JP2011053026A - Navigation device and software program for performing navigation - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a navigation device and a software program for navigation capable of changing destinations and passing spots dynamically according to specific factors preset by a user. <P>SOLUTION: The navigation device includes: an input means of acquiring information from an external device; a trigger information creation means of registering trigger conditions in a trigger database; a position information acquisition means; and a route search means of searching a route by departing place information, destination information, and passing spot information input from the external device. When a specific factor occurs, destinations or passing spots are automatically set based on trigger information, and the route is searched by the route search means for navigation. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a navigation device that allows a user to set a future action schedule as trigger information and a software program for performing navigation.

In a conventional navigation device, a plurality of routes to a destination set by a user are searched, and guidance is provided along a route designated by the user from among them. Since the current position information and the route to the destination can be visually provided to the user, the user does not need to open a map or the like while driving, for example, or check the road while walking. Without hesitation
You can arrive at your destination. However, in order to add or change a waypoint or a new destination after setting the destination or route once, the user has to set it again with the navigation device.

In order to avoid such problems, Patent Document 1 presents a navigation device that automatically executes route guidance to avoid a traffic obstacle when it is predicted that a traffic obstacle will be encountered.

JP 2003-344073 A

However, in Patent Document 1, it is only possible to automatically execute route guidance that avoids the traffic obstacle, and it is not possible to set / change the destination and waypoint set by the user. Depending on the situation at that time and external factors, destinations and waypoints cannot be set / changed dynamically. On the other hand, there is a demand for users to easily set / change destinations and waypoints while driving a car or walking.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a navigation device capable of dynamically changing a destination / route via a specific factor set in advance by a user. And a software program for performing navigation.

In order to achieve the above object, the navigation device of the present invention creates an input means for acquiring information from an external device, trigger conditions, destination or waypoint, destination information as trigger information,
Trigger information creating means to be registered in the trigger database, trigger starting means for starting trigger monitoring based on the created trigger information, position information obtaining means, and departure input from the external device by the input means Position information / date and time information acquired by the position information acquisition means, including route search means for performing a route search using place information, destination information and waypoint information, and output means for outputting information to the external device And when a specific factor that can be detected by single information or combination information of information input from the external device by the input means occurs, based on the trigger information, automatically set a destination or waypoint, It is characterized in that the route is searched by route searching means and navigated.

The navigation program of the present invention also has an input function for causing a computer to acquire information from an external device, and trigger information creation for creating trigger conditions, destinations or waypoints, destination information as trigger information, and registering them in a trigger database. A function, a trigger activation function for activating trigger monitoring based on the created trigger information, a function for acquiring position information, departure point information input from the external device with the input function, destination information, A route search function for performing a route search using waypoint information; an output function for outputting information to the external device; the position information / date / time information acquired by the position information acquisition function; and the input function When a specific factor that can be detected by single information or combination information of information input from the external device occurs, Based on the Riga information, to automatically set the destination or stopover,
A route search is performed by the route search function and navigation is performed.

According to the present invention, it is possible to dynamically set / change destinations and waypoints in navigation according to specific factors set in advance by a user.

The navigation device and the software program for performing navigation according to the present invention provide a navigation device and a navigation program capable of dynamically setting / changing the destination / route via a specific factor set in advance by the user. be able to.

The functional block diagram of the navigation apparatus concerning one Embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the structure of the schedule database of the embodiment. The figure which shows the structure of the trigger database of the embodiment. The figure which shows the structure of the path | route and database of the embodiment. The figure which shows the structure of the message database of the embodiment. The flowchart (1) which shows the process sequence of the embodiment. The flowchart (2) which shows the process sequence of the embodiment.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a navigation device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The navigation device 1 is an external device 2
(Operation screen 2-1 of navigation device 1, mobile phone 2-2 connected by telephone network, electronic device connected by short-range wireless communication, electronic computer 2-3 connected to a network such as the Internet, Input means 1-1 for taking in information from other vehicles 2-4, GPS 2-5, etc. that have been set up for inter-vehicle communication, schedule information taken in by this input means, and stored in the schedule database SDB Management means 1-2, trigger information is created from this schedule information, or trigger information creation means 1-3 that stores trigger information taken from the external device 2 in the trigger database TDB, and trigger monitoring is performed based on this trigger information. Trigger activation means 1-4 for activation, position information acquisition means 1 for acquiring position information
5, a route search unit 1-6 for performing a route search based on the acquired position information, destination information input by the user from the input unit 1-1 and the map database MAPDB, and a user selects from the searched route Route database K is route information taken from the external device 2
Route saving means 1-7 for storing in DB, message creating means 1-8 for creating a message to the user using the information of message database MDB and trigger information of trigger database TDB, and external device 2 Is output means 1-9 for outputting the information on the screen, outputting the sound, and outputting the signal.

    A configuration example of the schedule database SDB will be described below with reference to FIG.

The schedule database SDB includes the date, day of the week, departure time, title, departure place,
Destination, route, and category information is stored. For example, from May 1 (Friday) to May 5 (Tuesday), 2009, “Osaka Prefecture ○ × City ○ × Town 1-1-1”
Returned to the “1-1” parents 'home, and on May 2 (Saturday), information such as a day drive from the parents' home to “Δ Park” in “Osaka Prefecture ΔΔ Town 2-2” is stored. As an external device 2, the user can use an electronic notebook owned by the user, an operation screen 2-1 of the navigation device 1, a mobile phone 2-2 connected via a telephone network, and an electronic device connected via short-range wireless communication. The schedule information is input by the input means 1-1 from an electronic computer 2-3 connected to a network such as the Internet, another vehicle 2-4 set for inter-vehicle communication, GPS 2-5, etc. -2 is stored in the schedule database SDB.

  Next, a configuration example of the trigger database TDB will be described below with reference to FIG.

The trigger database TDB stores triggers, destinations / routes, destination information, notes, and message flags. For example, when returning home, the information shown in T1 is stored when it is desired to drop in at the friend XXX's house in “Osaka △△”, and in that case a message output is required in advance. When the destination is “Osaka △△ machi 2-2”, “Osaka △△ machi 1-
When it is desired to purchase a souvenir for the company at the Δ △ store of “1” and a message output is required in advance, the information shown in T2 is stored. Also, if it is a weekday and Wednesday, there is a plan to take an external training at the XX building of “Minato-ku ○ -cho 1-1-1”, Tokyo, in which case message output is not required Stores information shown in T3. Navigation device 1
Operation screen 2-1, mobile phone 2-2 connected by telephone network, electronic device connected by short-range wireless communication, electronic computer 2-3 connected to network such as the Internet, inter-vehicle communication setting Trigger information input from the external device 2 such as the other vehicle 2-4, GPS 2-5 or the like by the input means 1-1 is created by the trigger information creating means 1-3, and the trigger database TD
Stored in B.

Here, the trigger information is not schedule information etc. for a specific date, but if the navigation destination is set to a specific location, if a specific title is set for the schedule information, the car is at a specific latitude・ When it is / possible to reach the longitude position, when / when the car may be driving near a specific location, when a specific day of the week or time is reached, a specific sender or a specific text Or when you receive an email with a specific subject, or when you receive route information from another vehicle via inter-vehicle communication, such as current location information, date and time information, schedule information, information from an external device, or combination information When a specific factor that can be detected by
Regardless of whether or not the route guidance of the navigation device is in progress, the user is notified of specific information, and the route guidance and destination of navigation route guidance is automatically set to a specific location according to the user's specification, and the route guidance The information that causes

  Next, a configuration example of the route database KDB will be described below with reference to FIG.

The route database KDB stores information of departure place, destination, waypoint, route number, route data, and status flag. For example, start from home, xx SA, □□ JCT, ○○
Information when “Osaka Prefecture ○ × City ○ × Town 1-1-1” is set as the destination via the SA is stored. The route number is an identification number given when a route is searched, and a different number is assigned to each route. The status flag has an initial value of 0. When the navigation device 1 is currently a route that is being guided, 1 is set in the status flag.

  Next, a configuration example of the message database MDB will be described below with reference to FIG.

The message database MDB contains a message number. Stores the message contents.

For example, message No. M-1 can be guided to "Registered" ... ". "..." is created by taking in the destination information registered in the trigger database TDB. For example, a message “It is possible to guide to the registered house of Mr. XX” is generated and output to the external device 2 by the output unit 1-9. In addition, message No. Does M-2 guide you by setting a stop “...” for the destination “***” currently being guided? "***" is the destination registered in the route database KDB, and "..." is
It is created by taking in the destination information registered in the trigger database TDB. For example, “Do you want to set up a route“ Xsan's house ”for your current destination“ Osaka Prefecture ○ × City ○ × Town 1-1-1 ”? ”And the output unit 1-9 outputs the external device 2
Is output.

  The processing flow of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

(First embodiment)
First, the flow of setting processing performed by the user in advance will be described. The user can use an electronic notebook owned by the user as the external device 2, an operation screen 2-1 of the navigation device 1, a mobile phone 2-2 connected through a telephone network, an electronic device connected through short-range wireless communication, An electronic computer 2-3 connected to a network such as the Internet, another vehicle 2-4 set for inter-vehicle communication,
Schedule information to be registered is input via the input unit 1-1 from the GPS 2-5 or the like. From the schedule information input from these external devices 2, only the necessary information is extracted by the schedule management means 1-2 and stored in the schedule database SDB.

For example, from May 1st (Friday) to May 5th (Tuesday), 2009
-1 ”from home to“ Osaka prefecture ○ × city ○ × town 1-1-1 ”hometown, May 2 (Saturday) from home to“ Osaka prefecture △△ town 2-2 ”△△ When information such as a day trip to the park is input from the schedule of the electronic notebook, “Date / Date = 2009/5/1, Day of the week = Friday, Departure time = 6
: 30, title = homecoming, departure place = home, destination = Osaka prefecture, xx city, xx town 1-1-1, category = G. W. ”,“ Date = 2009/5/2, Day of the week = Saturday, Departure time = 9: 30, Title = Drive △△ Park, Departure = Osaka Prefecture ○ × City ×× 1-1-1-1, Destination = Osaka △△
Town 2-2, category = G. W. Is stored.

Next, the user operates the operation screen 2-1 of the navigation device 1 as the external device 2, the mobile phone 2-2 connected by the telephone network, the electronic device connected by short-range wireless communication, the network such as the Internet. An electronic computer 2-3 connected to the vehicle, another vehicle 2-4 set for inter-vehicle communication,
Trigger information to be registered is input from the GPS 2-5 or the like via the input means 1-1 and stored in the trigger database TDB.

For example, “trigger = return home / title, destination / intermediate location = Osaka △△, destination information = ○○ 's house, memo = stopping to friend's house, message flag = 1”, “trigger = Osaka △△ town 2-
2 / Destination, Destination / Intermediate = Osaka △△ machi 1-1, Destination information = △△ Shop, Memo = Purchase souvenir for company, Message flag = 1 ”,“ Trigger = Weekday / Category and Wednesday / “Day of week, destination / intermediate point = Minato-ku, Tokyo, ○ × machi 1-1-1, destination information = ○ × building, memo = external training, message flag = 0” is stored.

Next, the flow of processing when trigger information corresponding to the trigger database TDB exists will be described. As the user gets into the car and starts the engine, the trigger activation means 1-4 of the navigation device 1 is executed. For example, when a user starts a car engine on Wednesday, April 22, 2009, position information acquisition means 1-5 using a GPS, 3D gyro,
Get the current location information and current date / time information. Next, based on the current position information and current date / time information, the corresponding schedule information in the schedule database SDB is referred to. In this case, since the corresponding schedule information does not exist, next, the trigger database TD
It is confirmed whether or not there is trigger information to be executed in B. In the trigger database TDB, “Trigger = Weekday / Category and Wednesday / Day of the Week, Destination / Intermediate Point = Minato-ku, Tokyo ○ 1-1-cho, Destination Information = ○ × Building, Memo = External Training, Since “message flag = 0” exists, it is grasped as a trigger to be executed.

Next, it is confirmed whether or not it is necessary to output a message to the user. If necessary, a message is created by the message creating means and output. In this case, since the message flag = 0, the process proceeds to the next step without creating or outputting the message.

Whether the navigation device 1 is currently guiding the route to the destination is confirmed. If guidance is in progress, a message is output. In this case, since the corresponding data being guided does not exist in the route database KDB and the navigation device 1 is not guiding the route to the destination, “Start the navigation, set the destination“ XX building ”, and guide will you do? Is generated and synthesized by voice and output.

When the user wishes to set the destination, the user performs voice input, etc., sets new data storing the destination in the route database KDB, and performs route search / output / route determination.

When the route is determined, it is additionally stored in the route database KDB and the status flag is set to 1. Note that the route search is performed in the same manner as a conventional car navigation device, and thus description thereof is omitted.
With this configuration, for example, when the user gets on the car and starts the navigation device 1 according to the present invention, the user is notified of the information on the place where the user has to go on a specific day of the week every week. In addition, it is possible to perform route guidance by setting the destination / waypoint of the navigation device 1.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, the flow of processing when the corresponding data exists in both the schedule database SDB and the trigger database TDB will be described. A user gets on the car and starts the engine, and also executes trigger activation means 1-4 of the navigation device 1. For example, 200
When the user starts the car engine at 5:00 AM on Friday, May 1, 1997, the current position information / current date / time information is obtained by the position information acquisition means 1-5 using the GPS, 3D gyro. get. Next, schedule database SD based on current location information and current date / time information
Refer to the corresponding schedule information in B. In this case, “Date = 2009/5/1,
Day = Friday, Departure time = 6: 30, Title = Homecoming, Departure = Home, Destination = Osaka Prefecture Ox City Ox Town 1-1-1, Route = K-1-1, Category = G. W. Therefore, it is confirmed based on this information whether there is trigger information to be executed in the trigger database TDB.

In the trigger database TDB, “trigger = return home / title, destination / route destination = Osaka prefecture △△, destination information = home of XXX, memo = stopping to friend's home, message flag = 1”. , Grasp as a trigger to be executed.

Next, it is confirmed whether or not it is necessary to output a message to the user. If necessary, a message is created and output by the message creating means 1-8. In this case, since the message flag = 1, the message number M-1 of the message database MDB,
The destination information “Mr. XXX's house” registered in the database TDB is taken in, a message is created, and “Guide to registered XXX's house can be guided” is synthesized by speech and output.

Next, it is confirmed whether or not the navigation device 1 is currently guiding the route to the destination. If guidance is in progress, a message is output. In this case, since the corresponding data being guided exists in the route database KDB, “the destination being currently guided” is “Osaka Prefecture ○ × City ○ × Town 1
Do you want to set up and guide the route “X's house” to “1-1”? Is generated and synthesized by voice and output.

When the user desires to set a route, the user performs voice input and the like, newly sets data added with the route in the route database KDB, and performs route search / output / route determination. When the route is confirmed, it is additionally stored in the route database, the status flag is set to 1, and the status flag of the route data being guided is returned to the initial value. At this time, if it is not desired to set as a waypoint, the guidance of the previous route is continued.

If the navigation device 1 is not currently guiding the route to the destination, a message is output. In this case, “Do you want to start navigation and set the destination“ Mr.
Is generated and synthesized by voice and output. When the user wishes to set the destination, the user performs voice input, etc., sets new data storing the destination in the route database KDB, and performs route search / output / route determination. When the route is determined, it is additionally stored in the route database KDB and the status flag is set to 1. Note that the route search is performed in the same manner as a conventional car navigation device, and thus description thereof is omitted.

By configuring in this way, for example, when there is a place where the user wants to drop in when he / she goes to a specific place, the user gets on the car and starts the navigation device 1 of the present invention. Notification can be made and route guidance can be performed by setting the destination / waypoint of the navigation device 1.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a description will be given of the flow of processing when there is no relevant data for the destination and waypoint in the trigger database TDB. A user gets on the car and starts the engine, and also executes trigger activation means 1-4 of the navigation device 1. For example, AM on Saturday, May 2, 2009
When the user starts the car engine at 9:40, the current position information and the current date / time information are acquired by the position information acquisition means 1-5 using the GPS and 3D gyro. Next, based on the current position information and current date / time information, the corresponding schedule information in the schedule database SDB is referred to. In this case, “Date = 2009/5/2, Day of the week = Saturday, Departure time = 9:
30, title = drive △△ park, departure point = Osaka Prefecture ○ × city ○ × town 1-1-1, destination =
Osaka △△ machi 2-2, route = not set, category = G. W. Therefore, it is confirmed based on this information whether there is trigger information to be executed in the trigger database TDB. Since there is no trigger to be executed in the trigger database TDB, it is grasped that the information is guided by the information in the schedule DB.

Next, a message is created and output by the message creation means 1-8. message·
The message “M-3” in the database MDB and the destination “Osaka Prefecture △△ machi 2-2” registered in the schedule database SDB are imported to create a message. Are you going to set up and guide “△△ machi 2-2”? ”Is synthesized and output. When the user wishes to set the destination, the user performs voice input, etc., sets new data storing the destination in the route database KDB, and performs route search / output / route determination. When the route is determined, it is additionally stored in the route database KDB and the status flag is set to 1. Note that the route search is performed in the same manner as a conventional car navigation device, and thus description thereof is omitted.

By configuring in this way, for example, by starting the navigation device 1 according to the present invention when the user gets on a car with information on destinations and waypoints based on a schedule set in advance by the user, Notify all of the destinations and the destination /
It is possible to set route information for route guidance.

(Fourth embodiment)
For example, when moving by a plurality of vehicles, a network such as a telephone network, short-range wireless communication, the Internet, or inter-vehicle communication is used as a mechanism for making the same guide route in the navigation device 1 of each vehicle. A case where a trigger from the input unit 1-1 is used will be described.

In the third embodiment, driving with a plurality of vehicles is assumed. The user gets on the car and starts the engine, and also executes the input means 1-1 and trigger activation means 1-4 of the navigation device 1. When a new drive route is received from another vehicle through inter-vehicle communication while the navigation device 1 is being executed, it is determined whether there is trigger information to be executed in the trigger database TDB based on this information. Check. In the trigger database TDB, “trigger = drive △△ park / title and waypoint / route / inter-vehicle communication input, destination / routepoint = (
Reflected with input information), destination information = (reflected with input information), message flag = 1
"Is present, it is grasped as a trigger to be executed.

Next, it is confirmed whether or not it is necessary to output a message to the user. If necessary, a message is created and output by the message creating means 1-8. In this case, message flag =
Since it is 1, the message number M-6 of the message database MDB “Guidance is possible with the received new guidance information” is synthesized by voice and output. When the user desires to set as new guidance information, the user performs voice input or the like to determine the route. When the route is determined, the received guidance information is additionally stored in the route database KDB, and the status flag is set to 1. Note that the route search is performed in the same manner as a conventional car navigation device, and thus the description thereof is omitted. However, route information is also taken in from other vehicles through inter-vehicle communication, and the route database KDB. May be stored.

By configuring in this way, for example, when moving by a plurality of vehicles, when the user gets on the vehicle with the change information of the destination, waypoint, and guidance route, the navigation device 1 of the present invention is activated, A plurality of vehicles can share the guidance information without fail, and can set the destination / waypoint of the navigation device 1 for route guidance. Further, even when a plurality of vehicles have individual navigation search functions, they can move to the destination / route via the same route.

In addition, this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned above. For example, schedule
The database SDB and the trigger database TDB have been described as separate databases. However, the database SDB and the trigger database TDB may be configured to be stored in one database, or may be configured by only the trigger database TDB. Further, in the present embodiment, the navigation in the car navigation device has been described. However, the navigation device for pedestrians can be similarly implemented.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Navigation apparatus, 1-1 ... Input means, 1-2 ... Schedule management means, 1-3
... trigger information creating means, 1-4 ... trigger starting means, 1-5 ... position information obtaining means, 1-6 ...
Route search means, 1-7 ... Route creation means, 1-8 ... Message creation means, 1-9 ... Output means, SDB ... Schedule database, TDB ... Trigger database, MDB ... Message database, KDB ... Route database, MAPDB ... Map database

Claims (7)

An input means for acquiring information from an external device;
Trigger information creation means for creating trigger conditions, destination or waypoints, destination information as trigger information, and registering in the trigger database;
Trigger starting means for starting trigger monitoring based on the created trigger information;
Position information acquisition means;
Route search means for performing a route search using departure point information, destination information, and waypoint information input from the external device by the input means;
Output means for outputting information to the external device;
When a specific factor that can be detected by single information or combination information of the position information / date / time information acquired by the position information acquisition unit and the information input from the external device by the input unit occurs, the trigger information A navigation device characterized in that a destination or waypoint is automatically set based on a route search by the route search means for navigation. Obtain information about the schedule from the external device with the input means,
The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a schedule management unit that registers in a database. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the output unit outputs route information searched by the route search unit. An input means for acquiring trigger conditions, destination or waypoint, destination information as trigger information from an external device;
Trigger information creating means for registering the trigger information in a trigger database;
Trigger starting means for starting trigger monitoring based on the created trigger information;
Position information acquisition means;
A navigation apparatus, wherein a destination or waypoint is automatically set based on the created trigger information and the position information acquired by the position information acquisition means, and the route search means searches for a route for navigation. Input means for acquiring route information from an external device;
Route storage means for registering the route information input by the input means in the route database;
Position information acquisition means;
A navigation apparatus, wherein navigation is performed based on route information registered in the route database and position information acquired by the position information acquisition means. The external device includes an operation screen of a connected navigation device, a mobile phone connected via a telephone network, an electronic device connected via short-range wireless communication, an electronic computer connected via a network, and an inter-vehicle communication setting. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the navigation apparatus and the GPS are included. On the computer,
An input function for acquiring information from an external device;
Trigger information creation function to create trigger conditions, destination or waypoint, destination information as trigger information and register it in the trigger database,
A trigger activation function for activating trigger monitoring based on the created trigger information;
A function to acquire location information;
A route search function for performing a route search using departure point information, destination information, and waypoint information input from the external device with the input function;
An output function for outputting information to the external device;
When a specific factor that can be detected by single information or combination information of the position information / date / time information acquired by the position information acquisition function and the information input from the external device by the input function occurs, the trigger A navigation program characterized in that a destination or waypoint is automatically set based on information, and a route search is performed by the route search function for navigation.

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