JP2010078349A - Navigation device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To properly set a destination of a return trip when a starting point designated in a route search of an outward trip is the destination of the return trip in a round trip between two target points. <P>SOLUTION: A navigation device 1 includes: prohibition area setting means 15; position determining means 17; and return-trip destination determining means 20. In the route search of the outward trip, the prohibition area setting means 15 sets a predetermined area around the target point as the center as an area in which route guidance is prohibited, and the position determining means 17 determines the position of a vehicle, prohibits route guidance such as speech guidance based on a guiding route within the prohibition area, allows route guidance based on the guiding route when the current position is out of the set area and located on the guiding route, and sets the destination of the outward trip as the starting point. In the route search of the return trip to the starting point of the outward trip, the return-trip destination determining means 19 sets the matched point as the destination of the return trip. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a navigation device that designates a desired starting point and destination, searches for an optimum route between them, presents a guidance route, and performs route guidance. In particular, the present invention relates to a predetermined center around a desired point. The area is set as an area where route guidance is prohibited. Within the set area, route guidance such as guidance guidance and voice guidance based on the guidance route is prohibited, and the current position is located on the guidance route after leaving the set area. The route guidance based on the guidance route can be received from the point, and in the route search on the return route, the route search is performed with the point where the current position is located on the guide route in the forward route as the destination of the return route and the route guidance is performed. The present invention relates to a navigation device.

  In the conventional navigation apparatus, the user operates the input means to set the starting point and the destination, search for the optimum route between them, and based on the current position of the vehicle detected by the current position detecting means, It guides the route from the current position to the destination.

  In general, a navigation apparatus includes a road network database for this route search. The road network database refers to the road (route) of map data, node data with nodes such as knots and inflection points as nodes, link data with links connecting each node, and cost information for all links. Link cost data having (distance and required time) is accumulated. The navigation device refers to this database and sequentially searches for a link from the starting node to the destination node, and traces the node having the smallest cost information of the link and the link as a guide route, thereby shortening the shortest. Determine the route and give guidance. As a route search method using such a database, a method called label determination method or Dijkstra method is used.

  The current position is measured by GPS (Global Positioning System), but this position information includes an error. Therefore, when the current position is off the road link, map matching processing is performed to correct the current position on the nearest road on the map. As a map matching process, a method is known in which a perpendicular is drawn to each nearby road link, and the road link having the shortest perpendicular length among the road links and the intersection of the perpendiculars are used as a matching position.

  In addition, when the guidance is performed based on the guidance route, the matching position may deviate from the guidance route because the user is lost. In such a case, it becomes necessary to newly search for an optimum route to the destination and perform guidance. For this reason, in a general navigation device, when it is detected that the vehicle deviates from the guidance route, it has a function of re-searching for the optimum route to the initial destination using the current position of the vehicle as a starting point. This re-search process is referred to as a reroute process.

  For example, the following Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-152351) discloses a navigation device having an auto-reroute process that automatically re-searches a route when a deviation from the route is detected. This navigation device executes a re-search process when an off-route is detected, determines the auto-re-route mode, and when it is ON, displays the re-search route and continues to provide route guidance. When it is OFF, the obtained route is stored in the route storage means, and the route stored in the route storage means is displayed when the user presses the re-search switch.

  Here, it is convenient to guide all from the current position to the destination, but it may be troublesome. For example, when driving in a well-known area such as at home or work, it is determined based on empirical rules that it is more convenient to follow a route that does not follow the guide route. May travel. If route guidance is received at that time, a warning deviating from the guidance route is output, or the necessity of route re-search (reroute processing) is inquired. Further, when the navigation device is set to auto reroute, unnecessary reroute is executed and wasteful processing occurs.

  In order to eliminate such annoyance, a navigation apparatus capable of registering a desired area and partially restricting voice guidance (prohibiting voice guidance) in the area is disclosed in Patent Document 2 ( JP-A-2004-184136).

  The navigation device disclosed in Patent Document 2 determines whether or not a current position detecting means, a registration area setting means for setting a registration area, and a spot related to the current position is in the registration area. And a control means for restricting route guidance to the destination, and is configured to restrict voice guidance when the current position is in the registration area.

  By the way, in the navigation device disclosed in Patent Document 2, a desired area is registered, voice guidance is prohibited in the registration area, and voice guidance can be resumed after leaving the registration area. When resuming, the following problems arise.

  That is, the user of the navigation device intends to return to the route guided before and after the boundary of the registration area, and travels on the road known by the user without following the guidance path in the registration area. However, since the guide route is different for different destinations, it is not possible to plan at which point to return to the guide route, and only an approximate registration area can be set. Therefore, it does not always return to the guide route when it goes out of the registration area. If you are traveling on a road that cannot be returned to the guidance route for a while after exiting the registration area, route guidance and voice guidance are resumed, a warning that you are out of the guidance route is output, or a reroute inquiry is made. The problem that the original purpose cannot be achieved completely occurs. In addition, when in the auto-reroute state, there arises a problem that a reroute process of a useless route is performed.

  The applicant of the present application has already filed a patent application for the invention of Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-212392 for the purpose of solving the above problems.

  In the invention disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-212392 (hereinafter referred to as “Prior Application 1”), a predetermined area centered on a desired point is set as an area where route guidance is prohibited, and within the set area. Bans route guidance such as guidance route and voice guidance based on the guidance route, leaves the set area, and can receive route guidance based on the guidance route from the point where the current position is located on the guidance route It is a feature.

  The concept of the navigation device of the prior application 1 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the concept of route guidance by the navigation device of the prior application 1. The route RT1 indicates a guidance route obtained as a result of searching for an optimum route from the departure point S to the destination G set as route search conditions in the navigation device. When the departure place S is familiar to the surrounding road, such as at home or work, the user does not travel along the route RT1, which is a guide route, and uses another route RT2 that the user knows well from the departure place S. The user may travel and enter a route RT1 guided at an arbitrary point P. In this case, while the user is traveling on the route RT2, route guidance related to the route RT1, which is a guidance route (such as voice guidance, off-route warning, and re-route processing based on off-route) is useless.

In the prior application 1, the navigation apparatus can be operated by designating a function that prohibits route guidance by voice guidance or message display in a desired area in addition to a normal navigation function. In the case of this operation mode, a predetermined area including the departure point S (see area D in FIG. 5) is set, and the area is set as an area for which route guidance is prohibited (prohibited area). The route guidance is resumed from a point P determined to be on the guidance route searched by the navigation device (see route RT1 in FIG. 5).
JP 09-15231 A (paragraph [0029]) JP 2004-184136 A (paragraph [0009])

  By the way, the user starts from his / her home or office, sets a desired destination, receives route search and route guidance, travels to the destination, and returns from the destination to the original departure location. May take back action. For example, when going to a desired tourist spot from home and returning home.

  Generally, when making a round trip from a desired departure place to a destination, the same path as the forward path can be set as the return path, but it is not always optimal to set the same path as the forward path as the return path. If the driving time zone is different, the road conditions will be different, and the return route may reach the destination sooner if another route is used. For example, at the time when the navigation device searches for the optimal route for the outbound route from the departure point to the destination, and at the time when the optimal route for the return route is searched with the destination as the outbound route and the departure point as the outbound route, The traffic congestion situation on the road may be different, and the same route is not necessarily the optimum route on the forward and return routes. Therefore, normally, even if the two points of the starting point and the destination are the same on the outbound route and the returning route, it is necessary to search for the route again by setting the route search condition for the returning route.

  In such a case, when the destination of the return route is a point where the user knows the surrounding road conditions well like the home, the route was guided to the home without driving the route guided by the route search to the home. It often happens that the vehicle travels along a route and returns to the home by deviating to another road regardless of the guide route. In such a case, even if the destination of the route search for the return route is set at home and the route to the home is searched and guided, the route guidance (based on voice guidance, off-route warning or off-route) This causes a problem that the reroute processing is not necessary.

  As a result of various studies to solve the above problems, the inventor of the present application sets a predetermined area centered on a desired point as an area for which route guidance is prohibited, and the set area includes a guide route and a guide route. In this mode, route guidance such as voice guidance based on is prohibited, exits the set area, and resumes route guidance based on the guidance route from the point where the current position is located on the guidance route. If the departure point of the outbound route is set as the destination on the return route, and if the route search and route guidance is performed using the point where the route guidance is resumed on the outbound route as the destination of the return route, The present invention has been completed by conceiving that it can be solved.

  That is, the present invention has an object to solve the above-mentioned problems, and a predetermined area centered on a desired point is set as an area for which route guidance is prohibited, and the set area is based on a guidance route or a guidance route. In navigation devices that prohibit route guidance such as voice guidance, leave the set area, and receive route guidance based on the guidance route from the point where the current position is located on the guidance route, reciprocate between two desired points In this case, it is an object of the present invention to provide a navigation device that can appropriately set a destination for a return route when a departure point designated in a route search for an outward route is set as a destination for a return route.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 of the present application is
Route search means for searching for a guide route from a specified departure place to a destination, current position detection means for detecting the current position, map storage means for storing map data, and a map stored in the map storage means In a navigation device comprising a route guidance unit that displays a map image including a guidance route based on data and displays a current position on the map image to perform route guidance.
The navigation device includes a prohibited area setting unit that sets a predetermined area that prohibits the route guidance according to a desired point as a prohibited area, a position determination unit, and a return destination determination unit.
When a forbidden area is set with the desired point as a starting point, and when receiving a route guidance on an outbound route based on a route search result to the destination, the current position detected by the current position detecting unit by the position determining unit is A route on the return path that is determined to exist outside the prohibited area and that has been determined that the current position detected by the current position detecting means is on the guide route is temporarily stored, and the departure point on the outbound route is the destination When performing a search, the return route destination determining means determines the temporarily stored point as a return route destination, and the route search means performs a route search using the point as a destination. .

  The invention according to claim 2 of the present application is the navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the current position detected by the current position detection means by the position determination means is within the prohibited area during route guidance for the forward path. And when it is determined that the current position detected by the current position detecting means is not on the guide route, the route searching means prohibits re-searching of the route.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the navigation device according to the first or second aspect, the current position detected by the current position detecting means by the position determining means at the time of route guidance of the forward path is determined. It is determined that the current position is outside the prohibited area, and it is determined that the current position detected by the current position detecting means is not on the guide route when a predetermined time has passed since the current position is outside the prohibited area. In this case, the route search means permits a route re-search.

  In the invention according to claim 1, when a prohibited area is set with a desired point as a departure point, and when receiving a route guidance based on a route search result to a destination, the current position detection unit detects the current position. It is determined that the current position detected by the means is outside the prohibited area, and the point where the current position detected by the current position detection means is determined to be on the guide route is temporarily stored, and the departure point in the forward path When performing a return route search with the destination as the destination, the return route destination determination means determines the temporarily stored point as the destination of the return route, and the route search means determines a route with the point as the destination. Perform a search.

  According to such a configuration, a predetermined area centered on a desired point is set as an area for which route guidance is prohibited, and within the set area, route guidance such as guidance guidance and voice guidance based on the guidance route is prohibited and set. In the navigation device in which a route guidance based on the guidance route is received from the point where the current position is located on the guidance route, the route is specified in the forward route search when reciprocating between two desired points. When the departure point is the return destination, the return destination can be set appropriately. In addition, since the destination of the return route is not a point indicating the departure point itself, but the point on the outbound route for the first time after the vehicle has left the prohibited area is set as the destination of the return route, The user travels to the point on the optimum route guided based on the result of the route search on the return route, and after that point, the user can travel to the home that is the departure point using any route as in the forward route. become.

  In the invention according to claim 2, in the navigation device according to claim 1, it is determined that the current position detected by the current position detection means exists in the prohibited area by the position determination means, and the current position detection means When it is determined that the current position detected by is not on the guide route, the route search means prohibits re-searching of the route.

  According to such a configuration, even when the user deliberately deviates from the guide route within the prohibited area and travels on the road that he / she has selected, even if the auto reroute function is turned on, On the other hand, the route is not re-searched, the user can travel without guidance from the navigation device, and unnecessary re-search processing is not required, thereby suppressing memory pressure.

  In the invention according to claim 3, in the navigation device according to claim 1 or 2, it is determined by the position determination means that the current position detected by the current position detection means is outside the prohibited area, and If it is determined that the current position detected by the current position detecting means is not on the guide route after a predetermined time has passed since the outside of the prohibited area, the route searching means permits the route search again. To do.

  According to such a configuration, even if the auto-reroute function is set to ON, the user intentionally departs from the guide route within the prohibited area and travels on the road that he / she has selected. On the other hand, the route is not re-searched, the user can travel without guidance from the navigation device, and unnecessary re-search processing is not required, thereby suppressing memory pressure. Furthermore, when the vehicle cannot return to the guide route within a predetermined time after going out of the prohibited area, a new route from the current position of the vehicle to the destination is re-searched by the auto reroute function. .

  Hereinafter, specific examples of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples and drawings. However, the embodiment shown below exemplifies a vehicle-mounted navigation device for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and is not intended to specify the present invention as this vehicle-mounted navigation device. The present invention is equally applicable to the in-vehicle navigation device of other embodiments included in the claims.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an in-vehicle navigation device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The in-vehicle navigation device 1 includes a control unit 10, a current position detection unit 11, a storage unit 12, a route search unit 13, a display unit 14, a prohibited region setting unit 15 for setting a predetermined region for prohibiting route guidance, and an input unit 16. The route guidance unit 18 determines whether or not the current position is within the prohibited area, and determines whether or not the current position detected by the current position detection unit 11 is on the guide route. The destination determining means 19 is provided.

  The control means 10 is a microprocessor having a ROM 101 and a RAM 102, and controls the operation of each unit by a control program stored in the ROM 101. The current position detection means 11 includes a GPS receiver, receives and processes GPS satellite signals, measures the current position (latitude / longitude) of the navigation device 1 at predetermined time intervals, and refers to map data (road data). Then, the current position on the road data is detected by performing a matching process on the position on the road closest to the current position measured. The display means 14 displays a map on a liquid crystal screen or the like with the current position as the center.

  The input unit 16 includes keys and operation buttons, and can set route search conditions such as a departure point, a destination, and a time condition by operating a menu screen (using a touch panel (not shown)) and operating the operation buttons.

  The storage means 12 includes road node data (node data) and road link data (link data) that use nodes such as intersections and branch points of each road as nodes and links between the nodes as links. Remember. The road node data includes road node numbers, position coordinates, the number of connection links, intersection names, and the like. The road link data includes the number of road nodes as starting and ending points, road type, link length (link cost), required time, number of lanes, road width, and the like. Further, data such as bridges, tunnels, railroad crossings, and toll gates are added to the road link data as link attributes. The road type is information including a distinction between an expressway and a toll road and a distinction such as a national road or a prefectural road. The storage unit 12 further stores background data including facility data including water system data such as coastlines, lakes, and river shapes, administrative boundary data, facility positions, shapes, and names.

  When a departure place or destination is designated by the user, the route search means 13 refers to the map data (road data) stored in the storage means 12 and searches for the optimum route from the departure place to the destination. Guide route data is created. This search for the optimum route is carried out by linking various links and nodes from the road node corresponding to the current location or the starting point designated by the user to the road node corresponding to the destination designated by the user, such as Dijkstra method. Search by the method, accumulate link length (link cost) and required time, etc., use the route with the shortest total link length or total required time as a guide route, and use road nodes and links belonging to the route as guide route data It is to provide.

  The route guidance unit 18 displays a viewable image by the display unit 14 based on the guidance route data created by the route search unit 13 and the current position detected by the current position detection unit 11, and although not shown. Guidance is provided using voice guidance through speakers. In route guidance by the route guidance means 18, map data of a predetermined scale including the current position of the in-vehicle navigation device 1 is extracted from the storage means 12, and a current position mark indicating the current position and an image of the guidance route are superimposed. It is displayed on the display means 14. Further, when the current position reaches a point requiring guidance such as an intersection or a branching point during route guidance, the control means 10 displays guidance such as right turn, left turn, or straight ahead on the display means 14 or a speaker (not shown). To output voice guidance.

  The above-described components of the in-vehicle navigation device 1 are elements included in a general navigation device, and the in-vehicle navigation device 1 according to the present embodiment further includes a prohibited area setting unit 15 and a position determination unit as described above. 17, a return destination determination means 19 is provided.

  In the present invention, in addition to the normal navigation function, a function for prohibiting route guidance by voice guidance or message display in a desired area can be specified and operated. In the case of this operation mode, the guidance prohibition area setting means 15 sets a predetermined area that prohibits route guidance centering on a desired point, and within the set prohibition area, voice guidance based on the guidance route or the guidance route is set. Route guidance such as the above is prohibited, the set prohibition area is exited, and the route guidance based on the guidance route is resumed from the point where the current position detected by the current position detecting means 11 is determined to be on the guidance route.

  For this reason, the position determination means 17 determines whether the current position of the vehicle detected by the current position detection means 11 is within the prohibited area or outside the prohibited area. Further, it is determined whether or not the current position detected by the current position detecting means 11 is on the guide route.

  Point designation when setting the prohibited area is performed by inputting a departure place or destination by the input means 16 or by inputting from a route search condition input menu displayed on the display means 14 using the touch panel.

  In addition, if a route search is performed by specifying a function that prohibits route guidance on the outbound route, and the route guidance is received based on the result, and the route guidance is prohibited in the prohibited area, the departure location of the outbound route is determined on the return route. When searching for a route with the return destination as the return destination and the return destination as the return destination, the return destination determination means 19 determines the return destination as described later.

  That is, the route search means 13 does not perform the return route search using the outbound departure point as it is as the destination, but uses the outbound destination as the departure destination and determines the return destination determined by the return route determination means 19. Search for the destination route. The return route destination determination means 19 has exited the prohibited area where the position determination means 17 has determined that the route guidance is to be resumed in the forward route guidance, that is, the vehicle prohibits the route guidance in the forward route guidance. A point (point P shown in FIG. 5) that is determined to be located on the outgoing route for the first time later is determined as the destination of the return route.

  Therefore, when the function of the present invention is used and a function that prohibits route guidance by voice guidance or message display is designated and operated in a desired area, a route search for the return route is performed in addition to the route search for the forward route. Specify a condition. When this designation is made, the control means 10 temporarily stores the point determined by the position determination means 17 as the point where the route guidance is resumed in the forward route guidance, and provides point information to the return route destination determination means 19. To be configured.

  In this way, the destination of the return route is not a point indicating the departure point of the outbound route itself, but the point on the outbound route for the first time after the vehicle has left the prohibited area is the destination of the return route. Since the user is set, the user travels to the point on the optimum route guided based on the result of the route search on the return route, and after that point, the user travels using the arbitrary route to the home that is the departure place in the same way as the outbound route. Will be able to.

  A state in which a route search is specified by specifying a function prohibiting route guidance, and route guidance is received according to the result. When the vehicle travels while prohibiting route guidance in the prohibited area, auto reroute functions in the navigation device 1. If the current position deviates from the guidance route, route re-search (reroute) processing by the route search means 13 is automatically started.

  Therefore, when the current position of the vehicle is within the prohibited area, route guidance is prohibited and reroute processing is not performed.

  Even if the current position of the vehicle leaves the prohibited area, there is a possibility that the vehicle has not returned to the guide route at that point, and a case where a certain amount of time is required to return to the guide route is expected. Accordingly, the reroute process is prohibited until a predetermined time elapses after the current position is outside the prohibited area. In this way, useless reroute processing is not performed even when the navigation device 1 is in an auto reroute state, and a route departure warning is not output.

  Next, with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 2, the operation | movement procedure of the navigation apparatus concerning the Example of this invention is demonstrated.

  First, the control means 10 determines whether or not it is designated to operate a function for prohibiting route guidance by voice guidance or message display in a desired area (a route guidance operation in which a prohibited area is set is designated). Step S1). If the operation for setting the prohibited area for prohibiting route guidance is not specified, the process proceeds to step S9, and the control means 10 shifts to the normal route search operation to execute route search and route guidance. If the destination is reached, the process is terminated.

  When an operation that sets a prohibited area is designated (Y in step S1), it is determined whether or not there is a return route search designation (step S2). When the return route search is not designated, the process proceeds to the processing shown in FIG. When the return route search is designated (Y in step S2), the control means 10 in the forward route guidance, the point where the voice guidance determined by the position determination means 17 or the route guidance by message display is resumed, that is, In the forward path, the point (point P in FIG. 5) located on the forward path for the first time after the vehicle has left the guidance prohibited area is temporarily stored (step S3).

  The process of step S3 is performed in the forward route guidance described later. The process of steps S101 to S107 in FIG. 3 or the points specified in steps S201 to S208 of FIG. The point located on the forward guide route for the first time after leaving the prohibited area) is stored.

  Next, the control means 10 determines the start of the return route search (step S4). The start timing of the return route search may be any time after the outbound route search is completed and the route guidance is started, but the user may cancel the trip or change the destination on the outbound route. Therefore, it is preferable to set the point in time when the vehicle arrives at the destination of the outbound route and the route guidance for the outbound route is completed. In this case, the start of the return route search in step S4 may be performed by detecting the arrival of the destination on the outward route (end of the outward route guidance).

  If the return route search is not started, the process of step S4 is repeated. When the start of the route search for the return route is determined, the return route destination determination unit 19 uses the voice guide or the message display for the route information temporarily stored by the control unit 10 in the process of step S3, that is, the route guide for the outward route. The point where the vehicle is resumed, that is, the point (point P in FIG. 5) which is located on the guidance route for the first time after the vehicle has left the prohibited area in the outward route, is determined as the destination in the route search for the return route (step S5). ).

  The route search means 13 uses the destination determined by the return destination determination means 19 in the return route search, and searches for the optimum route between the two points using the departure point as the return destination (step S6). The route guidance means 18 performs route guidance using the optimum route searched in the process of step S6 as the return route guidance route (step S7). Then, the route guidance unit 18 determines whether or not the vehicle has reached the destination (point P) on the return path based on the current position of the vehicle detected by the current position detection unit 11 (step S8).

  If the vehicle has not reached the destination on the return route, the process returns to step S7 to continue route guidance on the return route. If it is determined that the vehicle has reached the destination on the return path, the route guidance means 18 ends the route guidance on the return path, and the control means 10 also ends the process.

  Next, a route guidance (outbound route guidance) procedure when a predetermined prohibited area is set around the departure place will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure for prohibiting and resuming route guidance in the navigation device according to the embodiment of the present invention. Here, in the navigation device 1, a description will be given on the assumption that a mode for setting a forbidden area within a predetermined range centering on a designated departure point is set, and that the auto-reroute function is turned off. .

  In the process of step S101, route search conditions such as a departure point and a destination are set using the input unit 16 or the menu displayed on the display unit 14. In step S102, the route search means 13 searches for the optimum route from the departure point to the destination. The route guidance means 18 generates guidance route data for guiding the user using the optimum route searched by the route search means 13 as the guidance route. The guidance route data includes guidance in the traveling direction (voice or display message) at each intersection or the like. In step S103, route guidance is started according to this guidance route data.

  When the route guidance is started, the current position detection unit 11 detects the current position of the vehicle at a predetermined time interval in the process of step S104. In the process of step S105, the position determination unit 17 determines whether or not the current position is in the prohibited area. If it is determined that the current position is in the prohibited area, the process proceeds to step S106, and the route If the guidance is prohibited and it is determined that the information does not exist within the prohibited area, the process proceeds to step S107. If route guidance is prohibited in the process of step S106, it is determined in step S112 whether the route guidance is completed (whether it has arrived at the destination). If the route guidance is finished, the navigation device 1 terminates the process, and the route If the guidance is not finished, the process returns to step S104.

  In the process of step S107, the position determination means 17 compares the current position (link or node corresponding to the current position) detected by the current position detection means 11 with the guidance route data (link or node), It is determined whether or not the vehicle position is on the guidance route. If it is determined that the route exists on the guidance route, the process proceeds to step S108, where the route guidance by the route guidance unit 18 is resumed, and the process proceeds to step S112.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S107 that the current position detected by the current position means 11 is not on the guidance route, the process proceeds to step S109, where the route guidance by the route guidance means 18 is prohibited, and then step S110. The process proceeds to the above process to determine whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the vehicle went out of the prohibited area. If it is within the predetermined time, the process returns to step S107. If the predetermined time or more has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S111, an error is displayed, and the process is terminated.

In the above, the case where the auto reroute function is set to off in the navigation device 1 has been described as an example. Next, route guidance processing when the auto reroute function is set to on will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a route guidance processing procedure when the auto reroute function is set to ON in the navigation device 1.
In the flowchart of FIG. 4, the processing of step S201 to step S204 is the same as the processing of step S101 to step S104 in the flowchart of FIG.

  If it is determined in step S205 that the current position is out of the prohibited area, the process proceeds to step S208 to determine whether the vehicle is on the guide route. That is, the position discriminating unit 17 compares the current position (link or node corresponding to the current position) detected by the current position detecting unit 11 with the guidance route data (link or node), and if it matches, the own vehicle If the position is on the guide route and does not match, it is determined that the position is not on the guide route (departed from the route).

  If it is determined in the determination process of step S208 that the current position of the vehicle is on the guidance route, the process proceeds to step S209, route guidance by voice or the like is resumed, and the process proceeds to step S214.

  If it is determined in step S208 that the current position of the vehicle is not on the guide route, the process proceeds to step S210, the reroute process based on the auto reroute setting is prohibited, and the process proceeds to step S211. The route guidance by is prohibited, and the process proceeds to step S212. In the determination process in step S212, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the current position of the vehicle was outside the range of the prohibited area. As described above, the vehicle user travels on a well-known road that does not depend on the guide route in the vicinity of the departure point, and travels with the intention of returning to the guide route. There is a high possibility of returning to the guidance route by the time. If it is not possible to return to the guide route within this time, it is considered that the user is lost and cannot return to the guide route.

  Therefore, if it is determined in the determination process in step S212 that the predetermined time has not elapsed, the process returns to the determination process in step S208 to determine whether or not the vehicle has returned to the guide route. On the other hand, if it is determined that the predetermined time has elapsed, it is determined that the route has not returned to the guide route, and the process proceeds to step S213 to perform route re-search processing. In the route re-search process (reroute process), the current position of the vehicle is used as the departure point, and an optimum route to the destination specified by the initial route search condition is searched. In the case of the procedure of FIG. 4, since the in-vehicle navigation device 1 has the auto-reroute function turned on, a predetermined time has elapsed since the vehicle went out of the guidance prohibited area in the determination process in step S212. As a result, it is determined that the route cannot be returned to the guidance route, and the reroute processing based on the on setting of the auto reroute function is permitted, and the route re-search processing is executed.

  Therefore, the information on the points previously stored by the control means 10 in the process of step S3 in the flowchart of FIG. 2 (the points determined to be on the guide route after the vehicle has gone out of the prohibited area) is the step of FIG. This is the vehicle position information obtained in the determination process of S107 or the determination process of step S208 of FIG.

  As described above in detail, according to the present invention, a predetermined area centered on a desired point is set as an area for which route guidance is prohibited, and the guidance guidance and the voice guidance based on the guidance route are set in the set area. In a navigation device that prohibits route guidance such as leaving the set area and receiving route guidance based on the guidance route from the point where the current position is matched on the guidance route, it makes a round trip between two desired points At this time, when the departure point designated in the route search for the outward route is set as the destination of the return route, the destination of the return route can be appropriately set.

  In addition, since the destination of the return route is not a point indicating the departure point itself, but the point on the outbound route for the first time after the vehicle has left the prohibited area is set as the destination of the return route, The user travels to the point on the optimum route guided based on the result of the route search on the return route, and after that point, the user can travel to the home that is the departure point using any route as in the forward route. become.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the navigation apparatus concerning the Example of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure of the navigation apparatus concerning the Example of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of prohibition and resumption control of the route guidance of the navigation apparatus concerning the Example of this invention. 5 is a flowchart showing a route guidance processing procedure when the auto-reroute function is set to ON in the navigation device according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the concept of the route guidance control method in the navigation apparatus of the prior application 1 which set the predetermined area | region centering on a desired point as an area | region which prohibits route guidance.

Explanation of symbols

1: navigation device 10: control means 11: current position detection means 12: storage means 13: route search means 14: display means 15: prohibited area registration means 16: input means 17: position determination means 18: route guidance means 19: return path Destination determination means

Claims (3)

Route search means for searching for a guide route from a specified departure place to a destination, current position detection means for detecting the current position, map storage means for storing map data, and a map stored in the map storage means In a navigation device comprising a route guidance unit that displays a map image including a guidance route based on data and displays a current position on the map image to perform route guidance.
The navigation device includes a prohibited area setting unit that sets a predetermined area that prohibits the route guidance according to a desired point as a prohibited area, a position determination unit, and a return destination determination unit.
When a forbidden area is set with the desired point as a starting point, and when receiving a route guidance on an outbound route based on a route search result to the destination, the current position detected by the current position detecting unit by the position determining unit is A route on the return path that is determined to exist outside the prohibited area and that has been determined that the current position detected by the current position detecting means is on the guide route is temporarily stored, and the departure point on the outbound route is the destination When performing a search, the return route destination determining means determines the temporarily stored point as a return route destination, and the route search means performs a route search using the point as a destination. Navigation device.   During the forward route guidance, the position determination unit determines that the current position detected by the current position detection unit exists in the prohibited area, and the current position detected by the current position detection unit is the guidance The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when it is determined that the route is not on the route, re-searching of the route by the route search means is prohibited.   During the forward route guidance, the position determination unit determines that the current position detected by the current position detection unit is outside the prohibited area, and a predetermined time has elapsed since the current position was outside the prohibited area. In this case, when it is determined that the current position detected by the current position detection unit is not on the guide route, a route re-search by the route search unit is permitted. 3. The navigation device according to 2.

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