the traffic information. The source of these traffic information is, for example, a traffic information center.

  The traffic information center receives probe information such as current position information and travel speed information of the vehicle wirelessly transmitted from a plurality of vehicles traveling on each link, and creates the traffic information based on the received probe information. .

  The traffic information receiver 15 also records information on the recorded timing (year, month, day of the week, day, time, etc.) of the recorded traffic information when the received traffic information is recorded.

  The map data acquisition unit 16 includes a nonvolatile storage medium such as an HDD and a device that reads and writes data from and to the storage medium. The storage medium stores a program executed by the control circuit 17, map data for route guidance, and the like.

  The map data has road data and facility data. The road data includes link position information, type information, node position information, type information, information on connection relations between nodes and links, and the like. The facility data has a plurality of records for each facility, and each record has data indicating name information, location information, land lot number information, facility type information, and the like of the target facility.

  A control circuit (corresponding to a computer) 17 is a microcomputer having a CPU, RAM, ROM, I / O and the like. The CPU executes a program for the operation of the vehicle navigation device 1 read from the ROM or the map data acquisition unit 16, reads information from the RAM, the ROM, and the map data acquisition unit 16 when executing the program. And, if possible, the information is written to the storage medium of the map data acquisition unit 16, the position detector 11, the image display device 12, the operation unit 13, the speaker 14, and the traffic information receiver 15 and the signal Give and receive.

  Specific processing performed by executing a program by the control circuit 17 includes current position specifying processing, map display processing, guidance route calculation processing, route guidance processing, and the like.

  The current position specifying process is a process for specifying the current position and direction of the vehicle based on a signal from the position detector 11 using a known technique such as map matching.

  The map display process is a process for causing the image display device 12 to display a map of a specific area such as the vicinity of the current position of the vehicle. At this time, information used for map display is acquired from the map data.

  The guidance route calculation process is a process of receiving an input of a destination by the user from the operation unit 13 and calculating an optimum guidance route from the current position to the destination.

  In the route guidance process, when the host vehicle arrives before a guidance point such as a right-left turn intersection on the guidance route, a guidance voice instructing a right turn, a left turn, etc. is output to the speaker 14, and an enlarged view of the guidance point is displayed. This is a process of guiding the driving of the vehicle along the guidance route by being displayed on the image display device 12.

  FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of the program 100 executed by the control circuit 17 for the guidance route calculation process. The control circuit 17 starts the execution of the program 100 based on a predetermined operation for starting the guidance route calculation being performed on the operation unit 13. The destination input using the operation unit 13 is accepted, and the destination is set according to the contents of the accepted input.

  Subsequently, in step 110, a route search condition is determined based on the user's selection operation on the operation unit 13. For example, whether to give priority to toll roads or to general roads, to give priority to short distances or to destination arrival times, or to reflect received traffic information in route calculation There are no, etc.

  Subsequently, in step 115, an optimum route from the current position of the vehicle navigation device 1 to the destination is calculated and set as a candidate route. Here, the condition determined in step 110 is used as a condition for specifying the optimum route. Subsequently, in step 120, the route of the determined candidate route is superimposed on the map displayed on the image display device 12.

  Subsequently, in step 125, the traffic information receiver 15 receives and records the traffic information recorded in the storage medium of the map data acquisition unit 16. Subsequently, in step 130, an expected arrival time is calculated based on the read traffic information.

  The method of using traffic information in calculating the estimated arrival time is as follows. That is, for each of all links in the calculated candidate route, it is determined from the traffic information whether the real-time traffic information of the link is included in the traffic information.

  Real-time traffic information refers to traffic information that reflects traffic conditions within the latest reference time (for example, 30 minutes, 1 hour, etc.). Whether or not certain traffic information is real-time traffic information is determined by whether or not the recording timing recorded together with the traffic information is within the reference time from the present time.

  For a link where real-time traffic information exists, the expected arrival time is determined using only the real-time traffic information of the traffic information of the link. Specifically, information on the required travel time of the link is extracted from a plurality of (that is, for a plurality of vehicles) real-time traffic information about the link.

  For a link that does not have real-time traffic information, an expected arrival time is determined using part or all of the traffic information of the link (that is, past traffic information that is not real-time). As a method using a part, for example, there is a method using only traffic information for the same time zone on the same day of the week as the current day. And the information of the travel required time of the said link is extracted from the some traffic information (namely, for several vehicles) about the extracted said link.

  Then, by calculating the travel time of each link extracted as described above, the arrival time at the destination when the current position is departed from the current position and the candidate route is passed from the current position to the destination Create a probability distribution P (T) for. This probability distribution P (T) is a function with time T as a variable. Then, the control circuit 17 specifies the time T when the value of the probability distribution P (T) peaks as the expected arrival time.

  Subsequently, in step 135, an error range of the expected arrival time is determined based on the calculated probability distribution P (T). For example, the error range may be a range having a length that is three times the standard deviation σ of the probability distribution P (T) centered on the expected arrival time. Or it is good also as a range from which probability distribution P (T) becomes 1/2 or more of a peak value.

  Subsequently, in Step 140, an analog clock image is displayed as a predicted arrival time display image on a part of the map display screen of the image display device 12 (for example, the upper right corner). FIG. 3 shows an example of an analog clock image for displaying the expected arrival time.

  The analog clock image includes images of an analog dial 20, minute hand 21, and hour hand 22, as illustrated in FIG. The time indicated by the minute hand 21 and the hour hand 22 coincides with the expected arrival time.

  Subsequently, in step 145, the error range of the expected arrival time calculated in step 135 is displayed in the analog clock image displayed in step 140. As an error range display method, as shown in FIG. 4, a fan-shaped portion 23 in which the display form (for example, display color and pattern) is changed around the minute hand 21 is displayed around the minute hand 21. There is. The fan-shaped portion 23 indicates the error range of the expected arrival time as the angle range of the error of the minute hand 21.

  Subsequently, in step 150, in addition to the candidate route determined immediately before, the user is inquired whether or not to add a route. If there is an input as a response to the operation unit 13, the route is selected according to the input content. It is determined whether or not to add. If it is added, the process returns to Step 110, and if not, Step 155 is executed.

  After returning from step 150 to step 110, another route search condition is set according to the user's input (step 110), another candidate route is calculated under the condition, and this calculated candidate route (hereinafter referred to as target) Steps 120 to 145 are executed for the candidate route).

  However, the display processing of the expected arrival time in step 140 is not executed. Therefore, the display processing of the expected arrival time in step 140 is performed only for the first candidate route and not for the other candidate routes.

  In step 145, the error range of the target candidate route calculated in the previous step 135 is displayed on the analog dial 20 on which the error range 23 for the other candidate routes is displayed, as shown in FIG. It is presented to the user by adding a superimposed display of the sector 24 indicating the angle of the error range of the minute hand 21.

  The arrangement of the error range 24 of the target candidate route is based on the position of the minute hand corresponding to the expected arrival time calculated in the previous step 130 for the target candidate route. For example, when the predicted arrival time of the target candidate route is 10:17 and the error range is −10 minutes to +10 minutes, the center position of the angle of the error range 24 is the position of the minute hand of the predicted arrival time of the target candidate route. Matches. In this way, the expected arrival time can be grasped to some extent by the user only by displaying the error range.

  Further, the sector color indicating the error range of the target candidate route is set to be different from the sector color of the error range displayed so far.

  In addition, the candidate route newly displayed on the image display device 12 in step 120 this time is changed in color from any of the candidate routes that have been displayed so that the user can easily identify each route. Yes.

  In addition, the color used for displaying the candidate route is set to be the same as the fan-shaped display color of the error range of the expected arrival items for the candidate route. In this way, the correspondence between the candidate route and the error range of the expected arrival item for the candidate route can be easily grasped visually.

  By re-executing the processes in steps 110 to 145 as many times as the number of times the user designates route addition, the control circuit 17 allows the error range of the predicted arrival times for a plurality of candidate routes calculated according to different condition settings. Are displayed together as a sector having an angle corresponding to the error range of the same analog dial 20. Further, a plurality of candidate routes are displayed on the same screen.

  In step 155 after determining that the candidate route is not added, the image display device 12 or the speaker 14 is displayed to prompt the user to select only one of the displayed candidate routes. Waits for the selection operation to be performed on the operation unit 13, and when the selection operation is performed, one candidate route is selected as a guide route according to the content of the selection operation. Hereinafter, a candidate route that has not become a guide route is referred to as another route.

  Subsequently, in step 160, as shown in FIG. 6, in the display of the candidate route on the display screen of the image display device 12, the guide route 27 selected in step 155 among the candidate routes 27 and 28 to the destination 26 is illustrated. The color of the ring portion 29 of the current position mark 25 is changed so as to be the same as the color of. By doing in this way, it is possible to easily grasp visually which of the displayed routes is the guide route.

  Subsequently, in step 165, the process waits until the user inputs guidance for starting guidance to the operation unit 13. When the input is received, the above-described route guidance process is started and the execution of the program 100 is terminated.

  In the route guidance process, the control circuit 17 executes the program 200 shown in FIG. 7. In this execution, first, in step 205, guidance route guidance, that is, guidance voice output before the guidance point as described above, or The intersection enlarged map display starts.

  Subsequently, in step 210, it is determined whether or not the host vehicle is just before arriving at the destination, that is, whether or not the host vehicle is approaching the destination. Specifically, for example, it may be determined that the host vehicle has approached the destination when entering a range of 1 km from the destination (corresponding to an example within the first reference range) It may be determined that the host vehicle has approached the destination when entering an area where the estimated arrival time at the destination is within 10 minutes from the present (corresponding to an example within the first reference range). . If it is determined that the host vehicle has approached the destination, the program 300 shown in FIG. 8 is subsequently executed. If it is determined that the host vehicle has not approached, step 215 is subsequently executed.

  In step 215, it is determined whether or not the vehicle has deviated from the current guidance route. If the vehicle has deviated, step 242 is executed. If not, step 220 is executed.

  In step 220, it is determined whether or not a predetermined re-search point on the guidance route has been passed. For example, the predetermined re-search point may be provided for each reference distance (for example, 1 km) along the guide route, or immediately after the reference distance (for example, 1 km) is exceeded from one re-search point along the guide route. An intersection may be provided as the next re-search point. Alternatively, a processing time necessary for calculating another route in step 225, which will be described later, and a distance traveled by the vehicle during the processing time are determined in advance, and a re-search point is determined for each travel distance along the guidance route. May be provided. If it is determined that the re-search point has been passed, step 225 is subsequently executed. If it is determined that the re-search point has not been passed, step 210 is executed again.

  In step 225, a new route from the next search point to the destination is obtained using a plurality of search conditions (see step 110) used for calculating candidate routes other than the destination when the program 100 of FIG. 2 is executed. Is calculated for each of the search conditions. These calculated routes are called different routes.

  Subsequently, in step 230, the display of the candidate route so far is erased from the map, and the newly calculated another route is superimposed on the map. The display colors of these new different routes are different from those of the guidance route, and when there are a plurality of new different routes, they are also different from each other.

  Subsequently, in step 235, an estimated arrival time and an error range of the estimated arrival time are calculated for each of the guidance route and the newly calculated another route. As the calculation method, the same method as in steps 130 and 135 in FIG. 2 is used.

  In step 240, the error range calculated in the immediately preceding step 235 is reflected on the display of the analog clock.

  Specifically, instead of displaying the analog clock up to that point, the estimated arrival time and error range newly calculated for the guidance route are respectively set to clock hands (hour hands) as shown in steps 140 and 145 of FIG. , Minute hand) and a sector having an angle of error range of the minute hand and displayed on the same display screen as the display screen of the guide route and the newly calculated another route. Further, as shown in steps 140 and 145 of FIG. 2, the estimated arrival time and error range newly calculated for the new different route have angles of the clock hand (hour hand and minute hand) and the error range of the minute hand, respectively. It is displayed in the same display screen as the display screen of the guidance route and the newly calculated another route in a sector shape.

  The display color of the error range of the guide route is the same as the display color of the guide route, and the display color of the error range of another route is the same as the display color of the same another route. After step 240, step 210 is executed again.

  Further, in step 242 after determining that the guide route has been deviated, it is determined whether or not the host vehicle is traveling on another route at that time. If the vehicle is traveling, step 245 is subsequently executed, and the guide route is determined. However, if the vehicle is traveling on a road that is not another route, step 255 is subsequently executed.

  In step 245, the other route during the travel is set as a new guide route to replace the previous guide route. Subsequently, in step 250, the color of the ring portion 29 of the current position mark 25 is changed to the color of the new guide route. In step 250, in the display of the analog clock, the position of the minute hand and the short hand may be adjusted to the expected arrival time of the new guidance route. After step 250, step 210 is executed again.

  In step 255 after entering a road that is neither a guide route nor another route, the search condition (see step 110) used for calculating the guide route when executing the program 100 in FIG. A new route is calculated, and the calculated route is set as a guide route. Subsequently, in step 260, one or more different routes are calculated in the same manner as in step 225.

  Subsequently, in step 265, the new guidance route and the new different route calculated in steps 255 and 260 are superimposed on the map instead of the route display so far. At this time, different colors are used as display colors of the guide route and the new different route.

  Subsequently, in step 270, the estimated arrival time and the error range of the estimated arrival time are calculated for each of the new guidance route and the newly calculated another route by the same method as in step 235. Subsequently, in step 275, the error range calculated in the immediately preceding step 270 is reflected on the display of the analog clock by the same method as in step 240.

  Subsequently, in step 280, the color of the ring portion 29 of the current position mark 25 is changed to the color of the new guidance route. Following step 280, step 210 is executed again.

  In the program 300 of FIG. 8 executed when it is determined that the vehicle is close to the destination, the control circuit 17 first deletes the display of another route from the map in step 310, and the host vehicle is currently traveling. Only the guidance route is displayed with the route superimposed.

  Subsequently, in step 320, in the analog clock display, the predicted arrival time and error range are calculated and displayed only for the guide route that is currently running, and if there is a display of the predicted arrival time and error range of another route other than that. , Erase it.

  Then, in step 330, the control circuit 17 determines whether or not the host vehicle has arrived at the destination. If the vehicle has arrived, the control circuit 17 ends the execution of the program 300. If not, the control circuit 17 executes step 310 again.

  By executing the program 200 and the program 300 as described above, the control circuit 17 continues on the guidance route before determining that the host vehicle has approached the destination (see step 210 → NO). While driving (see step 215 → NO), another route other than the return guidance route is repeatedly calculated at a predetermined interval (see step 225), and the calculated one or more different routes together with the guidance route are calculated. Then, the image is superimposed and displayed on the map on the display screen of the image display device 12 (see step 230), and the estimated arrival time and error range are calculated for each of the different route and the guidance route based on the traffic information (see step 235). In addition, the calculated error ranges of the guide route and the different route are displayed on the same screen as the other route and the guide route. As sector showing the minute hand of the angular width in the analog dial 20 log clock display (see step 240).

  In addition, before the control circuit 17 determines that the host vehicle has approached the destination (refer to step 210 → NO), the control circuit 17 moves out of the guide route (see step 215 → YES) to another route that is being displayed. If entered (see step 242 → YES), another route that entered is set as a guide route (see step 245), and the display color of the ring portion 29 of the current position mark 25 is the same as the display color of the new guide route. (See step 250).

  In addition, the control circuit 17 is in a stage before determining that the host vehicle has approached the destination (see step 210 → NO), and other than the other route being displayed when the host vehicle deviates from the guide route (see step 215 → YES). When the road is entered (see step 242 → NO), the guidance route is re-searched (step 255) and another route is re-searched (see step 260), and the calculated guidance route and the different route are superimposed on the map. Display (see step 265), calculate the estimated arrival time and error range of the guidance route and another route based on the traffic information (see step 270), and further calculate the calculated guidance route and the error range of another route, respectively. In the same screen as the other route and the guide route, a fan shape indicating the angular width of the minute hand in the analog dial 20 of the analog clock is displayed. To (see step 280).

  In addition, after determining that the host vehicle has approached the destination (see step 210 → YES), the control circuit 17 stops displaying the display of all other routes and the error range of all other routes. Only the guidance route is continuously displayed as the route (see step 310), and the error range of the expected arrival time is continuously displayed only for the error range of the guidance route (see step 320).

  As described above, the vehicle navigation device 1 calculates the expected arrival time to the destination and the error range of the predicted arrival time for a plurality of routes to the destination, and is calculated for each of the plurality of routes. Both error ranges are displayed on the image display device 12.

  Thus, since the error ranges of the expected arrival times of a plurality of routes are displayed together, the user can intuitively compare them. For example, it is possible to determine at a glance a comparison such as which route has a small error width of the predicted arrival time (that is, the reliability of the predicted arrival time is high). That is, it is possible to provide the user with better route selectivity than before.

  Further, the vehicle navigation apparatus 1 uses only the error range calculated for the guidance route where the user is located among the plurality of routes based on the fact that the current position of the user is close to the destination. May be displayed.

  When the user of the navigation device approaches the destination to some extent, the difference between the predicted arrival times and error ranges of a plurality of routes is often small enough not to cause a problem for the user. Therefore, by displaying only the route currently being traveled based on the user approaching the destination as described above, information that is likely to be unnecessary for the user (that is, the error range of other routes) Information) is not displayed, and a display that provides simple information that is necessary for the user is realized.

(Second Embodiment)
Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The present embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the contents of processing after the control circuit 17 determines that the destination has approached the destination in step 210 in the execution of the program 200 of FIG. In the following, portions of the present embodiment that are different from the first embodiment will be described.

  In the execution of the program 200 of FIG. 7, the control circuit 17 of the present embodiment determines that the destination has been approached in step 210, and subsequently executes the program 400 shown in FIG. 9. The display format of the expected arrival time and error is switched from the analog clock format to the variable linear graph (digital clock) format. FIG. 10 shows an example of the expected arrival time and error display in the form of a variable linear graph.

  In this variable linear graph display, the first time (9:50 in the example of FIG. 10) to the second time (FIG. 10) are within a fixed range in which the vertical and horizontal lengths are fixed on the display screen of the image display device 12. In this example, a graph image (corresponding to an example of an error range image) in which the time T until 10:30) is defined (the horizontal axis coordinate in the example of FIG. 10) is displayed. The value range of this graph (vertical coordinate in the example of FIG. 10) is a probability distribution P (T) of arrival times.

  In this variable linear graph display, the control circuit 17 displays a graph of the probability distribution P (T) of arrival times calculated for each of the guide route and another route within the above-described fixed range. Note that the display colors of the graphs of the routes are different from each other and the same as the color of the route display on the map of the same route.

  Note that the control circuit 17 changes the first time and the second time, which are the times at both ends of the variable linear graph display, according to the probability distribution P (T) of the guide route and another route. Specifically, for each of the routes to be displayed, a time range in which the probability distribution P (T) is a predetermined value (for example, 0.05) or more is specified, and the time that belongs to one of the plurality of time ranges is the most. The first time and the second time are set so as to include the earliest time and the latest time. Further, the first time and the ratio of the time interval from the earliest time to the latest time with respect to the time interval from the first time to the second time become a predetermined ratio (for example, 1: 0.9). A second time is determined.

  In this way, the smaller the error range of each route to be displayed, the smaller the error range of the display target, the graph display image that is divided per unit time in the definition area of the variable linear graph display (that is, the horizontal axis direction within the fixed range). Will be reduced in length.

  The method of displaying the error range of each route in the angle range of the hands of the analog clock is advantageous in that the user can easily grasp the time width of the error range. However, when the user approaches the destination to some extent, the error range decreases, and as a result, the displayed angle becomes very narrow, which may be difficult for the user to see. Thus, the phenomenon that it becomes difficult to see due to the sharpening of the display angle becomes more prominent when the display of the error ranges of a plurality of routes overlaps.

  Therefore, as described above, based on the fact that the current position of the user has entered the second reference range from the destination, each error range is represented by the length of the error range image in the display image, and the unit If the length of the error range image per time is reduced as the error range becomes shorter, even if the user approaches the destination and the error range decreases, the display of the error range becomes too small and difficult to see. There is nothing.

  In step 410 following step 405, the time difference between the earliest and latest of the predicted arrival times of the current guidance route and another route is a predetermined X minutes (X is, for example, any of 5 to 10). 8), if it is within X minutes, the program 300 of FIG. 8 is subsequently executed, and if it is greater than X minutes, step 415 is subsequently executed.

  Note that the processing contents of steps 415, 420, 425, 430, 435, 445, 450, 455, 460, 465, 470, 480 are the steps 215, 220, 225, 230, 235, 245 of the program 200 of FIG. , 250, 255, 260, 265, 270, and 280.

  Further, the processing contents of steps 440 and 475 are the same as those obtained by replacing the analog clock display in the processing contents of steps 240 and 275 with a variable linear graph display. Further, the processing content of step 320 in FIG. 8 is the same as that obtained by replacing the analog clock display in the processing content of the first embodiment with a variable linear graph display.

  By executing the program 300 and the program 400 as described above, the control circuit 17 after determining that the host vehicle has approached the destination approaches the predicted arrival time groups of the plurality of routes being displayed within a predetermined range. In the previous stage (see step 410 → NO), while continuing to travel on the guide route (see step 415 → NO), another route other than the return guide route is repeatedly calculated at a predetermined interval ( Step 425), the calculated one or a plurality of other routes are superimposed on the map on the display screen of the image display device 12 together with the guidance route (see Step 430), and further based on the traffic information, The probability distribution P (T) of the arrival time, the expected arrival time, and the error range are calculated for each of the guide routes (see step 435), and the calculated plan Each of the routes and other routes of arrival time probability distribution P (T), in the same screen as another route and the guiding route, a variable linear graph display (see step 440).

  In addition, in the stage before the predicted arrival time group of the plurality of routes being displayed approaches within a predetermined range (see step 410 → NO), the control circuit 17 leaves the guide route (see step 415 → YES). ) When entering a road other than the other route being displayed (refer to step 440 → NO), the guide route is re-searched (step 455) and the other route is re-searched (see step 460). Another route is superimposed on the map (see step 465), and the probability distribution P (T) of the arrival time of the guidance route and the other route, the expected arrival time and the error range are calculated based on the traffic information (see step 470). Further, each of the calculated probability distributions P (T) of arrival times is displayed as a variable linear graph (see step 480).

  Further, after determining that the predicted arrival time groups of the plurality of routes being displayed are close to each other within the predetermined range (see step 410 → YES), the control circuit 17 displays all the different routes and displays all the different routes. With respect to the display of the error range, the display is stopped, only the guidance route is displayed as the route (see step 310), and the estimated distribution P (T) of the estimated arrival time is continuously displayed only for the error range of the guidance route. (See step 320).

  In this way, by switching the display form of the error range according to the degree of proximity to the destination, it is possible to meet the user's request for visibility that changes depending on the degree of proximity to the destination.

(Other embodiments)
As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, the scope of the present invention is not limited only to the said embodiment, The various form which can implement | achieve the function of each invention specific matter of this invention is included. It is.

  For example, in the second embodiment, when the time difference between the earliest and latest among the predicted arrival times of the current guide route and another route is within X minutes, the error between the other route and the other route The range display is erased all at once.

  However, for example, when the difference between the estimated arrival time of the guidance route and the expected arrival time of the separate route is less than a reference time (for example, 5 minutes) for each of the separate routes, the error between the separate route and the separate route The display of the range may be erased.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the navigation apparatus 1 for vehicles uses the information of the driving | running history of another vehicle as traffic information, the navigation apparatus for vehicles is the driving | running | working log | history (traveled link, driving | running | working) of the own vehicle. Speed, time required for traveling, etc.) may be used as traffic information.

  In the above embodiment, the vehicle navigation device 1 uses only real-time traffic information when there is real-time traffic information for each link on the route in order to calculate the expected arrival time and error range of the route. Traffic information is not used. However, even when there is real-time traffic information, the real-time traffic information and past traffic information may be used together.

  In addition, the data that needs to be updated, such as traffic information, is not limited to the storage medium of the map data acquisition unit 16, and can continue to hold data even when the main power supply of the vehicle navigation device 1 is stopped. It may be stored in a storage medium that can be stored (for example, flash memory, EEPROM, backup RAM). In that case, the storage medium of the map data acquisition unit 16 does not have to be a writable storage medium such as an HDD, and may be a non-writable storage medium such as a DVD or a CD-ROM.

  In the above embodiment, each function realized by the control circuit 17 executing the program is realized by using hardware having those functions (for example, an FPGA capable of programming the circuit configuration). You may come to do.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although a navigation apparatus is a vehicle-mounted type, a navigation apparatus may be a thing of the type which a person can carry. For example, a mobile phone or PDA having a navigation device function also corresponds to the navigation device of the present invention.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a vehicle navigation device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart of the program 100 which the control circuit 17 performs for a route calculation process. An example of an analog clock image for displaying an expected arrival time is shown. It is the figure which superimposed the error range 23 of the estimated arrival time on the analog clock image for the estimated arrival time display. FIG. 6 is a diagram in which an error range 24 of expected arrival time is further superimposed on an analog clock image for displaying expected arrival time. It is a figure which shows the candidate routes 27 and 28 from the present position mark 25 to the destination 26. FIG. It is a flowchart of the program 200 which the control circuit 17 performs for a route guidance process. 4 is a flowchart of a program 300 executed by the control circuit 17. It is a flowchart of the program 400 which the control circuit 17 performs in 2nd Embodiment. It is an example of a display of the estimated arrival time and error by a variable linear graph form.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle navigation apparatus 12 Image display apparatus 15 Traffic information receiver 20 Analog dial 21 Minute hand 22 Hour hand 23, 24 Error range 25 Current position mark 26 Destination 27 Other route 29 Ring part 31, 32 Boundary time 33 34 Probability distribution graph

Claims (4)

Calculation means (130, 135, 235, 270, 435, 470) for calculating an expected arrival time to the destination and an error range of the expected arrival time for a plurality of routes to the destination;
A navigation device comprising display control means (145, 240, 275, 320, 405, 440, 475) for causing the display device (12) to display error ranges calculated for each of the plurality of routes.   The display control means, based on the fact that the user's current position is within the first reference range from the destination, only the error range calculated for the route where the user is located among the plurality of routes. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the navigation device is displayed on a display device.   The display control means controls the display device to calculate an error range calculated for each of the plurality of routes based on the fact that the current position of the user is outside the second reference range from the destination. And an error range calculated for each of the plurality of routes based on the current position of the user entering the second reference range from the destination. The navigation according to claim 1, wherein the error range image is represented by a length of the error range image in the display image, and the length of the error range image per unit time is reduced as the error range becomes shorter. apparatus. Calculation means (130, 135, 235, 270, 435, 470) for calculating an expected arrival time to the destination and an error range of the expected arrival time for a plurality of routes to the destination; A program that causes a computer to function as display control means (145, 240, 275, 320, 405, 440, 475) for displaying the error ranges calculated for each of them on the display device (12).

Images