JP2014173945A - Zone information generation system, method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique of suppressing an amount of data of routing information on a scheduled travel route.SOLUTION: A zone information generation system comprises: scheduled travel route acquisition means that acquires a scheduled travel route of a vehicle; management zone generation means that, when the scheduled travel route includes a normal area and a high-speed area, the vehicle speed of which is higher than that of the normal area, generates a plurality of management zones formed by dividing the scheduled travel route by mutually different dividing conditions for the normal area and the high-speed area respectively; and route information generation means that generates route information including zone information for each management zone.

Description

  The present invention relates to section information generation, a method, and a program for generating information for each section.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an in-vehicle information storage device that records vehicle travel control information obtained by dividing a route traveled by a vehicle into a plurality of sections and learning an average value of vehicle speed for each section is known (see Patent Document 1). . The vehicle travel control information recorded by the in-vehicle information storage device is acquired by the vehicle control device, and the control device performs vehicle travel control based on the vehicle travel control information. In Patent Document 1, a section is divided for each point where the vehicle speed has changed.

JP 2008-213594 A

However, in Patent Document 1, when the data amount of the vehicle travel control information is increased, there is a problem that a required period for transferring the vehicle travel control information from the in-vehicle information storage device to the vehicle control device is increased. In Patent Document 1, since the section is divided at each point where the vehicle speed has changed, if the number of points at which the vehicle speed has changed increases, the required period for transferring the vehicle travel control information becomes longer.
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique for suppressing the data amount of route information for a scheduled travel route.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, the planned travel route acquisition means acquires the planned travel route of the vehicle. The management section generating means divides the planned travel route under different division conditions in the normal section and the high speed section when the planned travel route includes a normal section and a high speed section where the vehicle speed is higher than the normal section. A plurality of management sections are generated. The route information generating means generates route information including section information for each management section.

  In the above configuration, since the management section is generated under different division conditions in each of the normal section and the high speed section that constitute the planned travel route, an appropriate number of management sections can be generated in each of the normal section and the high speed section. That is, by not dividing the entire planned travel route under the same division condition, it is possible to prevent excessive management sections from being generated in the normal section or the high speed section, and to suppress the number of management sections. Therefore, the data amount of route information can be suppressed. If the data amount of the route information can be suppressed, the required period for transferring the data amount of the route information to another device can be shortened.

  The planned travel route may be any route that the vehicle is scheduled to travel, and may be a route searched to connect the current location to the destination. The planned travel route acquisition unit may acquire the planned travel route of the vehicle, may search for the planned travel route based on the map information, or may receive the planned travel route from an external device. The high speed section may be a section in which the vehicle speed is higher than that in the normal section, and may be a road type section in which the vehicle speed is higher than that in the normal section. For example, a section belonging to a road type of a toll road such as an expressway may be a high-speed section, and a section belonging to a road type of a general road may be a normal section. Further, the high speed section may be a section where the vehicle speed when the vehicle actually travels is statistically larger than the normal section. Further, the high speed section may be a section having a legal maximum speed larger than that of the normal section. Further, the high speed section and the normal section may not be continuous sections, and for example, the normal section may be constituted by a plurality of sections divided by the high speed section.

  The management section generation means may generate a plurality of management sections in each of the normal section and the high speed section by dividing the planned travel route under different division conditions, and various division conditions can be considered. For example, when the normal section requires more detailed route information than the high speed section, the management section may be generated so that the normal section is divided more finely than the high speed section. On the other hand, when the high speed section requires more detailed route information than the normal section, the management section may be generated so that the high speed section is divided more finely than the normal section. For example, when route information is used for driving support, a section requiring detailed route information may be set based on the content of driving support. Dividing the planned travel route may be integrating a plurality of links on the planned travel route that are originally finely divided into management sections.

  The route information generating means may generate route information including section information for each management section, and the section information may be any information indicating the characteristics of the management section. For example, the section information may indicate the shape of the management section, may indicate the traveling state of the vehicle in the management section, or may indicate a traveling environment such as weather or traffic jam. Moreover, you may perform driving assistance for every management area based on route information by producing | generating the information utilized for driving assistance as area information.

  In addition, the management section generation means may apply a dividing condition that makes the planned travel route less likely to be divided in the high speed section than in the normal section. Thereby, the number of management sections in the high speed section can be suppressed, and the number of management sections in the entire planned travel route can be suppressed. However, as a result of applying different division conditions between the high speed section and the normal section, the number of management sections per unit distance in the high speed section may be larger than the number of management sections per unit distance in the normal section. For example, when performing driving support that is effective in a vehicle speed range that is lower than a high-speed vehicle speed range based on route information, a division condition that makes it difficult to divide the planned travel route in the high-speed zone than in the normal zone is applied. May be.

  The management section generation means may generate a management section for each section that is continuous on the planned travel route and in which the amount of change in the travel state of the vehicle is less than the reference value. Then, the management section generation means may set the reference value for the high speed section to be larger than the reference value for the normal section. As a result, a group of sections in which the amount of change in the running state of the vehicle is less than the reference value can be generated as the management section. By setting the reference value for the high speed section to be larger than the reference value for the normal section, it is possible to lengthen a group of sections in which the amount of change in the driving state of the vehicle is less than the reference value. The number of sections can be suppressed. The traveling state of the vehicle may be a motion state of the vehicle, a fuel consumption state, or a traveling environment state.

  Further, the management section generation means may generate the management section so that a total value of the number of management sections in the normal section and the number of management sections in the high speed section is equal to or less than a predetermined upper limit value. Thereby, the number of management sections in the entire planned travel route can be suppressed to the upper limit value or less, and the data amount of the route information can be suppressed. For example, the management section generation unit may suppress the number of management sections by setting a division condition so that the planned travel route is difficult to be divided. Further, the management section generation means may suppress the number of management sections by setting a reference value of the amount of change in the driving state that is a reference for dividing the planned traveling route.

  Further, the management section generating means generates a management section in the normal section, obtains the number of remaining sections obtained by subtracting the number of management sections in the normal section from the upper limit value, and the number of management sections in the high speed section is equal to or less than the number of remaining sections. As such, the management section in the high speed section may be generated. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the number of management sections in the entire planned travel route to the upper limit value or less while generating the management sections with priority in the normal section.

  In addition, when the length of the planned travel route is equal to or less than the threshold, the management section generating unit may generate a plurality of management sections obtained by dividing the planned travel route under the same division condition in the entire planned travel route. That is, if the planned travel route is short and the number of management sections does not increase, the management sections may be generated finely.

  Further, the management section generating means may generate the management section in a part of the planned travel route when the length of the normal section is larger than the threshold. Here, when the length of the normal section becomes larger than the threshold value, the number of management sections becomes excessive even in the normal section alone. In such a case, even if the number of management sections in the high speed section is suppressed, the number of management sections in the entire planned travel route becomes excessive. On the other hand, the number of management sections can be suppressed by generating the management sections only for a part of the planned travel route instead of the entire planned travel route. The part of the planned travel route may be a part of the planned travel route closer to the current location.

  Furthermore, the method of generating route information so as to suppress the number of management sections as in the present invention can also be applied as a program or method. In addition, the system, program, and method as described above may be realized as a single device, or may be realized by using components shared with each unit provided in the vehicle when realized by a plurality of devices. It can be assumed and includes various aspects. For example, it is possible to provide a section information generation apparatus, method, and program that include the above-described means. Further, some changes may be made as appropriate, such as a part of software and a part of hardware. Furthermore, the invention can be realized as a recording medium for a program for controlling the system. Of course, the software recording medium may be a magnetic recording medium, a magneto-optical recording medium, or any recording medium to be developed in the future.

It is a block diagram which shows the navigation apparatus as an area information generation system. (2A) to (2D) are schematic diagrams for explaining sections on the planned travel route. It is a flowchart which shows a route information generation process.

Here, embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following order.
(1) Configuration of navigation device:
(2) Route information generation processing:
(3) Other embodiments:

(1) Configuration of navigation device:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a navigation device 10 as a section information generation system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The navigation device 10 is provided in a vehicle. The navigation device 10 includes a control unit 20 and a recording medium 30. The control unit 20 includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like, and executes a program stored in the recording medium 30 or the ROM. The recording medium 30 records map information 30a and route information 30b.

  The map information 30a includes node data indicating the positions of nodes set on the road, link data indicating information about links connecting the nodes, and shape interpolation point data indicating the shape of the road connecting the nodes. Including. Nodes correspond to intersections, and links correspond to roads connecting the intersections. The link data includes information indicating a link length for each link and information indicating a road type for each link. In the present embodiment, ordinary roads and highways are distinguished by road type.

  The route information 30b is configured by section information generated for each of a plurality of management sections K obtained by dividing the planned travel route. The section information is information indicating the configuration link L constituting the management section K, the average estimated vehicle speed S in the management section K, and the length Y of the management section K. Here, the scheduled travel route is a route from the current location of the vehicle to the destination, and is a set of a plurality of constituent links L that connect the current location to the destination. The configuration link L is a link that constitutes a part of the planned travel route among the links defined in the link data of the map information 30a.

  FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram showing the entire planned travel route R. As shown in the figure, the scheduled travel route R is a route from the current location to the destination. 2B and 2C are schematic views showing a part of the planned travel route R in detail. As shown in the figure, the planned travel route R is composed of a plurality of configuration links L. The management section K is a section obtained by dividing the planned travel route R based on a division condition described later. The management section K includes a plurality of constituent links L that are continuous on the planned travel route R. However, the management section K may be configured by a single configuration link L on the planned travel route R. The average estimated vehicle speed S is an average value of estimated vehicle speeds in the constituent links L constituting the management section K. In the present embodiment, the estimated vehicle speed is specified for each configuration link L based on traffic information acquired from an external server. Based on the probe information collected for each link, the external server identifies the average vehicle speed when the vehicle travels on each link as the estimated vehicle speed, and sends traffic information indicating the estimated vehicle speed for each link to the vehicle. To do. The length Y of the management section K is the sum of the lengths of the constituent links L constituting the management section K.

The vehicle includes a GPS receiver 41, a vehicle speed sensor 42, a gyro sensor 43, a user I / F unit 44, a communication I / F unit 45, a power ECU 46, and a power unit 47.
The GPS receiver 41 receives radio waves from GPS satellites and outputs a signal for calculating the position of the vehicle to the controller 20 via an interface (not shown). The vehicle speed sensor 42 outputs a signal corresponding to the rotational speed of the wheels included in the vehicle to the control unit 20. The gyro sensor 43 outputs a signal corresponding to the angular acceleration acting on the vehicle to the control unit 20.

The control unit 20 sets a plurality of comparison target roads where the current location of the vehicle can exist based on the self-contained navigation information based on the signals output from the vehicle speed sensor 42 and the gyro sensor 43 and the map information 30a. The comparison target roads are narrowed down based on the error circle of the GPS signal acquired in this way. And the control part 20 performs the map matching process which pinpoints the road with the most identical shape with a self-contained navigation locus among the narrowed down comparison target roads as the traveling road which is the road on which the vehicle is traveling, and performs the map matching. The current location of the vehicle is identified on the traveling road identified by the processing.
The user I / F unit 44 receives an output device (display, speaker, etc.) that outputs various types of guidance based on the video signal and audio signal output from the control unit 20, and various operations such as designation of a destination from the user. Input devices (operation buttons, touch sensors, etc.).
The communication I / F unit 45 includes a communication circuit for receiving the above traffic information from an external server. The traffic information received by the communication I / F unit 45 is output to the control unit 20.

  The power ECU 46 is a computer that controls the power unit 47. The power unit 47 of this embodiment includes a motor 47a and an engine 47b as power sources. The power unit 47 includes a battery 47c that supplies electric power to the motor 47a. The battery 47c is a rechargeable battery, and the power ECU 46 acquires the remaining power amount charged in the battery 47c. In the vehicle of the present embodiment, the power ratio supplied from the motor 47a and the engine 47b to the drive wheels is variable, and the power ECU 46 changes the power ratio based on the remaining power amount of the motor 47a and the like.

The control unit 20 executes the navigation program 21. The navigation program 21 includes a planned travel route acquisition unit 21a, a management section generation unit 21b, a route information generation unit 21c, and a transmission unit 21d.
The planned travel route acquisition unit 21a is a module that causes the control unit 20 to execute a function of acquiring a planned travel route of the vehicle. Based on the function of the planned travel route acquisition unit 21a, the control unit 20 searches for a route connecting from the departure point to the destination by a known route search method based on the map information 30a. The planned travel route R is a portion closer to the destination than the current location of the vehicle among the routes connecting the departure point to the destination. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2A, the planned travel route R is a route connecting the current location to the destination. In addition, as information for specifying the planned travel route R, information (not shown) indicating the configuration link L configuring the planned travel route R is recorded on the recording medium 30.

  When the planned travel route R includes the normal section O and the high speed section H in which the vehicle speed is higher than the normal section O, the management section generation unit 21b divides different from each other in the normal section O and the high speed section H. This is a module that causes the control unit 20 to execute a function of generating a plurality of management sections K obtained by dividing the planned travel route R under conditions. The high speed section H is a section in which the vehicle speed is higher than that in the normal section O, and is a road type section in which the vehicle speed is higher than that in the normal section O. In the present embodiment, a group of sections in which a configuration link L associated with a highway as a road type is continuous is a highway section H, and a scheduled travel route R in which a general road is associated as a road type. A group of sections in which the constituent links L are continuous is a normal section O.

In the example of FIG. 2A, the scheduled traveling route R includes two normal sections O ₁ and O ₂ and one high speed section H. Since the route search is performed on a general road and the destination often exists on the general road, the planned travel route R has two normal sections O in the initial stage when traveling toward a far destination. _It is often composed of ₁ and O ₂ and one high speed section H. Of course, the number of normal sections O and high speed sections H is not particularly limited, and two or more high speed sections H may exist.

Further, the control unit 20 applies a division condition in the high-speed section H that makes the planned travel route R less likely to be divided than the normal sections O ₁ and O ₂ by the function of the management section generation unit 21b. Specifically, the control unit 20 uses the function of the management section generation unit 21b so that the control unit 20 continues on the planned travel route R and for each section in which the amount of change in the estimated vehicle speed V as the traveling state of the vehicle is less than the reference value T. A management section K is generated. That is, the control unit 20 calculates the difference dV between the estimated vehicle speeds V of two constituent links L that are continuous on the planned travel route R by the function of the management section generation unit 21b, and the absolute value of the difference dV is the reference value. When the value is equal to or greater than T, the management section K is divided at the boundary (node) between the two constituent links L. As a result, a group of sections in which the amount of change in the estimated vehicle speed V is less than the reference value T can be generated as the management section K. The division condition of the management section K in the present embodiment is that the difference dV of the estimated vehicle speed V as the traveling state of the vehicle is greater than or equal to the reference value T.

Further, the control unit 20 sets the reference value T _H for the high speed section H to be larger than the reference value T _O for the normal sections O ₁ and O ₂ by the function of the management section generation unit 21b.
That is, the control unit 20 determines that the difference dV between the estimated vehicle speeds V of the two constituent links L that are continuous in the normal sections O ₁ and O ₂ is equal to or greater than the reference value T _O at the boundary between the two constituent links L. Although the management section K is divided (FIG. 2B), the reference value T _H (> T _O ) even if the difference dV between the estimated vehicle speeds V of two consecutive links L in the high speed section H is equal to or greater than the reference value T _O. Otherwise, the management section K is not divided at the boundary between the two constituent links L (FIG. 2C).

Further, the control section 20 uses the function of the management section generator 21b to cause the control section 20 to add the number N _O of the management sections K in the normal sections O ₁ and O ₂ and the total number N _H of the management sections K in the high speed section H (N _O The management interval K is generated so that + N _H ) is equal to or less than a predetermined upper limit value N _MAX . Specifically, the control section 20 generates the management section K in the normal sections O ₁ and O ₂ by the function of the management section generation section 21b, and the number of management sections K in the normal sections O ₁ and O ₂ from the upper limit value N _MAX. N _O remaining section number obtained by subtracting (N _MAX -N _O) acquires, in the high speed section H as the number N _H of the management section K in the high speed section H is equal to or less than the remaining number interval (N _MAX -N _O) A management section K is generated. Note that the number N _O management section K in the normal section O _1, O _2, is the sum of the number of management section K in the normal section O _1, and the number of management section K in the normal interval O _2.

First, by the function of the management section generation unit 21b, the control unit 20 manages in the normal sections O ₁ and O ₂ so that the number N _O of management sections K in the normal sections O ₁ and O ₂ is less than the upper limit value N _MAX. A section K is generated. With the function of the management section generator 21b, the control unit 20 allows the reference values for the normal sections O ₁ and O ₂ when the number N _O of the management sections K in the normal sections O ₁ and O ₂ is equal to or greater than the upper limit value N _MAX. T _O is corrected upward, and the management section K is generated again in the normal sections O ₁ and O ₂ . Since the reference value T _O is larger as the ordinary period O _1, the management section K in O ₂ is less likely to be divided, by upward adjustment of the reference value T _O of the normal section O _1, O _2, usually section O _1, The number N _O of management intervals K in O ₂ can be suppressed. Control unit 20, until the number N _O management section K in the normal section O _1, O ₂ is less than the upper limit value N _MAX, the process is repeated for upward adjustment of the reference value T _O of the normal section O _1, O ₂ .

If the number N _O management section K in the normal section O _1, O ₂ is less than the upper limit value N _MAX, the control unit 20 by the function of the management section generating unit 21b is in the normal section O _1, O ₂ from the upper limit value N _MAX By subtracting the number N _O (less than N _MAX ) of the management intervals K, the number of remaining intervals (N _MAX −N _O ) ≧ 1 is calculated. Then, the control unit 20 generates a management section K in the high speed section H. Here, if the number N _H of the management section K in the high speed section H is greater than the remaining number interval (N _MAX -N _O), the control unit 20, revised reference value T _H of the high speed section H Then, the management section K in the high speed section H is generated again. Control unit 20, until the number N _H of the management section K in the high speed section H is equal to or less than the remaining number interval (N _MAX -N _O), and repeats the process of upward adjustment of the reference value T _H of the high speed section H. Thus, the number N _O management section K in the normal section O _1, O _2, the total value of the number N _H of the management section K in the high speed section _H (N _O + N H) and the following predetermined upper limit value N _MAX Thus, the management section K can be generated.

As described above, although the reference value T _H of the reference value T _O and high speed section H of the normal section O _1, O ₂ is revised upward, the control unit 20, the reference value T _O and the reference value T _As an initial value of _H, a value satisfying T _H > T _O is set. The reference value T _O and the initial value of the reference value T _H (for example, T _O = 5 km / hour, T _H = 15 km / hour) are recorded on the recording medium 30 in advance. The upper limit value N _MAX is also recorded in the recording medium 30 in advance.

The route information generation unit 21c is a module that causes the control unit 20 to execute a function of generating route information 30b including section information for each management section K. As described above, the section information indicates, for each management section K, the configuration link L constituting the management section K, the average estimated vehicle speed S in the management section K, and the length Y of the management section K for the management section K. Information. With the function of the route information generation unit 21c, the control unit 20 calculates the sum of the lengths of the constituent links L constituting the management section K as the length Y of the management section K and the constituent links constituting the management section K. The average value of the estimated vehicle speed V at L is calculated as the average estimated vehicle speed S. The control unit 20 generates section information indicating the configuration link L, the average estimated vehicle speed S, and the length Y for each management section K, and records the section information in the route information 30b in the recording medium 30. Here, the route information 30b is to be constructed from the section information of the number of more than the upper limit N _MAX, the data amount of path information 30b is dependent on the upper limit value N _MAX.

The transmission unit 21d is a module that causes the control unit 20 to execute a function of transmitting the route information 30b to the vehicle. When the route information 30b is generated on the recording medium 30 by the function of the transmission unit 21d, the control unit 20 transmits the route information 30b to the power ECU 46 of the vehicle. In the present embodiment, the number N of management sections K based on the communication speed between the control unit 20 and the power ECU 46 so that the required period for transmitting the route information 30b is a predetermined period (for example, 10 seconds) or less. An upper limit value N _MAX is set. Note that the route information 30b may not be transmitted to the power ECU 46 after the route information 30b is generated on the recording medium 30, and the control unit 20 generates the interval information every time the interval information is generated for each management interval K. May be sequentially transmitted to the power ECU 46.

  The power ECU 46 generates power ratio plan information for the planned travel route R based on the route information 30b. The power ratio plan information is information for designating a power ratio between the motor 47a and the engine 47b set for each management section K constituting the planned travel route R. The power ECU 46 designates a power ratio corresponding to the average estimated vehicle speed S for each management section K by referring to a table in which an ideal power ratio is associated for each average estimated vehicle speed S in a ROM (not shown). Generate information. The ideal power ratio is, for example, a power ratio that can comprehensively suppress energy consumption in consideration of power consumption in the battery 47c and fuel consumption in the engine 47b, and can be set based on a known method. In addition, when the power of the motor 47a is used in a high-speed vehicle speed zone (for example, 60 km / hour or more), the power consumption in the battery 47c is remarkably increased. Therefore, the power ECU 46 designates the power ratio supplied to the drive wheels by the engine 47b as 100% for the management section K in which the average estimated vehicle speed S is in the high vehicle speed zone. That is, even if the power ratio is finely changed according to the average estimated vehicle speed S in the high-speed vehicle speed zone, the effect of suppressing the energy consumption is not exhibited.

  The power ECU 46 predicts the power consumption in each management section K based on the length Y of the management section K, the average estimated vehicle speed S, and the power ratio, and the remaining power amount in the battery 47c is determined before reaching the destination. The power ratio of the motor 47a in each management section K is corrected downward so that it does not become zero. Further, the route information 30b indicating the road gradient may be generated for each management section K, and the power ECU 46 may accurately predict the power consumption based on the road gradient.

Or in the structure of the present embodiment described, to generate a management section K at different partitioning conditions in each of the normal section O _1, O ₂ and high speed section H constituting the planned travel route R, usually section O _1, O ₂ And an appropriate number (≦ N _MAX ) of management sections K can be generated in each of the high speed sections H. That is, by not dividing the entire planned travel route R under the same dividing condition, it is possible to prevent the management section K from being generated excessively in the normal sections O ₁ , O ₂ or the high speed section H, and the number N of management sections K Can be suppressed. Therefore, the data amount of the route information 30b can be suppressed. If the data amount of the route information 30b can be suppressed, the time required for transferring the data amount of the route information 30b to the power ECU 46 can be shortened.

Further, in the high speed section H, since the normal interval O _1, O ₂ planned travel route R than to apply a divided condition becomes difficult to split, it is possible to suppress the number N _H of the management section K in the high speed section H, the planned travel route The number N of management sections K in the entire R can be suppressed. In the present embodiment, based on the route information 30b, in order to perform driving support (power ratio control) that exhibits an effect of suppressing energy consumption in a vehicle speed range lower than the high-speed vehicle speed range, A division condition that makes the planned travel route R less likely to be divided than the normal sections O ₁ and O ₂ can be applied.

Control unit 20 by the function of the management section generating section 21b, a reference value T _H of the high speed section H, by setting larger than the reference value T _O of the normal section O _1, O _2, the change in the estimated vehicle speed V can amount to increase the interval of human unity be less than the reference value T _H, can be suppressed number N _H of the management section K in the high speed section H. Furthermore, since the number N of management sections K in the entire planned travel route R is suppressed to the upper limit value N _MAX or less, the data amount of the route information 30b can be suppressed. Further, the control section 20 uses the function of the management section generation section 21b so that the number of remaining sections (N _MAX −N _O ) equal to or less than the upper limit value N _MAX is obtained by subtracting the number N _O of management sections K in the normal sections O ₁ and O ₂ . Thus, in order to generate the management section K in the high speed section H, the upper limit of the number N of management sections K in the entire planned travel route R is generated while giving priority to the management section K in the normal sections O ₁ and O ₂ . It can be suppressed to N _MAX or less.

(2) Route information generation processing:
Next, an example of route information generation processing will be described in detail. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the route information generation process. First, the control unit 20 searches for a route connecting from the departure point to the destination by a known route search method by the function of the planned traveling route acquisition unit 21a (step S100). Next, the control part 20 acquires the present location and traffic information of a vehicle (step S105). The control unit 20 specifies the current location of the vehicle on the road on which the vehicle is traveling, and obtains traffic information indicating the estimated vehicle speed V for each link from an external server via the communication I / F unit 45. To do.

Next, the control unit 20 determines whether or not the length X _R of the planned travel route R is equal to or less than the threshold value X _T by the function of the management section generation unit 21b (step S110). As shown in FIG. 2A, the scheduled travel route R is a route from the current location to the destination. The control unit 20 acquires the length X _R of the planned travel route R by adding up the lengths of all the constituent links L constituting the planned travel route R. The threshold value X _T (for example, 200 km) is recorded on the recording medium 30.

If the length X _R of the planned travel route R is equal to or less than the threshold X _T (step S110: Y), the control unit 20 by the function of the management section generating section 21b, the difference dV is the reference value T of the estimated vehicle speed V A management section K is generated by dividing the entire planned travel route R at the boundary (node) between two constituent links L _{equal to} or greater than _O (step S115). That is, the control section 20 divides the planned travel route R under the same dividing condition in the entire planned travel route R by applying the same reference value T _O in the entire planned travel route R by the function of the management section generating unit 21b. A plurality of management sections K are generated. Here, instead of the reference value T _H of the high speed section H, to apply the initial value of the reference value T _O of the normal section O _1, O _2. Thereby, the control unit 20 can finely generate a group of management sections K in which the amount of change in the estimated vehicle speed V is less than the reference value T _O. The length X _R of the planned travel route R is equal to or smaller than the threshold X _T, can be finely generates management section K without number management section K becomes excessive. In the present embodiment, the number of management section K in the case of generating the length X _R is the threshold X _T management section K by applying the initial value of the reference value T _O for each of the plurality of travel route R is not more than The threshold value _XT is set so that the maximum value of the number of the management section K is less than or equal to the upper limit value N _MAX . Accordingly, the number of management intervals K generated in step S115 is equal to or less than the upper limit value N _MAX .

  Next, by the function of the route information generating unit 21c, the control unit 20 generates route information 30b including section information indicating the average estimated vehicle speed S for each management section K (step S120). That is, the control unit 20 calculates the sum of the lengths of the constituent links L constituting the management section K as the length Y of the management section K, and the average value of the estimated vehicle speed V in the constituent links L constituting the management section K. Is calculated as the average estimated vehicle speed S. Then, the control unit 20 generates section information indicating the configuration link L, the average estimated vehicle speed S, and the length Y for each management section K, and records the section information in the route information 30b in the recording medium 30.

Next, the control unit 20 transmits the route information 30b to the vehicle power ECU 46 by the function of the transmission unit 21d (step S125). As described above, since the upper limit value N _MAX is set such that the required period for transmitting the route information 30b is a predetermined period (for example, 10 seconds) or less, the required period for transmitting the route information 30b is There is no problem. By transmitting the route information 30b to the vehicle power ECU 46, the power ECU 46 can control the power ratio between the motor 47a and the engine 47b based on the route information 30b.

  Next, the control unit 20 determines whether or not a reroute or destination change operation has been received by the user I / F unit 44 by the function of the planned travel route acquisition unit 21a (step S130). That is, the control unit 20 determines whether it is necessary to re-search for a route to the destination.

  When it is determined that the reroute or destination change operation has been accepted (step S130: Y), the control unit 20 returns to step S100 and executes the route search again by the function of the planned traveling route acquisition unit 21a. On the other hand, when it is not determined that the reroute or destination change operation has been accepted (step S130: N), the control unit 20 uses the function of the planned travel route acquisition unit 21a to start a predetermined update period from the transmission of the route information 30b. It is determined whether or not it has elapsed (step S135). The update period (for example, 10 minutes) is recorded on the recording medium 30. In step S130, the control unit 20 may determine whether or not the vehicle has traveled a predetermined distance from the transmission of the route information 30b.

  When it determines with the update period having passed since transmission of the route information 30b (step S135: Y), the control part 20 returns to step S105 by the function of the driving planned route acquisition part 21a. Since the current location of the vehicle is approaching the destination during the renewal period, the scheduled travel route R is shortened. Therefore, step S110 and subsequent steps can be executed again for the shortened scheduled travel route R. On the other hand, when it is not determined that the update period has elapsed since the transmission of the route information 30b (step S135: N), the control unit 20 determines whether or not the vehicle has reached the destination by the function of the planned travel route acquisition unit 21a. Is determined (step S140). That is, the control unit 20 determines whether or not the current location and the destination are within a predetermined distance (for example, 100 m). When it is determined that the vehicle has reached the destination (step S140: Y), the control unit 20 ends the route information generation process by the function of the planned travel route acquisition unit 21a. On the other hand, when it is not determined that the vehicle has reached the destination (step S140: N), the control unit 20 returns to step S130 by the function of the planned travel route acquisition unit 21a.

Next, a process when the length X _R of the planned travel route R is larger than the threshold value X _T as shown in FIG. 2A will be described. If the length X _R of the planned travel route R is not equal to or less than the threshold X _T (step S110: N), the control unit 20 by the function of the management section generating unit 21b, the high speed section H and the normal section O ₁ , O ₂ are acquired (step S145). A group of sections in which a configuration link L associated with a highway as a road type is continuous is a high-speed section H, and a configuration link L of a scheduled travel route R associated with a general road as a road type. A group of continuous sections is the normal sections O ₁ and O ₂ .

The control unit 20 determines whether or not the length X _O of the normal sections O ₁ and O ₂ is larger than the threshold value X _T by the function of the management section generation unit 21b (step S150). As shown in FIG. 2D, and the length X _O of ordinary period O _1, O _2, is the sum of the length X _O2 length X _O1 of ordinary period O ₁ and usually interval O _2. That is, the lengths X _{O of} the normal sections O ₁ and O ₂ are the lengths obtained by removing the length X _H of the high speed section H from the length X _R of the planned travel route R.

When it is not determined that the lengths X _{O of the} normal intervals O ₁ and O ₂ are larger than the threshold value X _T (step S150: N), the control unit 20 uses the function of the management interval generation unit 21b to control the normal intervals O ₁ , In O ₂ , a management section K is generated by dividing the planned travel route R at the boundary between the two constituent links L where the difference dV of the estimated vehicle speed V is equal to or greater than the reference value T _O (step S155). Here, the reference value T _O for the normal intervals O ₁ and O ₂ is applied. As a result, the control unit 20 can finely generate a group of management sections K in which the amount of change in the estimated vehicle speed V is less than the reference value T _O in the normal sections O ₁ and O ₂ . At the stage of first executing step S155, the control unit 20 resets the reference value T _O for the normal sections O ₁ and O ₂ to the initial value (<the initial value of the reference value T _H for the high speed section H). Keep it. Thereby, in the normal sections O ₁ and O ₂ , the management section K can be divided more easily than the high speed section H.

Next, from the function of the management section generator 21b, the control unit 20 determines whether or not the number N _O of management sections K in the normal sections O ₁ and O ₂ is less than the upper limit value N _MAX of the number N of management sections K. Determination is made (step S160). The number N _O management section K in the normal section O _1, O _2, is the sum of the number of management section K in the normal section O _1, the number N _O management section K in the normal interval O _2. When it is not determined that the number N _O of the management intervals K in the normal intervals O ₁ and O ₂ is less than the upper limit value N _MAX (step S160: N), the control unit 20 uses the function of the management interval generation unit 21b to The reference value T _O for the sections O ₁ and O ₂ is corrected upward (step S165). For example, the control unit 20, by adding the correction value to the reference value T _O, revised upward the reference value T _O. The correction value may be a constant value or a value obtained by multiplying the reference value T _O before upward correction by a predetermined ratio. When the reference value T _O is corrected upward, the control unit 20 returns to Step S155. That is, the control unit 20 again generates the management section K in the normal sections O ₁ and O ₂ with the reference value T _O corrected upward. As described above, the number N of management intervals K in the normal intervals O ₁ and O ₂ is obtained by repeatedly performing the generation of the management interval K in the normal intervals O ₁ and O ₂ and the upward correction of the reference value T _{O. O} can be less than the upper limit value N _MAX . It should be noted that even if the upward correction is performed a predetermined number of times, the number N _O of the management sections K in the normal sections O ₁ and O ₂ does not become less than the upper limit value N _MAX, or a predetermined timeout determination period after first executing step S160 If the number N _O of the management sections K in the normal sections O ₁ and O ₂ does not become less than the upper limit value N _MAX even after elapses, the process of generating the route information 30b may be stopped.

When it is determined that the number N _O of the management intervals K in the normal intervals O ₁ and O ₂ is less than the upper limit value N _MAX (step S160: Y), the control unit 20 uses the function of the management interval generation unit 21b to control the high speed interval H generating a difference dV is the reference value T _H above two configurations link management section K obtained by dividing the travel route R at the boundary L of the estimated vehicle speed V (step S170). Here, the reference value TH for the high speed section _H is applied. At the stage of executing sp S170 for the first time, the control unit 20 resets the reference value T _H for the high speed section _H to the initial value (> the initial value of the reference value T _O for the normal section O). Thereby, the control part 20 can make it difficult to divide the planned travel route R in the high speed section H, and can suppress the number of management sections K in the high speed section H.

Next, the control unit 20 determines whether or not the number N _H of management sections in the high speed section H is equal to or less than the number of remaining sections (N _MAX −N _O ) by the function of the management section generation section 21b (step S175). . The remaining section number (N _MAX −N _O ) is a value obtained by subtracting the number N _O (less than N _MAX ) of the management sections K in the normal sections O ₁ and O ₂ from the upper limit value N _MAX of the number N of management sections K. 1 or more. If the number N _H of the management section in the high speed section H is not equal to or less than the remaining number interval (N _MAX -N _O) (step S175: N), the control unit 20 from the function of the management section generating unit 21b, the reference value T _H of the high speed section H revised upward (step S180). For example, the control unit 20, by adding the correction value to the reference value T _H, revised upward the reference value T _H. When upward adjustment reference value T _H, the control unit 20 returns to step S170. That is, the control unit 20, the reference value T _H of revised upward, again, generates a management section K in the high speed section H. As described above, the generation of the management section K in the high speed section H and the upward correction of the reference value T _H are repeatedly performed, whereby the number N _H of management sections in the high speed section H is calculated as the number of remaining sections (N _MAX − N _O) can be less, the upper limit value normal interval O _1, the total value of the number N _H of the management section K in the number N _O and high speed section H of the management section K in O ₂ to (N _O + N _H) N _MAX or less.

Through the processing described above, the management section K can be generated so that the number N of management sections K in the entire planned travel route R is equal to or less than the upper limit value N _MAX . When the management section K is generated, the remaining processes (steps S120 to S140) are executed in the same manner as described above. As described above, since the number N of management sections K in the entire planned travel route R is equal to or less than the upper limit value N _MAX , the required period for transmitting the route information 30b to the power ECU 46 can be suppressed. In addition, since the management section K is more easily divided in the normal sections O ₁ and O ₂ than in the high speed section H, the power ECU 46 is connected to the motor 47a in the normal sections O ₁ and O ₂ based on the route information 30b. The power ratio with the engine 47b can be finely controlled.

2D, when it is determined that the lengths X _O of the normal sections O ₁ and O ₂ are larger than the threshold value X _T (step S150: Y), the control section 20 is controlled by the function of the management section generation section 21b. Considers a part of the planned travel route R as the planned travel route R. Specifically, as shown in the uppermost part of FIG. 2D, the control unit 20 determines that the distance from the current location is a threshold value X _{T on} the route of only the normal sections O ₁ and O ₂ excluding the high speed section H from the planned travel route R. The point P which becomes becomes. Point P may be the nearest node from a point where the distance from the current position becomes the threshold X _T. Then, as shown in the lowermost part of FIG. 2D, the control unit 20 determines the portion (deemed scheduled travel route R ′) from the current location to the point P in the entire planned travel route R including the high speed section H as the planned travel route R. Is considered. And the control part 20 performs the process after step S160 similarly to the above-mentioned about the estimated driving planned route R '.

As a result, the control unit 20 uses the function of the management section generation unit 21b to manage in some sections of the planned travel route R when the lengths X _O of the normal sections O ₁ and O ₂ are larger than the threshold value X _T. The section K can be generated. Here, when the length X _O of the normal intervals O ₁ and O ₂ becomes larger than the threshold value X _T , the number of management intervals K can be excessive even in the normal intervals O ₁ and O ₂ alone. In this case, even if suppressing the number N _H of the management section K in the high speed section H, the number N of the management section K in the entire travel route R becomes excessive. On the other hand, the number N of management sections K can be suppressed by generating the management section K only for the estimated travel schedule path R ′ that is a part of the travel schedule path R, not the entire travel schedule path R. The assumed travel planned route R ′ is a route in which a part of the destination side of the planned travel route R is missing, but when the update period has elapsed (step S135: Y), the route information 30b is generated again. Therefore, the power ratio can be controlled up to the destination.

(3) Other embodiments:
In the embodiment, the high speed section H is a section in which a highway is associated as a road type, but may be a section in which a toll road other than a highway is associated as a road type. Further, the high speed section H may be a section where the vehicle speed when the vehicle actually travels is higher than the normal section O. Further, the high speed section H may be a section where the legal maximum speed is larger than that of the normal section O.

  The control unit 20 may divide the planned travel route R under different division conditions by the function of the management section generation unit 21b, and various division conditions can be considered. For example, the planned travel route R may be divided for each fixed division distance in each of the high speed section H and the normal section O, and the division distance in the high speed section H may be set longer than the division distance in the normal section O. . In addition, when performing driving support that is more effective in a vehicle speed zone that is faster than a low-speed vehicle speed zone based on the route information 30b, the planned travel route R is less likely to be divided in the normal zone O than in the high-speed zone H. Dividing conditions may be applied. With the function of the route information generation unit 21c, the control unit 20 may generate the route information 30b including the section information for each management section K. The section information may be any information indicating the characteristics of the management section K (for example, gradient information or the like). It may be information indicating the road shape).

  Due to the function of the management section generator 21b, the control section 20 may divide the management section K at the boundary between the two constituent links L where the amount of change in the running state of the vehicle other than the estimated vehicle speed V is equal to or greater than the reference value. . For example, the control unit 20 may divide the management section K at the boundary between two constituent links L in which the amount of change in energy consumption or the energy required for traveling a unit distance is equal to or greater than a reference value. In addition, the control unit 20 may divide the management section K at the boundary between the two constituent links L in which the amount of change in the traveling environment state such as a traffic jam situation is equal to or greater than the reference value.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Navigation apparatus, 20 ... Control part, 21 ... Navigation program, 21a ... Planned driving | running route acquisition part, 21b ... Management area generation part, 21c ... Route information generation part, 21d ... Transmission part, 30 ... Recording medium, 30a ... Map Information, 30b ... Route information, 41 ... GPS receiver, 42 ... Vehicle speed sensor, 43 ... Gyro sensor, 44 ... User I / F unit, 45 ... Communication I / F unit, 46 ... Power ECU, 47 ... Power unit, 47a ... motor, 47b ... engine, 47c ... battery, H ... high speed section, K ... management section, L ... constituent link, O ... normal section, R ... planned travel route, T ... reference value, _XT ... threshold.

Claims (9)

A planned travel route acquisition means for acquiring a planned travel route of the vehicle;
When the planned travel route includes a normal section and a high speed section where the vehicle speed is higher than the normal section, a plurality of the planned travel route is divided under different division conditions in each of the normal section and the high speed section A management section generating means for generating a management section of
Route information generating means for generating route information including section information for each management section;
A section information generation system comprising: The management section generation means applies the division condition that makes the planned travel route less likely to be divided than the normal section in the high speed section.
The section information generation system according to claim 1. The management section generation means generates the management section for each section that is continuous on the planned travel route and whose amount of change in the traveling state of the vehicle is less than a reference value.
The reference value in the high speed section is set larger than the reference value in the normal section;
The section information generation system according to claim 2. The management section generating means generates the management section so that a total value of the number of the management sections in the normal section and the number of the management sections in the high speed section is equal to or less than a predetermined upper limit value.
The section information generation system according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The management section generation means generates the management section in the normal section, acquires the number of remaining sections obtained by subtracting the number of the management sections in the normal section from the upper limit value, and the number of the management sections in the high speed section Generating the management section in the high speed section so that is equal to or less than the number of remaining sections,
The section information generation system according to claim 4. The management section generating means generates a plurality of the management sections obtained by dividing the planned travel route under the same division condition in the entire planned travel route when the length of the planned travel route is equal to or less than a threshold value.
The section information generation system according to any one of claims 1 to 5. When the length of the normal section is larger than a threshold, the management section generation unit generates the management section in a part of the planned travel route.
The section information generation system according to any one of claims 1 to 6. A scheduled driving route acquisition step of acquiring a planned driving route of the vehicle;
When the planned travel route includes a normal section and a high speed section where the vehicle speed is higher than the normal section, each of the normal section that is a section excluding the high speed section of the planned travel path and the high speed section A management section generation step for generating a plurality of management sections obtained by dividing the planned travel route under different division conditions;
A section information generating step for generating route information including section information for each management section;
Section information generation method including A planned travel route acquisition function for acquiring a planned travel route of the vehicle;
When the planned travel route includes a normal section and a high speed section where the vehicle speed is higher than the normal section, each of the normal section that is a section excluding the high speed section of the planned travel path and the high speed section A management section generation function for generating a plurality of management sections obtained by dividing the planned travel route under different division conditions;
A section information generation function for generating route information including section information for each management section;
Section information generation program for causing a computer to execute.

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