JP2013195377A - Navigation device, navigation method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a user from traveling on a wrong route in a route guidance in a location where an accurate current position estimation is difficult.SOLUTION: The navigation device comprises: a route guidance provider part 111 that provides a route leading to a destination; a current position estimation part 112 that estimates a current position of a user; a landmark detection part 113 that determines whether or not a landmark exists in a predetermined area including the current position; a question provider part 114 that provides a question for the user to judge whether or not the landmark has been confirmed by the user when the landmark exists in the predetermined area; and a message notification part 115 that notifies the user of a probability of the user being out of the route when a reply indicative of confirmation of the landmark has not been returned to the question by the user even if a first time lapse elapses after the question has been provided.

Description

  The present invention relates to a navigation device, a navigation method, and a program.

  In recent years, navigation systems using portable terminals equipped with GPS receivers have rapidly spread. Such a navigation system performs not only outdoor route guidance but also route guidance such as underground and indoor. However, there are many cases where it is difficult to receive positioning information from the GPS underground or indoor, and the current position is estimated using a pedometer, for example, in such a place.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, when it is determined that the accuracy of the GPS position information has decreased, a question for making the user confirm the current position is created and presented, and based on the user's answer to the presented question A route guidance device that re-estimates the current position is disclosed.

JP 2004-340689 A

  However, in the apparatus described in Patent Document 1, since the current position is estimated from the user's answer result, if the user does not answer the question, the current position cannot be estimated. Even if it was advanced, the user could not be notified.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to prevent a user from following an incorrect route in route guidance in a place where accurate current position estimation is difficult.

  The navigation apparatus according to the present invention includes a route guidance presenting unit that presents a route to a destination point, a current position estimating unit that estimates a user's current position, and a landmark in a predetermined area that includes the current position. A landmark detection unit that determines whether or not the landmark is present in the predetermined area, and a question presentation that presents a question for determining whether or not the user has confirmed the landmark And when the user does not return an answer indicating that the landmark has been confirmed even after the first elapsed time since the user presented the question, the user has left the route. A message notification unit for notifying that there is a possibility of being present.

  In addition, when the user does not return an answer indicating that the user has confirmed the landmark in response to the question within a certain time, the message notification unit Presenting a message prompting input, the current position estimating unit re-estimates the current position of the user based on other landmarks input by the user, and the route guidance presenting unit re-estimates the current position A route from the position to the destination point may be presented.

  Further, when an answer indicating that the landmark has been confirmed is returned after the second elapsed time has elapsed and before the first elapsed time has elapsed since the question was presented, the current position The estimation unit may change a moving distance when estimating the current position.

  The navigation method according to the present invention includes a step of presenting a route to a destination point, a step of estimating a user's current position, and determining whether or not a landmark exists in a predetermined area including the current position. A step of presenting a question for determining whether or not the user has confirmed the landmark when the landmark is present in the predetermined area; and the user presenting the question. A step of notifying that the user may be off the route if a reply indicating that the landmark has been confirmed is not returned after the first elapsed time since ,including.

  In the program according to the present invention, a landmark is provided in a predetermined area including a route guidance presentation unit that presents a route to a destination point, a current position estimation unit that estimates a user's current position, and the current position. A landmark detection unit that determines whether or not the landmark exists, and when the landmark is present in the predetermined area, a question for determining whether or not the user has confirmed the landmark is presented. In the case where the question presenting unit and the user do not return an answer indicating that the landmark can be confirmed even after the first elapsed time since the user presented the question, It functions as a message notification unit that notifies that the user may be off the route.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the user from following an incorrect route in route guidance in a place where accurate current position estimation is difficult.

The block diagram which shows the structure of the navigation apparatus by embodiment of this invention. The flowchart of operation | movement of the navigation apparatus by embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the example of the screen displayed during route guidance by embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the example of the question displayed during route guidance by embodiment of this invention. The figure explaining the condition where the user has deviated from the searched route. The figure explaining the condition where a user's step length has shifted | deviated from the setting of the pedometer.

Next, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
Embodiment FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a navigation apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The navigation device 1 is a mobile phone, a portable information terminal, a portable navigation device, a notebook computer, or other portable terminal device. The navigation device 1 may be a dedicated navigation terminal.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the navigation device 1 includes a control device 11, an input device 12, and a display device 13. The control device 11 includes, as hardware, a CPU, a memory such as a ROM and a RAM, an external storage device that stores various information, an input interface, an output interface, a communication interface, and a bus that connects these. Functionally, the control device 11 includes a route guidance presentation unit 111, a current position estimation unit 112, a landmark detection unit 113, a question presentation unit 114, a message notification unit 115, and a map data storage unit 116. The route guidance presentation unit 111, the current position estimation unit 112, the landmark detection unit 113, the question presentation unit 114, and the message notification unit 115 have functions realized by the CPU executing a predetermined program stored in a ROM or the like. Corresponds to a module. The map data storage unit 116 is implemented by an external storage device.

  The route guidance presenting unit 111 searches the optimum route from the departure point to the destination with reference to the map data or the like according to the inputted route search condition, and displays the departure point on the display device 13 based on the searched route. Displays the route from to the destination point. At this time, the optimum route can be searched by sequentially searching for a link from the node at the departure point to the node at the destination point, and following the link having the smallest cost information on the link as a guide route. As such a route search method, a known method such as a label determination method or a Dijkstra method can be used. The “optimal” route means that the cost information from the departure point to the destination point is the smallest. The link cost information can be set according to the purpose, such as a distance, required time, fee, other parameters, and any combination of various parameters.

  The current position estimation unit 112 has a function as position detection means for detecting the current position. The current position estimation unit 112 receives a GPS satellite signal by a GPS receiver, and measures the current position (latitude and longitude) of the navigation device 1. In addition, the current position estimation unit 112 can measure the current position of the navigation device 1 by autonomous navigation by including a gyro sensor, a geomagnetic sensor, and the like. Thereby, the current position can be measured even when the GPS receiver cannot determine the position from the GPS satellite signal.

  The current position estimation unit 112 can communicate with an access point installed nearby, such as indoors or underground, and can detect the current position based on the position information of the access point. Alternatively, the indoor current position may be detected by receiving a signal from an information transmission device such as an RFID installed indoors. The current position estimating unit 112 estimates the current position based on the value of the pedometer when it is difficult to acquire positioning information by these methods indoors or underground.

  The landmark detection unit 113 determines whether or not a landmark exists in a predetermined area including the current position. A landmark serves as a landmark on a route such as a store, a building, or an intersection, and the landmark detection unit 113 uses map data stored in the map data storage unit 116 within a predetermined area from the current position. A landmark existing within (for example, within a radius of 10 m) is detected. In addition, you may make it register previously what treats as a landmark among the structures contained in map data.

  The question presenting unit 114 presents a question for determining whether or not the user has confirmed the landmark when the landmark exists in a predetermined area including the current position. For example, when “XX store” exists as a landmark in a predetermined area, a question asking whether the user has confirmed the landmark is displayed, such as “Can you see the store?” Display on the device 13. Specifically, a touch panel or the like for selecting “Yes” or “No” is displayed on the display device 13 together with the question contents. In addition, the display device 13 may display a photograph of an appearance of a facility that becomes a landmark together with a question so that the user can easily confirm it.

  In response to the question presented by the question presenting unit 114, the message notifying unit 115 deviates from the route searched by the user if the user does not return an answer indicating that the landmark has been confirmed within a certain time. Notify that it may be. That is, if the user selects an answer (“No”) indicating that the landmark has not been confirmed in response to the question, or if no answer is given, the display device 13 will ask “Is the road wrong? Message indicating that the user is off the route.

  The map data storage unit 116 stores outdoor and indoor map data, road network data, and the like. The map data is map data configured by a vector method, a raster method, or the like. Road network data consists of road intersections, inflection points, end points, etc. as nodes, routes connecting each node as links, node data (node latitude and longitude), link data (link numbers), and all links And a database including link cost data related to cost information (distance and required time). The map data and road network data may be acquired from a database on a communication network.

  The input device 12 is for operation and input by the user. The input device 12 is a keyboard or output means for performing various input operations by operating numeric keys, alphabet keys, other function keys, selection keys, scroll keys, and the like. A touch panel for selecting a desired menu from a menu screen displayed on a certain display device 13 can be provided.

  In addition to the menu screen and the searched route, the display device 13 displays a question content, a message, and the like to the user. When the user uses route guidance, the user operates the input device 12 to display a service menu screen or a predetermined input screen on the display device 13 and input route search conditions such as a departure place and a destination.

Next, the operation of the navigation device 1 will be described.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the operation of the navigation device 1. Here, the operation at the time of route guidance is assumed when it is difficult to acquire the current position indoors or underground. In addition, each processing step to be described later can be executed in any order or in parallel as long as there is no contradiction in processing contents, and other steps may be added between the processing steps. . Moreover, the step described as one step for convenience can be performed by dividing it into a plurality of steps. On the other hand, what is divided into a plurality of steps for convenience can be understood as one step.

  First, in step S11, the route guidance presentation unit 111 stands by until a departure point and a destination point are set by a user operation. When the departure point and the destination point are set, the process proceeds to step S12. The departure point and the destination point can be set by the user specifying a point on the map via the input device 12 or inputting a facility name, an address, or the like. When the current position is selected as the departure point, the current position measured by the current position estimation unit 112 is set as the departure point.

  In step S12, a route from the departure point set in step S11 to the destination point is searched. At this time, the optimum route can be searched by sequentially searching for a link from the node at the departure point to the node at the destination, and following the link having the smallest cost information on the link as a guide route. As such a route search method, a known method such as a label determination method or a Dijkstra method can be used.

  In step S13, the route guidance presentation unit 111 displays the route from the departure point to the destination point on the display device 13 together with the map data based on the route searched in step S12. In addition, a cursor or the like indicating the current position of the navigation device 1 is displayed on the route.

  Next, in step S14, the current position estimation unit 112 determines whether GPS positioning information can be acquired with high accuracy. If the GPS positioning information can be acquired with high accuracy (YES), the process proceeds to step S15, and normal route guidance based on the GPS positioning information is performed. If it is difficult to acquire GPS positioning information or the like indoors or underground (NO), the process proceeds to step S16, and the current position of the navigation device 1 is estimated based on the value of the pedometer. For example, the current position estimation unit 112 calculates the movement distance by multiplying the number of steps of the user measured with a pedometer, assuming 50 cm per step. Further, assuming that the user is moving along the searched route, the current position is estimated based on the calculated moving distance.

In step S <b> 17, the landmark detection unit 113 determines whether or not there is a landmark in a predetermined area including the current position estimated in step S <b> 15.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed on the display device 13 during route guidance. A cursor C represents the estimated current position. As shown in FIG. 3, there is “XX building” registered as a landmark on the route R on the left front when viewed from the current position. In actual distance, “XX building” is located about 7 m from the current position. When the predetermined area is set within a radius of 10 m from the current position, the landmark detection unit 113 detects “XX building” as a landmark, and proceeds to step S18.

  In step S18, the question presenting unit 114 presents a question for determining whether or not the user has confirmed the landmark. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, a message “Can you see the building?” Is displayed on the display device 13, and touch panels “Yes” and “No” are also displayed for the user to input an answer. In addition, the message may be something like "Are you in front of XX building?"

  Next, in step S19, the message notification unit 115 determines whether or not a user has input a reply to the question presented in step S18. If a reply is input (YES), the process proceeds to step S20, where the reply is input. If not (NO), the process proceeds to step S23.

  In step S23, the message notification unit 115 determines whether or not a first elapsed time (for example, 3 minutes) has elapsed since the question was presented in step S18. If it has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S24. .

  In step S <b> 24, the message notification unit 115 displays a message on the display device 13 informing that there is a possibility that the user has deviated from the searched route. Specifically, a message suggesting that you are off the route, such as “Is the road wrong?” Is displayed.

  As shown in FIG. 5, when the user U is traveling on the wrong route R2 instead of the route R1 as a search result, the user U can confirm the landmark L that can be confirmed from the estimated current position C. Absent. Accordingly, in such a case, it is considered that the user U cannot select a negative answer to the question, or cannot search even after a certain period of time (first elapsed time) after searching for the landmark L. In such a situation, by presenting a message “Is the road wrong?”, The user can quickly notice the mistake and return to the correct route.

  In step S20, the message notification unit 115 determines whether or not the input answer is an answer indicating that the user has confirmed the landmark (positive answer: “yes”). If the answer is affirmative (YES), the process proceeds to step S21. On the other hand, if the answer is negative ("No"), the process proceeds to step S24.

  In step S21, the message notification unit 115 determines whether or not a second elapsed time (for example, 1 minute) shorter than the first elapsed time has elapsed since the question was presented in step S18. If so, the process proceeds to step S22.

  In step S22, the setting of the stride when the current position estimation unit 112 estimates the current position is corrected to be short. For example, a value of 50 cm per step is corrected to 30 cm.

  As shown in FIG. 6, even if the user U is traveling on the correct route R1, there may be a situation where the current position C is not reached because the width of one step is shorter than the setting of the pedometer. . In this case, it is considered that the answer from the user is returned after a short delay, not immediately after the presentation of the question. Therefore, when an affirmative answer is returned after the second elapsed time has elapsed, the setting of the stride when the current position estimating unit 112 estimates the current position may be shortened. If the stride is corrected in step S22, the process proceeds to step S14.

  If it is determined in step S21 that the second elapsed time has not elapsed since the question was presented, the process proceeds to step S14, and the route guidance is continued.

  For example, when an affirmative answer is input within the first elapsed time to a question such as “Is you in front of the building now?”, The current position estimation unit 112 corrects the current position. The cursor indicating the current position may be moved before “XX building” on the route. The correction of the current position can also be performed manually by the user.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when a landmark exists in a predetermined area including the estimated current position, a question for determining whether or not the user can confirm the landmark is presented, and the user If it does not return an answer indicating that the landmark has been confirmed within a certain period of time, it has been notified that there is a possibility that it is off the route. It is possible to prevent the user from taking an incorrect route in route guidance in places where it is difficult to do so.

  Instead of displaying the question on the display device 13, the question may be output by voice. Also, the user's answering method is not limited to input via a touch panel or the like, but may be input by voice, for example.

  Further, when the user does not return an affirmative response within a certain time, the message notification unit 115 presents a message such as “What can you see?” And inputs a landmark that the user can check. Also good. For example, in the situation shown in FIG. 5, it is considered that the user inputs “△△ 屋”. Based on this input result, the current position estimating unit 112 may reestimate the current position of the user, and the route guidance presenting unit 111 may perform route guidance from that position.

  Further, in this embodiment, when a positive answer is not returned within a certain time for a single question, the fact that the user has deviated from the route is notified, but the question is affirmed within a certain time. If a state where no answer is returned continues several times, it may be notified that the route is off.

  Moreover, you may make it provide at least one part of the function and memory | storage part with which the navigation apparatus 1 is provided in this embodiment in the server connected via a communication network.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Navigation apparatus, 11 Control apparatus, 12 Input device, 13 Display apparatus, 111 Route guidance presentation part, 112 Current position estimation part, 113 Landmark detection part, 114 Question presentation part, 115 Message notification part, 116 Map data storage part

Claims (5)

A route guidance presenting section for presenting a route to a destination point;
A current position estimation unit for estimating the current position of the user;
A landmark detection unit that determines whether or not a landmark exists in a predetermined area including the current position;
A question presenting unit for presenting a question for determining whether the user has confirmed the landmark when the landmark is present in the predetermined area;
If the user does not return an answer indicating that the landmark has been confirmed in response to the question even after a first elapsed time since the user presented the question, the user does not return the route. And a message notification unit for notifying that there is a possibility that the navigation device may be detached from the navigation device. The message notification unit includes:
If the user does not return an answer indicating that the landmark has been confirmed in response to the question within a certain time, a message prompting the user to input another landmark that can be confirmed is presented,
The current position estimation unit
Based on other landmarks entered by the user, re-estimate the current location of the user,
The route guidance presentation unit
The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a route from the current position estimated again to the destination point is presented. If an answer indicating that the landmark has been confirmed is returned after the second elapsed time has elapsed and the first elapsed time has elapsed since the question was presented,
The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the current position estimation unit changes a moving distance when the current position is estimated. Presenting the route to the destination,
Estimating the current location of the user;
Determining whether a landmark exists in a predetermined area including the current position;
Presenting a question to determine whether the user has confirmed the landmark if the landmark is present in the predetermined area;
If the user does not return an answer indicating that the landmark has been confirmed in response to the question even after a first elapsed time since the user presented the question, the user does not return the route. And a step of notifying that there is a possibility of being out of the range. Computer
A route guidance presenting section for presenting a route to a destination point;
A current position estimation unit for estimating the current position of the user;
A landmark detection unit that determines whether or not a landmark exists in a predetermined area including the current position;
A question presenting unit for presenting a question for determining whether the user has confirmed the landmark when the landmark is present in the predetermined area;
If the user does not return an answer indicating that the landmark has been confirmed in response to the question even after a first elapsed time since the user presented the question, the user does not return the route. A program for functioning as a message notification unit for notifying that there is a possibility of being out of service.

Images