JP2013171011A - Route search system and route search method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technology of retrieving an optimal route from a departure point to a destination on the condition of passing a designated partial route.SOLUTION: The route search system is provided with: a point reception unit for receiving inputs corresponding to a departure point and a destination; a desired passage route reception unit for displaying a map image to a display area where images are displayable and receiving a route where a user wants to pass as a linear iput; a first partial route decision unit for deciding a first partial route on the map corresponding to the linear input; a second partial route search part for searching for a second partial route connecting the departure point and one of end points of the first partial route; a third partial route search unit for searching for a third partial route connecting the destination and the other end point of the first partial route; and a route display unit for superimposing the first partial route, the second partial route, and the third partial route onto the map image and displaying it to the display area.

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for searching for a route.

  A technique for performing route guidance according to a route drawn by a user is known (for example, Patent Document 1 below). This technique is a technique in which a user draws a desired route connecting from a departure place to a destination using a touch panel, and performs route guidance according to the drawing route.

  By the way, there is a specific route (hereinafter also referred to as a desired route) that the user wants to pass partially in the route from the departure point to the destination, but the route search device (for example, navigation system) indicates the optimal route other than the desired route. There is a desire to pass through according to various routes (hereinafter also referred to as recommended routes). However, the technique in the above-mentioned patent document cannot meet such a demand.

JP-A-7-91974

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described conventional problems, and an object thereof is to search for an optimum route from a departure place to a destination on condition that a specified partial route is passed. To do.

In order to solve at least a part of the problems described above, the present invention can take the following forms or application examples.
[Application Example 1]
A route search system, a point receiving unit that receives input corresponding to a starting point and a destination, a map image in a display area where the image can be displayed, and a route that the user wants to pass A desired route receiving section that receives as input, a first partial path determination section that determines a first partial path on the map corresponding to the linear input, and one of the starting point and the first partial path A second partial route search unit that searches for a second partial route that connects the end point of the second partial route, and a third partial route that searches for a third partial route that connects the destination and the other end point of the first partial route A route search system comprising: a search unit; and a route display unit that superimposes the first partial route, the second partial route, and the third partial route on a map image and displays them on the display area.
According to this route search system, it is possible to search for all routes that pass through the first partial route corresponding to the route that the user desires to pass among routes from the departure point to the destination (hereinafter also referred to as all routes). . Here, the route desired by the user is not a transit point as a point but a route having a length (distance). Therefore, this route search system can search for all the optimal routes that can reach the destination from the departure point while partially passing a route having a length that the user desires to pass.

[Application Example 2]
The route search system according to Application Example 1, wherein the first partial route determination unit extracts one or a plurality of routes connecting points corresponding to end points at both ends of the input on the line as route candidates. A smoothing processing unit that generates one or a plurality of smoothing path candidates by performing a smoothing process on each shape of the extracted path candidates, and corresponding to each of the generated smoothing path candidates and the linear input A pattern matching unit that performs pattern matching with a shape and extracts one of the smoothing path candidates; and a determination execution unit that determines the path candidate corresponding to the extracted smoothing path candidate as the first partial path. Route search system.
According to this route search system, pattern matching is performed between a smoothing route candidate obtained by performing smoothing processing on a route candidate and a shape corresponding to a linear input. Therefore, highly accurate pattern matching can be performed.

[Application Example 3]
The route search system according to Application Example 1 or Application Example 2, wherein the route display unit further displays a shape corresponding to the linear input superimposed on the first partial route.
According to this route search system, the linear input and the first partial route can be displayed so as to be visible to the user at the same time.

[Application Example 4]
The route search system according to any one of Application Examples 1 to 3, further comprising: a current location information acquisition unit that acquires information corresponding to the current location of the user; and a predetermined region that includes the first partial route. A route search system comprising a notification unit that sets and notifies the user when the current location of the user enters the predetermined area.
According to this route search system, it is possible to notify the user that the current location of the user has entered an area including the first partial route.

[Application Example 5]
The route search system according to Application Example 4, wherein the notification unit further notifies the user when the current location of the user leaves the predetermined area.
According to this route search system, it is possible to notify the user that the current location of the user has come out of the region including the first partial route.

[Application Example 6]
The route search system according to any one of Application Example 1 to Application Example 5, wherein the desired travel route receiving unit enlarges or moves the map image displayed in the display area when receiving the linear input. A route search system that performs at least one of the above.
With this route search system, linear input can be received in detail or extensively in a map image.

[Application Example 7]
The route search system according to any one of Application Examples 1 to 6, further comprising a recommended route search unit that searches for a recommended route from the departure place to the destination without considering the linear input. And the route display unit further displays the recommended route together with the first partial route, the second partial route, and the third partial route.
According to this route search system, the first partial route, the second partial route, the third partial route, and the recommended route can be displayed so as to be visible to the user at the same time.

[Application Example 8]
A route search method for receiving an input corresponding to a departure place and a destination, displaying a map image in a display area where the image can be displayed, and taking a route that the user wants to pass as a linear input Receiving, a step of determining a first partial route on a map corresponding to the linear input, and a second partial route connecting the starting point and one end point of the first partial route. A step of searching, a step of searching for a third partial route connecting the destination and the other end point of the first partial route, the first partial route, the second partial route, and the third And a step of superimposing the partial route on the map image and displaying it on the display area.
According to this route search method, it is possible to search and display all routes that pass through the first partial route corresponding to the route that the user wants to pass among routes (all routes) from the departure point to the destination.

  Note that the present invention can be realized in various modes. For example, the present invention can be realized in the form of a route guidance device and route guidance system, an integrated circuit for realizing the functions of those methods or devices, a computer program, a recording medium on which the computer program is recorded, and the like.

1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of a route guidance system 10. FIG. It is explanatory drawing explaining the process which the portable terminal 20 performs in a route guidance process. It is explanatory drawing explaining the process which the portable terminal 20 performs in a route guidance process. It is a flowchart which shows the process which the portable terminal 20 performs in a route guidance process. It is a flowchart which shows a 1st partial path | route determination process. It is explanatory drawing explaining step S126-S130. It is a flowchart which shows a 2nd partial path | route acquisition process. It is a flowchart which shows a guidance process.

A. First embodiment:
(A1) System configuration:
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the configuration of a route guidance system 10 as an embodiment of the present invention. The route guidance system 10 includes a mobile terminal 20, a map server 50, and a route server 60. The portable terminal 20, the map server 50, and the route server 60 can be connected to each other via the Internet INT. The portable terminal 20 can be connected to the Internet INT wirelessly via the communication carrier BS. Actually, the mobile terminal 20 is connected to the Internet INT via a transmission / reception antenna, a radio base station, and an exchange. The communication carrier BS shown in FIG. 1 includes these antennas, radio base stations, and switching stations. The route guidance system 10 searches for all routes having a route that the user wants to pass (hereinafter also referred to as a desired route) in a route from the departure point to the destination (hereinafter also referred to as a total route). This is a system for guiding a searched route to a user. In the present embodiment, the desired travel route is designated by drawing by the user using the touch panel 36 included in the mobile terminal 20.

  As shown in the figure, the mobile terminal 20 is configured with a main control unit 22 as a center, and a communication unit 32, a communication control unit 34, a touch panel 36, a display unit 38, an audio output unit 40, and a GPS receiver 42 are connected thereto. . The main control unit 22 includes a CPU 24, a RAM 26, and a ROM 28. The main control unit 22 controls the overall operation of the mobile terminal 20. The ROM 28 stores a program (route guidance program) for performing route guidance processing described later, and the route guidance processing is realized by the CPU 24 reading and executing the program. The communication unit 32 is a circuit for performing data communication or voice communication with the communication carrier BS. The communication unit 32 can access the map server 50 via the communication carrier BS. The communication control unit 34 is a circuit that performs incoming calls and calls for voice calls, conversion of voice signals and electrical signals, and the like. The portable terminal 20 also operates as a telephone by including the communication unit 32 and the communication control unit 34.

  The touch panel 36 is a pointing device that receives a contact operation by a user's finger or a dedicated pen (hereinafter, the finger or the dedicated pen is simply expressed as “finger etc.”) and acquires coordinates based on the contact position. The display unit 38 displays various images (display images) in an area where images can be displayed (hereinafter also referred to as a display area). The touch panel 36 and the display area of the display unit 38 are superimposed. The main control unit 22 acquires coordinates on the display area corresponding to the contact position coordinates based on the coordinates of the user's contact position on the touch panel 36 (contact position coordinates), and the display image operates in response to the contact operation. Image processing is performed as described above. Therefore, apparently, the user can directly operate the display image with a finger or the like.

  The voice output unit 40 is a speaker that outputs voice for route guidance to the user when the route guidance process is executed. In addition, the voice output unit 40 outputs voice to the user when executing various applications included in the route guidance system 10. The GPS receiver 42 acquires the coordinates (longitude / latitude) of the current position of the mobile terminal 20 by receiving radio waves transmitted from artificial satellites constituting a GPS (Global Positioning System). The information on the current position of the user is acquired when the route guidance process is executed.

  Next, the map server 50 will be described. The map server 50 is a server for transmitting map data in a specified range to the mobile terminal 20 via the Internet INT in response to an acquisition request for map image data MPD from the mobile terminal 20. The map server 50 includes a communication unit 52, a control unit 54, and a map database 56 (hereinafter also referred to as a map DB 56). The map server 50 includes devices such as a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and a hard disk inside, and functions as a communication unit 52, a control unit 54, and a map database 56 by executing predetermined programs.

  The control unit 54 controls the overall operation of the map server 50. The communication unit 52 communicates with the mobile terminal 20 via the Internet INT under the control of the control unit 54. The map database 56 is a storage unit that stores map image data MPD representing a map. When the route guidance process is executed, when the acquisition request for the map image data MPD is received from the portable terminal 20, the control unit 54 reads the map image data MPD from the map database 56, and the portable terminal 20 via the communication unit 52. Send to. In this embodiment, the map image data MPD is stored in a vector data format. The map image data MPD may be stored in a raster data format such as a bitmap format or a JPEG format instead of the vector data format.

  Next, the route server 60 will be described. The route server 60 searches for a route connecting two points designated by the mobile terminal 20 in response to a route search request from the mobile terminal 20, and transmits the search result to the mobile terminal 20 via the Internet INT. It is a server. The route server 60 includes a communication unit 62, a control unit 64, and a route database (hereinafter also referred to as a route DB 66). The route server 60 includes devices such as a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and a hard disk therein, and functions as a communication unit 62, a control unit 64, and a route database 66 by executing predetermined programs.

  The control unit 64 controls the operation of the entire route server 60. The communication unit 62 communicates with the mobile terminal 20 via the Internet INT under the control of the control unit 64. In the route database 66, network data NT representing the road network is recorded. The network data NT is data representing road arrangements by links and nodes. Since the links and nodes constituting the network data NT are techniques used for general electronic map data, detailed description thereof is omitted. When a route search request is received from the mobile terminal 20 during the route guidance processing, the control unit 64 reads the network data NT from the route database 66, searches for a route according to the request, and communicates the search result. It transmits to the portable terminal 20 via the unit 62.

(A2) Route guidance processing:
Next, route guidance processing performed by the route guidance system 10 will be described. First, the general contents of the route guidance processing will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, and then the details of the route guidance processing will be described with reference to flowcharts.

  2 and 3 are explanatory diagrams schematically illustrating processing performed by the mobile terminal 20 (CPU 24) in the route guidance processing. 2 and 3 show the display area of the display unit 38 in the mobile terminal 20 and the touch panel 36 superimposed on the display unit 38.

  The route guidance process is started when the user operates the touch panel 36 to activate a route guidance program stored in the ROM 28. When the route guidance process is started, the CPU 24 displays a predetermined range of map images on the display unit 38 (step T11). The range of the map image displayed on the display unit 38 is determined by designating desired coordinates via the touch panel 36 by the user when the route guidance process is started. Specifically, the CPU 24 acquires map image data MPD in a predetermined range centered on the designated coordinates from the map server 50 via the Internet INT and displays it on the display unit 38. The CPU 24 may acquire the coordinates of the current location of the user using the GPS receiver 42, acquire map image data MPD in a predetermined range centered on the coordinates of the current location from the map server 50, and display the map image data MPD on the display unit 38. .

  When the map image is displayed on the display unit 38, the CPU 24 causes the display unit 38 to display a predetermined character string ("Please specify the departure place" in FIG. 2) in order to prompt the user to specify the departure place. At the same time, the designation of the departure place from the user is accepted (step T12). When the user designates a departure place (hereinafter also referred to as a departure place S) by operating the touch panel 36 and operates a decision button BT1 that means the decision of the departure place S, the CPU 24 displays coordinates corresponding to the departure place S. Is stored in the RAM 26.

  Subsequently, in order to prompt the user to specify the destination, the CPU 24 displays a predetermined character string (“Please specify the destination” in FIG. 2) on the display unit 38, and also displays the destination from the user. The designation is accepted (step T13). When the user designates a destination (hereinafter also referred to as a destination G) by operating the touch panel 36 and operates a determination button BT2 that means determination of the destination G, the CPU 24 displays coordinates corresponding to the destination G. Is stored in the RAM 26.

  When the coordinates of the departure point and the destination are stored, the CPU 24 displays on the display unit 38 a display range change button BT3 that means an operation for changing the display range of the map image, and a drawing button BT4 that means the drawing of the desired route to travel. (Step T14). When the user performs a pinch-out operation on the touch panel 36 after operating the display range change button BT3, the CPU 24 enlarges and displays the map image displayed on the display unit 38 (step T15). If the user performs a pinch-in operation on the touch panel 36, the CPU 24 reduces the map image displayed on the display unit 38, and displays the map image on the display unit 38 when a scroll operation is performed. The displayed map image is translated in the scroll direction and displayed.

  When the user operates the drawing button BT4 and then performs a linear input corresponding to the desired route to travel with a finger or the like as a drawing operation on the touch panel 36 (hereinafter also referred to as linear input information), the CPU 24 displays the linear input information. Based on the above, the drawing image L corresponding to the locus of the touch operation on the touch panel 36 by the user is displayed on the display unit 38 (step T16). When the user draws a desired travel route and operates a determination button BT5 which means determination of the desired travel route, the CPU 24 stores the linear input information in the RAM 26 as a set of coordinates arranged linearly (step T17). ).

  After storing the linear input information, the CPU 24 acquires the first partial route Rt1, the second partial route Rt2, and the third partial route Rt3 based on the departure point S, the destination G, and the linear input information, and displays the display unit. 38 (step T18). As illustrated, the first partial route Rt1 is a route on the map corresponding to the linear input information. The second partial route Rt2 is a route connecting the departure point S and the starting point B of the first partial route Rt1. The third partial route Rt3 is a route connecting the destination G and the end point E of the first partial route Rt1. The start point B is a point corresponding to a drawing start point when the user performs a linear input as a drawing operation. The end point E is a point corresponding to a drawing end point when the user performs a linear input as a drawing operation. A series of routes including the first partial route Rt1, the second partial route Rt2, and the third partial route Rt3 are all routes from the departure point S to the destination G. A method for obtaining the first partial route Rt1, the second partial route Rt2, and the third partial route Rt3 will be described later.

  After the CPU 24 displays each partial route (all routes) on the display unit 38, when the user operates the guidance start button BT6 which means the start of route guidance, the CPU 24 is a predetermined area including the first partial route Rt1 (hereinafter referred to as traffic). The desired area D is also set (step T19). The desired passage area D is an area used when route guidance is given to the user.

  Thereafter, the CPU 24 performs route guidance along all routes (step T20). Specifically, the current location of the user (hereinafter also referred to as the current location P) is acquired at a predetermined interval using the GPS receiver 42, and the direction in which the user should proceed or the right turn is determined by comparing the current location P with all the routes. Alternatively, route guidance such as an intersection to turn left and whether or not all routes have been deviated is provided. The route guidance to the user is performed by display on the display unit 38 and voice guidance from the voice output unit 40. When the current location P of the user enters the desired travel area D, the CPU 24 notifies the user that the user has entered the desired travel area D by voice from the voice output unit 40.

  Further, when the current location P of the user leaves the desired travel area D, the CPU 24 notifies the user that the current position P has exited the desired travel area D by voice from the voice output unit 40 (step T21). Then, when the user's current location P arrives at the destination G, the CPU 24 notifies the user of the arrival at the destination G by voice from the voice output unit 40 (step T22). Thereafter, the CPU 24 ends the route guidance process.

  Next, the flow of route guidance processing performed by the route guidance system 10 will be described using a flowchart. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of processing performed by the mobile terminal 20 in the route guidance processing. In the flowchart shown in FIG. 4, the process of displaying the buttons BT1 to BT6 on the display unit 38 and the process of indicating the standby state until the user operates the buttons BT1 to BT6 are not shown for convenience of explanation. doing.

  When starting the route guidance process, the CPU 24 of the portable terminal 20 acquires a map image in a predetermined range desired by the user from the map server 50 and displays it on the display unit 38 (step S110). Thereafter, the CPU 24 acquires the departure point S and the destination G designated by the user via the touch panel 36 as coordinates and stores them in the RAM 26 (step S112). Subsequently, the CPU 24 acquires the linear input information corresponding to the desired travel route drawn by the user via the touch panel 36 as a set of coordinates arranged in a linear form, and stores it in the RAM 26 (step S114).

  After acquiring the departure point S, the destination G, and the linear input information, the CPU 24 executes a first partial route determination process in order to determine the first partial route Rt1 (step S120). Subsequently, the CPU 24 executes a second partial path acquisition process (step 140) for acquiring the second partial path Rt2, and a third partial path acquisition process (step S150) for acquiring the third partial path Rt3. . Thereafter, the CPU 24 determines the first partial routes Rt1 to Rt3 as all routes (step S162), and displays the determined all routes on the display unit 38 (step S164). When the user operates the guidance start button BT6 after displaying all routes, the CPU 24 performs guidance processing for guiding the route to the user (step S170). Thereafter, the CPU 24 ends the route guidance process.

  Next, the first partial route determination process (FIG. 4: step S120) performed by the route guidance system 10 in the route guidance process will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of the first partial path determination process. The first partial route determination process is a process for determining a route on the map corresponding to the linear input information based on the linear input information (desired passage route) input by the user. In the present embodiment, the route on the map means a route as a part of the road network recorded in the network data NT of the route database 66.

  When the mobile terminal 20 (CPU 24) starts the first partial route determination process, a route candidate search request is obtained together with the coordinates of both ends of the linear input information (hereinafter also referred to as drawing end coordinates) in order to acquire a route candidate. It transmits to the route server 60 via the Internet INT (step S122). A route candidate is a route on one or more maps that may correspond to a route (route desired to pass) indicated by linear input information.

  When the route server 60 (control unit 64) receives the route candidate search request including the drawing end coordinates (step S222), the route server 60 reads the network data NT stored in the route database 66 and displays the map data corresponding to the drawing end coordinates. One or a plurality of routes connecting the two points are searched as route candidates (step S223).

  When the route server 60 searches for route candidates, the route server 60 transmits one or more route candidates as search results to the mobile terminal 20 via the Internet INT (step S224). When the mobile terminal 20 receives the search result (step S124), the mobile terminal 20 performs smoothing processing on each shape of each received route candidate (hereinafter also referred to as route candidate RC) (step S126), and each route candidate after the smoothing processing. Pattern matching is performed between the shape of the smoothing route candidate RCth (hereinafter also referred to as the smoothing route candidate RCth) and the shape of the linear input information (step S128). As a result of pattern matching, one smoothing route candidate RCth closest to the shape of the linear input information is determined, and a route candidate RC corresponding to the determined smoothing route candidate RCth is extracted as the optimum route candidate RCB (step S130). . Thereafter, the mobile terminal 20 (CPU 24) determines the extracted optimal route candidate RCB as the first partial route Rt1 (step S132), and ends the first partial route determination process.

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the smoothing process (step S126), pattern matching (step S128), and optimum route candidate extraction (step S130) performed by the mobile terminal 20. For convenience of explanation, the map image shown on the display unit 38 in FIG. 6 is different from the map images shown in FIGS.

  When the mobile terminal 20 acquires the linear input information by the user's drawing operation, the mobile terminal 20 transmits the drawing both end coordinates of the linear input information to the route server 60, and the route candidates RC (FIG. 6: RC1 to RC4) are transmitted from the route server 60. get. Then, by applying a smoothing process to each of the obtained route candidates RC, it approximates the shape that would be taken if each route candidate was rendered as an image. Thereafter, pattern matching is performed between the shape of each of the route candidates RC1 to RC4 and the shape of the linear input information as the desired travel route actually drawn by the user. By applying each route candidate RC to a shape close to the drawn image and performing pattern matching with the linear input information, the accuracy of pattern matching is improved.

  Then, as a result of pattern matching, the smoothing route candidate RCth closest to the shape of the linear input information is determined (RCth4 in the case of FIG. 6), and the route candidate RC corresponding to the determined smoothing route candidate RCth is determined as the optimum route candidate RCB. (Route candidate RC4 in the case of FIG. 6). Thereafter, the extracted optimal route candidate RCB is determined as the first partial route Rt1. In this way, the route guidance system 10 performs the first partial route determination process.

  Next, the second partial route acquisition process (FIG. 4: step S140) performed by the route guidance system 10 in the route guidance process will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of the second partial path acquisition process. The second partial route acquisition process is a process of acquiring a recommended route connecting the departure point S and the starting point B of the linear input information as the second partial route Rt2.

  When the second partial route acquisition process is started, the mobile terminal 20 (CPU 24) issues a route search request to acquire the second partial route Rt2, the coordinates of the starting point S (starting point coordinates) and the coordinates of the starting point B (drawing). It is transmitted to the route server 60 together with the start point coordinates) (step S142). When the route server 60 (control unit 64) receives the route search request (step S242), the route server 60 reads the network data NT stored in the route database 66 and sets one recommended route connecting the departure point S and the starting point B. Search is performed (step S243). When searching for the recommended route, the route server 60 transmits the recommended route, which is the search result, to the portable terminal 20 via the Internet INT (step S244). The mobile terminal 20 acquires the second partial route Rt2 by receiving the search result as the second partial route Rt2 (step S144). In this way, the route guidance system 10 performs the second partial route acquisition process.

  The third partial route acquisition process (FIG. 4: step S150) has substantially the same processing content as the second partial route acquisition process, and therefore description thereof using a flowchart is omitted. In the third partial route acquisition process, the mobile terminal 20 sends a search request for the third partial route Rt3 together with the coordinates of the destination G (destination coordinates) and the coordinates of the end point E of the linear input information (drawing end point coordinates). The portable terminal 20 receives the recommended route searched by the route server 60 based on the search request as the third partial route Rt3.

  Next, the guidance process (FIG. 4: step S170) which the route guidance system 10 performs in a route guidance process is demonstrated. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the flow of guidance processing. The guidance process is a process of guiding the entire route to the user by the display on the display unit 38 and the voice from the voice output unit 40 and notifying the entry / exit to the desired travel area D due to the movement of the user.

  When the guidance process is started, the mobile terminal 20 sets the desired passage area D based on the first partial route Rt1 (step S172). In the present embodiment, an area having a predetermined width with the first partial route Rt1 as the center line is set as the desired travel area D. After setting the desired travel area D, the CPU 24 acquires information on the current location of the user via the GPS receiver 42 (step S174). Then, while comparing the current location with all the routes, route guidance is provided to the user by voice from the voice output unit 40 or display by the display unit 38 (step S176). Further, the CPU 24 performs route guidance and sets a flag used for notifying the user of entering / exiting the desired passage area D. The CPU 24 uses the current location information acquired from the GPS receiver 42, sets the flag value F to “0” when the current location is outside the desired travel region D, and if the current location is within the desired travel region D. The flag value F is set to “1” (step S178).

  The CPU 24 checks the value of the flag at any time while repeating the processing from step S174 to step S186 until it reaches the destination, and if the flag value F changes from “0” to “1”, that is, the current location. Is moved from the outside of the desired travel area D to the inside (step S180: [F: 0 → 1]), the user is notified that the current location has entered the desired travel area D (step S182). Further, when the flag value F changes from “1” to “0”, that is, when the current location moves out of the desired travel area D (step S180: [F: 1 → 0]), The user is notified that the current location is out of the desired travel area D (step S184). When there is no change in the value of the flag (step S180: no change), or after notification in step S182 or step S184, the CPU 24 advances the process to step S186. And until it arrives at the destination, CPU24 repeats the process of step S174-step S186 (step S186: No). When arriving at the destination, the CPU 24 ends the route guidance process (step S186: Yes). In this way, the CPU 24 executes the guidance process.

  As described above, the route guidance system 10 can search for all routes that pass through the first partial route Rt1 corresponding to the desired route in the route from the departure point to the destination, and perform route guidance to the user. . For example, the starting point and the destination are determined, and the user wants to travel partially (such as a route with beautiful cherry blossom trees or a route with beautiful illumination) during the journey from the starting point to the destination. When designated, it is possible to search for an optimum route and guide the user to the route. Further, the route guidance system 10 performs pattern matching between the shape of the smoothing route candidate RCth obtained by performing the smoothing processing on the route candidate RC and the shape of the linear input information in the first partial route determination processing. Pattern matching can be performed. Furthermore, since the route guidance system 10 notifies when the current location of the user enters the desired travel area D and when the current location of the user leaves the desired travel area D, the user has approached the desired travel route, And you can know that you are away from the desired route. Further, in the route guidance system 10, when the user draws a desired travel route using the touch panel 36, the map image displayed on the display unit 38 can be enlarged / reduced or translated, so that the user can pass The desired route can be drawn in detail or over a wide range.

  As the correspondence relationship with the claims, the process of step S112 (FIG. 4) corresponds to the point receiving unit described in the claims, and the process of step S114 is reception of the desired route to be described in the claims. Corresponding to the part.

B. Variations:
The present invention is not limited to the above-described examples and embodiments, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist thereof. For example, the following modifications are possible.

(B1) Modification 1:
In the above embodiment, in addition to the entire route, the drawing image L may be superimposed and displayed on the display unit 38 during route guidance. Alternatively, the recommended route connecting the departure point S and the destination G searched by the route server 60 regardless of the desired route may be displayed on the touch panel 36 so as to be superimposed on all the routes. By doing in this way, the user can perform a comparison between all routes and the drawing image L, and a comparison between all routes and the recommended route.

(B2) Modification 2:
In the above embodiment, the second partial route is a route connecting the departure point S and the start point B, and the third partial route is a route connecting the destination G and the end point E. However, the second partial route is not limited to this. The route connecting the departure point S and the end point E, and the third partial route may be a route connecting the destination G and the start point B. These may be set in advance by the user before the route search process. It may be set in advance. In addition, among the starting point B and the ending point E of the linear input information, a route connecting the starting point S closer to the starting point S and the starting point S is set as a second partial route, and the end point far from the starting point S and the destination G The route connecting the two points may be the third partial route.

(B3) Modification 3:
In the above embodiment, the user inputs the designation of the departure point S, the destination G, the desired route to travel, and the like using the portable terminal 20, but the user can connect to the Internet INT instead of the portable terminal 20. Various terminal devices that can input the departure point S, the destination G, and the desired route of travel, such as a computer, an in-vehicle navigation device, and a portable navigation device, may be employed. In addition, the terminal device handled by the user may have all or part of the functions of the map server 50 and the route server 60. For example, when a computer is employed as the terminal device, the user can draw the starting point S, the destination G, and the desired route using a pointing device such as a mouse or a tablet included in the computer. Further, the map image and all routes are displayed on a display provided in the computer. Even in this way, route guidance processing can be realized.

  In addition, the method of inputting linear input information by the user is not limited to the method of drawing on the touch panel 36, and for example, the end point of the desired route to travel and the coordinates (latitude, longitude) of a plurality of points are input using a keyboard. Alternatively, linear input information may be obtained by interpolating between input coordinates by a predetermined method. In addition, when data indicating a desired travel route (passage desired route data) is stored in the RAM 26 or ROM 28 in advance, the CPU 24 may specify the desired travel route by reading the desired travel route data. In the third modification, the process of displaying a map image on the display and receiving the linear input information corresponding to the desired route through the pointing device or the keyboard is the desired route receiving unit described in the claims. Corresponds to the process.

(B4) Modification 4:
In the above-described embodiment, the desired passage area D is set as an area having a predetermined width including the first partial route. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various setting methods can be employed. For example, the drawing image L superimposed on the map image may be used as the desired travel area D.

(B5) Modification 5:
In the above embodiment, in the pattern matching in step S128 (FIG. 5), one optimal route candidate RCB is extracted and determined as the first partial route. However, the present invention is not limited to this. A plurality of route candidates RC may be extracted through pattern matching with the state input information, and the user may select from the extracted route candidates RC.

(B6) Modification 6:
In the above-described embodiment, the map server 50 and the route server 60 may include part or all of the configuration of the mobile terminal 20, and the mobile terminal 20 and the route server 60 may include part or all of the configuration of the map server 50. The portable terminal 20 or the map server 50 may include a part or all of the configuration of the route server 60. In addition, the mobile terminal 20 may include a part or all of the configuration of the map server 50 and the route server 60. In particular, when the mobile terminal 20 includes all the configurations of the map server 50 and the route server 60, the mobile terminal 20 can perform route guidance processing without connecting to the network.

(B7) Modification 7:
In the above embodiment, a part of the functions realized by software may be realized by hardware, or a part of the functions realized by hardware may be realized by software.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Route guidance system 20 ... Portable terminal 22 ... Main control part 24 ... CPU
26 ... RAM
28 ... ROM
32 ... Communication unit 34 ... Communication control unit 36 ... Touch panel 38 ... Display unit 40 ... Audio output unit 42 ... GPS receiver 50 ... Map server 52 ... Communication unit 54 ... Control unit 56 ... Map database 60 ... Path server 62 ... Communication unit 64 ... Control unit 66 ... Route database S ... Departure point G ... Destination L ... Drawing image B ... Start point E ... End point D ... Destination area P ... Current location Rt1-Rt3 ... Partial route RC ... Route candidate RCth ... Smoothing route candidate RCB ... Optimal route candidate BS ... Communication carrier NT ... Network data MPD ... Map image data INT ... Internet BT1, BT2, BT5 ... Decision button BT3 ... Display range change button BT4 ... Drawing button BT6 ... Guidance start button

Claims (8)

A route search system,
A point receiver that receives input corresponding to the origin and destination;
Displaying a map image in a display area where the image can be displayed, and receiving a desired route receiving unit that receives a route desired by the user as a linear input;
A first partial path determination unit that determines a first partial path on a map corresponding to the linear input;
A second partial route search unit for searching for a second partial route connecting the starting point and one end point of the first partial route;
A third partial route search unit for searching for a third partial route connecting the destination and the other end point of the first partial route;
A route search system comprising: a route display unit that superimposes the first partial route, the second partial route, and the third partial route on a map image and displays them on the display area. The route search system according to claim 1,
The first partial path determination unit
A route candidate extraction unit that extracts one or a plurality of routes connecting points corresponding to end points at both ends of the input on the line as route candidates;
Applying a smoothing process to each of the extracted shapes of the route candidates to generate one or a plurality of smoothing route candidates;
A pattern matching unit that performs pattern matching between each of the generated smoothing path candidates and a shape corresponding to the linear input, and extracts one of the smoothing path candidates;
A route search system comprising: a determination execution unit that determines the route candidate corresponding to the extracted smoothing route candidate as the first partial route. A route search system according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein
The route display system further displays a shape corresponding to the linear input superimposed on the first partial route. The route search system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising:
A current location information acquisition unit that acquires information corresponding to the current location of the user;
A route search system comprising: a notification unit configured to set a predetermined region including the first partial route and notify the user when the current location of the user enters the predetermined region. The route search system according to claim 4,
The said alerting | reporting part is further a route search system which alert | reports to the said user, when the said user's present location comes out of the said predetermined area | region. A route search system according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The route receiving system that performs at least one of enlargement or movement of the map image displayed in the display area when receiving the linear input. The route search system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising:
A recommended route search unit that searches for a recommended route from the starting point to the destination without considering the linear input;
The route display unit further displays the recommended route together with the first partial route, the second partial route, and the third partial route. A route search method,
Receiving input corresponding to the origin and destination;
Displaying a map image in a display area where the image can be displayed, and receiving a route that the user wants to pass as a linear input;
Determining a first partial path on a map corresponding to the linear input;
Searching for a second partial path connecting the starting point and one end point of the first partial path;
Searching for a third partial path connecting the destination and the other end point of the first partial path;
A route search method comprising: displaying the first partial route, the second partial route, and the third partial route on the display area by superimposing them on a map image.

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