JP2011058827A - Navigation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a navigation apparatus that achieves route guidance corresponding quickly and properly coping with changes of useful traffic information, while suppressing useless route computation and achieving alleviation of a system load and improvement of product life. <P>SOLUTION: A plurality of candidate routes calculated in the process of route computation by a route computation means 8 are determined as a plurality of monitoring object routes to be monitored for the traffic information, and it is made possible to present a route different from the current guiding route as a candidate of a fresh guiding route, taking as the motive a change only in the traffic information on the monitoring object routes among pieces of the traffic information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a navigation device, and more particularly to a navigation device suitable for providing a user with an optimum route to a destination.

  Conventionally, in a navigation device that performs route guidance according to a guidance route to a destination, an optimum route (optimum route) to the destination according to the route calculation conditions is set under the set route calculation conditions. The required route calculation is performed, and the optimum route calculated by the route calculation is presented to the user. Then, after the presented optimum route is set as the guidance route in accordance with the user operation, the route guidance according to the set guidance route is started, and the direction in which the vehicle is to travel is determined using voice or a screen. I was going to guide you accordingly.

  Conventionally, the navigation apparatus acquires traffic information such as VICS information distributed by VICS (Vehicle Information and Communication System) (registered trademark), and considers the acquired traffic information (in other words, in addition). A function to perform route calculation was provided. In this type of navigation device, the first route calculation is performed in consideration of traffic information when setting the destination, and even after starting the route guidance using the optimum route calculated by the first route calculation as the guidance route. For example, while obtaining the latest traffic information sequentially, recalculate the optimal route considering the latest traffic information periodically, for example, at regular intervals or when the traffic information on the guidance route changes It was. Then, this recalculation makes it possible to arrive at the destination within a predetermined time or shorter than the current guidance route by avoiding newly generated traffic regulations and traffic obstacles that are different from the current guidance route. When the possible route) is calculated, the optimum route is presented to the user as a new guide route candidate.

JP 2006-119055 A

  However, since the conventional navigation device does not have a function for continuously monitoring traffic information that does not exist on the guidance route, it is optimal to consider traffic information unless it is regularly recalculated as described above. The route could not be calculated. For this reason, conventionally, even when traffic congestion on a road that is not included in the guide route is alleviated, depending on the execution timing of the regular recalculation, a branch point for proceeding in the direction of the road where traffic congestion has been eased is automatically set. There is a possibility that the optimum route using the road where the traffic has passed and the traffic congestion has been eased cannot be calculated.

  In addition, since it was not known whether traffic information that does not exist on the guidance route is traffic information that affects driving to the destination, useless traffic information that has no relation to the destination has changed. However, it is necessary to perform recalculation that increases the system load, and to recalculate the optimal route by determining whether the optimal route candidate calculated in the recalculation process is more optimal than the current guidance route. There wasn't.

  Furthermore, in the future, it is expected that the demand for SD card navigation equipped with low-cost SD cards will gradually increase in place of HDD navigation equipped with hard disk drives, which are currently in the mainstream. Since the number of times of reading and writing is greatly limited as compared with a hard disk drive, it is important to suppress the number of times of reading and writing data in SD card navigation. However, when the above-described periodic route recalculation is applied to the SD card navigation, the number of times of data reading is increased by repeating the recalculation, and the life of the SD card is reduced. Become.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such points, and it is possible to quickly and appropriately respond to changes in useful traffic information while suppressing unnecessary route calculation to reduce system load and improve product life. An object of the present invention is to provide a navigation device capable of realizing corresponding route guidance.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, the navigation device of the present invention is characterized by the following items (a) to (c). (A) The navigation apparatus monitors a plurality of candidate routes including a single candidate route corresponding to the condition-corresponding optimum route calculated as a condition-corresponding optimum route candidate in the course of route calculation. A monitoring target route determining means for determining the target route is provided. (B) The navigation device includes traffic information monitoring means for monitoring traffic information on a plurality of monitoring target routes determined by the monitoring target route determining means based on the traffic information acquired by the traffic information acquiring means. . (C) The route presenting means is triggered by a change in only the traffic information on a plurality of monitored routes monitored by the traffic information monitoring means among the traffic information acquired during the route guidance by the traffic information acquiring means. A route different from the current guide route can be presented as a new guide route candidate.

  And according to the navigation apparatus characterized by such items (a) to (c), a new guide route candidate is triggered by a change in only the traffic information on a plurality of monitored routes in the traffic information. Can be used to avoid route calculation triggered by useless traffic information changes on routes other than the route to be monitored, while using it before arriving at the destination. It is possible to reflect changes in traffic information on a plurality of routes to be monitored that have a high possibility in the presence or absence of changes in the guidance route. This reduces wasteful route calculations, reduces system load and improves product life, and provides route guidance that responds promptly and appropriately to changes in useful traffic information without relying on periodic recalculations. Can be realized.

  Further, the navigation device of the present invention may further include the following items (d) and (e). (D) When the traffic information on the plurality of monitoring target routes monitored by the traffic information monitoring means shows a predetermined change during route guidance, the navigation device displays a plurality of monitoring target routes after the predetermined change. In consideration of the above traffic information, there is provided a monitoring target optimal route determining means for determining a monitoring target optimal route which is an optimal route among a plurality of monitoring target routes. (E) The route presentation unit presents the intra-monitoring target optimal route as a new guidance route candidate when the intra-monitoring target optimal route determined by the monitoring target optimal route determination unit is different from the current guidance route.

  Then, according to the navigation device further characterized by the items (d) and (e), the monitoring target optimal route determined by the monitoring target optimal route determining means is used as a new guidance route candidate. Since it can be presented, the number of route calculations can be more effectively limited.

  Furthermore, the navigation device of the present invention may further include the following item (f). (F) The optimal route within the monitoring target is a route that takes the shortest time to the destination when traffic information on each monitoring target route among the plurality of monitoring target routes is considered.

  Then, according to the navigation device having the feature (f) as a further feature, it is possible to present an optimal route within the monitoring target that is more suitable as a candidate for a new guidance route.

  Furthermore, the navigation device of the present invention may further include the following item (g). (G) The monitoring target route is a monitoring target route based on a candidate route calculated in a static route calculation process in a state where the route calculation condition does not include a condition for considering traffic information.

  Then, according to the navigation device having such a feature (g) as a further feature, for example, if there is no traffic jam, a route having a high utility value that minimizes the required time to the destination is Since it is possible to avoid being temporarily excluded from the route to be monitored due to temporary congestion at the time of route calculation, only changes in more useful traffic information can be reflected in the presence or absence of changes in the guidance route .

  Further, the navigation device of the present invention may further include the following items (h) and (i). (H) When the traffic information on the plurality of monitored routes monitored by the traffic information monitoring unit shows a predetermined change during route guidance, the navigation device sends a route calculation condition to the route calculation unit. Traffic information change recalculation control means for performing control for recalculating the condition-corresponding optimum route by dynamic route calculation in a state where the condition that traffic information is taken into consideration is included. (I) When the condition-corresponding optimum route calculated by recalculation is different from the current guiding route, the route presenting means presents the condition-corresponding optimum route as a new guiding route candidate.

  According to the navigation device further characterized by the items (h) and (i), the condition-corresponding optimum route calculated by the recalculation according to the control of the traffic information change recalculation control means is obtained. Since it can be presented as a new guide route candidate, recalculation can be performed only when necessary when only traffic information on the monitored route shows a predetermined change.

  Furthermore, the navigation device of the present invention may be further characterized by the following items (j) and (k). (J) The navigation device includes necessity determination means for individually determining whether or not a plurality of monitoring target routes are necessary based on the vehicle position specified by the vehicle position specifying means during route guidance. (K) The traffic information monitoring unit excludes, from the monitoring target, the monitoring target route determined as unnecessary by the necessity determining unit among the plurality of monitoring target routes.

  According to the navigation device further characterized by the items (j) and (k), the route to be monitored that is less likely to be used before reaching the destination is monitored later. Therefore, only changes in more useful traffic information can be reflected in the presence / absence of changes in the guidance route.

  Furthermore, the navigation device of the present invention may further include the following item (l). (L) The necessity determination unit determines that the monitoring target route branched from the current guidance route at the branch point where the vehicle on the current guidance route has traveled is unnecessary among the plurality of monitoring target routes.

  Then, according to the navigation device having the feature (l) as a further feature, it is possible to provide an optimum determination criterion for determining the necessity of the monitoring target route.

  The navigation device of the present invention may be characterized by the following item (m). (M) When the number of monitoring target routes is less than a predetermined number due to the operation of excluding the monitoring target routes determined to be unnecessary by the necessity determining unit from the monitoring target, the navigation apparatus performs the condition corresponding optimization to the route calculation unit A monitoring target reduction-time recalculation control means for performing control for recalculating the route is provided.

  Then, according to the navigation device having the feature (m) as a further feature, a condition-corresponding optimum route candidate is obtained while performing recalculation only when it is necessary that the number of routes to be monitored is less than or equal to a predetermined number. This option can be maintained, and the possibility that a more optimal route is presented can be secured.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the route guidance which respond | corresponded to the change of useful traffic information rapidly and appropriately can be implement | achieved, suppressing a useless route calculation and aiming at reduction of a system load and improvement of a product lifetime.

The block diagram which shows 1st Embodiment of the navigation apparatus which concerns on this invention. The conceptual diagram which shows an example of several monitoring object path | route in 1st Embodiment of the navigation apparatus which concerns on this invention. The conceptual diagram which shows an example of the determination operation | movement of the optimal route within a monitoring object in 1st Embodiment of the navigation apparatus which concerns on this invention. The conceptual diagram which shows an example of the exclusion operation | movement of the unnecessary monitoring object path | route in 1st Embodiment of the navigation apparatus which concerns on this invention. The conceptual diagram which shows an example of control operation of the recalculation control means at the time of monitoring object reduction in 1st Embodiment of the navigation apparatus which concerns on this invention. The flowchart which shows 1st Embodiment of the navigation apparatus which concerns on this invention. The block diagram which shows 2nd Embodiment of the navigation apparatus which concerns on this invention. The flowchart which shows 2nd Embodiment of the navigation apparatus which concerns on this invention.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a navigation device according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the navigation apparatus 1 in this embodiment has a traffic information acquisition unit 2 as traffic information acquisition means, and this traffic information acquisition unit 2 acquires traffic information transmitted from the outside. To hold. The traffic information acquisition unit 2 may acquire VICS information as traffic information via a beacon receiver and an FM multiplex receiver (not shown). Here, the beacon receiver can receive VICS information transmitted by radio wave beacons mainly installed on highways or optical beacons mainly installed on ordinary roads. Further, the FM multiplex receiver can receive the VICS information in the cover area of the FM broadcast station transmitted by FM multiplex broadcast from the FM broadcast station selected on the navigation device 1 side. Radio wave beacons, optical beacons, and FM broadcast stations receive VICS information that is sequentially updated from the VICS center at predetermined time intervals. It is sequentially transmitted to the navigation device 1 side by the station. Since each VICS information is associated with a link identification number (link ID), the navigation device 1 uses the link ID and the link ID of each link in the map data stored in the navigation device 1. In comparison, the point or section corresponding to the VICS information can be grasped.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the navigation device 1 has a map storage unit 3 as storage means, and map data is stored in the map storage unit 3. The map data is managed by being hierarchized into a plurality of levels according to the level of detail and the area of the map data. The map data includes road data, background data, road network data as route calculation data, and search data. Among these, the road data has shape interpolation points, segments, links, nodes, link strings, road names, traffic conditions, traffic signs, and the like as basic data elements, and links are given link IDs. The background data includes points, polylines, polygons, text, and the like as basic data elements. Further, the road network data includes nodes, links, traffic conditions, and the like as basic data elements. Furthermore, the search data uses area names, addresses, postal codes, POIs (Points of Interest), etc. as basic data elements. Furthermore, the map storage unit 3 stores an execution program for the navigation device 1 to execute various functions such as a map display function, a vehicle position calculation function, a route calculation function, a route guidance function, and a search function. Has been. This execution program is appropriately executed by each component of the navigation device 1 described later in order to realize the function. Note that the map storage unit 3 may be an SD card attached to the navigation device 1.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the navigation device 1 has a host vehicle position specifying unit 4 as a host vehicle position specifying unit, and the host vehicle position specifying unit 4 is the host vehicle position, that is, the current vehicle position. The position is specified. This own vehicle position specifying unit 4 may specify the own vehicle position using information received by a GPS receiver (not shown) or detection information of an autonomous navigation sensor such as a gyro sensor or a vehicle speed sensor. Here, the GPS receiver can receive GPS information (information on time and orbit) distributed from GPS satellites. The own vehicle position specifying unit 4 can specify the own vehicle position by performing satellite navigation that calculates the own vehicle position as an absolute coordinate based on the GPS information. Further, the autonomous navigation sensor can detect the acceleration, the vehicle speed, the vehicle direction, and the like of the vehicle. Based on the detection result of the autonomous navigation sensor, the own vehicle position specifying unit 4 also determines the own vehicle position by performing autonomous navigation that calculates the own vehicle position as a relative position that is a change from the previous positioning position. Can be identified. Furthermore, the own vehicle position specifying unit 4 uses the map data stored in the map storage unit 3 to correct the own vehicle position specified by satellite navigation or autonomous navigation to the corresponding position on the road in the map data. By performing the map matching process, the vehicle position can be specified with higher accuracy.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1, the navigation apparatus 1 has a destination setting unit 5 as destination setting means. The destination setting unit 5 displays a destination setting operation screen for setting a navigation destination on the display unit 6, and then performs an input operation using the user input operation unit 7 on the operation screen. A destination according to the destination is set. Search data in map data is used to search for a destination. The input operation unit 7 may be a remote controller, a touch panel of the display unit 6, a linear encoder, a rotary encoder, or the like.

  Moreover, as shown in FIG. 1, the navigation apparatus 1 has the route calculation part 8 as a route calculation means. When the destination is set by the destination setting unit 5, the route calculation unit 8 performs route calculation for calculating a condition-corresponding optimum route based on the road network data stored in the map storage unit 3. It is like that. Here, the condition-corresponding optimum route is a route from the own vehicle position to the destination set by the destination setting unit 5 when the destination is set by the destination setting unit 5, and the route calculation unit 8 It means an optimum route according to a route calculation condition set in advance. Note that the route calculation conditions may be set by default or may be set by the user using the input operation unit 7. As route calculation conditions, for example, a condition that calculates a route that requires the shortest time to the destination, a condition that calculates a route that requires the shortest distance to the destination, and general roads are given priority. Various conditions can be considered, such as a condition for calculating a route that travels on the road and a condition for calculating a route that preferentially travels on a wide road. Furthermore, in addition to the above-described conditions, the route calculation conditions can further include conditions for considering traffic information. Here, for the route calculation, a known cost calculation based on a cost obtained by quantifying the difficulty of passing through a road or an intersection according to a route calculation condition, a link length, a road type, or the like is used. In the course of this route calculation, a plurality of routes (hereinafter referred to as “routes”) whose route cost is relatively small under the set route calculation conditions from among a large number of assumed routes from the vehicle position to the destination. Are referred to as candidate routes). In the route calculation, one candidate route that minimizes the cost of the route among the plurality of calculated candidate routes is calculated as a condition-corresponding optimum route. If the route calculation condition includes a condition that considers traffic information, in the route calculation, for example, by setting a cost corresponding to a link where traffic congestion or congestion occurs to a large value, It is difficult to pass through the link (that is, it is difficult to select a route including the link as a condition-corresponding optimum route), and a condition-corresponding optimum route for avoiding congestion and congestion is searched.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1, the navigation device 1 has a route presentation unit 10 as route presentation means, and this route presentation unit 10 displays a route as a candidate for a guidance route to the display unit 6. It is presented to the user by display. When the route calculation unit 8 calculates the condition-corresponding optimum route, the route presentation unit 10 presents the calculated condition-corresponding optimum route. The route presentation by the route presentation unit 10 is performed in a state where the user can set the presented route as a guidance route by an input operation using the input operation unit 7.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1, the navigation device 1 has a route guidance unit 11 as route guidance means, and the route guidance unit 11 displays a route presented by the route presentation unit 10 by the user. When an input operation for setting a guide route is performed, the presented route is set as the guide route. In addition, the route guidance unit 11 performs route guidance according to the set guidance route. This route guidance is performed, for example, by displaying an enlarged view of an intersection on the display unit 6 or by outputting a voice for turning left / right at the intersection via the voice output unit 12.

  In addition to having such a basic configuration, as shown in FIG. 1, the navigation device 1 further includes a monitoring target route determination unit 14 as monitoring target route determination means. The monitoring target route determination unit 14 monitors the plurality of candidate routes calculated in the course of the route calculation by the route calculation unit 8 and is a route for monitoring traffic information (traffic information corresponding to the route). Each is to be decided. One of the plurality of candidate routes (the one with the lowest cost) corresponds to the condition-corresponding optimum route, that is, is determined as the condition-corresponding optimum route when the route calculation is completed. One of the plurality of monitoring target routes determined by the target route determination unit 14 is the condition-corresponding optimal route itself. The determination of the monitoring target route by the monitoring target route determination unit 14 may be performed simultaneously with the end of the route calculation.

  In addition to the above configuration, the navigation device 1 further includes a traffic information monitoring unit 15 as traffic information monitoring means, as shown in FIG. The traffic information monitoring unit 15 monitors traffic information on a plurality of monitoring target routes determined by the monitoring target route determining unit 14 based on the traffic information acquired by the traffic information acquiring unit 2. . For example, the traffic information monitoring unit 15 corresponds to road information (for example, link IDs) of roads that respectively configure a plurality of monitored routes from the traffic information sequentially acquired by the traffic information acquisition unit 2 every predetermined time. The traffic information on each monitored route may be monitored by sequentially extracting only the attached traffic information in association with the road information.

  Here, FIG. 2 shows an example of a plurality of routes to be monitored whose traffic information is monitored by such a traffic information monitoring unit 15. In FIG. 2, the 1st-4th monitoring object route is determined among many possible routes from the own vehicle position to the destination, and traffic information on each monitoring object route is a traffic information monitoring unit. 15 is monitored. In FIG. 2, the third monitoring target route, which is the condition-corresponding optimum route among the monitoring target routes, is set in the route guiding unit 11 as a guiding route. Route guidance is performed according to the guidance route corresponding to the monitoring target route.

  In addition to the above configuration, in the present embodiment, the route presentation unit 10 further includes a plurality of monitoring items monitored by the traffic information monitoring unit 15 among the traffic information acquired by the traffic information acquisition unit 2 during route guidance. When only traffic information on the target route is changed, a route different from the current guide route can be presented as a new guide route candidate.

  More specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the navigation apparatus 1 includes an in-monitoring target optimal route determination unit 17 as an in-monitoring target optimal route determination unit. When the traffic information on the plurality of monitoring target routes monitored by the traffic information monitoring unit 15 shows a predetermined change, the intra-monitoring target optimum route determination unit 17 displays the plurality of monitoring targets after the predetermined change. Considering traffic information on the route (without considering other traffic information), the optimum route within the monitoring target is determined. However, the optimal route within the monitoring target is the optimal route when the traffic information on each monitoring target route after the predetermined change among the plurality of monitoring target routes monitored by the traffic information monitoring unit 15 is considered. I mean. Since each monitoring target route is originally calculated as a plurality of candidate routes, each monitoring target route meets the route calculation condition. The optimal route within the monitoring target is a route that is considered to be optimal when considering the traffic information after the predetermined change among the monitoring target routes that meet such a route calculation condition. Specifically, the optimal route within the monitoring target may be a route that takes the shortest time to the destination when traffic information on each monitoring target route is taken into consideration among the plurality of monitoring target routes. Alternatively, the optimal route within the monitoring target is a route that takes the shortest time required to reach the destination when traffic information on each monitoring target route is considered among the plurality of monitoring target routes. The route may be such that the required time to the destination is shorter than the guide route by a predetermined time (for example, 10 minutes) or more.

  In addition, for the predetermined change of the traffic information on the monitoring target route that triggers the determination operation of the monitoring target optimal route by the monitoring target optimal route determination unit 17, various change modes are set according to the design concept. Can do. For example, traffic information (for example, VICS information) that changes from “smooth” to “congestion” or “congestion” on a monitoring target route corresponding to a condition-corresponding optimum route, that is, a current guidance route among a plurality of monitoring target routes. ) And a change in traffic information that changes from “congestion” or “congestion” to “smooth” is indicated as the predetermined change on at least one other monitoring route. Also good. Further, the traffic information monitoring unit 15 may determine whether or not the predetermined change is indicated, or the monitoring target optimal route determination unit 17 may determine. Further, the determination may be performed every predetermined determination cycle. In this case, the determination as to whether or not the predetermined change is indicated is based on the change in traffic information on each monitored route at the end point of the unit determination cycle relative to the traffic information on each monitored route at the start point of the unit determination cycle. It is performed as a determination target.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, the monitoring target optimal route determination unit 17 determines, for example, each monitoring target according to the traffic information on each monitoring target route after the predetermined change when determining the monitoring target optimal route. The cost of the route may be calculated. In this case, for example, for the monitoring target route in which the traffic jam occurs due to the predetermined change, the initial cost, that is, a value larger than the cost at the time of calculating the route when the monitoring target route is determined. The cost will be calculated. Then, the monitoring target optimal route determination unit 17 compares the costs of the monitoring target routes according to the calculated traffic information after the predetermined change, and determines the monitoring target route with the minimum cost as the monitoring target optimal route. It may be determined as In the determination of the optimal route within the monitoring target by such a method, the cost calculation target is limited to only a plurality of monitoring target routes in advance, so the number of times of data reading is smaller than the normal route calculation, and the system load is also reduced. Reduced processing. In addition, when the condition for the optimal route within the monitoring target includes that the required time to the destination is shortened by a predetermined time or more than the current guidance route, the predetermined route is determined when determining the optimal route within the monitoring target. In addition to comparing the costs of multiple monitored routes according to the traffic information after the change, these costs are also calculated as the initial cost of the current guide route (the current guide route is calculated as the condition-corresponding optimum route). Cost). In this comparison result, the minimum cost among the plurality of routes to be monitored according to the traffic information after the predetermined change is the time required to reach the destination with respect to the initial cost of the current guidance route. If the cost is not reduced to such an extent that it is shortened by a predetermined time or more, the optimal route within the monitoring target is not determined. In this case, the route presentation unit 10 may maintain the current guidance route without presenting a new guidance route candidate.

  Then, the intra-monitoring target optimal route determination unit 17 outputs the determined intra-monitoring target optimal route to the route presentation unit 10 when the monitoring target optimal route is determined. Note that the route calculation condition set in the route calculation unit 8 does not include a condition for considering traffic information, that is, the route calculation unit 8 performs a static route calculation without considering traffic information. However, the optimal route within the monitoring target determined by the optimal route determination within the monitoring target 17 takes into account the traffic information on each monitoring target route.

  Here, FIG. 3 shows an example of the determination operation of the monitoring target optimal route by the monitoring target optimal route determination unit 17. FIG. 3 is an example of operation when the vehicle travels on the guidance route from the state of FIG. 2 and traffic information on a plurality of monitored routes shows a predetermined change at the vehicle position shown in FIG. . In FIG. 3, the monitoring target route that minimizes the cost when the traffic information monitored by the traffic information monitoring unit 15 is taken into consideration is the second monitoring target route. As a result, the second monitoring target route is determined as the monitoring target optimum route.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the route presenting unit 10 sets the determined in-monitored optimum route in the route guiding unit 11 when the in-monitored optimum route determination unit 17 determines the in-monitored optimum route. By comparing with the current guide route, it is determined whether or not the optimum route within the monitoring target is different from the current guidance route (hereinafter referred to as optimum route determination within the monitoring subject).

  Then, when a positive determination result is obtained in the monitoring target optimal route determination, the route presentation unit 10 presents the monitoring target optimal route as a new guidance route candidate. On the other hand, when a negative determination result is obtained in the monitoring target optimal route determination, the route presentation unit 10 does not present a new guide route candidate.

  As a result, when the optimal route within the monitoring target is presented as a new guide route candidate by the route presentation unit 10, the user performs an input operation for setting the optimal route within the monitoring target as the guide route. Can change the guidance route.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, when only the traffic information on a plurality of monitored routes in the traffic information is changed, a new route is determined after determining the optimal route within the monitored region and determining the optimal route within the monitored region. Since guidance route candidates can be presented, it is possible to avoid route calculation triggered by useless traffic information changes on routes other than the route to be monitored. On the other hand, changes in traffic information on multiple monitored routes that are likely to be used before arriving at the destination are reflected in the presence or absence of changes in guidance routes in response to this change. Can be made. As a result, it is possible to quickly and appropriately respond to changes in useful traffic information without relying on periodic recalculations while suppressing unnecessary route calculations to reduce system load and improve product life. Can be realized. In addition, along with the suppression of useless path calculation, an SD card with a limited number of data reads can be used as a storage medium without any problem. Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the number of times of route calculation is reduced by presenting the intra-monitoring target optimal route determined by the intra-monitoring target optimal route determination unit 17 as a new guide route candidate, regardless of route calculation. It can be more effectively limited.

  In the present embodiment, it is desirable that the route calculation condition does not include a condition for considering traffic information. In this way, for example, if there is no traffic jam, a route with a high utility value that takes the shortest time to reach the destination will be created from the monitored route due to a temporary traffic jam at the time of route calculation. Since it is possible to avoid being excluded, it is possible to reflect only changes in more useful traffic information in the presence or absence of changes in the guidance route.

  In addition to the above configuration, as shown in FIG. 1, the navigation device 1 further includes a necessity determination unit 21 as necessity determination means. The necessity determination unit 21 individually determines the necessity of a plurality of monitoring target routes based on the vehicle position specified by the vehicle position specifying unit 4 during route guidance. Specifically, the necessity determination unit 21 does not need a monitoring target route that is branched from the current guidance route at a branch point where the vehicle on the current guidance route has traveled among a plurality of monitoring target routes. May be determined. In the present embodiment, the traffic information monitoring unit 15 excludes, from the monitoring targets, the monitoring target routes determined to be unnecessary by the necessity determination unit 21 among the plurality of monitoring target routes. As a result, the route to be monitored that is less likely to be used by the time it arrives at the destination can be excluded from the subject of monitoring later, so only changes in more useful traffic information can be changed. It can be reflected in the presence or absence.

  Here, FIG. 4 shows an example of the operation for excluding the monitoring target route accompanying the necessity determination of the necessity determination unit 21. FIG. 4 shows an operation example when the vehicle passes the branch point A shown in FIG. 4 while receiving the route guidance using the third monitored route as the guidance route from the state of FIG. In FIG. 4, the first monitoring target route and the second monitoring target route are monitoring target routes branched from the current guidance route at a branch point where the host vehicle has traveled on the current guidance route. . In FIG. 4, the first monitoring target route and the second monitoring target route are routes that cannot be used unless a driving operation that is not normally considered such as the vehicle returning to the branch point A is performed. Since such a route is unlikely to be used by a user, there is little need to monitor traffic information. Therefore, in FIG. 4, such a first monitoring target route and a second monitoring target route are monitored by the traffic information monitoring unit 15 after it is determined unnecessary by the necessity determination unit 21. It will be excluded from the target.

  In addition to the above configuration, as shown in FIG. 1, the navigation apparatus 1 further includes a monitoring target decrement recalculation control unit 22 as monitoring target decrement recalculation control means. The recalculation control unit 22 when the number of monitoring targets is reduced is determined when the number of monitoring target routes becomes equal to or less than a predetermined number due to the monitoring target route exclusion operation by the traffic information monitoring unit 15 based on the necessity determination of the necessity determination unit 21. The calculation unit 8 is controlled to recalculate the condition-corresponding optimum route. Then, the route calculation unit 8 recalculates the condition-corresponding optimum route by the same route calculation as described above under the control of the monitoring target decrement recalculation control unit 22. The plurality of candidate routes calculated in the recalculation process are determined as new monitoring target routes by the monitoring target route determination unit 14, and one of them is presented by the route presentation 10 as a condition-corresponding optimal route. become. As a result, recalculation is performed only when it is necessary when the number of routes to be monitored is less than a predetermined number, while maintaining the option of the optimum route corresponding to the condition and ensuring the possibility that a more optimal route is presented. I can leave.

  Here, FIG. 5 shows an example of the control operation of the monitoring target decrement recalculation control unit 22. The control operation of the monitoring target decrement recalculation control unit 22 in FIG. 5 is executed when the first monitoring target route and the second monitoring target route in FIG. 4 are excluded from the monitoring targets. is there. That is, by the exclusion operation in FIG. 4, only the third monitoring target route and the fourth monitoring target route remain, and the number of monitoring target routes is two as a predetermined number. On the other hand, in FIG. 5, in addition to the third monitoring target route and the fourth monitoring target route, a fifth monitoring target route is added to the monitoring target route by recalculation.

  In addition to the above configuration, for example, when the vehicle position deviates from the current guidance route, the route presenter 10 presents the current guidance extending from the point where the vehicle position after the departure exists to the destination side. A monitoring target route different from the route may be presented to the user as a new guide route candidate. When there are a plurality of such monitoring target paths, a monitoring target path with the lowest cost among the plurality of monitoring target paths may be presented.

  Next, the effect | action of this embodiment is demonstrated using FIG.

  In the present embodiment, first, in step 1 (ST1) of FIG. 6, the destination setting unit 5 performs user input using the input operation unit 7 on the destination setting operation screen displayed on the display unit 6. Set the destination according to the operation.

  Next, in step 2 (ST2), the route calculation unit 8 uses the destination setting result in step 1 (ST1), the vehicle position specified by the vehicle position specifying unit 4 at the time of setting the destination, Based on the set route calculation condition, route calculation using the road network data stored in the map storage unit 3 is started.

  Next, in step 3 (ST3), the route calculation unit 8 calculates a plurality of candidate routes in the course of route calculation.

  Next, in step 4 (ST4), the route calculation unit 8 calculates a route with the lowest cost among the plurality of candidate routes calculated in step 3 (ST3) as a condition-corresponding optimal route, and determines a route to be monitored. The unit 14 determines a plurality of candidate routes calculated in step 3 (ST3) as monitoring target routes.

  Next, in step 5 (ST5), the route presentation unit 10 displays the condition-corresponding optimum route calculated in step 4 (ST4) on the display unit 6 as a guide route candidate, thereby presenting the condition-corresponding optimum route. I do.

  Next, in step 6 (ST6), whether or not an input operation has been performed by the route guidance unit 11 and the traffic information monitoring unit 15 to set the condition-corresponding optimum route presented in step 5 (ST5) as the guidance route. If yes, go to Step 7 (ST7). If not, repeat Step 6 (ST6).

  Next, in step 7 (ST7), the route guidance unit 11 starts route guidance using the condition-corresponding optimum route calculated in step 4 (ST4), and the traffic information monitoring unit 15 performs step 4 (ST4). Monitoring of traffic information on a plurality of monitoring target routes calculated in ST4) is started.

  Next, in step 8 (ST8), the traffic information monitoring unit 15 determines whether or not the traffic information on the plurality of monitored routes shows a predetermined change. If the traffic information shows a predetermined change, step 9 The process proceeds to (ST9), and if the predetermined change is not indicated, the process proceeds to step 17 (ST17).

  Here, a series of processing from step 9 (ST9) to step 15 (ST15) will be described first. First, in step 9 (ST9), the in-monitoring target optimum route determination unit 17 performs the traffic information monitoring unit 15. In response to the determination result in step 8 (ST8), the optimal route within the monitoring target is determined from the plurality of monitoring target routes by the method described above.

  Next, in step 10 (ST10), the route presenting unit 10 determines whether or not the monitoring target optimal route determined in step 9 (ST9) is different from the current guidance route. If not (NO in step ST11), the process advances to step 16 (ST16).

  Next, in step 11 (ST11), the route presenting unit 10 presents the monitoring target optimal route determined in step 9 (ST9) as a new guide route candidate.

  Next, in step 12 (ST12), the route guidance unit 11 determines whether or not an input operation for setting the route presented in step 11 (ST11) as a new guidance route has been performed, If yes, go to Step 13 (ST13), otherwise go to Step 16 (ST16).

  Next, in step 13 (ST13), the route guidance unit 11 changes the guidance route by setting the route presented in step 11 (ST11) as a new guidance route to replace the current guidance route, and after the change. The route guidance according to the guidance route of is started.

  Next, in step 14 (ST14), the route guidance unit 11 continues the route guidance and the traffic information monitoring unit 15 continues to monitor the traffic information on the monitored route.

  Next, in step 15 (ST15), the route guidance unit 11 and the traffic information monitoring unit 15 determine whether or not the own vehicle has arrived at the destination based on the identification result of the own vehicle position identifying unit 4 and arrive. If so, the process ends. If not, the process returns to step 8 (ST8).

  On the other hand, when the process proceeds from step 10 (ST10) to step 16 (ST16), a new guide route candidate is not presented, the current guide route is maintained, and the process proceeds to step 14 (ST14).

  Next, a series of processes from step 17 (ST17) to step 20 (ST20) will be described. First, in step 17 (ST17), the vehicle position specifying unit 4 specifies the necessity determination unit 21. Based on the current vehicle position, the necessity of a plurality of routes to be monitored is individually determined by the method described above.

  Next, in step 18 (ST18), the traffic information monitoring unit 15 excludes the monitoring target route determined as unnecessary in step 17 (ST17) from the monitoring target.

  Next, in step 19 (ST19), the monitoring target decrement recalculation control unit 22 determines whether or not the number of monitoring target routes has become a predetermined number or less by the processing in step 18 (ST18). In this case, the process proceeds to step 20 (ST20), and if not less than the predetermined number, the process proceeds to step 14 (ST14).

  Next, in step 20 (ST20), under the control of the monitoring target decrement recalculation control unit 22, the route calculation unit 8 starts recalculation of the condition-corresponding optimum route and returns to step 3 (ST3).

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the navigation device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 with a focus on differences from the first embodiment.

  Note that portions having the same or similar basic configuration as the first embodiment will be described using the same reference numerals.

  As shown in FIG. 7, unlike the first embodiment, the navigation device 30 according to the present embodiment replaces the monitoring target optimum route determination unit 17 with the traffic information change recalculation control means when the traffic information changes. A recalculation control unit 31 is included.

  The traffic information change recalculation control unit 31 determines whether the traffic information on a plurality of monitored routes monitored by the traffic information monitoring unit 15 shows a predetermined change during route guidance. On the other hand, control for recalculating the condition-corresponding optimum route is performed. However, the control of the recalculation control unit 31 at the time of traffic information change is to recalculate the condition-corresponding optimum route by dynamic route calculation in a state where the route calculation condition includes a condition that the traffic information is considered. It is said that the control.

  However, if the route calculation condition includes a condition for considering the traffic information from the time when the destination is set, the control of the recalculation control unit 31 at the time of traffic information change is performed by the route calculation algorithm from the beginning. This is a control for performing the route calculation again following the above. Depending on the function of the dynamic route guidance, the traffic considered in the route calculation during route guidance, rather than the traffic information region considered in the route calculation at the time of setting the destination (for example, the total reception region of VICS information). An information area (for example, an area 20 km ahead of the host vehicle in the entire reception area of VICS information) may be smaller. On the other hand, when the route calculation condition does not include a condition for considering traffic information from the beginning, that is, when the route calculation unit 8 is set to perform static route calculation, only when recalculation is performed. A condition for considering traffic information may be automatically added to the route calculation condition.

  Note that the traffic information monitoring unit 15 may determine whether or not the traffic information on the monitoring target route shows a predetermined change, or the traffic information change recalculation control unit 31 may perform the determination. Also good. The specific determination method in that case may be the same as in the first embodiment.

  In addition, the recalculation condition may include a recalculation-specific condition for searching for a route whose required time to the destination is shorter than the current guidance route by a predetermined time or more.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the route presentation unit 10 calculates the condition-corresponding optimum route by recalculation of the route calculation unit 8 according to the control of the traffic information change recalculation control unit 31. It is determined whether or not the condition-corresponding optimum route is different from the current guidance route (hereinafter referred to as condition-corresponding optimum route determination).

  Then, when a positive determination result is obtained in the condition-corresponding optimum route determination, the route presenting unit 10 presents the condition-corresponding optimum route calculated by recalculation as a new guidance route candidate. ing. On the other hand, when a negative determination result is obtained in the condition-corresponding optimal route determination, the route presentation unit 10 does not present a new guide route candidate.

  Thereby, when the condition-corresponding optimum route is presented as a new guide route candidate by the route presentation unit 10, the user performs guidance by performing an input operation for setting the condition-corresponding optimum route as the guide route. The route can be changed.

  If the recalculation condition includes a recalculation-specific condition that searches for a route whose required time to the destination is shorter than the current guide route by a predetermined time or more, the recalculation will handle the condition. An optimal route may not be calculated. In such a case, the route presentation unit 10 may maintain the current guide route without presenting a new guide route candidate.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, recalculation is performed by the route calculation unit 8, but this recalculation is different from the regular route calculation as in the prior art, and traffic on the monitored route. Since only information is performed only when it is necessary to show a predetermined change, the number of route calculations can be suppressed. By such recalculation, it is possible to present a condition-corresponding optimum route suitable for a new guidance route candidate.

  Other configurations are basically the same as those in the first embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  Next, FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the present embodiment. As can be seen by comparing FIG. 8 with FIG. 6 of the first embodiment, FIG. 8 shows step 9 (ST9) of FIG. ) Is replaced with step 31 (ST31). In FIG. 8, the step corresponding to step 10 (ST10) in FIG. 6 is replaced with step 32 (ST32). Further, in FIG. 8, the step corresponding to step 11 (ST11) in FIG. 6 is replaced with step 33 (ST33). Since the other steps in FIG. 8 are the same as those in FIG. 6, the following description will focus on steps from step 31 (ST31) to step 33 (ST33) that are specific to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 8, in this embodiment, in step 8 (ST8), the traffic information monitoring unit 15 determines whether or not the traffic information on the plurality of monitored routes shows a predetermined change. If the change is indicated, the process proceeds to step 31 (ST31).

  Next, in step 31 (ST31), the route calculation unit 8 recalculates the condition-corresponding optimal route by dynamic route calculation according to the control of the traffic information change recalculation control unit 31. Although not shown, in this recalculation process, a plurality of candidate routes are calculated as shown in step 3 (ST3). The plurality of candidate routes are determined as new monitoring target routes by the monitoring target route determining unit 14 at the end of the recalculation.

  Next, in step 32 (ST32), the route presentation unit 10 determines whether or not the condition-corresponding optimum route calculated in step 31 (ST31) is different from the current guidance route. If not, the process proceeds to step 16 (ST16).

  In step 33 (ST33), the route presentation unit 10 presents the condition-corresponding optimum route calculated in step 31 (ST31) as a new guide route candidate, and the process proceeds to step 12 (ST12).

  In the present embodiment, in step 13 (ST13), route guidance according to the new guidance route is started and calculated by the traffic information monitoring unit 15 in the process of recalculation in step 31 (ST31). The monitoring of traffic information on a plurality of new monitoring target routes based on the candidate routes is started.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to reflect only changes in traffic information on a plurality of monitored routes in traffic information in the presence / absence of a change in guidance route. Can be achieved.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned above, A various change can be made as needed. For example, the navigation device of the present invention may have both the configuration of the first embodiment and the configuration of the second embodiment. However, in that case, the predetermined change in the traffic information on the plurality of monitoring target routes is determined by the monitoring target optimal route determining unit 17 by the monitoring target optimal route determining unit 17 shown in the first embodiment and the second Considering that it is a trigger for both the recalculation control by the recalculation control unit 31 at the time of traffic information change shown in the embodiment, two actions that cannot be performed simultaneously by one trigger will be performed simultaneously. It is necessary to prevent that. Therefore, for example, when the route calculation condition does not include a condition for considering traffic information, the monitoring target by the optimal route determination unit 17 in the monitoring target shown in the first embodiment is triggered by the predetermined change. When the condition for considering traffic information is included in the route calculation condition, the traffic information change time shown in the second embodiment is triggered by the predetermined change. Recalculation control of the recalculation control unit 31 may be performed. Alternatively, the predetermined change criterion may be made different between the monitoring target optimum route determination unit 17 and the traffic information change recalculation control unit 31. In this case, for example, the recalculation control unit 31 at the time of traffic information change exceptionally performs recalculation control when the traffic information on all the routes to be monitored shows remarkable deterioration such as being filled with road congestion. You may do it. By doing so, when both the monitoring target optimal route determination unit 17 and the traffic information change recalculation control unit 31 are mounted on the navigation device, the traffic information change recalculation control unit 31 operates relatively. Therefore, the number of route calculations (recalculations) is further reduced.

  In the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the traffic information monitoring unit 15 extracts traffic information on a plurality of monitored routes from the traffic information acquired by the traffic information acquiring unit 2. However, the traffic information acquisition unit 2 may acquire only traffic information on a plurality of routes to be monitored from a traffic information server (such as a VICS center) (not shown). As a specific configuration for that purpose, for example, when a plurality of monitoring target routes are determined by the monitoring target route determination unit 14, road information (link ID or the like) indicating the determined monitoring target routes is used as a traffic information server. The navigation device may be provided with a monitoring target route notification means for notifying through the communication. Then, the traffic information server may be configured to transmit only the traffic information corresponding to the monitoring target route to the navigation device in response to the notification of the monitoring target route from the monitoring target route notification means. If comprised in this way, since only the required traffic information will be delivered to a navigation apparatus, communication cost can be reduced.

  Furthermore, in the first embodiment and the second embodiment, a plurality of candidate routes calculated in a single route calculation process according to one route calculation condition are determined as monitoring target routes. . In contrast, for example, when the route calculation condition includes a condition for considering traffic information, after performing a dynamic route calculation according to the route calculation condition and calculating a plurality of candidate routes, Subtract static route calculation excluding the condition to consider traffic information from the route calculation conditions to calculate a plurality of candidate routes, and the plurality of candidates calculated by the dynamic route calculation Not only the route but also the route with the lowest cost among the plurality of candidate routes calculated by the static route calculation may be determined as the monitoring target route. In this way, even if the route calculation conditions include a condition that considers traffic information, the route to be monitored is always relatively free regardless of whether the traffic information is good or bad. Since it is possible to include a route that is easy to perform (so-called statically optimal route), it is possible to leave a highly available route as a guide route candidate.

  Furthermore, the present invention can be effectively applied to traffic information other than VICS information, such as RDS / TMC (Radio Data System / Traffic Message Channel).

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Navigation apparatus 2 Traffic information acquisition part 3 Map memory | storage part 4 Own vehicle position specification part 5 Destination setting part 8 Route calculation part 10 Route presentation part 11 Route guidance part 14 Monitoring object route determination part 15 Traffic information monitoring part

Claims (8)

Traffic information acquisition means for acquiring traffic information;
Storage means for storing data for route calculation;
Own vehicle position specifying means for specifying the own vehicle position;
Destination setting means for setting the destination;
Based on the route calculation data stored in the storage unit, a condition-corresponding optimum route that is an optimum route according to the route calculation condition to the destination set by the destination setting unit is calculated. A route calculation means for performing route calculation;
When a route as a guide route candidate can be presented to the user, and the condition-corresponding optimal route is calculated by the route calculating unit, a route presenting unit that presents the calculated condition-corresponding optimal route;
A navigation device comprising: a route guidance unit configured to guide a route according to a set guidance route after setting the route presented by the route presentation unit as a guidance route;
A plurality of candidate routes including one candidate route corresponding to the condition-corresponding optimum route calculated as a candidate for the condition-corresponding optimum route in the course of the route calculation are determined as a plurality of monitoring target routes whose traffic information should be monitored. Monitoring target route determination means to perform,
Traffic information monitoring means for monitoring traffic information on the plurality of monitoring target routes determined by the monitoring target route determination means based on the traffic information acquired by the traffic information acquisition means,
The route presenting means changes only the traffic information on the plurality of monitored routes monitored by the traffic information monitoring means among the traffic information obtained during the route guidance by the traffic information obtaining means. As a trigger, a navigation device characterized in that a route different from the current guide route can be presented as a new guide route candidate. During the route guidance, when traffic information on the plurality of monitoring target routes monitored by the traffic information monitoring means indicates a predetermined change, the traffic information on the plurality of monitoring target routes after the predetermined change is displayed. In-monitoring target optimum route determining means for determining the optimum route in the monitoring target that is the optimum route among the plurality of monitoring target routes in consideration of traffic information,
The route presentation unit presents the intra-monitoring target optimum route as a new guidance route candidate when the monitoring target optimum route determined by the monitoring target optimum route determination unit is different from the current guidance route. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein: The optimal route within the monitoring target is a route that takes the shortest time to the destination when traffic information on each monitoring target route among the plurality of monitoring target routes is taken into consideration. Item 3. The navigation device according to Item 2. The monitored route is a monitored route based on the candidate route calculated in the static route calculation process in a state where the route calculation condition does not include a condition for considering traffic information. The navigation device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the navigation device is characterized. During the route guidance, when traffic information on the plurality of monitored routes monitored by the traffic information monitoring unit shows a predetermined change, the route calculation unit is in compliance with the route calculation condition. A traffic information change recalculation control means for performing control for recalculating the condition-corresponding optimum route by the dynamic route calculation in a state in which a condition for considering information is included,
The route presenting means presents the condition-corresponding optimum route as a new guidance route candidate when the condition-corresponding optimum route calculated by the recalculation is different from the current guidance route. The navigation device according to 1. Based on the vehicle position specified by the vehicle position specifying means during the route guidance, the necessity determination means for individually determining the necessity of the plurality of monitoring target routes,
The traffic information monitoring unit excludes, from the monitoring target, a monitoring target route determined as unnecessary by the necessity determination unit from the plurality of monitoring target routes. The navigation device according to claim 1. The necessity determination means determines that the monitoring target route branched from the current guidance route at the branch point where the vehicle on the current guidance route has traveled is unnecessary among the plurality of monitoring target routes. The navigation device according to claim 6. Monitoring target decrement recalculation control for controlling the route calculation means to recalculate the condition-corresponding optimum route when the number of monitored routes is less than or equal to a predetermined number due to the operation excluded from the monitoring target The navigation device according to claim 6 or 7, further comprising means.

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