JP2010127845A - Route searching device, route searching method, route searching program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To search efficiently for a route reflecting a road state. <P>SOLUTION: In this route searching device 100, an acquisition storage part 101 acquires and stores congestion information of a road. A reception part 102 receives command input of route search. A determination part 103 determines whether a time when receiving the command input of the route search is within a prescribed time period or not. A searching part 104 searches for a route by using the congestion information when determined that the time when receiving the command input of the route search is within the prescribed time period, and searches for the route without using the congestion information when determined that the time when receiving the command input of the route search is not within the prescribed time period. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a route search device, a route search method, a route search program, and a recording medium that perform route search in consideration of traffic jam information on the route.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a route search device that performs a route search in consideration of traffic jam information on a road is known. As such a route search device, for example, in an in-vehicle navigation device that searches for an optimum route to a destination based on map information, displays the searched route, and performs route guidance, traffic information (congestion information) is obtained. Receiving means for receiving, route re-searching means for re-searching the optimum route to the destination based on the received traffic information, and informing the result when a new route different from the current display route is obtained by re-searching A notification means; a detection means for detecting the driver's intention to change the route; and a route change means for changing the route display to a new route when the intention to change the route is confirmed. A technique is known in which a guidance route is changed to a new route when a new route that avoids traffic congestion is searched (see, for example, Patent Document 1 below).

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-083685

  However, in the above-described prior art, there is a problem that switching between whether or not to consider traffic jam information during route search is not appropriately performed. Generally, whether or not to consider traffic jam information when searching for a route is switched depending on a function setting by the user. That is, once the presence / absence of consideration of traffic jam information is set, the setting is not changed until the setting is changed by the user.

  Here, when setting is made in consideration of traffic jam information at the time of route search, a route that avoids the traffic jam section is searched even when the traffic jam section is short, and extra right and left turns may increase. In addition, since the route search is always performed in consideration of traffic jam information, the processing load may increase and the time required for the route search may increase. Also, if you set traffic information not to be considered when searching for a route, the route will always be searched without considering traffic information, so the route will be drawn on a congested road and it will take a lot of time to reach the destination. It may take.

  In order to avoid such a situation, a method in which the user changes the setting every time is also conceivable. However, it is difficult to appropriately determine whether or not to consider traffic jam information at the time of route search, and as a result, a problem that the route search function considering traffic jam information is not effectively used is an example.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, a route search device according to the invention of claim 1 includes an acquisition storage means for acquiring and storing road traffic jam information, a reception means for receiving a route search command input, A determination unit that determines whether or not a time when a route search command input is received is in a predetermined time zone, and the traffic jam information is used when the time is determined to be in the predetermined time zone. And searching means for searching for a route without using the traffic jam information when it is determined that the time is not within the predetermined time zone.

  The route search method according to the invention of claim 5 is an acquisition storage means for acquiring and storing road congestion information, and when a route search command input is received, a time when the route search command input is received is A determination step of determining whether or not a predetermined time zone; and, when the time is determined to be the predetermined time zone, a route is searched using the traffic jam information, and the time is the predetermined time zone A search step of searching for a route without using the traffic jam information when it is determined that the current time is not a time zone.

  A route search program according to a sixth aspect of the present invention causes a computer to execute the route search method according to the fifth aspect.

  A recording medium according to a seventh aspect of the invention is characterized in that the route search program according to the sixth aspect is recorded in a computer-readable state.

  Exemplary embodiments of a route search device, a route search method, a route search program, and a recording medium according to the present invention will be explained below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(Embodiment)
(Functional configuration of route search apparatus 100)
First, a functional configuration of the route search apparatus 100 according to the embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a functional configuration of the route search apparatus according to the embodiment. The route search apparatus 100 includes an acquisition storage unit 101, a reception unit 102, a determination unit 103, and a search unit 104.

  The acquisition storage unit 101 acquires and stores road traffic jam information. For example, the acquisition storage unit 101 receives road congestion information via VICS (registered trademark) or network communication, and stores the information. Further, the acquisition storage unit 101 acquires the traffic jam information by accessing the traffic jam prediction database and reading the traffic jam information at a desired point or time zone. The traffic jam prediction database may be stored in the acquisition storage unit 101.

  The accepting unit 102 accepts a route search command input. The route search command input is a series of operations (inputs) for searching a route, such as a route search menu start operation, a destination point setting menu start operation, and a destination point setting operation.

  The determination unit 103 determines whether or not the time when the route search command input is received is within a predetermined time zone. The time when the route search command input is received may be any time during a series of operations (inputs) for searching for the route described above. Further, it may be determined which operation in a series of operations (inputs) is performed as the time when a route search command input is received. The predetermined time zone is a time zone during which traffic on the road increases, such as a commuting time zone.

  For example, the determination unit 103 sets a predetermined time zone according to the day of the week on which the route search command input is received, and whether the time when the route search command input is received is the predetermined time zone set. Judge whether or not. Further, the determination unit 103 sets a predetermined time zone according to whether or not the day when the route search command input is received is a weekday, and the predetermined time when the route search command input is received is set. It is determined whether it is a time zone.

  Furthermore, the determination unit 103 sets a predetermined time zone according to whether or not at least one of the departure point and the destination (hereinafter referred to as “departure point etc.”) is a region with a high traffic volume, It is determined whether or not the time when the search command input is received is within a predetermined time zone. For example, the determination unit 103 sets the entire time zone as a predetermined time zone when the departure place is an area with a large amount of traffic, and sets only the commuting time zone as a predetermined time zone in other areas.

  When it is determined that the time when the route search command input is received is within a predetermined time zone, the search unit 104 searches for the route using the traffic jam information, and when the route search command input is received. When it is determined that the time is not within the predetermined time zone, the route is searched without using the traffic jam information.

(Route search processing by the route search device 100)
Next, route search processing by the route search device 100 will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of route search processing by the route search device. First, the route search device 100 acquires traffic jam information in the acquisition storage unit 101 (step S201), and stores the acquired traffic jam information (step S202). The route search device 100 returns to step S201 and continues the subsequent processing until the receiving unit 102 receives a route search command input (step S203: No).

  When the receiving unit 102 receives a route search command input (step S203: Yes), the route searching apparatus 100 determines whether the time (reception time) when the determining unit 103 receives the route search command input is a predetermined time zone. It is determined whether or not (step S204). When the reception time is a predetermined time zone (step S204: Yes), the route search device 100 searches the route using the traffic jam information stored in step S202 by the search unit 104 (step S205). The process by is terminated. On the other hand, when the reception time is not a predetermined time zone (step S204: No), the route search device 100 searches the route without using the traffic jam information by the search unit 104 (step S206), and performs the processing according to this flowchart. finish.

  As described above, the route search apparatus 100 according to the embodiment switches whether to use the traffic jam information for the route search according to the time when the route search command input is received. Thereby, a route can be efficiently searched according to the road condition in each time zone. For example, if a predetermined time zone is a commuting time zone, traffic congestion information is taken into consideration in the commuting time zone, and a route that arrives at the destination earlier while avoiding traffic jams is searched. On the other hand, the traffic load information is not taken into consideration outside the commuting time zone, so the processing load of the route search device 100 can be reduced.

  Moreover, the route search apparatus 100 changes the time slot | zone which uses congestion information according to whether it is the day of the week or the weekday on which the command input is received. In general, the time zone during which roads are congested differs greatly between weekdays and weekends and holidays. For this reason, according to the route search apparatus 100, the route search which reflected the road condition more appropriately can be performed.

  In addition, the route search device 100 sets the predetermined time period according to whether or not the starting point of the route is an area with a large amount of traffic. Even in the same time zone, the traffic volume varies greatly depending on the region. For this reason, according to the route search apparatus 100, the route search which reflected the road condition more appropriately can be performed.

  Examples of the present invention will be described below. In the present embodiment, an example in which the route search device of the present invention is implemented by a navigation device mounted on a moving body such as a vehicle (including a four-wheeled vehicle and a two-wheeled vehicle) will be described.

(Hardware configuration of navigation device)
First, the hardware configuration of the navigation device 300 according to the embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the navigation device according to the embodiment. In FIG. 3, the navigation device 300 includes a CPU 301, a ROM 302, a RAM 303, a magnetic disk drive 304, a magnetic disk 305, an optical disk drive 306, an optical disk 307, an audio I / F (interface) 308, and a microphone 309. A speaker 310, an input device 311, a video I / F 312, a display 313, a communication I / F 314, a GPS unit 315, various sensors 316, and a camera 317. Each component 301 to 317 is connected by a bus 320.

  First, the CPU 301 governs overall control of the navigation device 300. The ROM 302 records programs such as a boot program and a data update program. The RAM 303 is used as a work area for the CPU 301. That is, the CPU 301 controls the entire navigation device 300 by executing various programs recorded in the ROM 302 while using the RAM 303 as a work area.

  The magnetic disk drive 304 controls the reading / writing of the data with respect to the magnetic disk 305 according to control of CPU301. The magnetic disk 305 records data written under the control of the magnetic disk drive 304. As the magnetic disk 305, for example, an HD (hard disk) or an FD (flexible disk) can be used.

  The optical disk drive 306 controls reading / writing of data with respect to the optical disk 307 according to the control of the CPU 301. The optical disk 307 is a detachable recording medium from which data is read according to the control of the optical disk drive 306. As the optical disc 307, a writable recording medium can be used. As a removable recording medium, in addition to the optical disk 307, an MO, a memory card, or the like may be used.

  An example of information recorded on the magnetic disk 305 and the optical disk 307 is a traffic jam prediction database. The traffic jam prediction database is a database that predicts the degree of congestion and required time of a road by season, day of the week, and time zone using information on the past congestion status. By using the traffic jam prediction database, it is possible to search for a route that avoids a traffic jam that is not currently occurring, or to perform a route search that takes into account future changes in road conditions. The traffic jam prediction database may be acquired via a network using a communication I / F 314 described later, in addition to being recorded on the magnetic disk 305 and the optical disk 307.

  Other examples of information recorded on the magnetic disk 305 and the optical disk 307 include map data and function data. The map data includes background data that represents features (features) such as buildings, rivers, and the ground surface, and road shape data that represents the shape of the road, and is composed of multiple data files divided by district. ing.

  The road shape data further includes traffic condition data. The traffic condition data includes, for example, whether or not there is a signal or a pedestrian crossing, whether or not there is a highway doorway or junction, the length (distance) of each link, road width, direction of travel, road type (highway, Such as toll roads and general roads).

  The function data is three-dimensional data representing the shape of the facility on the map, character data representing the description of the facility, and other various data other than the map data. Map data and function data are recorded in blocks divided by district or function. Specifically, for example, the map data is recorded in a state where each block can be divided into blocks such that each represents a predetermined district on the map displayed on the display screen. Further, for example, the function data is recorded in a state where each function can be divided into a plurality of blocks so as to realize one function.

  The function data is data for realizing functions such as program data for realizing route search, calculation of required time, route guidance, etc. in addition to the above-described three-dimensional data and character data. Each of the map data and the function data is composed of a plurality of data files divided for each district or each function.

  The audio I / F 308 is connected to a microphone 309 for audio input and a speaker 310 for audio output. The sound received by the microphone 309 is A / D converted in the sound I / F 308. For example, the microphone 309 may be installed near the sun visor of the vehicle, and the number thereof may be one or more. From the speaker 310, a sound obtained by D / A converting a predetermined sound signal in the sound I / F 308 is output.

  Examples of the input device 311 include a remote controller having a plurality of keys for inputting characters, numerical values, various instructions, and the like, a keyboard, and a touch panel. The input device 311 may be realized by any one form of a remote control, a keyboard, and a touch panel, but may be realized by a plurality of forms.

  The video I / F 312 is connected to the display 313. Specifically, the video I / F 312 is output from, for example, a graphic controller that controls the entire display 313, a buffer memory such as a VRAM (Video RAM) that temporarily records image information that can be displayed immediately, and a graphic controller. And a control IC for controlling the display 313 based on the image data to be processed.

  The display 313 displays icons, cursors, menus, windows, or various data such as characters and images. On the display 313, the map data described above is drawn two-dimensionally or three-dimensionally. The map data displayed on the display 313 can be displayed with a mark representing the current position of the vehicle on which the navigation device 300 is mounted. The current position of the vehicle is calculated by the CPU 301.

  As the display 313, for example, a CRT, a TFT liquid crystal display, a plasma display, or the like can be used. The display 313 is installed near the dashboard of the vehicle, for example. A plurality of displays 313 may be installed in the vehicle, for example, in the vicinity of the dashboard of the vehicle or in the vicinity of the rear seat of the vehicle.

  The communication I / F 314 is connected to a network via wireless and functions as an interface between the navigation device 300 and the CPU 301. The communication I / F 314 is further connected to a communication network such as the Internet via wireless, and also functions as an interface between the communication network and the CPU 301. Communication networks include LANs, WANs, public line networks and mobile phone networks. Specifically, the communication I / F 314 includes, for example, an FM tuner, a VICS (Vehicle Information and Communication System) / beacon receiver, a mobile phone module, and the like. It is possible to receive road traffic information such as traffic congestion and traffic regulations distributed from the VICS (registered trademark) center via the communication I / F 314, or to access a traffic jam prediction database provided by a road information provider. it can.

  The communication I / F 314 is configured by an in-vehicle wireless device that performs two-way wireless communication with a wireless device installed on the roadside, for example, when using DSRC (Dedicated Short Range Communication), and traffic information and map information Get various information. A specific example of DSRC is ETC (non-stop automatic fee payment system).

  The GPS unit 315 receives radio waves from GPS satellites and outputs information indicating the current position of the vehicle. The output information of the GPS unit 315 is used when the CPU 301 calculates the current position of the vehicle together with output values of various sensors 316 described later. The information indicating the current position is information for specifying one point on the map data, such as latitude / longitude and altitude.

  The various sensors 316 output information for determining the position and behavior of the vehicle, such as a vehicle speed sensor, an acceleration sensor, and an angular velocity sensor. The output values of the various sensors 316 are used for the calculation of the current position of the vehicle by the CPU 301 and the amount of change in speed and direction.

  The camera 317 captures images inside or outside the vehicle. The image may be either a still image or a moving image. For example, the behavior of the passenger inside the vehicle is photographed by the camera 317, and the photographed image is output to a recording medium such as the magnetic disk 305 or the optical disk 307 via the video I / F 312. To do. The camera 317 captures a situation outside the vehicle, and outputs the captured video to a recording medium such as the magnetic disk 305 or the optical disk 307 via the video I / F 312. Further, the camera 317 has an infrared camera function, and the surface temperature distributions of objects existing inside the vehicle can be relatively compared based on video information captured using the infrared camera function. The video output to the recording medium is overwritten and stored.

  The acquisition storage unit 101, the reception unit 102, the determination unit 103, and the search unit 104 of the route search apparatus 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 are recorded in the ROM 302, the RAM 303, the magnetic disk 305, the optical disk 307, and the like in the navigation apparatus 300 illustrated in FIG. The CPU 301 executes a predetermined program using the programmed program and data, and realizes its function by controlling each part in the navigation device 300.

  That is, the navigation device 300 according to the embodiment shows the functions of the route search device shown in FIG. 1 by executing the route search program recorded in the ROM 302 as a recording medium in the navigation device 300, as shown in FIG. It can be executed by the route search processing procedure.

(Route search process by the navigation device 300)
Next, route search processing by the navigation device 300 will be described. The navigation device 300 searches for a route to a destination point designated by the user, and considers various factors on the route (for example, the distance of the route, the presence or absence of a toll, the number of lanes on the road, etc.). One of the elements is traffic jam information. Congestion information includes information indicating real-time road conditions, such as VICS (registered trademark) information and information uploaded from a running vehicle using Smart Loop (registered trademark), and past information such as a traffic jam prediction database. There is information that aggregates road conditions. The navigation device 300 searches for a route that avoids traffic jams using both information indicating real-time road conditions and information obtained by collecting past road conditions.

  However, if a route is searched in consideration of traffic jam information at all times, even if the traffic jam section is short, a route that avoids the traffic jam section is searched, and extra right and left turns may increase. In addition, since the route search is always performed in consideration of traffic jam information, the processing load may increase and the time required for the route search may increase. On the other hand, when it is set not to consider traffic jam information when searching for a route, the route is always searched without considering traffic jam information, so it takes a lot of time to reach the destination point on the traffic jam road. May occur.

  For this reason, the navigation apparatus 300 switches whether to consider traffic jam information according to the time zone when the route search is performed. Thereby, the navigation apparatus 300 can perform an efficient route search and can provide a route according to the situation.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a route search process performed by the navigation device. Although not shown in the flowchart, the navigation device 300 sequentially receives road information distributed using VICS (registered trademark) information or smart loop (registered trademark) via the communication I / F 314 immediately after activation. It is stored in the RAM 303 or the like.

  In the flowchart of FIG. 4, the navigation apparatus 300 waits until a route search command is input (step S401: No loop). The route search command input is a series of operations (inputs) for searching a route, such as a route search menu start operation, a destination point setting menu start operation, and a destination point setting operation. The navigation apparatus 300 accepts a route search command input via an input device 311 such as a remote control or a touch panel.

  When there is a command input (step S401: Yes), the navigation device 300 determines whether or not the time when the command input is received is a time zone from 6 o'clock to 9 o'clock or 17:00 to 20 o'clock (step) S402). The time when the route search command input is received may be any time during a series of operations (inputs) for searching for the route described above. In addition, it is determined which operation in the series of operations (inputs) is performed when the route search command input is received (for example, the time when the destination point is determined). You may keep it.

  Here, 6 o'clock to 9 o'clock or 17 o'clock to 20 o'clock is generally a time zone when the road is congested. When it is from 6:00 to 9:00 or from 17:00 to 20:00 (step S402: Yes), the route search is performed using the traffic jam information (step S403), and the processing according to this flowchart ends. As the traffic jam information, for example, road information distributed using VICS (registered trademark) information or smart loop (registered trademark), or data in the traffic jam prediction database stored in the magnetic disk 305 and the optical disk 307 can be used.

  On the other hand, if it is not 6 o'clock to 9 o'clock or 17:00 to 20:00 (step S402: No), the route search is performed without using the traffic jam information (step S404), and the processing according to this flowchart ends. In this way, by switching whether or not to consider the traffic jam information depending on the time zone during which the route search is performed, it is possible to efficiently search for a route according to the situation.

  Next, route search processing in the case of changing the time zone in consideration of traffic jam depending on the day of the week will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a route search process performed by the navigation device. In the flowchart of FIG. 5, the navigation apparatus 300 stands by until a route search command is input (step S501: No loop).

  When there is a command input (step S501: Yes), the navigation apparatus 300 determines whether or not the day of the week when the command input is received is Monday to Friday (step S502). Here, the time when the command input is received is when a series of operations (inputs) for searching for the above-described route is performed. If it is Monday to Friday (step S502: Yes), it is determined whether or not the time when the command input is received is a time zone from 6:00 to 9:00 or from 17:00 to 20:00 (step S503). Here, 6:00 to 9:00 or 17:00 to 20:00 on weekdays are commuting time zones, for example, a time zone to which ETC commuting discounts are applied.

  When it is from 6:00 to 9:00 or from 17:00 to 20:00 (step S503: Yes), the process proceeds to step S508. If it is not 6 o'clock to 9 o'clock or 17 o'clock to 20 o'clock (step S503: No), the process proceeds to step S509.

  On the other hand, if the day of the week when the command input is received in step S502 is not Monday to Friday (step S502: No), it is determined whether it is a Saturday (step S504). If it is Saturday (step S504: Yes), it is determined whether or not the time when the command input is received is a time zone from 6:00 to 10:00 (step S505). Here, 6:00 to 10:00 on Saturday is a time zone when the road is crowded by leisure customers heading for weekend leisure. When it is from 6:00 to 10:00 (step S505: Yes), the process proceeds to step S508. If it is not 6 o'clock to 10 o'clock (step S505: No), the process proceeds to step S509.

  Also, if the day of the week when the command input is received in step S504 is not Saturday (step S504: No), it is determined that it is Sunday (step S506), and the time when the command input is received is from 16:00 to 20th. It is determined whether it is a time zone (step S507). Here, Sundays from 16:00 to 20:00 are times when the road is crowded during the rush to go home from leisure on weekends. When it is from 16:00 to 20:00 (step S507: Yes), the process proceeds to step S508. When it is not 16:00 to 20:00 (step S507: No), the process proceeds to step S509.

  When it is 6am to 9am or 17:00 to 20:00 on Sunday (step S503: Yes), when it is 6am to 10am on Saturday (step S505: Yes), it is from 16:00 to 20:00 on Sunday. If there is (step S507: Yes), a route search is performed using the traffic jam information (step S508), and the processing according to this flowchart ends. If it is not the above time zone (step S503: No, step S505: No, step S507: No), the route search is performed without using the traffic jam information (step S509), and the processing according to this flowchart ends.

  In FIG. 5, the time zone in which the traffic jam information is considered is changed from Monday to Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. For example, the time zone in which the traffic jam information is considered may be changed between weekdays and weekends and holidays. Further, for example, traffic information may be considered in all time zones on weekdays, and traffic jams may not be considered in all time zones on weekends and holidays.

  In addition, the time zone in which traffic jam information is considered may be changed according to the traffic volume at the departure point or the destination. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a route search process performed by the navigation device. In the flowchart of FIG. 6, the navigation apparatus 300 stands by until a route search command is input (step S601: No loop). This command input includes designation of a departure place and a destination.

  When there is a command input (step S601: Yes), the navigation apparatus 300 determines whether or not at least one of the designated departure point and destination belongs to an area with a high traffic volume (step S602). For example, an area with a large amount of traffic is classified in advance according to the number of vehicles passing through the main road in the area within a predetermined time.

  When belonging to an area with a lot of traffic (step S602: Yes), the process proceeds to step S604. If the route does not belong to an area where there is a lot of traffic (step S602: No), is the time when receiving a route search command input within the commuting time zone (6 o'clock to 9 o'clock or 17 o'clock to 20 o'clock)? It is determined whether or not (step S603). When it is the commuting time zone (step S603: Yes) and when the departure place belongs to an area with a lot of traffic (step S602: Yes), the route search is performed using the traffic jam information (step S604). The process ends. On the other hand, when it is not the commuting time zone (step S603: No), the route search is performed without using the traffic jam information (step S605), and the processing according to this flowchart ends.

  In addition to the above-mentioned examples, for example, if the departure place belongs to an area with a lot of traffic, the traffic jam information is taken into account at all times, and if it does not belong to an area with a lot of traffic, it is jammed at all times. A route search may be performed without considering information. If the departure place belongs to an area with a lot of traffic, consider the traffic information only during the commuting hours, and if it does not belong to an area with a lot of traffic, perform route search without considering the traffic information at all times. You may do it.

  As described above, the navigation device 300 switches whether to use the traffic jam information for the route search according to the time when the command input for the route search is received. Thereby, a route can be efficiently searched according to the road condition in each time zone. For example, if a predetermined time zone is a commuting time zone, the commuting time zone considers traffic jam information and searches for a route that arrives at the destination earlier while avoiding traffic jams. On the other hand, since the traffic jam information is not considered outside the commuting time zone, the processing load of the navigation device 300 can be reduced.

  In addition, the navigation device 300 changes the time zone in which the traffic jam information is used depending on whether the command input is received on the day of the week or weekday. In general, the time zone during which roads are congested differs greatly between weekdays and weekends and holidays. For this reason, according to the navigation apparatus 300, the route search which reflected the road condition more appropriately can be performed.

  In addition, the navigation device 300 sets the predetermined time period according to whether or not the starting point of the route is an area with a high traffic volume. Even in the same time zone, the traffic volume varies greatly depending on the region. For this reason, according to the navigation apparatus 300, the route search which reflected the road condition more appropriately can be performed.

  The route search method described in this embodiment can be realized by executing a program prepared in advance on a computer such as a personal computer or a workstation. This program is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a hard disk, a flexible disk, a CD-ROM, an MO, and a DVD, and is executed by being read from the recording medium by the computer. The program may be a transmission medium that can be distributed via a network such as the Internet.

It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of the route search apparatus concerning embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the route search process by a route search apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the navigation apparatus concerning an Example. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the procedure of the route search process by a navigation apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the procedure of the route search process by a navigation apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the procedure of the route search process by a navigation apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Route search apparatus 101 Acquisition memory | storage part 102 Reception part 103 Judgment part 104 Search part

Claims (7)

Acquisition storage means for acquiring and storing traffic congestion information on the road;
Receiving means for receiving a route search command input;
Determining means for determining whether or not the time when the route search command input is received is a predetermined time zone;
When it is determined that the time is within the predetermined time zone, a route is searched using the traffic jam information, and when it is determined that the time is not within the predetermined time zone, the traffic jam information is not used. Search means for searching for a route,
A route search device comprising:   The determination means sets the predetermined time zone according to the day of the week on which the route search command input is received, and determines whether or not the time is the set predetermined time zone. The route search apparatus according to claim 1.   The determination means sets the predetermined time zone according to whether or not the day when the route search command input is received is a weekday, and determines whether the time is the set predetermined time zone. The route search device according to claim 1, wherein the route search device is determined.   The determination means sets the predetermined time zone according to whether or not at least one of the starting point and the destination is a region with a high traffic volume, and the time is the set predetermined time zone. The route search device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the route search device determines whether or not. An acquisition storage step for acquiring and storing traffic congestion information on the road;
When receiving a route search command input, a determination step of determining whether or not a time when the route search command input is received is a predetermined time zone;
When it is determined that the time is within the predetermined time zone, a route is searched using the traffic information, and when it is determined that the time is not within the predetermined time zone, the traffic information is not used. A search step for searching for a route;
The route search method characterized by including.   A route search program causing a computer to execute the route search method according to claim 5.   A computer-readable recording medium on which the route search program according to claim 6 is recorded.

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