JP2011185854A - Navigation system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a navigation system that provides useful information with superior visibility when no route guidance is performed. <P>SOLUTION: The navigation system, which provides information on the route when no route guidance is performed, includes a course candidate point estimation means to estimate course candidate points of its own vehicle, a driver route identification means to identify a route on which a driver is likely to travel from a current position to the course candidate point for each of the course candidate points, a recommended route identification means to identify a recommended route from a current position to the course candidate point for each of the course candidate points, a comparison means to compare a route on which a driver is likely to travel with a recommended route for each of the course candidate points, and a display control means to display the course candidate point based on the comparison result in the unusual embodiment when two routes are different as well as to display the recommended route up to the course candidate point when a course candidate point displayed in the unusual embodiment is selected. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a navigation device.

  In the navigation apparatus, when a destination is set by a user (driver or the like) and route guidance is performed, a recommended route such as time priority is calculated and a recommended route to the destination is displayed on a map. Further, some navigation devices search for a route traveled in the past from a past travel history to the destination, and display the past travel route along with a recommended route (see Patent Document 1). When a route to a destination is displayed on a map, a road selected as a route is generally filled and displayed.

JP-A-8-82527 JP-A-2005-181020 JP 2006-53132 A

  In the navigation device, as information provision, arrows or the like color-coded according to the degree of congestion for each road section are displayed on a map. When route guidance is not performed, the driver selects a route to the destination while referring to such traffic jam information. Furthermore, as information provision when route guidance is not performed, it is conceivable to display on the map the route to the waypoint estimated from the current traveling direction of the host vehicle. In such information provision, when the recommended route to the waypoint and the route traveled in the past are displayed on the map at the same time, a plurality of routes are displayed at the same time (for example, the roads of each of the plurality of routes are filled in, respectively) Visibility may be reduced. Furthermore, since there is a high possibility that a plurality of waypoints are estimated, the visibility further decreases. Thus, when visibility falls, it is difficult for a driver to judge provided information, and it is not appropriate as information provision.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a navigation device that provides useful information with excellent visibility when route guidance is not performed.

  A navigation device according to the present invention is a navigation device that provides information on a route when route guidance is not being performed, and includes a route candidate point estimation unit that estimates a route candidate point of the host vehicle, and a route candidate point estimation unit. For each estimated route candidate point, for each route candidate point estimated by the route candidate point estimation means, a driver route identification unit that identifies a route that the driver is likely to travel from the current position to the route candidate point, There is a high possibility that the driver specified by the driver route specifying means will travel for each recommended route specifying means for specifying the recommended route from the current position to the candidate route point and the route candidate point estimated by the route candidate point estimating means. Comparing means for comparing the route with the recommended route specified by the recommended route specifying means, and a route and a recommended route that the driver is likely to drive based on the comparison result of the comparing means Display control means for displaying a route candidate point in a different mode when the route is different and displaying a recommended route to the route candidate point when a route candidate point displayed in a different mode is selected It is characterized by providing.

  In this navigation device, when route guidance is not performed, the route candidate point where the host vehicle may travel is estimated by the route candidate point estimating means. This route candidate point is a candidate for a passing point to the destination point, but may be a final destination point candidate. In the navigation device, for each estimated route candidate point, a route from the current position to the route candidate point is highly likely to be driven by the driver route specifying unit, and the recommended route specifying unit is used to determine from the current position. A recommended route (for example, a route with the shortest time and a route with the shortest distance) to the candidate route point is specified. And in a navigation apparatus, a route with a high possibility that a driver | operator will drive | works with a comparison means is compared for every estimated way candidate point. If the route where the driver is likely to travel is different from the recommended route, traveling on the recommended route will save more time or distance than traveling along the route where the driver is likely to travel normally to the waypoint. Can be shortened, and there are advantages for the driver. Therefore, in the navigation device, when the route that is likely to be driven by the driver and the recommended route are different from the recommended route using the comparison result for each route candidate point, the route candidate point is different from the normal mode. (For example, highlighted). Here, as the provision of information related to the route, only the display showing the route candidate point on the map is easy to see for the user, and it is easy to have useful route information by being displayed in a mode different from the normal. I understand. When the user selects a route candidate point that is displayed in a mode different from normal, the navigation device displays a recommended route to the route candidate point on the map by the display control means. Here, as the provision of information regarding the route, only one route to the selected route candidate point is displayed, which is easy for the user to visually recognize. As described above, in the navigation device, when route guidance is not performed, when the route to which the driver to the route candidate point is likely to travel is different from the recommended route, the route candidate point is different from the normal mode. By displaying in (3), it is possible to easily grasp that the route that is excellent in visibility as the information providing display regarding the route and that the driver is likely to travel normally differs from the recommended route. Furthermore, in the navigation device, when a route candidate point displayed in a different manner from normal is selected, a recommended route to the route candidate point is displayed on the map, which is useful for the user by a simple operation. It is possible to obtain route information up to a route point.

  According to the present invention, it is excellent in visibility as an information providing display related to a route, and it is possible to easily grasp that a route that a driver is likely to travel normally differs from a recommended route, and for a user by a simple operation. It is possible to obtain route information to a useful waypoint.

It is a block diagram of the navigation apparatus concerning this Embodiment. It is an example of the waypoint estimated from the advancing direction in the present position of the own vehicle. 2 is the shortest route (recommended route) to each waypoint in FIG. 2, (a) is the case of the first route point, (b) is the case of the second route point, and (c) is the first route. This is the case of 3 waypoints. FIG. 2 is a route estimated that the driver travels to each waypoint, (a) is the case of the first waypoint, (b) is the case of the second waypoint, and (c) is This is the case of the third waypoint. It is an example of a display on the map of each waypoint of FIG. It is a display example on the map of the recommended route from each waypoint of Drawing 2 to the 2nd waypoint selected. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process of the information provision function in ECU of FIG.

  Embodiments of a navigation device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the element which is the same or it corresponds in each figure, and the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The navigation apparatus according to the present embodiment, like the conventional navigation apparatus, has a function for calculating the current position and the traveling direction of the host vehicle, a function for displaying the current position and the traveling direction, and a user (driver or the like). Has a function of searching for a route to a destination when the user is set, a function of guiding along a route, and the like. Furthermore, the navigation device according to the present embodiment has a function of providing information related to the route according to the traveling direction of the host vehicle when the destination is not set by the user and route guidance is not performed. Yes. In the present embodiment, this information providing function in the navigation device will be described in detail.

  With reference to FIGS. 1-6, the navigation apparatus 1 which concerns on this Embodiment is demonstrated. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of the navigation device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is an example of a waypoint estimated from the traveling direction at the current position of the host vehicle. FIG. 3 shows the shortest route to each waypoint in FIG. FIG. 4 is a route estimated that the driver travels to each waypoint in FIG. FIG. 5 is a display example of each waypoint of FIG. 2 on the map. FIG. 6 is a display example on the map of a recommended route from each waypoint of FIG. 2 to the second waypoint selected.

  In the navigation apparatus 1, when route guidance is not performed, a route point (route candidate point) is estimated from the current position of the host vehicle and the traveling direction, and a recommended route and a route estimated by the driver to travel at each route point ( The route where the driver is likely to travel is calculated. In the navigation device 1, the waypoints that are different from the recommended route and the route that the driver is supposed to travel are highlighted on the map and other waypoints are normally displayed, and the waypoints highlighted by the user are displayed. When is selected, a recommended route is displayed. In addition, the case where route guidance is not performed is a case where the destination is not set by the user.

  The navigation device 1 includes sensors 10, a GPS receiver 11, an input device 12, a database 13, a display 20, a speaker 21, and an ECU [Electronic Control Unit] 30. In the present embodiment, each process in the ECU 30 corresponds to a route candidate point estimation unit, a driver route identification unit, a recommended route identification unit, a comparison unit, and a display control unit described in the claims.

  The sensors 10 are various sensors for detecting travel information of the host vehicle that is necessary for the navigation device 1. Examples of the sensors 10 include a vehicle speed sensor and a gyro sensor. Each sensor transmits detected information to the ECU 30.

  The GPS receiver 11 includes a GPS antenna, a processing device, and the like, and detects the current position of the host vehicle. The GPS receiver 11 receives GPS signals from GPS satellites with a GPS antenna. In the GPS receiver 11, the GPS signal is demodulated by the processing device, and the current position (latitude, longitude) of the host vehicle is calculated based on the demodulated information from each GPS satellite. The GPS receiver 11 transmits information such as the current position of the host vehicle to the ECU 30.

  The input device 12 is an input device for the user to make various settings and various selections for the navigation device 1. Examples of the input device 12 include a touch display type input device using the display 20 and a joystick type input device. The input device 12 transmits information input by the user to the ECU 30.

  The database 13 is a database that stores various data used in the navigation device 1. Examples of stored data include display map data, route search data, route guidance data, destination setting data, and roads (highways, toll roads, national roads, municipal roads, etc.). Data, data on intersections, and data on various facilities.

  The display 20 is an in-vehicle display that is shared with other systems. When the display 20 receives a display signal for displaying an image from the ECU 30, the display 20 displays an image according to the display signal.

  The speaker 21 is a vehicle-mounted speaker shared with other systems. When the speaker 21 receives a sound signal for outputting a sound from the ECU 30, the speaker 21 outputs a sound according to the sound signal.

  The ECU 30 is an electronic control unit that includes a CPU [Central Processing Unit], a ROM [Read Only Memory], a RAM [Random Access Memory], and the like, and performs overall control of the navigation device 1. The ECU 30 has an information providing function in addition to conventional functions such as a current position calculation function, a map display function, a destination setting function, a route search function, and a route guidance function. Here, the information provision function in ECU30 is demonstrated in detail.

  The ECU 30 sets a range for estimating the waypoint based on the current position and the traveling direction of the host vehicle calculated by the current position calculation function. As a method for setting this range, for example, an area of a semicircle of about 90 degrees is set to the left and right from the traveling direction with the current position as the center. The size of this range is, for example, a size that allows about two main roads.

  The ECU 30 estimates a waypoint where the host vehicle may pass (pass) from within the set range. The points that may be routed include, for example, intersections of main roads, highway interchange entrances, public facilities, landmark buildings, and stations. Furthermore, as a point that may be routed, a point where the host vehicle has passed in the past may be stored, and a point where the host vehicle has passed in the past may be used. A plurality of points are normally estimated as the waypoints, but only one point may be estimated. In FIG. 2, three intersections P1, P2, and P3 of the main road are estimated as waypoints estimated based on the traveling direction from the current position MP of the host vehicle. In addition, each arrow shown with code | symbol J1, J2 has shown the congestion area or the congestion area.

  For each estimated waypoint, the ECU 30 searches for a route (recommended route) that minimizes the time from the current position of the host vehicle to the waypoint. A conventional method is applied to this route search method. In this route search, if the traffic information provided for each road (VICS [Vehicle Information and Communication System] information, information collected by telematics, etc.) can be acquired, the degree of congestion and travel time included in the traffic information A route with the shortest time is searched in consideration of information and the like.

  FIG. 3 shows the shortest route to the three waypoints P1, P2 and P3 in FIG. The route SR1 of the first waypoint P1 shown in FIG. 3A is a route that goes straight on the main road as it is, although there is a traffic jam section J1 on the route. The route SR2 of the second waypoint P2 shown in FIG. 3B is a route that passes through a side road that is off the main road in order to avoid the influence of the traffic jam section J2 as much as possible. The route SR3 of the third waypoint P3 shown in FIG. 3C is a route that turns right and goes straight on the main road that is the right turn destination.

  For each estimated waypoint, the ECU 30 searches for a route that is estimated to drive the driver from the current position of the host vehicle to the waypoint. The route that the driver is supposed to drive is, for example, a route that can be followed by a road, a route that does not make a right or left turn, a route that is the shortest distance, a route that passes through a road that is equal to or higher than the road that is running. There is. Further, the route estimated to be driven by the driver may be a route in which past driving history of the host vehicle is stored and the driver has traveled in the past. Any method may be applied to this route search method.

  FIG. 4 shows a route that the driver is supposed to travel to the three waypoints P1, P2, and P3 in FIG. A route DR1 of the first waypoint P1 shown in FIG. 4A is a route that goes directly along the main road. The route DR2 of the second waypoint P2 shown in FIG. 4 (b) is a route that passes through a road having the least right and left turn and the same road rating. A route R3 of the third waypoint P3 shown in FIG. 4C is a route that goes directly along the main road at the right turn destination.

  For each estimated waypoint, the ECU 30 compares the route with the shortest time with the route on which the driver is estimated to travel, and determines whether the two routes are different. In the example shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the route SR1 and the route DR1 are the same route for the first route point P1, the route SR2 and the route DR2 are different routes for the second route point P2, For route 3 via 3, route SR3 and route DR3 are the same route.

  As a result of the comparison of the two routes for each waypoint, the ECU 30 determines that the waypoints with the same route are displayed with the point display icon for normal display, and for the waypoints with different routes, the point display icon for highlighting is displayed. It is decided to display with. Then, the ECU 30 transmits to the display 20 a display signal for displaying each waypoint with a point display icon for normal display or a point display icon for highlight display. The highlight icon is distinguishable from the normal display icon and is more conspicuous than the normal display icon. For example, the normal display icon blinks, the normal display icon expands / There are icons that are repeatedly reduced and icons that have a different shape from the normal display icons. By displaying with the icon for highlighting in this way, the user is prompted to select the waypoint, and useful to be able to travel to the waypoint in a shorter time than the route on which the driver normally travels. To provide as much route information as possible.

  In this way of displaying the route point, not only an icon indicating the point but also information such as a guide time required for the route point may be displayed. Further, the displayed waypoint icon is an icon that can be selected by input from a touch display, a joystick, or the like.

  In FIG. 5, the three waypoints P1, P2, and P3 of FIG. 2 are displayed on the map. Since the first route P1 has the same two routes, a pin-shaped icon A1 for normal display is displayed. Since the second route P2 differs in two routes, a pin-shaped icon is blinked and displayed as the highlight icon A2. Since the third route P3 has the same two routes, a pin-like icon A3 for normal display is displayed.

  When the ECU 30 determines that the waypoint indicated by the highlight icon is selected based on the information from the input device 12, the ECU 30 paints and displays each road selected by the shortest route to the waypoint. A display signal is transmitted to the display 20. Further, when the ECU 30 determines that the waypoint indicated by the normal display icon is selected based on the information from the input device 12, the route to the waypoint (the shortest route = the driver is estimated to travel). A display signal for painting and displaying each road selected in the route) is transmitted to the display 20. Further, when there is no information from the input device 12 and all waypoints are not selected, the ECU 30 does not perform control for displaying a route to the waypoints. In addition, when the route to the waypoint is displayed, it is only necessary to display the route, but guidance along the route may be performed.

  FIG. 6 shows a route display when the highlight icon A2 is selected by the user from the three icons A1, A2 and A3 shown in FIG. In this case, as the route to the second waypoint P2 of the highlight icon A2, the roads selected on the route SR2 having the shortest time are filled and displayed.

  With reference to FIG. 1, an operation of providing information in the navigation device 1 when a destination is not set by the user and route guidance is not performed will be described. In particular, the processing in the ECU 30 will be described along the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing of the information providing function in the ECU of FIG.

  The ECU 30 estimates a waypoint based on the current position and traveling direction of the host vehicle (S1). Then, the ECU 30 specifies a route (recommended route) that minimizes the time from the current position to the waypoint for each estimated waypoint (S2). In addition, the ECU 30 specifies a route that is estimated to drive the driver from the current position to the waypoint for each estimated waypoint (S3).

  The ECU 30 compares, for each estimated waypoint, the shortest time route and the route estimated to be driven by the driver, and determines whether the shortest time route and the route estimated to be driven by the driver are different. (S4). Then, in the case where the two routes are different, the ECU 30 highlights the waypoint, and when the two routes are the same, the ECU 30 transmits a display signal for normally displaying the waypoint to the display 20 (S5). When this display signal is received, the display 20 displays each waypoint on the map with an emphasis display icon or a normal display icon according to the display signal.

  When the user (driver or the like) sees the icon of each waypoint displayed on the map and there is a waypoint for which the route is desired to be displayed, the user selects the icon of the waypoint using the input device 12. Perform the operation. When the waypoint icon is selected by the user, the input device 12 transmits the selected information to the ECU 30.

  The ECU 30 determines whether or not the waypoint is selected by the user depending on whether or not the waypoint icon selection information is transmitted from the input device 12 (S6). If it is determined in S6 that the waypoint has not been selected by the user, the ECU 30 ends the current process.

  When it is determined in S6 that the waypoint is selected by the user, the ECU 30 determines whether or not the highlighted waypoint is selected based on the selection information of the waypoint icon from the input device 12 (S7). ). If it is determined that the waypoint highlighted in S7 has been selected, the ECU 30 transmits a display signal for displaying the shortest route to the waypoint on the map to the display 20 (S8). When this display signal is received, the display 20 displays the shortest time path to the waypoint on the map according to the display signal. On the other hand, if it is determined in S7 that the normally displayed waypoint is selected, the ECU 30 transmits a display signal for displaying the route to the waypoint on the map to the display 20 (S9). When this display signal is received, the display 20 displays on the map a route that is the shortest route to the waypoint and is estimated to be driven by the driver, according to the display signal.

  In the navigation apparatus 1, when route guidance is not performed, the above operation is repeated every time the host vehicle passes through the route point selected by the user or when the route point is not selected by the user.

  According to the navigation device 1, when the shortest time route (recommended route) to the waypoint is different from the route estimated to be traveled by the driver, the waypoint is highlighted. By displaying the points normally, only the waypoints are displayed at the beginning as the information provision display regarding the route when route guidance is not performed, so it is excellent in visibility, and the driver may normally drive with the shortest route by highlighting It can be easily understood that the route is different from the high route. In this way, even when route guidance is not performed, information regarding the route can be provided to the user. In particular, by highlighting only when there is a route that can travel in a shorter time than a route where the driver is likely to travel normally to the waypoint, it is possible to reliably provide useful information for the user.

  Further, according to the navigation device 1, when a via point highlighted by the user is selected, the shortest time route to the via point is displayed on the map, which is useful for the user by a simple operation. It is possible to obtain route information up to a route point. Furthermore, since only one route is displayed as the route to the waypoint, it is easy for the user to visually recognize.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment which concerns on this invention was described, this invention is implemented in various forms, without being limited to the said embodiment.

  For example, in this embodiment, the recommended route to the waypoint is the shortest route, but other routes such as the shortest route may be used. About a recommended route, it is good to set it as the route of a user's favorite conditions.

  In this embodiment, when the recommended route is different from the route estimated to be driven by the driver, the waypoint is highlighted, and when the route is the same, the waypoint is normally displayed. If the recommended route is the same as the route estimated by the driver to travel, the waypoint may not be displayed. Since it is possible to provide only information on a route that the driver is supposed to normally travel for such a waypoint, it is considered that the driver travels on the route without providing such route information.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Navigation apparatus, 10 ... Sensors, 11 ... GPS receiver, 12 ... Input device, 13 ... Database, 20 ... Display, 21 ... Speaker, 30 ... ECU.

Claims (1)

A navigation device that provides information about a route when route guidance is not performed,
A route candidate point estimating means for estimating a route candidate point of the own vehicle;
For each route candidate point estimated by the route candidate point estimation unit, a driver route identifying unit that identifies a route that the driver is likely to travel from the current position to the route candidate point;
For each route candidate point estimated by the route candidate point estimation unit, a recommended route identifying unit that identifies a recommended route from the current position to the route candidate point;
Comparing means for comparing the route specified by the driver route specifying means with the recommended route specified by the recommended route specifying means for each route candidate point estimated by the route candidate point estimating means When,
When the route that the driver is likely to travel and the recommended route are different based on the comparison result of the comparison means, the route candidate point is displayed in a different mode from the normal mode, and displayed in a mode different from the normal mode. A navigation device comprising display control means for displaying a recommended route to a candidate route point when a candidate route point is selected.

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