JP2010203844A - Facility guide device, facility guide method and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a facility guide device, a facility guide method and a computer program which enable proper guidance to facilities useful for a user who searches the facilities. <P>SOLUTION: A first genre is selected from the operation of the user and a searching object point is set on a predetermined running route while a distance from a registered point (e.g. user's own home) to each searching object point is acquired. In the case that the acquired distance is a prescribed distance or longer, a second genre is selected from the acquired distance and the first genre, and processing for searching the facilities is executed with the circumference of each searching object point as an object on a searching condition that the genre is the same as the first genre or the second genre (only in the case that the second genre is selected). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a facility guidance apparatus, a facility guidance method, and a computer program for guiding a facility located on a map.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a navigation device is often mounted on a vehicle that provides vehicle travel guidance so that a driver can easily arrive at a desired destination. Here, the navigation device detects the current position of the vehicle by a GPS receiver or the like, acquires map data corresponding to the current position through a recording medium such as a DVD-ROM or HDD or a network, and displays it on a liquid crystal monitor. It is a device that can. Furthermore, in such a navigation apparatus, point information (POI: Point of Interest) such as the type and position of a facility or the like around the current position of the vehicle is also guided. Then, the user sets a destination or a waypoint based on the guided POI, or confirms a point around the vehicle position.

  Here, when guiding facility information related to a facility, in particular, the POI is searched for a facility that meets the user's desired condition based on the current position information of the vehicle and the search condition input by the user, and the condition is met. It is common to provide information about facilities. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-286585 describes a facility of a type designated by a user (that is, a genre of facilities such as a Japanese food, a gas station, a convenience store, etc.) for an area around a recommended route to a destination. A technique for searching and guiding the found facility is described.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2008-286585 (pages 8 to 12, FIG. 2)

  Here, when performing facility guidance as in the technique described in Patent Document 1 described above, a database or the like in which POIs are generally stored is searched, and POIs related to facilities that meet the search conditions are selected. The facility name, location, route to the facility, etc. that meet the search condition are guided based on the acquired POI. Here, as the POI, for example, information on the genre of the facility and the position of the facility is stored. Therefore, when the genre and the search target point are specified by the user, the POI is specified around the specified search target point. Only facilities corresponding to the selected genre were guided as facilities that meet the search conditions.

  However, depending on the location of the search target point, the user may need guidance for information on facilities of a genre other than the specified genre. For example, when a user such as a place away from his / her home is searching around a search target point set in a place that does not have a land intuition, the user has little grasp of information on surrounding facilities. When a certain genre (a genre that exists only in a specific region) is designated, there are cases where a facility of the selected genre cannot be searched. Therefore, for example, when searching for a facility in a place where the user has no intuition, it is effective to provide information on facilities other than the specified genre.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described conventional problems, and the type selected according to the distance from the registered point to the search target point while using the type of the selected facility as a basic search condition. Another object of the present invention is to provide a facility guidance device, a facility guidance method, and a computer program that can guide a facility useful for a user without excess or deficiency by searching for other facilities.

In order to achieve the object, the facility guidance device (1) according to claim 1 of the present application includes facility type selection means (13) for selecting the first type of facility, and the facility type selection around the search target point. Acquired by the first facility search means (13) for searching for the first type of facility selected by the means, the distance acquisition means (13) for acquiring the distance from the registered point to the search target point, and the distance acquisition means Search for a second type of facility that is around the search target point and is selected based on the first type and the distance acquired by the distance acquisition means when the determined distance is greater than or equal to a predetermined distance. 2 facility search means (13), and facility guidance means for guiding the facilities searched by the first facility search means and the second facility search means, respectively.
Here, the “registration point” is a point registered in advance by the user, such as the user's home, the user's work place, and the like.
The “distance from the registered point to the search target point” may be a straight line distance or a road distance along the link.

  Further, the facility guidance device (1) according to claim 2 is the facility guidance device according to claim 1, wherein the facility types are hierarchized into a plurality of layers, and the second type is the first type. It is a lower layer type of a higher concept type and is different from the first type.

  Further, the facility guidance device (1) according to claim 3 is based on the first type selected by the facility type selection means (13) in the facility guidance device according to claim 1 or 2, A priority order of the types of facilities that are candidates for selection as the second type is set, and the second facility search means (13) determines the distance acquired by the first type and the distance acquisition means (13) and the distance The second type of facility selected based on the set priority order is searched.

  Moreover, the facility guidance device (1) according to claim 4 is the facility guidance device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the density of the first type facility around the search target point is acquired. Density acquisition means (13) for performing the processing, and the second facility search means (13) includes the first type, the distance acquired by the distance acquisition means (13), and the facility acquired by the density acquisition means. The facility of the second type selected based on the density is searched.

  The facility guidance method according to claim 5 is a facility type selection step for selecting a first type of facility, and a facility of the first type selected by the facility type selection step around the search target point. A first facility search step, a distance acquisition step of acquiring a distance from a registered point to the search target point, and a distance acquired by the distance acquisition step is greater than or equal to a predetermined distance, A second facility search step of searching for a second type of facility selected based on the first type and the distance acquired by the distance acquisition step; the first facility search step; and the second facility search. A facility guidance step for guiding each of the facilities searched in the step.

  The computer program according to claim 6 is installed in a computer and has a facility type selection function for selecting a first type of facility, and a first type selected around the search target point by the facility type selection function. If the distance acquired by the first facility search function for searching the facility, the distance acquisition function for acquiring the distance from the registered point to the search target point, and the distance acquired by the distance acquisition function is a predetermined distance or more, the search target A second facility search function for searching for a facility of the second type selected around the first type and the distance acquired by the distance acquisition function around the point; the first facility search function; And a facility guidance function for guiding each facility retrieved by the second facility retrieval function.

  According to the facility guidance device according to claim 1, having the above-described configuration, a search target point where a user far from the registered point is set to a place without a land intuition while using the selected first type as a basic search condition. When searching around, it is possible to guide the facilities useful for the user without excess or deficiency by searching for the facilities related to the selected first type. As a result, user convenience is improved.

  In addition, according to the facility guidance device according to claim 2, a type that is a lower layer type of the higher concept type of the first type of the selected facility and that is different from the first type is also searched as the second type. Therefore, it is possible to perform a search process by expanding the facility to be searched to a type related to the first type. Therefore, it is possible to search for a facility of a type reflecting the user's wish while expanding the types of facilities to be searched.

  Further, according to the facility guidance device according to claim 3, when a user who is far from the registered point searches for the vicinity of the search target point set in a place without land intuition, it is set based on the first type. Since the types of facilities to be searched are added according to the priorities, the types related to the first type can be preferentially searched. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently search and guide facilities useful for the user.

  Moreover, according to the facility guidance apparatus of Claim 4, since the 2nd type selected changes according to the density of a facility, adjusting the number of facilities guided based on a search result to an appropriate number Is possible. For example, when a search is performed in an area where facilities are densely populated, the number of facilities to be guided thereafter can be limited by narrowing the search condition. Further, when a search is performed in an area where facilities are sparse, the number of facilities to be guided thereafter can be increased by loosening the search conditions.

  In addition, according to the facility guidance method according to claim 5, while the selected first type is a basic search condition, a user who is far from the registered point is located around a search target point set in a place where there is no land intuition. When searching for a facility that is related to the selected first type, it is possible to guide facilities useful for the user without excess or deficiency. As a result, user convenience is improved.

  Furthermore, according to the computer program according to claim 6, while the selected first type is used as a basic search condition, a user who is far from the registered point can search around the search target point set in a place where there is no land intuition. In the case of searching, it is possible to guide the facilities useful for the user without excess or shortage by searching for the facilities related to the selected first type. As a result, user convenience is improved.

It is the block diagram which showed the navigation apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is the figure which showed the list of the genres of facilities. It is the figure which showed an example of the point memorize | stored as POI. It is a flowchart of the facility guidance processing program according to the present embodiment. It is the figure which showed the genre selection screen displayed on a liquid crystal display. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a second genre selection process in Step 10; It is explanatory drawing explaining the search process of the facility of step 9 and step 11. FIG. It is the figure which showed the POI guidance screen displayed on a liquid crystal display in this embodiment.

  Hereinafter, the facility guidance device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings based on the present embodiment and the second embodiment in which the navigation device is embodied.

[This embodiment]
First, a schematic configuration of the navigation device 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a navigation device 1 according to this embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 1, the navigation apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is based on a current position detection unit 11 that detects a current position of a vehicle, a data recording unit 12 that records various data, and input information. , Navigation ECU (facility type selection means, distance acquisition means, first facility search means, second facility search means, facility guidance means, density acquisition means) 13 that performs various arithmetic processes, and an operation unit that receives operations from the user 14, a liquid crystal display 15 that displays various information related to a map, POI guidance, and the like to a user, a speaker 16 that outputs voice guidance related to route guidance, and a DVD drive 17 that reads a DVD that is a storage medium storing a program. Communication modules that communicate with traffic information centers, facility information provision centers, probe centers, and other information centers. And 18, are constructed from. The POI refers to digital content data linked with location information such as facility information and spot information.

Below, each component which comprises the navigation apparatus 1 is demonstrated in order.
The current position detection unit 11 includes a GPS 21, a vehicle speed sensor 22, a steering sensor 23, a gyro sensor 24, an altimeter (not shown), and the like, and can detect the current vehicle position, direction, vehicle traveling speed, and the like. It has become. Here, in particular, the vehicle speed sensor 22 is a sensor for detecting a moving distance and a vehicle speed of the vehicle, generates a pulse according to the rotation of the wheel of the vehicle, and outputs a pulse signal to the navigation ECU 13. And navigation ECU13 calculates the rotational speed and moving distance of a wheel by counting the pulse which generate | occur | produces. Note that the navigation device 1 does not have to include all the four types of sensors, and the navigation device 1 may include only one or more types of sensors.

  The data recording unit 12 is also a hard disk (not shown) as an external storage device and a recording medium, and a driver for reading the map information DB 31 and a predetermined program recorded on the hard disk and writing predetermined data on the hard disk And a recording head (not shown).

Here, the map information DB 31 stores various map data necessary for route guidance, traffic information guidance, and map display.
Specifically, the map data searches for link data 32 relating to road (link) shape, node data 33 relating to node points, POI data 34 which is information relating to points such as facilities, intersection data relating to each intersection, and routes. Search data, search data for searching points, maps, roads, image information such as traffic information, and image drawing data for drawing on the liquid crystal display 15.

Here, as the POI data 34, information related to points such as a departure point, a destination, and a passing point in the navigation device 1 is stored. For example, accommodation facilities such as hotels and inns, refueling facilities such as gas stations, commercial facilities such as shopping malls, supermarkets, shopping centers, entertainment facilities such as theme parks and game centers, eating and drinking facilities such as restaurants, bars and taverns, and public facilities Parking facilities such as parking lots, transportation facilities, religious facilities such as temples and churches, public facilities such as museums and museums, historic sites, tourist spots, viewpoints (scenic spots), plazas, intersections, public buildings Information on points such as monuments.
The POI data 34 includes, for each point, a POI number that is an identifier of the point, a POI name that indicates the name of the point, a type of the point (a genre in terms of facilities, such as “parking lot”, “post office”, “restaurant” , Etc.), a POI coordinate indicating the coordinates of a point, and the like.

Of the spot types, the facility type is hierarchized into a plurality of layers. Specifically, there are an upper genre, an intermediate genre, and a lower genre, and the intermediate genre is a lower genre of the upper genre and is divided into a plurality of upper genres. The lower genre is a lower genre of the intermediate genre, and is divided into a plurality of intermediate genres. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a list of upper genres, middle genres, and lower genres defined as facility types in the present embodiment.
Here, the higher genre is a higher concept genre, for example, “meal”, “store”, “car”, “accommodation”, “play”, “public”, “transport”, “culture”, “other”. Etc. On the other hand, the middle genre is a genre in the lower concept of the upper genre. For example, as the middle genre of “meal”, “restaurant”, “family restaurant”, “fast food”, “udon / soba”, etc. There is. In addition, the “general store” category includes “convenience store”, “super discount store”, “department store”, “home center”, and the like. Further, the lower genre is a genre that is in a lower concept than the middle genre. For example, as the lower genre of “family restaurant”, there are “Family XX chain”, “Family △ chain” and the like. As subordinate genres of “fast food”, there are “hamburger XX chain”, “hamburger XX chain”, “beef bowl XX restaurant”, “doughnut”, “fried chicken” and the like.

  Furthermore, the POI data 34 relating to the facility of the present embodiment also includes information related to the evaluation index for evaluating the facility. Here, the evaluation index is acquired from a facility information providing center, a probe center, or the like as will be described later, and becomes an evaluation standard for evaluating the service, ease of use, atmosphere, taste of provided food, etc. Value. Specifically, the facility information providing center and probe center totaled and averaged the evaluation points (“1 (low)” to “5 (high)”) from each user who used the facility. Average value. Therefore, the evaluation index “1” has the lowest evaluation and “5” has the highest evaluation.

Here, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of information relating to the facility among the information relating to the points stored as the POI data 34.
For example, in the example of the POI data 34 shown in FIG. 3, the hamburger A store (subordinate genre: hamburger OO chain, evaluation index “3.6”) corresponding to the POI number: “10001” at the point of coordinates (x1, y1). ) Is installed. In addition, it is shown that a parking lot corresponding to POI number: “10002” (subordinate genre: coin parking, evaluation index “3.3”) is installed at the point of coordinates (x2, y2). Similarly, information on other facilities is also stored.

When the navigation device 1 searches for a point, the POI data 34 is used to search for a point (type is specified) that is located around a predetermined search target point (for example, a node point on the planned travel route). If it exists, only the point corresponding to the designated type is searched), and the POI relating to the point that meets the search condition is acquired from the map information DB 31. Then, a landmark is displayed for the corresponding position of the map image displayed on the liquid crystal display 15 or a list of spot names and evaluation indices that match the search condition is displayed to the user. I will guide you.
Further, in the present embodiment, as described later, a range within a predetermined distance (for example, within a radius of 100 m) from a search target point (for example, a node point on a planned travel route) is defined as a search range. When a facility is specifically searched as a point, a facility that is located in the search range and belongs to the selected lower genre is searched. If the distance from the registered point (for example, the user's home) to the search target point is equal to or greater than a predetermined distance (for example, one third or more of the distance from the user's home to the destination), the position is within the search range. A facility belonging to a lower genre that is classified into the same middle genre or higher genre as the selected lower genre is also searched.

  On the other hand, the navigation ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 13 performs a guidance route setting process for setting a guidance route from the current position to the destination when a destination is selected, and a search target point (for example, on a planned travel route). This is an electronic control unit that performs overall control of the navigation device 1 such as POI guidance processing that searches for points around the node point) and guides points that meet the search conditions based on the search results. The CPU 41 as an arithmetic device and a control device, the RAM 41 used as a working memory when the CPU 41 performs various arithmetic processes, a RAM 42 for storing route data when a route is searched, and a control program In addition, an internal storage device such as a ROM 43 in which a facility guidance processing program (see FIG. 4) and the like are recorded, and a flash memory 44 that stores a program read from the ROM 43 is provided.

  The operation unit 14 is operated when inputting a departure point as a travel start point and a destination as a travel end point, and includes a plurality of operation switches (not shown) such as various keys and buttons. Then, the navigation ECU 13 performs control to execute various corresponding operations based on switch signals output by pressing the switches. In addition, it can also be comprised by the touchscreen provided in the front surface of the liquid crystal display 15.

  The liquid crystal display 15 includes a map image including a road, traffic information, operation guidance, operation menu, key guidance, guidance route from the departure point to the destination, guidance information along the guidance route, news, weather forecast, Time, mail, TV program, etc. are displayed. In addition, when a location search is performed, a landmark is displayed for the corresponding position of the map image displayed on the liquid crystal display 15, or a list of location names and evaluation indices that match the search conditions is displayed. indicate.

  The speaker 16 outputs voice guidance for guiding traveling along the guidance route based on an instruction from the navigation ECU 13 and traffic information guidance.

  The DVD drive 17 is a drive that can read data recorded on a recording medium such as a DVD or a CD. Then, the map information DB 31 is updated based on the read data.

In addition, the communication module 18 is traffic information including traffic information, regulation information, traffic accident information, and the like transmitted from a traffic information center such as a VICS (registered trademark: Vehicle Information and Communication System) center or a probe center. For example, a mobile phone or DCM.
Further, in the present embodiment, the communication module 18 periodically receives POI data 34 relating to the facility evaluation index from the facility information providing center or the probe center. Then, the map information DB 31 is updated based on the POI data 34 received from the facility information providing center or the probe center.

  Next, a facility guidance processing program executed by the CPU 41 in the navigation device 1 having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the facility guidance processing program according to this embodiment. Here, the facility guidance processing program is executed when a predetermined operation of the user is received in the operation unit 14, searches for a facility as a point along the planned travel route, and conforms to the search condition based on the search result. It is a program that guides the facilities to be operated. Note that the program shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4 below is stored in the RAM 42 or ROM 43 provided in the navigation apparatus 1 and is executed by the CPU 41.

  First, in step (hereinafter abbreviated as S) 1 in the facility guidance processing program, the CPU 41 obtains a scheduled travel route that is currently set in the navigation device 1. Here, the scheduled travel route is a route from the departure point (for example, the user's home) set according to the route search result to the destination, for example, when the destination is input by operating the operation unit 14. Since the route search process is already known, its description is omitted.

  Next, in S <b> 2, the CPU 41 displays a genre selection screen on the liquid crystal display 15. Then, on the genre selection screen displayed on the liquid crystal display 15, the user selects the first genre (type) of the facility to be searched. In the present embodiment, the first genre of the facility can be selected from the middle genre or the lower genre among the upper genre, middle genre, and lower genre.

Here, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a genre selection screen 51 displayed on the liquid crystal display 15. As shown in FIG. 5, the genre selection screen 51 displays a list 52 of genres that can be selected by the user. When the genre name displayed in the genre list 52 is selected by the user, the CPU 41 selects the genre of the selected genre name as the first genre of the facility to be searched. FIG. 5 shows an example in which the lower genre is selected as the first genre of the facility.
On the left side of the genre list 52, a genre name 53 of a middle genre corresponding to a currently displayed lower genre and a genre name 54 of an upper genre are displayed.
Further, various scroll buttons 55 are arranged on the left side of the genre name 54 of the upper genre. When the scroll button 55 is operated by the user, the CPU 41 changes the genre name displayed in the genre list 52 to another genre name according to the operation content.
Further, an upper genre selection button 56 is arranged on the right side of the genre list. When one of the upper genre selection buttons 56 is selected by the user, the CPU 41 corresponds to the selected upper genre selection button 56 (for example, “car” when a car button is operated). The lower genres classified into the above are displayed in the display target area 52.
In the genre selection screen, the user can select not only one type of genre but also a plurality of types of genres at the same time.

  Subsequently, in S <b> 3, the CPU 41 selects one type or a plurality of types of the first genre of the facility to be searched based on the user operation received on the genre selection screen 51.

  In S4, CPU41 acquires a user's home position coordinate as a registration point. Note that the position coordinates of the user's home are specified based on the address, telephone number, etc. of the home input in advance by the user and map information, and are stored in the RAM 42 or the like. In this embodiment, the user's home is used as the registration point. However, the registration point may be a place where the user has a sense of land, and the user's work place or the like may be used as the search target point.

  Next, in S5, the CPU 41 sets a search target point serving as a reference for the search range on the planned travel route acquired in S1. For example, the CPU 41 sets search target points for all node points on the planned travel route. Moreover, you may set a search object point with respect to the division point at the time of classifying a driving plan route for every predetermined distance (for example, every 100 m).

  Subsequently, the following processes in S6 to S11 are executed for each search target point set in S5. Specifically, the processes of S6 to S11 are repeatedly executed in order from the search target point set near the departure place of the planned travel route. And after the process with respect to all the search object points set is completed, it transfers to S12.

  First, in S <b> 6, the CPU 41 acquires the position coordinates of the search target point to be processed from the map information DB 31. If the search target point is set to a node point on the planned travel route, the coordinates of the node point are acquired from the node data 33.

  Next, in S7, the CPU 41 calculates the distance from the user's home (registered point) to the search target point to be processed based on the position coordinates and map information acquired in S4 and S6. The distance calculated at this time is a road distance along the planned travel route.

  Subsequently, in S8, the CPU 41 determines whether or not the distance from the user's home calculated in S7 to the search target point to be processed is a predetermined distance or more. This predetermined distance is preferably set based on the distance from the user's home (registration point) to the destination of the planned travel route. For example, in the present embodiment, the predetermined distance is a distance that is 1/3 of the “distance from the user's home to the destination of the planned travel route” (for example, “the path from the user's home to the destination of the planned travel route” When the distance “is 30 km, it is 10 km). The predetermined distance may be a fixed distance (for example, 5 km or 10 km). Moreover, you may comprise so that a user can set a predetermined distance to arbitrary distances.

  And when it determines with the distance from the user's home calculated in said S7 to the search target point of a process target being less than predetermined distance (S8: NO), it transfers to S9. On the other hand, if it is determined that the distance from the user's home calculated in S37 to the search target point to be processed is a predetermined distance or more (S8: YES), the process proceeds to S10.

In S9, the CPU 41 sets a range within a predetermined distance (for example, within 100 m) from the search target point to be processed as a search range, and performs a facility search process using a search condition that is a facility of the same genre as the selected first genre. Execute. Specifically, POI data of a facility located within the search range and associated with the same genre as the first genre is extracted as POI data that meets the search condition from the POI data 34 (see FIG. 3) of the map information DB 31. .
Then, as a result of the search process, POI data (including the POI number, evaluation index, etc.) of the facility determined to meet the search conditions is stored in the RAM 42 or the like.

  Thereafter, when the processes of S6 to S11 are executed for all the search target points set in S5, the process proceeds to S12. On the other hand, if the processing of S6 to S11 is not executed for all search target points, a search target point adjacent to the destination direction of the planned travel route is newly set with respect to the search target point currently being processed. Is selected as a search target point, and the processes after S6 are executed again.

  On the other hand, in S10, the CPU 41 selects the second genre based on the distance from the user's home calculated in S7 to the search target point to be processed and the first genre selected in S3. In the present embodiment, the second genre selected in S <b> 10 is a genre that is a lower layer of the genre of the upper concept of the first genre and is a genre different from the first genre. For example, when the first genre is “hamburger XX chain”, the genres in the lower layer of the superordinate concept “fast food” are “hamburger xx chain”, “gyudon xx shop”, “donut” “Fried chicken” or the like is a candidate genre selected as the second genre (see FIG. 2).

Further, as the distance from the user's home calculated in S7 to the search target point to be processed is longer, more genres are selected as the second genre. Here, the genre of the facility that is a candidate to be selected as the second type (specifically, a genre that is a lower genre of the higher-level concept genre of the first genre and different from the first genre (hereinafter referred to as a candidate genre)) ) Is set with priority based on the first genre selected in S3. For the second genre, a number based on the distance from the user's home to the search target point to be processed is selected in descending order of priority from the candidate genres.
Here, the priority order is set in descending order of similarity to the first genre. For example, it is determined that the degree of similarity is high when the stores are in the same series or the same product or service is provided. Note that the hierarchical relationship of genres (information specifying which lower genre is classified into which medium genre and which upper genre is classified into which higher genre) and the degree of similarity between genres as map information as POI data 34 in advance. Stored in the DB 31.
The priority order set for the candidate genre may be set based on conditions other than the degree of similarity with the first genre. For example, the priority order may be set in descending order of the number of corresponding facilities.

The second genre selection process in S10 will be described in detail below. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the selection process of the second genre in S10. FIG. 6 shows a case where the departure point of the scheduled travel route 64 is a registered point, that is, the user's home.
As shown in FIG. 6, in this embodiment, the number of genres selected as the second genre differs based on the distance from the user's home to the search target point to be processed.
Specifically, the route A within a third of “the distance from the user's home to the destination of the planned travel route” centering on the user's home (for example, “the destination of the planned travel route from the user's home”). In the case where the distance to the road is 30 km, the second genre is not selected for the four search target points 65 in the route within 10 km from the user's home (S8: NO).
Further, a route B within 1/3 to 2/3 of “the distance from the user's home to the destination of the planned travel route” centering on the user's home (for example, “the purpose of the planned travel route from the user's home”). When the “distance to the ground” is 30 km, the highest priority among the candidate genres is given to the seven search target points 66 in the route within 10 km to 20 km from the user's home. Only the set genre is selected as the second genre.
On the other hand, a route C that is 2/3 or more of “the distance from the user's home to the destination of the planned travel route” centering on the user's home (for example, “the road from the user's home to the destination of the planned travel route” When the distance is 30 km, for the four search target points 67 in the route of 20 km or more from the user's home), the genre with the highest priority among the candidate genres and the next The genre having a higher priority is selected as the second genre.

For example, when “hamburger OO chain” is selected as the first genre, the same hamburger is provided among the genres under the “fast food” that is the middle genre of “hamburger XX chain”. “Hamburger xx chain” has the highest priority. In addition, “Fried Chicken” that provides a meal of a similar line to the hamburger among the lower genres of “Fast Food”, which is the middle genre of “Hamburger XX chain”, is set to the next highest priority.
Therefore, “hamburger xx chain” is selected as the second genre for the search target point 66 on the route B. For the search target point 67 on the route C, “hamburger xx chain” and “fried chicken” are selected as the second genre.
Then, as described later, the CPU 41 executes a search process for searching for facilities of the same genre as the first genre and the second genre (however, only when the second genre is selected).

After that, in S11, the CPU 41 sets a range within a predetermined distance (for example, within 100 m) from the search target point to be processed as a search range, and the search condition is that the facility is in the same genre as the selected first genre or second genre. The facility search process is executed. Specifically, the POI data of a facility that is located within the search range from the POI data 34 (see FIG. 3) of the map information DB 31 and that is associated with the same genre as the first genre or the second genre is adapted to the search condition. Extracted as POI data.
Then, as a result of the search process, POI data (including the POI number, evaluation index, etc.) of the facility determined to meet the search conditions is stored in the RAM 42 or the like.

In the following, the facility search process of S9 and S11 will be described in detail. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the facility search process in S39. In the following description, it is assumed that there are hamburger stores and fried chicken stores A to G around the planned travel route 64 from the user's home to the destination shown in FIG. A case where facility search is performed by selecting “XX chain” as the first genre will be described as an example.
As shown in FIG. 7, there are seven stores A to G in the vicinity of the planned travel route 64. The lower genres to which store A to store G belong are “hamburger XX chain” at store A, “hamburger XX chain” at store B, “hamburger XX chain” at store C, and “fried chicken” at store D. , E store is "hamburger XX chain", F store is "hamburger xx chain", and G store is "fried chicken".
Therefore, when the search of the facility in S9 is repeatedly executed for each of the four search target points 65 on the route A shown in FIG. 7, the genre among the facilities located in each search range 68 is “hamburger”. It is determined that the hamburger A store, which is a facility of “OO chain”, matches the search condition, and stores POI data (including POI number, evaluation index, etc.) of the A store in the RAM 42 or the like. On the other hand, it is determined that the hamburger store B, which is a genre of “hamburger xx chain”, does not meet the search condition.
In addition, when the search of the facility in S11 is repeatedly executed for each of the seven search target points 66 on the route B shown in FIG. 7, as a result, the genre among the facilities located in each search range 69 is “hamburger”. It is determined that the hamburger C store that is a facility corresponding to “XX chain” or “hamburger XX chain” meets the search condition, and stores POI data (including POI number, evaluation index, etc.) of the C store in the RAM 42 or the like. . On the other hand, it is determined that the Fried Chicken D store, which is a facility whose genre is “Fried Chicken”, does not meet the search condition.
In addition, when the search of the facility in S11 is repeatedly executed for each of the four search target points 67 on the route C shown in FIG. 7, as a result, the genre among the facilities located in each search range 70 is “hamburger”. The hamburger E store, the F store, and the fried chicken G store, which are facilities corresponding to any of “XX chain”, “hamburger XX chain”, and “fried chicken”, are determined to meet the search conditions, and the E store and F store And the POI data of the G store (including the POI number, evaluation index, etc.) are stored in the RAM 42 or the like.

  In S12, the CPU 41 determines the POI data 34 of the facility stored in the RAM 42 in S9 and S11 (that is, the POI of the facility determined to satisfy the search condition in the facility search process executed for each search target point). Data).

  In S13, the CPU 41 displays the POI data 34 of the facility read out in S12 on the liquid crystal display 15, thereby guiding the location, name, evaluation index, etc. of the facility that matches the search condition along the planned travel route. .

FIG. 8 is a view showing the POI guidance screen 81 displayed on the liquid crystal display 15 in S13.
As shown in FIG. 8, the POI guidance screen 81 includes a left screen 82 that displays the overall shape of the planned travel route set in the navigation device, and POI data of a facility that meets the search conditions along the planned travel route. 34 is composed of two display areas of the right screen 83 displaying 34.
Then, the left screen 82 shows the planned travel route line 84 indicating the shape of the planned travel route, the own vehicle position mark 85 indicating the current position of the vehicle, and the facility determined to meet the search condition along the planned travel route. It is comprised from the facility marks 86-90 which show a position.
The right screen 83 is provided with information display spaces 91 to 95 for displaying the POI data 34 of the facility. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 8, the information display spaces 91 to 95 include the facility name, the distance from the current position of the vehicle, and the sales information in the POI data 34 of the facility that matches the search condition along the planned travel route. Display time, evaluation index, etc. In the information display spaces 91 to 95, the POI data 34 of the searched facilities are displayed side by side in descending order of evaluation index for each genre.

  If there are many facilities determined to meet the search condition, only the POI data 34 of facilities whose evaluation index is a certain value (for example, 3.0) or more may be guided. Moreover, you may comprise so that the character size and character color which display the information of a high evaluation index | facility may be changed. Further, in the information display spaces 91 to 95, the POI data 34 of the facilities searched for may be displayed side by side in the order closer to the current position of the vehicle or in the order closer to the destination, rather than in the descending order of the evaluation index.

As described in detail above, the navigation apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the facility guidance method using the navigation apparatus 1 and the computer program executed by the navigation apparatus 1 acquire the planned travel route set in the navigation apparatus (S1). ), The first genre of the facility to be searched is selected based on the user's operation (S2), the search target point is set on the planned travel route (S5), and each search target point from the registered point (for example, the user's home) (S7), if the acquired distance is greater than or equal to the predetermined distance, the second genre is selected based on the acquired distance and the first genre (S10), and the surroundings of each search target point are targeted. Check that the genre is the same as the selected first genre or second genre (however, only when the second genre is selected). To perform a search processing of the facility as a condition (S9, S11). As a result of the facility search process executed for each search target point, information on facilities determined to meet the search conditions is guided (S13), so that the selected first genre is the basic search condition. However, when a user who is far from the registered point searches for the surroundings of the search target point set in a place without the land intuition, it is useful for the user by searching for facilities related to the selected first genre. It will be possible to guide the various facilities without excess or deficiency. As a result, user convenience is improved.
In addition, since a type that is a lower layer of the higher concept type of the first genre of the selected facility and is different from the first type is also searched as the second genre, the facility to be searched is related to the first genre. Search processing can be performed by extending to genres. Therefore, it is possible to search for facilities of a genre that reflects the user's wishes while expanding the genre of facilities to be searched.
In addition, as the distance from the registration point to the search target point is longer, more genres are selected as the second genre, so that the user far from the registration point can move around the search target point set in a place without land intuition. When searching, facilities of more genres are searched. Therefore, it is possible to appropriately provide information required by the user.
In addition, when a user who is far from the registered point searches the surroundings of the search target point set in a place without land intuition, the second genre is added according to the priority set based on the first genre. It becomes possible to preferentially search for a type related to the first genre. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently search and guide facilities useful for the user.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
For example, when performing a facility search process, it is possible to search for a facility around a specified search target point (for example, the current position of the vehicle) instead of a facility along the planned travel route. good. In that case, first, the distance from the registration point (for example, the user's home) to the search target point (for example, the current position of the vehicle) is acquired, and when the acquired distance is greater than or equal to the predetermined distance, the acquired distance and the first The second genre is selected based on the genre, and the search condition is that it is the same genre as the first genre or the second genre selected for the search range (but only when the second genre is selected). A facility search process is executed.

In the present embodiment, the second genre is selected based on the distance from the registration point (for example, the user's home) to the search target point (S10). However, the density of facilities around the search target point is also selected. In consideration, the second genre may be selected. In other words, there are many facilities that meet the search conditions in areas where the facility density is high, and there are few facilities that meet the search conditions in areas where the facility density is low, so the density of facilities around the search target point is high. In some cases, it is desirable to select a genre that is less than normal as the second genre, and to select a genre that is higher than normal as the second genre when the density of facilities around the search target point is low.
Specifically, first, the density of facilities in the search range centered on the search target point (within a radius of 100 m centered on the search target point) is acquired. As a result, when the density of the acquired facilities is 10 / km ² or less, the candidate genre with the first priority and the second highest priority for the search target point on the route B shown in FIG. 6 is set as the second genre. The candidate genre having the first to third priority ranks is selected as the second genre with respect to the search target point on the route C shown in FIG. On the other hand, when the density of the acquired facilities is 30 / km ² or more, the second genre is not selected for the search target point on the route B shown in FIG. 6, and the route C shown in FIG. Only the candidate genre with the highest priority for the search target point is selected as the second genre. As a result, the number of facilities guided based on the search result can be adjusted to an appropriate number.

  Moreover, you may comprise so that a 2nd genre can be selected based on a user's operation. Specifically, the user guides the second genre set in S10 when the facility search process is performed. When the user desires to change the guided second genre, the operation unit 14 is used to cause the user to select a new second genre. Then, the facility search process (S11) is executed based on the selected second genre. In the case of performing facility search along the planned travel route as in the present embodiment, the second genre is selected by the user for each of the routes A to C.

  In this embodiment and the second embodiment, the facility evaluation index is acquired from the facility information providing center or the probe center via the communication module 18, but the navigation ECU 13 sets the vehicle travel history and the user destination setting. You may set from the history. For example, a higher evaluation index is set for a facility that has frequently visited and a facility that has been frequently set for a destination.

  Further, the size of the search range may be configured to be changeable based on a user operation. Furthermore, the shape of the reference range or the wide-area reference range is not limited to a circular shape or an annular shape. For example, the administrative division may be set as a reference range or a wide-area reference range.

  In addition, the planned travel route to be searched for facilities in the present embodiment may be a route where the departure place is other than the user's home. Further, in the facility search process according to the second embodiment, the planned travel route may not be set in the navigation device 1.

1 Navigation device 13 Navigation ECU
15 Liquid crystal display 16 Speaker 34 POI data 41 CPU
42 RAM
43 ROM

Claims (6)

Facility type selection means for selecting the first type of facility;
First facility search means for searching for a first type of facility around the search target point and selected by the facility type selection means;
Distance acquisition means for acquiring a distance from a registered point to the search target point;
When the distance acquired by the distance acquisition unit is a predetermined distance or more, the second type is selected based on the first type and the distance acquired by the distance acquisition unit around the search target point. A second facility retrieval means for retrieving the facility of
A facility guidance device for guiding each of the facilities retrieved by the first facility retrieval unit and the second facility retrieval unit. The types of facilities are stratified into multiple layers,
The facility guidance device according to claim 1, wherein the second type is a lower layer type of the higher-level concept type of the first type and is different from the first type. Based on the first type selected by the facility type selection means, set the priority order of the types of facilities that are candidates to be selected as the second type,
The second facility search means searches for the second type of facility selected based on the first type, the distance acquired by the distance acquisition means, and the set priority order. The facility guidance device according to claim 1 or 2. Having density acquisition means for acquiring the density of the facility of the first type around the search target point;
The second facility search unit searches for the second type of facility selected based on the first type, the distance acquired by the distance acquisition unit, and the density of the facility acquired by the density acquisition unit. The facility guidance device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein A facility type selection step of selecting a first type of facility;
A first facility search step for searching for a facility of the first type selected around the point to be searched and selected by the facility type selection step;
A distance acquisition step of acquiring a distance from a registered point to the search target point;
When the distance acquired by the distance acquisition step is equal to or greater than a predetermined distance, the second type is selected based on the first type and the distance acquired by the distance acquisition step around the search target point. A second facility search step of searching for facilities of
A facility guidance method comprising: a facility guidance step for guiding the facilities retrieved by the first facility retrieval step and the second facility retrieval step, respectively. On the computer,
A facility type selection function for selecting the first type of facility;
A first facility search function for searching for a first type of facility around the search target point and selected by the facility type selection function;
A distance acquisition function for acquiring a distance from a registered point to the search target point;
When the distance acquired by the distance acquisition function is equal to or greater than a predetermined distance, the second type is selected based on the first type and the distance acquired by the distance acquisition function around the search target point. A second facility search function for searching for facilities,
A facility guidance function for guiding each facility retrieved by the first facility retrieval function and the second facility retrieval function;
A computer program for executing

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