JP2009300226A - Navigation system, terminal device, and route guidance method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a navigation system suppressing loads in communication and processing of a server even if a delay of a train is detected when traveling in accordance with route navigation. <P>SOLUTION: A terminal device 20 includes a position detecting means 23 for acquiring a current position and a current time, an operation/input means 29, an event detecting means 24 for detecting a predetermined event relating to a delay of a transport means in a navigated route, a delay time calculating means 27, an allowable time calculating means 28 for comparing the current position and current time acquired by the position detecting means 23 with an expected time of transport in the navigated route to calculate an allowable time, and an inquiring means 26. When the event detecting means 24 detects a predetermined event, the delay time calculating means 27 calculates a delay time to a scheduled time of transport in the navigated route, and the allowable time calculating means 28 calculates the allowable time. When the calculated delay time is within the allowable time, inquiring by the inquiring means 26 against a server is prohibited. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a navigation system that searches for and guides candidate routes from an arbitrary starting point to a destination by using walking, automobiles, or public transportation, and in particular, any starting point using transportation. Search for a candidate route from the place to the destination, and when a delay in the train is detected while moving according to the route guidance, calculate the allowance time for the desired arrival time at the transfer station or destination, In addition, the present invention relates to a navigation system in which a delay information distribution request or a detour route search request to a route search server or the like is prohibited if it is within the desired arrival time at the destination.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, navigation devices and navigation systems that guide a user by searching for a route from a desired departure point to a destination using map data and road data are known. Such navigation devices and navigation systems are known. As a car navigation device that is installed in an automobile and guides the route to the driver, a communication type that uses a mobile phone as a navigation terminal to send a route search request to the route search server, receives the result, and receives route guidance Navigation systems have been put to practical use.

  In particular, the communication-type navigation system is a system that uses a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone as a navigation terminal, and is also used as a navigation system for pedestrians. As a navigation system for pedestrians, it is preferable to add a route guidance function including transportation, and in addition to searching and guidance for walking routes, the route search server accumulates routes and operation time data of transportation, There is also a navigation system having a function of guiding a route from a desired departure station to a desired destination station (boarding candidate train) in addition to searching for a walking route and guidance. There is also a traffic guidance system that receives and displays information such as routes, timetables of transportation facilities, and trains that can be boarded from an information distribution server without searching for walking routes.

  A general navigation device, a route search device and a route search method used in a communication navigation system are disclosed in, for example, the following Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-165681). This navigation system is configured to send information on a departure point and a destination from a portable navigation terminal to an information distribution server, and the information distribution server searches and guides a route that matches a search condition from road network and traffic network data. Has been. As the search condition, there are means for moving from the departure place to the destination, for example, walking, automobile, combined use of railroad and walking, and the route is searched as one of the search conditions.

  The information distribution server has roads (routes) of map data as nodes and nodes as the positions of inflection points, links connecting the nodes as links, and cost information (distance and required time) of all links as a database. ing. Then, the information distribution server sequentially searches for a link from the departure node to the destination node with reference to the database, and traces the node and link with the smallest cost information of the link as a guide route. The shortest route can be guided to the portable navigation terminal. As such a route search method, a method called label determination method or Dijkstra method is used. Patent Document 1 also discloses a route search method using this Dijkstra method.

  A route search system that searches for routes that use transportation is a database of operation time data of each transportation based on route search conditions such as departure date, departure location, destination, arrival time specified by the user. It has a time database and data that makes the traffic network a database based on this. Then, referring to these databases, each available means of transportation (individual trains and route buses) connecting the departure point and destination, including connections (transfers), is sequentially traced to meet the route search conditions. It is configured to present one or a plurality of candidates for a guide route (departure station, destination station, route, train, etc.). As route search conditions, it is generally possible to specify conditions such as required time, number of transfers, and fares.

  In addition, as a system for conducting searches and guidance related to transportation facilities, a terminal device such as a mobile phone is connected to an information distribution server for guiding route information and timetable information of transportation facilities, and a desired departure station, departure time, destination station, etc. There is also provided a guidance system that can specify information, receive information on routes, trains, trains and other transportation means that can be boarded, and display them on a terminal device. In general, when such use is performed from a terminal device, address information such as a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) or a domain name for specifying a location where information to be downloaded exists is input to the terminal device and specified by the address. The information distribution server (information site) is accessed to download desired information.

  The route search data in the navigation system for route search and route guidance using the transportation system is the same as the road network data in the in-vehicle navigation system and the pedestrian navigation system. In addition to data networked as a two-way link, the operation time and required time of each link are added as link cost data for each means of transportation operated on each traffic route. Furthermore, there is a system in which fare data is added and the fare of the searched guide route is guided together.

  In route search using transportation facilities, there is a problem of a margin time of a route and a delay of transportation means such as a train with respect to a desired arrival time at a destination. In particular, in transportation means such as trains, there are delays due to weather and congestion in addition to delays due to accidents and breakdowns.

  In the following Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-342425), for a halfway station included in the route from the current position to the destination, a route presentation in which a margin time at each station is calculated and presented to the user is presented. An invention of a service system is disclosed.

  In this route presentation service system, the start point-end point search / result storage unit searches the arrival and departure times at each station according to the timetable in the forward direction from the current position of the user's mobile terminal to the destination, and starts from the destination. Search for departure / arrival times that must arrive at each station according to the timetable in the reverse direction to the station, and the main control unit obtains the arrival / departure times at each station obtained by the forward search of the start point-end point search / result storage unit. In addition, according to the end point-start point search / reverse direction search of the storage unit, the surplus time at each station is calculated, and the user's mobile phone terminal surplus time is notified. It is.

  Further, in Patent Document 3 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-325393) described below, information on a place where the user should be located at the current time point and a train accident is acquired on the route from the current position to the destination. And an invention of a travel time management method for grasping a detour route in real time.

  According to the travel time management method of the present invention, a route search unit searches for a train route to reach the destination according to a destination and a target arrival time input in advance by the user, and the user who is moving Based on the route, the mobile communication means to be carried, such as a point where the user should be present to arrive at the destination according to the target arrival time, and a train accident occurring on the route, etc. According to the information, at least one of the detour routes searched by the route search means in order to avoid train delay due to the train accident or the like is transmitted in real time.

JP 2001-165681 A (FIGS. 1 and 2) JP 2002-342425 A (FIGS. 5 and 7) JP 2001-325393 A (FIGS. 2 and 3)

  According to the technique of the above-mentioned Patent Document 2, it is possible to know how much time is left at a transfer station or the like on the route of the route being guided, but when the train is delayed, the notified time is shifted. In that case, if the technique of the above-mentioned Patent Document 3 is applied, a detour route for avoiding the delay can be obtained when the train is delayed. However, even when a train delay is detected, there are various causes for the delay. Failures and accidents may cause delays in operation and significant delays, and there may be minor delays due to disruption of operation schedules due to weather, congestion, and transfer due to delays in operation on other routes.

  In the latter case, even if a train delay is detected, the delay time is small, so that the delay is within the allowable range for the user, and in many cases it is substantially equivalent to no delay. Such a phenomenon is a place that many people experience well on a daily basis. In such a case, according to the technique of Patent Document 3, the delay information is acquired using the communication means, the search for the detour path, and the reception of the detour path. There was a problem that the processing load of the server was increased unnecessarily.

  The inventor of the present application has conducted various studies to solve the above problems, and as a result, when a train delay is detected while moving according to the route guidance, an allowance time for the desired arrival time at the transfer station or destination is provided. The above problem can be solved if the delay information distribution request to the route search server or the detour route search request is prohibited if the calculated time is within the desired arrival time at the transfer station or destination. The inventors have conceived the present invention and completed the present invention.

  That is, the present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned problems, searches for a candidate route from an arbitrary departure point to a destination using transportation, and detects a delay in a train while moving according to route guidance. In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide a route search system that can suppress communication load and server processing load.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 of the present application is
A route search server having route search means for searching for a guide route including a section using a transportation facility with reference to network data for route search based on a route search request including a designated departure point and destination; In a navigation system comprising a terminal device having display means for displaying the guidance route,
The terminal device includes: a position detection unit that acquires a current position and a current time; an operation / input unit; an event detection unit that detects a predetermined event related to a delay of a traffic unit in the guide route; and a delay time calculation unit And a margin time calculation means for calculating a margin time by comparing the current position and the current time acquired by the position detection means with the scheduled operation time of the transportation means in the guidance route, and an inquiry means,
When the event detecting means detects a predetermined event related to the delay of the transportation means, the delay time calculating means calculates a delay time with respect to the scheduled operation time on the guide route, and the margin time calculating means is the margin time calculating means. Time is calculated, and when the calculated delay time is within the margin time, the inquiry to the route search server and / or other information distribution server by the inquiry means is prohibited. Features.

  The invention according to claim 2 of the present application is the navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the event detection means is based on the current location and current time acquired by the position detection means, and route information of the guide route. And detecting the predetermined event.

  The invention according to claim 3 of the present application is the navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the event detection means detects the predetermined event from the delay information of the transportation facility received from the route search server or the information distribution server. It is characterized by detecting.

  The invention according to claim 4 of the present application is characterized in that, in the navigation system according to claim 1, the event detecting means detects the predetermined event based on the passage of a predetermined time set in advance. To do.

  The invention according to claim 5 of the present application is the navigation system according to claim 3, wherein the delay time calculation means obtains the delay time from the delay information of the transportation facility received from the route search server or the information distribution server. It is characterized by doing.

  The invention according to claim 6 of the present application is the navigation system according to claim 1, wherein when the transfer route is included in the guide route, the allowance time calculation means calculates the allowance time with respect to the departure time of the transfer station. It is characterized by calculating.

  According to claim 7 of the present application, in the navigation system according to claim 1, when the transfer route is not included in the guide route, the allowance time calculation means arrives at the destination including the destination station. A margin time with respect to time is calculated.

The invention according to claim 8 of the present application is
Network to route search server having route search means for searching for guidance route including section using transportation by referring to network data for route search based on route search request including specified departure place and destination In a terminal device that is connected via a terminal and includes a display unit that displays the guide route,
The terminal device includes: a position detection unit that acquires a current position and a current time; an operation / input unit; an event detection unit that detects a predetermined event related to a delay of a traffic unit in the guide route; and a delay time calculation unit And a margin time calculation means for calculating a margin time by comparing the current position and the current time acquired by the position detection means with the scheduled operation time of the transportation means in the guidance route, and an inquiry means,
When the event detection detects a predetermined event related to the delay of the transportation means, the delay time calculating means calculates a delay time with respect to the scheduled operation time on the guide route, and a margin time calculating means is the margin time calculating means. When the calculated delay time is within a margin time, the inquiry means prohibits the inquiry to one or both of the route search server and the other information distribution server. And

  The invention according to claim 9 of the present application is the terminal device according to claim 8, wherein the event detection means is based on the current location and current time acquired by the position detection means, and route information of the guide route. And detecting the predetermined event.

  Further, the invention according to claim 10 of the present application is the terminal device according to claim 8, wherein the event detection means detects the predetermined event from the delay information of the transportation facility received from the route search server or the information distribution server. It is characterized by detecting.

  The invention according to claim 11 of the present application is characterized in that, in the terminal device according to claim 8, the event detecting means detects the predetermined event based on the passage of a predetermined time set in advance. To do.

  The invention according to claim 12 of the present application is the terminal device according to claim 10, wherein the delay time calculation means obtains the delay time from the delay information of the transportation facility received from the route search server or the information distribution server. It is characterized by doing.

  Further, in the invention according to claim 13 of the present application, in the terminal device according to claim 8, when the transfer route is included in the guide route, the allowance time calculation means calculates the allowance time with respect to the departure time of the transfer station. It is characterized by calculating.

  Further, in the invention according to claim 14 of the present application, in the terminal device according to claim 8, when the transfer route is not included in the guide route, the allowance time calculating means arrives at the destination including the destination station. A margin time with respect to time is calculated.

The invention according to claim 15 of the present application is
A route search server having route search means for searching for a guide route including a section using a transportation facility by referring to network data for route search based on a route search request including a designated departure place and destination; In a route guidance method in a navigation system comprising a terminal device having display means for displaying the guidance route,
The terminal device includes: a position detection unit that acquires a current position and a current time; an operation / input unit; an event detection unit that detects a predetermined event related to a delay of a traffic unit in the guide route; and a delay time calculation unit And a margin time calculation means for calculating a margin time by comparing the current position and the current time acquired by the position detection means with the scheduled operation time of the transportation means in the guidance route, and an inquiry means,
A first step in which the event detection means detects a predetermined event related to a delay in the traffic means; and the delay time calculation means guides when the event detection means detects the predetermined event. A second step of calculating a delay time with respect to a scheduled operation time on the route, a third step of calculating a margin time by a margin time calculation means, and the calculated delay time being within the margin time range And a fourth step of prohibiting an inquiry to one or both of the route search server and the other information distribution server by the inquiry means.

  Further, the invention according to claim 16 of the present application is the route guidance method according to claim 15, wherein the predetermined event is based on the current location and the current time acquired by the position detecting means and the route information of the guide route. Is detected.

  The invention according to claim 17 of the present application is the route guidance method according to claim 15, wherein the first step is based on the predetermined event from the delay information of the transportation facility received from the route search server or the information distribution server. Is detected.

  The invention according to claim 18 of the present application is the route guidance method according to claim 15, wherein the first step detects the predetermined event based on a predetermined time. Features.

  The invention according to claim 19 of the present application is the route guidance method according to claim 17, wherein the second step calculates the delay time from the delay information of the transportation facility received from the route search server or the information distribution server. It is characterized by acquiring.

  According to claim 20 of the present application, in the route guidance method according to claim 15, when the transfer route is included in the guide route, the third step calculates a margin time with respect to the departure time of the transfer station. It includes a process for calculating.

  The invention according to claim 21 of the present application is the route guidance method according to claim 15, wherein when the transfer route is not included in the guide route, the third step is arrival at the destination including the destination station. It includes a process of calculating a margin time with respect to time.

  In the invention according to claim 1, the terminal device detects a predetermined event related to a delay of the transportation means in the guide route, a position detection means for acquiring the current position and the current time, an operation / input means, and the guidance route. Detecting means, delay time calculating means, current position and current time acquired by the position detecting means, and margin time calculating means for calculating a margin time by comparing the scheduled operation time of the transportation means in the guide route; An inquiry means, and when the event detection means detects a predetermined event related to the delay of the transportation means, the delay time calculation means calculates a delay time with respect to the scheduled operation time on the guide route. The allowance time calculating means calculates the allowance time, and when the calculated delay time is within the allowance time range, the route search by the inquiry means is performed. Prohibiting inquiry to either or both of a server or other information delivery server.

  According to such a configuration, even if an event related to a train delay is detected, the delay time and the allowance time are calculated, and if the delay time is within the allowance time range, the delay information is distributed to the route search server or the like. Since requests and detour path search requests are prohibited, network communication load and server processing load are not increased unnecessarily. In addition, it is possible to prevent generation of useless communication charges.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the event detection unit is configured to perform the predetermined event based on the current location and the current time acquired by the position detection unit and the route information of the guide route. Is detected.

  According to such a configuration, since the delay is determined based on the current position and the current time acquired by the position detection means and the guidance route, the delay of the transportation means at the transfer station where the current position is located, the nearest station of the destination, or in front of it. The presence / absence determination can be performed.

  In the invention according to claim 3, in the invention according to claim 1, the event detecting means detects the predetermined event from the delay information of the transportation facility received from the route search server or the information distribution server.

  According to such a configuration, the terminal device can easily determine the presence or absence of delay from the delay information of the transportation facility received from the server.

  In the invention according to claim 4, in the invention according to claim 1, the event detecting means detects the predetermined event based on the elapse of a predetermined time set in advance.

  According to such a configuration, the delay time and the allowance time are calculated even when the information about the detour path and the delay is periodically acquired every predetermined time without using the delay detection. If it is within the range, the delay information distribution request to the route search server or the like and the detour route search request are prohibited, so that the communication load of the network and the processing load of the server are not increased unnecessarily. In addition, it is possible to prevent generation of useless communication charges.

  In the invention according to claim 5, in the invention according to claim 3, the delay time calculation means acquires the delay time from the delay information of the transportation facility received from the route search server or the information distribution server.

  According to this configuration, the terminal device can easily obtain the delay time from the delay information of the transportation facility received from the server.

  In the invention according to claim 6, in the invention according to claim 1, when the transfer route is included in the guide route, the allowance time calculation means calculates the allowance time calculation with respect to the departure time of the transfer station.

  According to this configuration, the delay time and the allowance time can be compared from the current time at the transfer station and the time information in the guidance route, and it is necessary to request a search for a detour route to the route search server and to acquire delay information. It becomes possible to determine whether or not. Further, since a delay information distribution request or a detour route search request to a route search server or the like is prohibited, the network communication load and the server processing load are not increased unnecessarily. In addition, it is possible to prevent generation of useless communication charges.

  In the invention according to claim 7, in the invention according to claim 1, when the transfer route is not included in the guide route, the allowance time calculation means calculates the allowance time with respect to the arrival time at the destination including the destination station. calculate.

  According to such a configuration, it is possible to compare the delay time and the margin time at the destination including the destination station from the current time and the time information on the guidance route, so that a search request or delay of the detour route to the route search server Whether or not it is necessary to acquire information can be determined. Further, since a delay information distribution request or a detour route search request to a route search server or the like is prohibited, the network communication load and the server processing load are not increased unnecessarily. In addition, it is possible to prevent generation of useless communication charges.

  In the inventions according to claims 8 to 14, a terminal device constituting the navigation system according to claims 1 to 7 can be provided, respectively, and in the inventions according to claims 15 to 21. Can provide route guidance methods in the navigation systems according to claims 1 to 7, respectively.

  Hereinafter, specific examples of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples and drawings. However, the embodiments shown below illustrate a navigation system for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and are not intended to specify the present invention for this navigation system. The present invention can be equally applied to navigation systems of other embodiments included in the scope.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a navigation system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a terminal device 20 using a portable terminal such as a mobile phone, a PDA, or a music player, and a route search server 30 on a network 12 such as the Internet. It is configured to be connected via. The route search server 30 is a database (DB1) that stores road network data for route search, a database (DB2) that stores traffic network data based on timetable data as traffic network data, each train of transportation, etc. A timetable based on the operation schedule, a timetable / fare data database (DB3) that accumulates fares, and a database (DB4) that accumulates map data for display. The timetable / fare data can be acquired from the information distribution server 50 via the network.

  The navigation system 10 according to the present invention is not limited to the above configuration, and the route search server 30 may have the function of a map distribution server that distributes the map of the POI location together with the navigation service function. The terminal device 20 can also use a mobile phone, and may be a portable device such as a PDA, a music player, or a portable game machine.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the navigation system 10 shown in FIG. The navigation system 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a terminal device 20 that communicates via a network 12 such as the Internet, a route search server 30, and an information distribution server 50 as shown in the block diagram of FIG. It is configured.

  The terminal device 20 sets a route search condition such as a departure point and a destination to the route search server 30 and transmits a route search request. The route search server 30 performs road network data 36, traffic network data according to the route search condition. The optimum route is searched with reference to 37, and the optimum route is edited into guide route data and distributed to the terminal device 20.

  The terminal device 20 includes a control unit 21, a communication unit 22, a position detection unit 23, an event detection unit 24, a display unit 25, an inquiry unit 26, a delay time calculation unit 27, a margin time calculation unit 28, an operation / input unit 29, and the like. It is configured with. Although not shown, the control unit 21 is a microprocessor having a RAM, a ROM, and a processor, and controls the operation of each unit by a control program stored in the ROM. The communication means 22 is a communication interface for transmitting and receiving communication data with the route search server 30 and the like via the network 12.

  When a route search request is received from the terminal device 20 by specifying a route search condition such as a departure point, a destination, and an arrival time at the destination, the route search unit 33 causes the route search means 33 to read the road network data 36, traffic An optimum route or a plurality of candidates from the current position to the destination is searched with reference to the network data 37. Information on the optimum route or candidate route searched by the route searching means 33 is edited into guide information data for distribution to the terminal device 20 by the guidance data editing means 32 and distributed to the terminal device 20 through the communication means 34 together with the map data. The

  When receiving the guidance information from the route search server 30, the terminal device 20 displays information on the candidate route or the optimum route on the display unit 25. When a plurality of candidate routes are received, the user of the terminal device 20 compares the candidate routes, selects a desired candidate route as a guide route, receives data of the corresponding candidate route from the route search server 30, and Give guidance. The optimum route or guidance route is displayed on the display means 25 together with the map image, and route guidance is performed.

  When a route using transportation is included in the guide route, the guide route information includes the walk route from the departure point to the nearest station, the walk route from the nearest station to the destination, and the nearest station of the departure point. Routes of transportation from the nearest station to the destination, the time of transportation such as trains and buses to be boarded, arrival time at the transfer station if transfer stations are included, trains and buses to be transferred at the transfer station Detailed information on the means of transportation is included.

  In route guidance, in the terminal device 20, the position detection unit 23 calculates the current position and the current time at predetermined time intervals. When the terminal device 20 is a mobile phone, the current position is determined by communication with a mobile phone base station at a stop station or by a departure or stop detection by speed detection means while on a transportation such as a subway that cannot receive GPS satellite signals. You may comprise so that it may identify.

  When receiving the route guidance using the terminal device 20, the delay of the transportation means such as the train that has been guided is checked, and when the delay is detected, the route search server 30 or the like receives information on the detour route and the delay. If it is desired to obtain the delay detection mode, the operation / input means 29 is operated to set the delay detection mode. Note that the present invention can also be applied to a case in which information regarding a detour path and a delay is periodically acquired at predetermined time intervals without setting the delay detection mode.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a menu screen for setting a route search condition displayed on the display means 25 when the delay detection mode is set. In the route search condition input screen 300 shown in FIG. 3, a character string 310 indicating that the delay detection mode is being set is displayed, and a departure point input field 302, a destination input 303, a time condition input field 304, and a delay are detected. In this case, check boxes 305 and 306 for checking whether or not to make a detour route search request and a search start button 308 are provided.

  When a search for a detour route is made to the route search server 30 when an event such as a delay is detected, a check box 305 for a detour route search request “present” is checked. If this request is not made, a check box 306 for “None” for a detour route search request is checked. When the detour route search request is not made, the terminal device 20 transmits a request for acquiring information about the delay such as the cause and location of the delay from the route search server 30 or another information distribution server 50.

  The starting point and destination are set by inputting an address, a telephone number, a station name, a station name such as a building name, a latitude / longitude, or the like in the starting point input field 302 and the destination input field 303. That is, in this input field, free word input is possible in principle, but it can be set by an address, a telephone number, a POI (Point of Interest) name, or the like.

Further, by operating the pull-down button, it is possible to call and set the route search history and registered points registered in the terminal device 20 so far. In the time condition input field 304, time conditions such as departure date and time and destination arrival date and time are entered. If it is not necessary to set the time condition, the setting can be omitted. FIG. 3 shows an example in which “## building” is set as the departure point, “** hotel” is set as the destination, and destination arrival time “15:25” is set as the time condition.
When the necessary condition setting is completed and the search start button 308 is operated, a route search request is transmitted from the terminal device 20 to the route search server 30.

  The delay detection mode can be set after setting route search conditions and starting route guidance. Further, by default, the delay detection mode may be set to “off”, and the user may change the default setting to “on” as necessary. When the delay detection mode is set, the terminal device 20 performs the following process.

The event detection unit 24 compares the point where the terminal device 20 should be located at the current time with the time based on the information on the guide route every time the position detection unit 23 calculates the current position and the current time, and the delay is calculated. It is determined whether or not it has occurred, and the occurrence of an event is detected. For example, if there is a delay in the current time with respect to the arrival time or departure time of the station that should arrive at the current time from the information on the guide route, it is determined as a delay, and if there is no delay, it is determined as normal (no delay).
Note that the event detection by the event detection means 24 can also be detected based on transportation delay information transmitted from a server or the like, and information on detour routes and delays is periodically acquired at predetermined intervals. In this case, an event may be detected when a predetermined time has elapsed.

  If it is determined that there is a delay, the delay time calculation means 27 calculates how much the delay time is. When the delay time is calculated, the allowance time calculation means 28 calculates the allowance time. The allowance time is the allowance time for transfer at the transfer station or the allowance time for arrival at the destination including the destination station, and the user rides from the departure time of the train at which the user tries to get on at the transfer station. It is the time obtained by subtracting the delay time from the arrival time of the train and the time required for transfer or the estimated arrival time at the destination including the destination station.

  When the delay time and the margin time are calculated, the inquiry means 26 prohibits the inquiry to the server by the inquiry means 26 when the calculated delay time is smaller (within the range). . When the calculated delay time is larger than the margin time, the inquiry unit 26 permits an inquiry from the terminal device 20 to the route search server 30, the information distribution server 50, and the like. The inquiry to the route search server 30 and the information distribution server 50 here is an inquiry about information on delay, a search request for a detour route that avoids delay, and the like.

  If configured in this way, even if a train delay is detected, the delay time is small, so it is an acceptable delay for the user, and is substantially equivalent to no delay occurring. Since the delay information distribution request and the detour route search request to the server and the like are prohibited, the network communication load and the server processing load are not increased unnecessarily.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display image of the route guidance screen displayed on the display unit 25 of the terminal device 20. The operation during route guidance in the delay detection inquiry mode will be specifically described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a part of route guidance information (guidance route R) accompanying the movement of the user of the terminal device 20 is displayed on the display screen 300 of the terminal device 20. For example, it is assumed that the user is moving according to route guidance information obtained based on a search condition including a departure point, a destination, and time information desired by the user. The terminal device 20 updates the current location information by calculating the current location for each predetermined time interval or for each station departure / arrival time in the timetable of the route guidance information.

  If the position detection means 23 acquires the current location and acquires a time of 10:00 at the current location (near Tokyo Station), the terminal device 20 compares the acquired current location information with route guidance information (guidance route data). To determine whether or not a delay has occurred. In addition, when delay information is included in the route guidance information obtained from the route search server 30, it may be determined whether or not a delay has occurred. If the delay is determined based on the current position and current time acquired by the position detection means 23 and the guide route, it is possible to determine whether or not there is a delay in the transportation means at the transfer station, the nearest station of the destination, or the like. Further, using the transportation delay information received from the route search server 30 or the like, the terminal device 20 can easily determine the presence or absence of delay.

  If it is determined that no delay has occurred, the route guidance is continued as it is, but if it is determined that a delay has occurred, the actual delay time is calculated. In the route guidance information, if it is guidance that the vehicle has passed Tokyo Station at 9:55 and arrived at Kanda Station at 10:00, the delay time generated here is 5 minutes. If the route guidance information includes a delay time as the delay information, the delay time may be acquired thereby.

  The terminal device 20 acquires the current location, acquires a time of 10:05 at the transfer station (Kanda Station), and determines whether there is a delay at the departure time of the transfer train. If the departure time of the transfer train included in the route guidance information is 10:07, if the transfer time at this transfer station is 5 minutes, it must arrive at the transfer station (Kanda Station) at 10:02. There is. From this, it is determined that there is a delay at the transfer station (Kanda Station), and the delay time at that time is calculated as 3 minutes.

As described above, the terminal device 20 detects an event related to the delay of the transportation facility and calculates the delay time. Subsequently, the terminal device 20 determines whether or not a server inquiry is necessary.
First, the delay time at the transfer station and the margin time at the transfer station are compared. The surplus time at the transfer station is the transfer time from the departure time of the train at which the user is going to board the train (the train guided by the guidance route) to the arrival time of the train on which the user is currently riding. This is the time minus the necessary time.

  The actual delay time is compared with the calculated allowance time at the transfer station, and if the delay time is greater than the allowance time at the transfer station, an inquiry is permitted to the route search server 30 or the like. When making an inquiry to the route search server 30, the present location, time information, etc. are transmitted, and the re-route search result performed based on the search conditions previously transmitted by the route search server 30 together with the transmitted current location information. Receive. When the delay time of the transfer station is within the margin time range (when the delay time is smaller than the margin time), the inquiry to the route search server 30 is prohibited. As a result, the delay time and the allowance time can be compared from the current time at the transfer station and the time information in the guidance route, and it is determined whether or not it is necessary to request a search for a detour route to the route search server or to acquire delay information. be able to.

  When there is no transfer station in the route guidance information, the delay time at the destination and the margin time at the destination (target station) are compared. The margin time of the destination is the arrival at the destination (or destination station on the guidance route) calculated from the route search result from the desired arrival time at the destination (or destination station on the guidance route). This is the time minus the expected time.

  As a result of the comparison between the calculated delay time and the margin time of the destination, if the delay time is larger than the margin time of the destination, an inquiry is permitted to the route search server 30 or the like. When making an inquiry to the route search server 30, the present location, time information, etc. are transmitted, and the re-route search result performed based on the search conditions previously transmitted by the route search server 30 together with the transmitted current location information. Receive. When the delay time at the destination is within the margin time range (when the delay time is smaller than the margin time), the inquiry to the route search server 30 is prohibited. As a result, it is possible to compare the delay time and margin time at the destination including the destination station from the current time and the time information on the guidance route, and to search for a detour route to the route search server and to acquire delay information. Whether it is necessary or not can be determined.

  As described above, inquiries to unnecessary servers can be prohibited, and unnecessary communication charges can be prevented. In addition, the communication load on the network can be suppressed, and the processing load on the server can be reduced.

  Next, the concept of route search in the route search server 30 will be described. The route search network database 35 stores road network data for searching for a travel route by foot or car and traffic network data for searching for a travel route using public transportation. The route search means 39 refers to the route search network database 35 and searches for a route by walking or a car or a route using both walking and transportation.

  The road network data 36 (see FIG. 2) is configured as follows. For example, if the road is composed of roads A, B, and C as shown in FIG. 5, the end points, intersections, and inflection points of the roads A, B, and C are used as nodes, and the roads connecting the nodes are directed. Link cost data expressed as links, with node data (node latitude / longitude), link data (link number) and link cost of each link (link distance or time required to travel the link) as data Consists of.

  That is, in FIG. 5, Nn (◯ mark) and Nm (◎ mark) indicate nodes, and Nm (◎ mark) indicates a road intersection. Directional links connecting the nodes are indicated by arrow lines (solid line, dotted line, two-dot chain line). As for the links, there are links facing in the upward and downward directions of the road, but in FIG. 5, only the links in the direction of the arrows are shown for the sake of simplicity.

  When route search is performed using such road network data as a route search database, links linked from the starting node to the destination node are traced to accumulate the link cost, thereby minimizing the accumulated link cost. Search and guide the route. That is, in FIG. 5, when a route search is performed with the departure point as the node AX and the destination as the node CY, the road travels from the node AX to the road A, turns right at the second intersection, enters the road C, and reaches the node CY. The link cost is accumulated sequentially, and a route that minimizes the accumulated link cost is searched for and guided.

  Although other routes from the node AX to the node CY are not shown in FIG. 5, there are actually other such routes, so a plurality of routes that can be reached from the node AX to the node CY are displayed. A search is performed in the same manner, and a route with the lowest link cost is determined as the optimum route. This method is performed by, for example, a known method called the Dijkstra method.

  On the other hand, the traffic network data 37 (see FIG. 2) for route search of the transportation facility is configured as follows. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, in the case of traffic routes A, B, and C, each station (each airport on an aircraft route) provided on each traffic route A, B, and C is a node, and the nodes are connected. A section is represented by a directional link, and node data (latitude / longitude) and link data (link number) are network data. In FIG. 6, Nn (◯ mark) and Nm (◎ mark) indicate nodes, Nm (◎ mark) indicates a transit point (such as a transfer station) on a traffic route, and a directional link connecting each node. It is indicated by an arrow line (solid line, dotted line, two-dot chain line). As for the links, there are links facing in the upward and downward directions of the traffic route. In FIG. 6, only the links in the direction of the arrows are illustrated for the sake of simplicity.

  However, the traffic network basically has a different link cost compared to the road network. In other words, in the road network, the link cost is fixed and static, but in the traffic network, as shown in FIG. 6, trains and aircraft (hereinafter referred to as individual trains and aircrafts) that operate the traffic route. A plurality of means of transportation). The time of departure from one node and the time of arrival at the next node are determined for each means of transportation (specified by timetable data and operation data), and individual routes do not necessarily link to adjacent nodes. There is a case. This is the case, for example, with express trains and trains that stop at each station. In such a case, a plurality of different links exist on the same traffic route, and the required time between nodes may differ depending on the transportation means.

  In the transportation network illustrated in FIG. 6, a plurality of transportation means (routes) Aa to Ac... Exist on the same link of the transportation route A, and a plurality of transportation means (routes) Ca to Cc. Will do. Therefore, unlike a simple road network, the transportation network of a transportation facility has a data amount proportional to the total number of transportation means (routes such as individual aircraft and trains).

  In order to search for a route from a certain departure point to a certain destination using such traffic network data, all the means of transportation that can be used (ride) when arriving from the departure point to the destination are searched. It is necessary to specify the means of transportation that matches the search conditions.

  For example, in FIG. 6, when performing a route search in which the departure point is a node AX of the traffic route A and a certain departure time is specified and the node CY of the traffic route C is the destination, the route operates on the traffic route A. Of the transportation means Aa to Ac..., All transportation means after the departure time are sequentially selected as the departure route. And, based on the arrival time at the transit node on the transit route C, among all the transit means Ca-Cc... Operating on the transit route C, all combinations of transit means after the time that can be boarded at the transit node. The total time required for each route, the number of transfers, and the like are guided.

  Using such network data, the route search server 30 searches for a plurality of candidate routes from the departure point to the destination according to the route search conditions, and transmits the results to the terminal device 20 as guide route data. If the departure time of the departure place is specified in the route search conditions, the arrival time at the destination is reached. If the arrival time at the destination is specified, the arrival time is reached at the specified time. The departure time for the departure place is included in the guidance route data, and the terminal device 20 can display these on the display means 26 together with the details of the route. When the transfer route is included in the guide route, the train to be transferred at the transfer station and its departure time can be displayed in the same manner.

  In route search when walking and transportation are used as means of movement, road network data 36 and traffic network data 37 are combined to edit comprehensive network data and perform route search. The road network data 36 is referred to for the walking route section, and the traffic network data 37 is referred to for the route section using the transportation facility. In the search for the optimum route, the route having the minimum route cost in total is searched. In this case, a route that does not minimize the walking route section may be searched.

  When a route with the smallest walking route section is requested, a condition for making the walking route section the shortest is set. In addition, when requesting a route search that minimizes the number of transfers, a condition for minimizing the number of transfers is set. Furthermore, it is possible to set a condition that the fare of the route section using the transportation facility is minimized. These condition settings are common in route search using transportation.

  Next, an operation procedure of the route search system 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure in the terminal device 20 when a delay detection mode or a server inquiry every predetermined time is set in the terminal device 20. First, in step S101, for example, a delay detection mode is set in the terminal device 20, and a route search condition is input (see FIG. 3). A route search request is transmitted from the terminal device 20 to the route search server 30 in the process of step S102.

  When the route search request is transmitted, the terminal device 20 waits for reception of information on the guide route as a result of the route search from the route search server 30. When the terminal device 20 receives guidance information such as a guidance route from the route search server 30 in the process of step S103, it starts route guidance in the process of step S104 (see FIG. 4). When the route search server 30 is requested to search for a plurality of candidate routes, in the process of step S103, the terminal device 20 receives information on the candidate routes from the route search server 30, selects a desired route, and determines a guide route. Perform the process.

  When the current position and current time are updated in the terminal device 20 in the process of step S105, it is determined whether or not the destination has been reached in the process of step S106. If the terminal device 20 has arrived at the destination, the terminal device 20 ends the process. If it has not arrived at the destination, the process proceeds to step S107, and the event detection means 24 compares the current position and current time updated in the process of step S105 with the time information of the guide route, and the process of step S107. , It detects whether an event (delay) has occurred. If no event (delay) has occurred, the process returns to step S205.

  If it is determined that an event (delay) has occurred in the detection process in step S107, the delay time calculation unit 27 calculates a delay time in the process in step S108. The delay time calculated here is an actual delay time, and it moves by train or the like from the position and time at which the terminal device 20 is actually located with respect to the position in the guide route information and the scheduled time to be located at that position. It is calculated how much the terminal device 20 is delayed. In addition, when acquiring information about a detour route and a delay periodically every predetermined time, an event is detected when the set predetermined time elapses, and in that case, the processing from step S107 is similarly performed. Also good.

  When the delay time is calculated in the process of step S108, the terminal device 20 proceeds to the process of step S109, and determines whether the guide route is a transfer station. If it is a transfer station, the process proceeds to step S110. The allowance time calculation means 28 calculates the allowance time at the transfer station, and if it is not a transfer station, the process proceeds to step S111. The margin time at the nearest station (destination station) or destination is calculated, and the process proceeds to step S112.

  The surplus time calculated here is the surplus time of transfer at the transfer station or the arrival time to the destination including the destination station. From the departure time of the train at which the user tries to get on at the transfer station, the user This is the time obtained by subtracting the time required for transfer and the time obtained by subtracting the desired arrival time from the estimated time of arrival at the destination including the destination station.

  When the margin time is calculated in the process of step S110 or step S111, the inquiry unit 26 calculates the delay time calculated by the delay time calculation unit 27 and the margin time calculated by the margin time calculation unit 28 in the process of step S112. Are compared to determine whether the delay time is within the margin time range (ie, whether the delay time is smaller than the margin time). When the delay time is within the margin time, the inquiry means 26 prohibits inquiry and transmission of a request from the terminal device 20 to the route search server 30 or other external information distribution server in the process of step S113. .

  If the delay time is not within the margin time range (the delay time is greater than the margin time), the inquiry means 26 sends the route search server 30 or other external information distribution server from the terminal device 20 in the process of step S114. Allow inquiries and send requests. Thereby, the terminal device 20 may request a route search from the route search server 30, request transmission of information regarding delay, or request information distribution regarding delay from another external information distribution server. it can.

  When the process of step S113 or step S114 is completed, the terminal device 20 determines whether or not the route guidance is completed in the process of step S115. If the route guidance is not completed, the terminal device 20 determines the current position and current time in step S105. Returning to the update process, if the route guidance is finished, the process is finished.

  As described above in detail, according to the navigation system of the present invention, it is possible to prohibit inquiries to unnecessary servers and prevent generation of useless communication charges. In addition, the communication load on the network can be suppressed, and the processing load on the server can be reduced.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be suitably applied to a communication type navigation system using various portable terminal devices such as a mobile phone and a PDA, and searches for a candidate route from an arbitrary departure point to a destination by using a transportation facility. Even if a train delay is detected during movement according to the route guidance, the communication load and the server processing load can be suppressed, and the communication charge in the terminal device can be reduced.

1 is a system configuration diagram showing a configuration of a navigation system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the detailed structure of the navigation system concerning the Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the setting menu screen of the route search condition at the time of setting delay detection inquiry mode. It is a figure which shows an example of the display image of the route guidance screen displayed on a terminal device. It is a schematic diagram which shows the concept of the data of a road network. It is a schematic diagram which shows the concept of the data of a traffic network. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the operation | movement procedure of the navigation system concerning the Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

10. Navigation system 12 ... Network 20 ... Terminal device 21 ... Control means 22 ... Communication means 23 ... Position detection means 24 ... Event detection means 25... Display means 26... Inquiry means 27... Delay time calculation means 28 ... Margin time calculation means 29 ... Operation / input means 30 ... Route search server 31... Control means 32... Guide data editing means 33 ... Route search means 34 ... Communication means 35 ... Map data 36 ... Road network data 37 ...・ Transport network data

Claims (21)

A route search server having route search means for searching for a guide route including a section using a transportation facility with reference to network data for route search based on a route search request including a designated departure point and destination; In a navigation system comprising a terminal device having display means for displaying the guidance route,
The terminal device includes: a position detection unit that acquires a current position and a current time; an operation / input unit; an event detection unit that detects a predetermined event related to a delay of a traffic unit in the guide route; and a delay time calculation unit And a margin time calculation means for calculating a margin time by comparing the current position and the current time acquired by the position detection means with the scheduled operation time of the transportation means in the guidance route, and an inquiry means,
When the event detecting means detects a predetermined event related to the delay of the transportation means, the delay time calculating means calculates a delay time with respect to the scheduled operation time on the guide route, and the margin time calculating means is the margin time calculating means. Time is calculated, and when the calculated delay time is within the margin time, the inquiry to the route search server and / or other information distribution server by the inquiry means is prohibited. A featured navigation system.   2. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the event detection unit detects the predetermined event based on a current location and a current time acquired by the position detection unit and route information of the guide route. .   The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the event detection unit detects the predetermined event from delay information of a transportation facility received from the route search server or the information distribution server.   The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the event detection unit detects the predetermined event based on elapse of a predetermined time set in advance.   The navigation system according to claim 3, wherein the delay time calculating unit acquires the delay time from the delay information of the transportation facility received from the route search server or the information distribution server.   2. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein, when the transfer route includes a transfer station, the allowance time calculation means calculates an allowance time calculation with respect to the departure time of the transfer station.   2. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein when the transfer route is not included in the guide route, the margin time calculation means calculates a margin time with respect to arrival time at a destination including the destination station. Network to route search server having route search means for searching for guidance route including section using transportation by referring to network data for route search based on route search request including specified departure place and destination In a terminal device that is connected via a terminal and includes a display unit that displays the guide route,
The terminal device includes: a position detection unit that acquires a current position and a current time; an operation / input unit; an event detection unit that detects a predetermined event related to a delay of a traffic unit in the guide route; and a delay time calculation unit And a margin time calculation means for calculating a margin time by comparing the current position and the current time acquired by the position detection means with the scheduled operation time of the transportation means in the guidance route, and an inquiry means,
When the event detection detects a predetermined event related to the delay of the transportation means, the delay time calculating means calculates a delay time with respect to the scheduled operation time on the guide route, and a margin time calculating means is the margin time calculating means. When the calculated delay time is within a margin time, the inquiry means prohibits the inquiry to one or both of the route search server and the other information distribution server. A terminal device.   The terminal device according to claim 8, wherein the event detection unit detects the predetermined event based on a current location and a current time acquired by the position detection unit, and route information of the guide route. .   The terminal device according to claim 8, wherein the event detection unit detects the predetermined event from delay information of a transportation facility received from the route search server or the information distribution server.   The terminal device according to claim 8, wherein the event detection unit detects the predetermined event based on elapse of a predetermined time set in advance.   The terminal device according to claim 10, wherein the delay time calculation acquires the delay time from the delay information of the transportation facility received from the route search server or the information distribution server.   The terminal device according to claim 8, wherein when the transfer route includes a transfer station, the allowance time calculation unit calculates an allowance time calculation with respect to a departure time of the transfer station.   9. The terminal device according to claim 8, wherein when the transfer route is not included in the guide route, the margin time calculating means calculates a margin time with respect to the arrival time at the destination including the destination station. A route search server having route search means for searching for a guide route including a section using a transportation facility with reference to network data for route search based on a route search request including a designated departure point and destination; In a route guidance method in a navigation system comprising a terminal device having display means for displaying the guidance route,
The terminal device includes: a position detection unit that acquires a current position and a current time; an operation / input unit; an event detection unit that detects a predetermined event related to a delay of a traffic unit in the guide route; and a delay time calculation unit And a margin time calculation means for calculating a margin time by comparing the current position and the current time acquired by the position detection means with the scheduled operation time of the transportation means in the guidance route, and an inquiry means,
A first step in which the event detection means detects a predetermined event related to a delay in the traffic means; and the delay time calculation means guides when the event detection means detects the predetermined event. A second step of calculating a delay time with respect to a scheduled operation time on the route, a third step of calculating a margin time by a margin time calculation means, and the calculated delay time being within the margin time range And a fourth step of prohibiting an inquiry to either one or both of the route search server and the other information distribution server by the inquiry means.   The route according to claim 15, wherein the first step detects the predetermined event based on a current location and a current time acquired by the position detection unit and route information of the guide route. Guidance method.   The route guidance method according to claim 15, wherein the first step detects the predetermined event from delay information of a transportation facility received from the route search server or the information distribution server.   16. The route guidance method according to claim 15, wherein the first step detects the predetermined event based on elapse of a predetermined time set in advance.   The route guidance method according to claim 17, wherein the second step acquires the delay time from the delay information of the transportation facility received from the route search server or the information distribution server.   16. The route guidance method according to claim 15, wherein when the transfer route includes a transfer station, the third step includes a process of calculating a margin time for the departure time of the transfer station.   The route according to claim 15, wherein when the transfer route is not included in the guide route, the third step includes a process of calculating a margin time with respect to an arrival time at the destination including the destination station. Guidance method.

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