JP2014240773A - Navigation apparatus and navigation method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a navigation apparatus and a navigation method, which are capable of guiding a user to a toilet of a category desired by the user.SOLUTION: A navigation apparatus includes: a setup information storage part 7 for storing setup information in which a category of toilet desired by each user is correlated with a category of toilet that includes installed position, style, function, additional service, and presence of usage fee; a toilet information database 8 in which a toilet by category and a position of the toilet are registered; an operation input part 5 for receiving an operation input from a user; and a control part 2 for determining a category of toilet desired by a requesting user by referring to the setup information stored in the setup information storage part 7, when the operation input part 5 receives a request for guidance to a toilet, and searching for, and guiding to, a toilet of the category desired by the requesting user by using map data, a present position and a position of the toilet searched from the toilet information database 8 using the determined category of toilet as key.

Description

  The present invention relates to a navigation apparatus and a navigation method for guiding a user to a desired type of toilet.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a navigation device that can be guided to a place by a simple operation when it is necessary to stop at a place such as a toilet during operation.

JP 2001-147127 A

  In the conventional technique represented by Patent Document 1, guidance is provided so that the user can go to the toilet in the shortest time or the shortest distance, but the toilet may not be the type of toilet desired by the user. If the user finds out the toilet, there is a problem that the first guidance is wasted. For example, when traveling with a family in a vehicle, the driver wants to use a toilet in a facility with free parking as much as possible, but the elderly want to use a familiar Japanese-style toilet, As described above, the type of toilet desired by an individual is often different. Even if the nearest toilet is guided, if the toilet is in a station or a paid parking facility, a user who has moved by vehicle hesitates to use.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to obtain a navigation device and a navigation method capable of guiding a toilet of a type desired by a user.

  The navigation device according to the present invention stores a setting information in which setting information in which a toilet type including an installation location, a style, a function, an additional service, and a usage fee is associated with a desired toilet type for each user is associated with each other. A setting information when a request for toilet guidance is received by the operation input unit, a database in which toilet information including a toilet, a toilet for each type, and a location thereof are registered; an operation input unit that receives an operation input from a user; By referring to the setting information stored in the storage unit, the type of toilet desired by the user of the request source is determined, and using the toilet position, current position, and map data retrieved from the database with the determined toilet type, And a control unit that searches and guides the type of toilet desired by the requesting user.

  According to the present invention, there is an effect that it is possible to guide the type of toilet desired by the user.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the navigation apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the setting information which set the toilet of the kind which a user desires. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of the navigation device according to the first embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the navigation apparatus concerning Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the outline | summary of the navigation system which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a navigation apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a navigation device 1 according to Embodiment 1 is a navigation device mounted on a moving body (for example, a vehicle), and includes a control unit 2, a map database 3, a positioning unit 4, an operation input unit 5, and a display unit. 6. A configuration information storage unit 7 and a toilet information database 8 are provided. In addition, the navigation apparatus 1 may be assembled | attached to the front part in a vehicle, and a passenger | crew may carry in and it may be suitably attached to a front part.

  The control unit 2 is a control unit that performs navigation processing such as route search, route guidance, and map display. In addition, when the operation input unit 5 receives a toilet guidance request, the control unit 2 refers to the setting information stored in the setting information storage unit 7 and determines the type of toilet desired by the requesting user. Using the determined toilet type, the toilet position retrieved from the toilet information database 8 and the current position and map data are used to search for and guide the desired type of toilet.

  The map database 3 is a database in which map data used in navigation processing is registered. Map data includes topographic map data, residential map data, road networks, and the like. Further, the map database 3 may be constructed in a storage device provided in the navigation device 1 as shown in FIG. 1, but may be constructed in an external device. For example, the map database 3 is built in a server device that can be communicably connected by a communication unit (not shown in FIG. 1), and the control unit 2 appropriately acquires map data from the server device by the communication unit.

  The positioning unit 4 is a positioning unit that measures position information of the navigation device 1. For example, the positioning unit 4 receives a GPS (Global Positioning System) radio wave and acquires position information (latitude and longitude) from the analysis result of the GPS radio wave. Further, the position information may be specified using sensor information obtained from a vehicle speed sensor, an acceleration sensor, and an angular velocity sensor.

The operation input unit 5 is an operation input unit that receives an operation input from a user, and receives, for example, a destination setting input and various operations. The user can request toilet guidance from the navigation device 1 using the operation input unit 5. The operation input unit 5 is realized by a hard key, a touch panel mounted on the screen of the display unit 6, a voice recognition input unit, or the like.
The display unit 6 is a display unit that displays information obtained by the processing of the control unit 2 on the screen. For example, display of various menu screens, map display, or guidance display of the type of toilet desired by the user is performed. Done.

  The setting information storage unit 7 is a storage unit that stores setting information in which the type of toilet including the installation location, style, function, additional service, and usage fee is associated with the type of toilet desired for each user. . When the moving body is a vehicle, the type of toilet described above includes the presence / absence of a parking lot corresponding to the installation location in addition to the installation location of the toilet. Details of the setting information will be described later with reference to FIG.

The toilet information database 8 is a database in which toilet information including types of toilets and their positions is registered. The type in the toilet information is the same as the type in the setting information stored in the setting information storage unit 7.
In addition to the latitude and longitude of the toilet for collation with the map data, the toilet information includes information such as the entrance time zone of the facility with the toilet and the floor with the toilet.
For example, when the toilet type is a toilet in a store, the toilet information includes the opening time. There are relatively many toilets in stores such as convenience stores that are well-cleaned. However, since there is a situation where the store cannot be entered due to a holiday or after closing, the opening time of each store is also registered.

In addition, although the case where the toilet information database 8 was a database different from the map database 3 was shown, toilet information may be provided as additional information of map data. In this case, the toilet information database 8 is a database integrated with the map database 3.
Moreover, although the setting information storage part 7 and the toilet information database 8 may be constructed | assembled in the memory | storage device with which the navigation apparatus 1 is provided, you may be constructed | assembled in the external device.
For example, the setting information storage unit 7 or the toilet information database 8 is constructed in a server that can be connected to a communication unit (not shown in FIG. 1), and the control unit 2 uses the communication unit to transmit setting information or Obtain toilet information as appropriate.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of setting information in which a type of toilet desired by the user is set.
In the setting information, the type of toilet including the installation location, style, function, additional service, presence / absence of a usage fee, and the presence / absence of a parking lot corresponding to the installation location is determined in advance.
In the example shown in FIG. 2, a toilet in a store, a toilet with a pay parking lot, a toilet with a free parking lot, a Japanese-style toilet, a Western-style toilet, a toilet with a washlet (registered trademark; hereinafter omitted), and a heated toilet seat Toilet with toilet, disabled toilet, pay toilet, free toilet, park toilet, general facility toilet, music distribution toilet and toilet outside the station are types of toilets that can be selected by the user. Further, toilet 1, toilet 2,... Indicate setting information for each user. For example, the setting information of the toilet 1 is setting information set by the user A, and the setting information of the toilet 2 is setting information set by the user B.

  When moving by vehicle, the presence or absence of a parking lot that can be parked safely is also an important factor in selecting a toilet. Therefore, the presence or absence of a parking lot is set in advance as a toilet type. In this case, if the parking lot is charged, if there is no money, you may not be able to stop by even if you are nearby. For this reason, whether the parking lot is charged or free is added to the toilet type.

  In addition, some users may hesitate to use if they are not either Japanese style toilets or Western style toilets. Therefore, toilet styles such as Japanese-style toilets and Western-style toilets are classified as toilet types. In the case of a Western-style toilet, some users may hesitate to use the toilet seat cleaner without using it. In this case, the presence or absence of a toilet seat cleaner is also registered in the toilet information in which the toilet type is a Western style toilet.

Set the toilet function as the toilet type. For example, the function of the toilet, such as whether it has a washlet or is for a handicapped person, is a toilet type.
In addition, paid toilets are common overseas. In this case, it is impossible to use the card without cash. Therefore, whether or not there is a usage fee is also classified as a toilet type.

The control unit 2 displays matrix information for selecting the type of toilet for the setting information of the toilet 1, toilet 2,. The user uses the operation input unit 5 to set and input a desired toilet type. The control unit 2 reflects this input content in the setting information and stores it in the setting information storage unit 7.
For example, in the setting information of the toilet 1, the user A selects a toilet in the store, a toilet with a free parking lot, a Western-style toilet, a toilet with a washlet, and a free toilet (circles in FIG. 2). In addition, the elderly user C who rides in the vehicle sets the setting information of the toilet 4. In the setting information of the toilet 4, in addition to the toilet in the store and the toilet with a free parking lot, a Japanese-style toilet familiar to the user C is set.

Next, the operation will be described.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the navigation device according to the first embodiment.
First, when the navigation device 1 is activated by turning on an accessory switch of the vehicle (step ST1), the control unit 2 displays a setting screen for setting toilet setting information on the display unit 6.

  A user who gets on the vehicle sets setting information using the setting screen (step ST2). For example, a toilet type is selected by a touch operation of a touch panel as the operation input unit 5 or voice recognition on a setting screen in which a toilet type and a selection column as illustrated in FIG. 2 are described. Selection of the toilet type is performed for each user who gets on the vehicle, and the setting information set by selecting the toilet type is stored in the setting information storage unit 7 by the control unit 2.

Next, the control part 2 determines whether the request | requirement of the toilet guidance was received from the user by the operation input part 5 (step ST3). If there is no toilet guidance request (step ST3; NO), the determination is repeated until there is a request.
When there is a toilet guidance request (step ST3; YES), the control unit 2 identifies the requesting user based on the user identification information input together with the request. Note that the requesting user may be specified only from the occurrence by analyzing the user's voiceprint.

Subsequently, the control unit 2 refers to the setting information stored in the setting information storage unit 7, determines the type of toilet desired by the requesting user specified in step ST3, and sets the determined type of toilet. Corresponding toilet information is searched from the toilet information database 8 (step ST4). Here, the control unit 2 extracts toilet information about toilets within a predetermined range from the current position measured by the positioning unit 4 from the searched toilet information.
Note that the predetermined range is a predetermined time or distance range from the current position of the vehicle.
For example, in step ST2, the predetermined time or distance may be determined according to a time when the user can endure the toilet based on the condition at that time.

Thereafter, the control unit 2 uses the toilet position, current position, and map data included in the toilet information searched in step ST4 to search and guide the type of toilet desired by the requesting user (step ST5). ).
In step ST4, the toilet information of the toilet corresponding to the toilet type in the setting information set by the requesting user is searched. For example, as toilet information corresponding to the setting information of the toilet 2 shown in FIG. 2, the toilet type is a toilet with a free parking lot, a free toilet, and a general facility toilet, and free parking including all of these toilet types. Toilet information about a toilet in a general facility with a parking lot is free from the toilet information database 8.

Next, the control unit 2 displays an icon at a toilet position within a predetermined range from the current position of the vehicle on the map screen of the display unit 6. Here, the control part 2 may perform the display according to the classification of the toilet as the icon. For example, an icon corresponding to a combination of toilet types is set in advance, and this icon is used for a toilet including all toilet types selected by the user.
Specifically, the icon of “toilet seat mark” is displayed when the toilet is installed in a store and has a free parking lot, a Western-style toilet, a washlet, and a free-use toilet.
Further, when the toilet type is a free parking lot, a usage fee is free, and a toilet of a general facility, an icon of “piss kid” is displayed as a display different from the toilet seat mark.
In addition, if there is a free parking lot, the usage fee is free, and the restroom is in the park, the toilet initial “t” mark is simply displayed.

Moreover, you may use what made the style of the toilet most interested when actually using a toilet into an icon. For example, even if the user does not set the toilet style as the toilet type, the toilet style is specified from the toilet information, and the icon of the corresponding style is displayed.
When the toilet type is a free parking lot, the usage fee is free, and a toilet of a general facility, and the style of the toilet is Japanese, a Japanese toilet icon is displayed.

Further, an icon may be displayed for each toilet type set by the requesting user. In this case, an icon corresponding to each toilet type is set in advance, and this icon is used for the toilet for each toilet type selected by the user. For example, a toilet mark with “free P” is displayed for a toilet with a free parking lot.
In addition, since the toilet for each toilet type does not include all the toilet types set by the user, that is, the toilet satisfies a part of the user's wish, the toilet icon includes all the toilet types set by the user It is displayed in a mode different from the toilet including all toilet types, such as displaying a smaller icon.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, the setting information in which the type of toilet including the installation location, style, function, additional service, and presence / absence of a usage fee is associated with the type of toilet desired for each user. The setting information storage unit 7 for storing the toilet, the toilet information database 8 in which the toilets and the positions thereof are registered, the operation input unit 5 that receives an operation input from the user, and the operation input unit 5 requests the toilet guidance. When accepted, the setting information stored in the setting information storage unit 7 is referred to determine the type of toilet desired by the requesting user, and the toilet retrieved from the toilet information database 8 by the determined toilet type And a control unit 2 that searches and guides the type of toilet desired by the requesting user using the current position, the current position, and the map data. By comprising in this way, the toilet of the kind which a user desires can be guided.

  According to the first embodiment, the type of toilet includes the presence / absence of a parking lot corresponding to the installation location in addition to the installation location of the toilet. By doing so, it is possible to guide an appropriate toilet when moving by a vehicle.

  Furthermore, according to this Embodiment 1, the control part 2 performs the display according to the kind of toilet on the display part 6, and guides the toilet of the kind which the user of a request origin desires. By doing in this way, the user can visually recognize the type of toilet and can select a desired toilet accurately.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the navigation apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In FIG. 4, the navigation device 1 </ b> A according to the second embodiment is obtained by adding an update unit 9 to the configuration of the navigation device 1 according to the first embodiment.
The update unit 9 is an update unit that acquires information on the toilet for each type and updates the toilet information in the toilet information database 8. For example, the update unit 9 displays a setting screen for setting toilet information on the display unit 6, and provides an HMI (Human Machine Interface) for receiving information about the toilet through the operation input unit 5. Update toilet information with information about toilets. Note that the information regarding the toilet includes at least the toilet type (all applicable items) and the location of the toilet. By updating the toilet information every time the user uses the toilet on the go, the actual toilet information database 8 can be constructed.

  Moreover, the update part 9 may access an external search site, collect the information regarding a toilet, and may update toilet information. For example, when destinations and waypoints are set, information on toilets at facilities around these points is collected. By doing in this way, even if it is desired to use the toilet on the route to the destination, it is possible to accurately guide the type of toilet desired by the user.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, since the update unit 9 that acquires information on the toilet for each type and updates the toilet information in the toilet information database 8 is provided, it is always based on the updated toilet information. Thus, it is possible to accurately guide the type of toilet desired by the user.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an outline of a navigation system according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. In the navigation system shown in FIG. 5, the vehicle-mounted device 100 performs toilet navigation in cooperation with the mobile terminal 101 and the server device 102. Hereinafter, a configuration aspect of the navigation system will be described.

First, a case where the vehicle-mounted device 100 functions as an output device that displays toilet navigation information in cooperation with the server device 102 will be described.
In this configuration, it is conceivable that the vehicle-mounted device 100 communicates directly with the server device 102 or the vehicle-mounted device 100 communicates with the server device 102 via the portable terminal 101.
The server device 102 includes the control unit 2, the map database 3, the setting information storage unit 7, and the toilet information database 8 described in the first embodiment, in addition to the communication unit that performs the above-described communication. That is, when there is a toilet guidance request from the vehicle-mounted device 100, the control unit 2 of the server device 102 determines the type of toilet desired by the requesting user using the position information measured by the vehicle-mounted device 100, It transmits to the onboard equipment 100 by the said communication part.

The vehicle-mounted device 100 includes a communication unit that communicates with the server device 102, the positioning unit 4, the operation input unit 5, and the display unit 6 described in the first embodiment.
Here, the communication unit communicates directly with the server apparatus 102 or communicates with the server apparatus 102 via the portable terminal 101.
The setting information input using the operation input unit 5 is transmitted to the server device 102 by the communication unit and stored in the setting information storage unit 7 by the control unit 2.
In addition, navigation information regarding the toilet transmitted from the server apparatus 102 is received by the communication unit and displayed on the display unit 6 of the vehicle-mounted device 100.

Next, the case where it functions as an output device that displays toilet navigation information in cooperation with the portable terminal 101 and the server device 102 will be described.
In this configuration, the case where the vehicle-mounted device 100 communicates with the mobile terminal 101 can be considered.
The vehicle-mounted device 100 includes a communication unit that communicates with the mobile terminal 101, a positioning unit 4, an operation input unit 5, and a display unit 6.
The mobile terminal 101 includes a communication unit that communicates with the vehicle-mounted device 100 and the server device 102 and the control unit 2 described in the first embodiment.
The server device 102 includes a communication unit that communicates with the mobile terminal 101, a map database 3, a setting information storage unit 7, and a toilet information database 8.

The setting information input using the operation input unit 5 is transmitted to the server device 102 via the portable terminal 101 by the communication unit, and is stored in the setting information storage unit 7 by the control unit 2 of the portable terminal 101.
When a request for toilet guidance is received from the vehicle-mounted device 100, the portable terminal 101 establishes a communication connection with the server device 102 by the communication unit. Thereafter, the control unit 2 uses the information stored in the map database 3, the setting information storage unit 7, and the toilet information database 8 included in the server device 102 to determine the type of toilet desired by the requesting user. . The determined toilet navigation information is transmitted from the portable terminal 101 to the vehicle-mounted device 100.
The vehicle-mounted device 100 displays the toilet navigation information received from the mobile terminal 101 on the display unit 6.

  As described above, the server apparatus 102 according to the third embodiment associates the type of toilet including the installation location, style, function, additional service, and presence / absence of the usage fee with the desired type of toilet for each user. A setting information storage unit 7 for storing the setting information, a toilet information database 8 in which toilet information including the type of toilet and its position is registered, and a setting information storage when a request for toilet guidance is received from a user The toilet type desired by the requesting user is determined by referring to the setting information stored in the unit 7, and the toilet position, current position, and map data retrieved from the toilet information database 8 with the determined toilet type are obtained. And a control unit 2 that searches for a toilet of a type desired by the user of the request source, and transmits and guides the searched toilet to the vehicle-mounted device 100. By comprising in this way, the toilet of the kind which a user desires can be guided.

  In the portable terminal 101 that executes the navigation method according to the third embodiment, the operation input unit 5 receives a toilet guidance request from the user, and the control unit 2 uses the operation input unit 5 to request a toilet guidance. Is received, the setting information stored in the setting information storage unit 7 is referred to determine the type of toilet desired by the requesting user, and the toilet information database 8 is searched with the determined type of toilet. Using the position of the toilet, the current position, and the map data, searching for a type of toilet desired by the requesting user, and outputting the searched toilet to the vehicle-mounted device 100 for guidance. In this way, it is possible to guide the type of toilet desired by the user.

In the first to third embodiments, the case where the navigation device according to the present invention is a vehicle-mounted navigation device is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this.
That is, the navigation device according to the present invention may be used as a navigation device for a mobile object including a person, a vehicle, a railway, a ship, or an aircraft, and is a navigation device that is particularly suitable for being brought into a vehicle or mounted on a vehicle.

  In the present invention, within the scope of the invention, any combination of each embodiment, any component of each embodiment can be modified, or any component can be omitted in each embodiment. .

  1, 1A navigation device, 2 control unit, 3 map database, 4 positioning unit, 5 operation input unit, 6 display unit, 7 setting information storage unit, 8 toilet information database, 9 update unit, 100 on-vehicle device, 101 portable terminal, 102 Server device.

Claims (6)

A setting information storage unit that stores setting information in which the type of toilet including the installation location, style, function, additional service, and usage fee is associated with the type of toilet desired for each user;
A database in which toilet information including each type of toilet and its location is registered;
An operation input unit that receives an operation input from a user;
When a request for toilet guidance is received by the operation input unit, the type of toilet desired by the requesting user is determined with reference to the setting information stored in the setting information storage unit, and the determined toilet type is determined. A navigation apparatus comprising: a control unit that searches and guides a toilet of a type desired by the user of the request source by using the toilet position, current position, and map data retrieved from the database by type.   The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the type of the toilet includes the presence or absence of a parking lot corresponding to the installation location in addition to the installation location of the toilet.   The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit guides the toilet of the type desired by the requesting user by performing display according to the type of toilet on the display unit.   The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an updating unit that acquires information on a toilet for each type and updates toilet information in the database. In a navigation device that communicates with an output device,
A setting information storage unit that stores setting information in which the type of toilet including the installation location, style, function, additional service, and usage fee is associated with the type of toilet desired for each user;
A database in which toilet information including each type of toilet and its location is registered;
When a request for toilet guidance is received from a user, the type of toilet desired by the requesting user is determined by referring to the setting information stored in the setting information storage unit. A controller for searching for a toilet of a type desired by the requesting user using the position of the toilet retrieved from the database, the current position, and map data, and transmitting the searched toilet to the output device for guidance; A navigation device comprising: A setting information storage unit that stores setting information in which the type of toilet including the installation location, style, function, additional service, and usage fee is associated with the type of toilet desired for each user, and the toilet for each type And a navigation method for guiding a toilet searched using a database in which toilet information including its position is registered to an output device,
The operation input unit accepts a toilet guidance request from the user;
When a request for toilet guidance is received by the operation input unit, the control unit determines the type of toilet desired by the requesting user with reference to the setting information stored in the setting information storage unit, Using the determined toilet type, the toilet location retrieved from the database, the current location, and map data are used to search for the type of toilet desired by the requesting user, and the searched toilet is output to the output device. A navigation method comprising the step of guiding.

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