JP2020046400A - Information processing device, method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To enable the by-direction travel time supplied from a traffic information center to be utilized in a navigation device.SOLUTION: Provided is an information processing device for processing the by-direction travel time supplied from a traffic information center, comprising: acquisition means for acquiring the by-direction travel time tied to a center-side link; conversion means for separating the by-direction travel time into a first travel time allocated to a navigator-side link that corresponds to the center-side link and a second travel time allocated to a navigator-side node adjacent to the navigator-side link in the direction of travel; first storage means for storing the first travel time in linkage with the navigator-side link; and second storage means for storing the second travel time in linkage with the navigator-side node.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a technology for processing traffic information provided from a traffic information center.

  The navigation device searches for a route from a departure place to a destination using a link cost given to a link and a node cost given to a node corresponding to an intersection. The link cost is a travel time required to pass a link, and the node cost is a travel time required to pass an intersection (for example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  In addition, a traffic information center represented by VICS (Vehicle Information and Communication System) uses a center-side link ID, which is identification information unique to a road section of center-side map data used by the center. Traffic information (for example, link travel time, regulation information, traffic congestion information, etc.) about allocation and road sections is provided to the navigation device in association with the center side link. The navigation device refers to the conversion table between the center side link and the navigation side link, specifies the navigation side link corresponding to the center side link linked with the traffic information, and links the identified navigation side link to the traffic information. You are using

JP 2002-250635 A JP 2004-354086 A

  The latest VICS is capable of providing travel time for each direction of an intersection such as going straight, turning right, turning left, etc., in association with an approach link to the intersection. However, since the navigation side link does not have a structure corresponding to a plurality of travel times in different directions, as in the conventional navigation device, if the navigation side link corresponding to the center side link is simply specified, the traffic is not changed. The travel time for each direction provided by the information center cannot be used by the navigation device.

  The present invention solves at least a part of the problems described above, and can be realized as the following modes.

An information processing device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes:
An information processing device for processing a travel time for each direction provided from a traffic information center,
Acquisition means for acquiring the travel time by direction associated with a center-side link;
The travel time for each direction is divided into a first travel time assigned to a navigation link corresponding to the center link, and a second travel time assigned to a navigation node adjacent to the navigation direction of the navigation link. Conversion means;
First storage means for storing the first travel time in association with the navigation-side link;
Second storage means for storing the second travel time in association with the navigation-side node;
It is characterized by having.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration example of a navigation system according to an embodiment. (A) is a figure which illustrates the relationship between the road network of the center side intersection used by the traffic information center side, and the center side link ID allocated to the road section, (b) is the center side link ID_a1 FIG. 7C is a diagram illustrating an example of travel time by direction, and FIG. 9C is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration associated with a center side link ID_a1. It is a figure which illustrates the road network of the navigation side intersection used by the navigation apparatus side. (A) is a figure which shows the data structure example of a navigation side link, (b) is a figure which shows the data structure example of a navigation side node. It is a figure showing the example of composition of a node cost table. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a conversion table. It is a flowchart which shows the example of a processing operation | movement which distributes the travel time for every direction to a navigation side link and a node. (A) is a diagram showing an example of link costs allocated to the navigation-side link ID_b1, and (b) is a diagram showing an example of node costs allocated to the navigation-side node ID_M2. It is a flow chart which shows an example of route guidance processing operation. It is a figure showing the example which displayed the travel time according to direction.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In each of the drawings, the components denoted by the same reference numerals have the same or similar configurations.

<Overview of Navigation System>
First, an outline of a navigation system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a navigation system according to the present embodiment.

  The navigation system according to the present embodiment is a system for guiding a vehicle to travel using map information, traffic information, and the like. As shown in FIG. 1, the navigation system is configured by connecting a traffic information center 100 and a navigation device 200 via a network NW. The network NW is applicable to any communication form, whether wired or wireless.

  The traffic information center 100 is an information processing device that provides traffic information including information such as link travel time, regulation information, and congestion information to the navigation device 200, and includes, for example, a VICS (Vehicle Information and Communication System) center.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, the traffic information center 100 allocates a center-side link ID, which is unique identification information, to a road section divided by a unit such as an intersection. Then, the traffic information on the road section is linked to the center side link, and distributed to the navigation device 200 via a radio wave beacon, an optical beacon, an FM multiplex broadcast, or the like.

  FIG. 2A is a diagram exemplifying a relationship between a road network at a center-side intersection used on the traffic information center side and a center-side link ID. Symbols a1 to a4 and a11 to a14 indicate center side links, and symbols N1 to N5 indicate center side nodes. In FIG. 2A, a center-side link ID is assigned to one road section in each of the upward and downward directions. As a result, one road section having a direction can be specified based on the center-side link ID.

  The traffic information center 100 includes a traffic information storage unit 101 and a traffic information distribution unit 102, as shown in FIG.

  The traffic information center 100 includes, for example, a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and the like. The traffic information center 100 implements the functional units of the traffic information storage unit 101 and the traffic information distribution unit 102 by executing a program stored in the ROM by the CPU.

  The traffic information storage unit 101 stores traffic information relating to a road section in association with a center side link ID. The traffic information includes, for example, link travel time, regulation information, traffic congestion information, and the like.

  The link travel time is a travel time required to pass through a road section. As shown in FIG. 2B, the link travel time of the road section connected to the intersection is a travel time for each direction of the intersection such as going straight, turning right or turning left.

  In FIG. 2B, the travel time in the right turn direction is 60 seconds, the travel time in the straight traveling direction is 40 seconds, and the travel time in the left turn direction is 50 seconds. The travel time for each direction is stored in the traffic information storage unit 101 in association with the center-side exit link ID_a1 together with the center-side exit link ID, as shown in FIG. Specifically, 60 seconds, which is the travel time in the right-turn direction, and a center-side exit link ID_a2 that specifies the right-turn direction are linked to the center-side entrance link ID_a1 in pairs. Similarly, a center-side exit link ID_a3 for specifying the traveling time in the straight traveling direction of 40 seconds and the straight traveling direction, and a center-side exit link ID_a4 for identifying the traveling time of 50 seconds in the left turning direction and the left turning direction are grouped respectively. And is linked to the center-side approach link ID_a1. It can be seen that the travel time for each direction is a travel time for each exit link as shown in FIG.

  The regulation information is information such as road closure, speed regulation, and lane regulation. The traffic jam information is information indicating the degree of traffic jam and the length of traffic jam. The degree of congestion is indicated by, for example, information such as congestion, congestion, and smoothness. The length of the congestion is indicated by, for example, information on the head position of the congestion and the distance of the congestion.

  The traffic information distribution unit 102 distributes the traffic information stored in the traffic information storage unit 101 to the navigation device 200.

  The navigation device 200 is an information processing device that uses the navigation-side map data used by the device to guide and guide the vehicle to travel. The navigation device 200 has a vehicle-mounted configuration used by being mounted on a vehicle, a portable configuration used by being carried by a user such as a mobile phone, a portable personal computer, and a smartphone. As shown in FIG. 1, the navigation device 200 includes a position information acquisition unit 201, a traffic information acquisition unit 202, a storage unit 203, a conversion unit 204, a control unit 205, a route search unit 206, a route guidance unit 207, a display unit 208, An input unit 209 is provided.

  The navigation device 200 includes, for example, a ROM, a RAM, a CPU, and the like. The navigation device 200 includes a position information acquisition unit 201, a traffic information acquisition unit 202, a storage unit 203, a conversion unit 204, a control unit 205, and a route search unit 206 when a program stored in a ROM is executed by a CPU. , A function unit of the route guidance unit 207, the display unit 208, and the input unit 209.

  The position information acquisition unit 201 acquires position information of the navigation device 200. The position information acquisition unit 201 receives, for example, radio waves from a GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite or information from a base station, detects the current position of the navigation device 200, and detects data (latitude, longitude) of the detected current position. , Height data). The height data may be acquired using a barometric pressure sensor or the like.

  The traffic information acquisition unit 202 acquires traffic information distributed from the traffic information center 100.

  The storage unit 203 stores navigation-side map data used by the navigation device 200. The navigation-side map data includes display map data for displaying a background, a house shape, a note, and the like, road network data used for route search and route guidance, and the like. Road network data is data of road connections, and is composed of nodes and links. The nodes define intersections and other nodes of the road network, and the links define road sections between the nodes.

  Here, an example of road network data of the navigation-side intersection will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 shows an example of a road network at a navigation-side intersection. FIG. 4A shows an example of a data configuration of a navigation-side link. FIG. 4B shows an example of a data configuration of a navigation-side node.

  In FIG. 3, symbols M1 to M5 indicate navigation nodes that define intersections, nodes, and the like, and symbols b1 to b4 and b11 to b14 indicate navigation links that connect the navigation nodes.

  The navigation link shown in FIG. 3 includes, for example, data such as a navigation link ID, a navigation start node ID, a navigation end node ID, and a link cost, as shown in FIG. The navigation link ID is information for specifying the navigation link. The navigation-side start node ID is information for specifying the navigation-side node that is the start point of the navigation-side link. The navigation-side end point node ID is information for specifying the navigation-side node that is the end point of the navigation-side link. The link cost is a travel time required to pass through the navigation side link. The data configuration shown in FIG. 4A is an example, and includes, for example, a road attribute representing various types of information on a section of a road corresponding to the navigation-side link, a distance of the navigation-side link, a direction of the navigation-side link (for example, And data such as the line number of the line to which the navigation side link belongs. Here, as the road attribute, a road type representing a type of a road to which the navigation side link belongs, such as a toll road, a national road, a prefectural road, and the like, a road width and the number of lanes of a road section corresponding to the navigation side link are described.

  The navigation-side node shown in FIG. 3 includes, for example, data such as a navigation-side node ID, a navigation-side entry link ID, a navigation-side exit link ID, an angle, and a node cost, as shown in FIG. 4B. The navigation node ID is information for identifying the navigation node. The navigation-side entry link ID is information for specifying a navigation-side link that enters the navigation-side node. The navigation-side exit link ID is information for identifying a navigation-side link exiting from the navigation-side node. The angle is information for specifying an angle between the navigation-side entry link and the navigation-side exit link. The node cost is the travel time required to pass through the navigation node. The node cost can be obtained, for example, using a node cost table shown in FIG. The node cost table shown in FIG. 5 is divided into six directions, and a cost (travel time) corresponding to each direction is given for each angle. The navigation device 200 refers to the node cost table shown in FIG. 5, specifies a direction corresponding to the angle between the entrance link and the exit link for the node corresponding to the intersection, and determines the cost (travel time) corresponding to the specified direction. ) Is the node cost. For example, since the angle formed by the navigation-side entry link ID_b1 and the navigation-side exit link ID_b2 with respect to the navigation-side node ID_M2 shown in FIG. 3 is 90 °, referring to the node cost table shown in FIG. The cost (travel time) corresponding to the right turn, 10 seconds, is set as the node cost. Thereby, a node cost can be given in advance to the navigation-side node corresponding to the intersection. The data configuration shown in FIG. 4B is an example, and includes, for example, a node attribute indicating whether the navigation node is a node corresponding to an intersection or an entrance of an expressway, and a navigation attribute of a navigation link connected to the navigation node. It may have data such as a connection navigation side link ID list, a node coordinate position, an intersection name, a signal presence or absence, which is a list.

  The conversion unit 204 converts the traffic information acquired by the traffic information acquisition unit 202 into information that can be used in the navigation-side map data, and stores the information in the storage unit 203. For example, the conversion unit 204 refers to the conversion table shown in FIG. 6, specifies the navigation-side link ID corresponding to the center-side link ID obtained together with the traffic information, and links the identified navigation-side link ID to the traffic information. Is stored in the storage unit 203. The conversion table shown in FIG. 6 is for converting the center side link ID allocated to the road section of the center side map data into the navigation side link ID allocated to the road section of the navigation side map data. By using the conversion table shown in FIG. 6, the center link ID shown in FIG. 2A can be converted to the navigation link ID shown in FIG. The conversion table shown in FIG. 6 is an example, and is not only for converting one center-side link ID to one navigation-side link ID but also for converting one center-side link ID to a plurality of navigation-side link IDs. is there.

  When the traffic information acquired by the traffic information acquisition unit 202 includes the travel time for each direction, the conversion unit 204 assigns the travel time for each direction to the navigation time link, And the travel time assigned to the node. Then, the conversion unit 204 refers to the storage unit 203 and changes the link cost assigned in advance to the navigation link to the travel time assigned to the navigation link based on the traffic information. Also, the node cost previously assigned to the navigation node is changed to the travel time assigned to the navigation node based on the traffic information. Thereby, the conversion unit 204 can reflect the travel time for each direction on the navigation side link and the node of the navigation side map data.

  The control unit 205 controls the entire navigation device 200.

  The route search unit 206 performs a route search process from the departure point to the destination using the road network data, traffic information, link costs, and node costs stored in the storage unit 203. The route may be determined using a known search algorithm such as Dijkstra's algorithm or A * (A-star). For nodes to which node costs are not individually assigned, a cost (travel time) corresponding to the angle between the entrance link and the exit link is used with reference to the node cost table shown in FIG. Further, the route search unit 206 generates an image in which the searched route is superimposed on the map image, and displays the image on the display unit 208.

  The route guidance unit 207 performs a route guidance process for the route searched by the route search unit 206.

  The display unit 208 displays a route search result, information at the time of route guidance, and the like.

  The input unit 209 supplies various information to the control unit 205. For example, the input unit 209 inputs information indicating a departure place, a destination, and the like, and supplies the information to the control unit 205.

<Example of travel time distribution processing by direction>
Next, with reference to FIG. 7, a description will be given of an example of a travel time distribution processing operation for each direction. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing operation of distributing the travel time for each direction to the navigation side link and the node.

  The conversion unit 204 acquires the travel time for each direction linked to the center-side approach link ID (step A1). The conversion unit 204 acquires, for example, the travel time for each direction of the center-side approach link ID_a1 illustrated in FIG. The travel time for each direction shown in FIG. 2C is associated with the center-side exit link ID_a1 together with the center-side exit link ID for specifying the direction.

  Next, the conversion unit 204 refers to the conversion table shown in FIG. 6 and specifies the navigation-side approach link ID corresponding to the center-side approach link ID_a1 (step A2). Referring to the conversion table shown in FIG. 6, the navigation-side approach link ID corresponding to the center-side approach link ID_a1 can be specified as b1.

  Next, the conversion unit 204 calculates the minimum directional travel time from the directional travel times (step A3). Referring to the travel time by direction shown in FIG. 2C, the minimum travel time by direction can be calculated as 40 seconds.

  Next, the conversion unit 204 refers to the link data shown in FIG. 4A and changes the link cost corresponding to the navigation-side approach link ID specified in step A2 to the minimum travel time for each direction calculated in step A3. (Step A4).

  Since the navigation-side entry link ID specified in step A2 is b1, the link cost of the navigation-side link ID_b1 can be specified as 30 seconds by referring to the link data shown in FIG. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8A, the conversion unit 204 changes the link cost of the navigation-side link ID_b1 of 30 seconds to 40 seconds calculated in step A3. As a result, the minimum travel time for each direction among the travel times for directions linked to the center-side link ID can be assigned to the link cost of the navigation-side link ID. Also, the update flag is changed to “updated” to manage that the link cost of the navigation-side link ID_b1 has been updated by the travel time for each direction.

  Next, the conversion unit 204 sets one direction of travel time among the travel times of each direction as a target of the node cost conversion process (step A5). For example, in the travel time for each direction shown in FIG. 2C, the travel time for each direction of 60 seconds is the target of the node cost conversion processing.

  Next, the conversion unit 204 refers to the conversion table shown in FIG. 6, and specifies the navigation-side exit link ID corresponding to the center-side exit link ID of the travel time for each direction to be converted (step A6). Since the center-side exit link ID of 60 seconds, which is the direction-specific travel time of the conversion process, is a2, referring to the conversion table shown in FIG. 6, the navigation-side exit link ID corresponding to the center-side exit link ID_a2 is: It can be specified as b2.

  Next, the conversion unit 204 specifies a navigation-side node ID that connects between the navigation-side entry link ID specified in step A2 and the navigation-side exit link ID specified in step A6 (step A7). For example, referring to the node data shown in FIG. 4B, the navigation-side node ID connecting between the navigation-side entry link ID_b1 and the navigation-side exit link ID_b2 can be specified as M2.

  Next, the conversion unit 204 calculates a travel time by subtracting the minimum travel time for each direction calculated in step A3 from the travel time for each direction to be converted (step A8). The travel time for each direction to be converted is 60 seconds, and the minimum travel time for each direction is 40 seconds. Therefore, the travel time after subtraction can be calculated as 20 (60-40) seconds.

  Next, the conversion unit 204 associates the node cost of the navigation-side node ID_M2 specified in step A7 with the combination of the navigation-side entry link ID specified in step A2 and the navigation-side exit link ID specified in step A6. The specified node cost is specified (step A9). For example, referring to the node data shown in FIG. 4B, the node cost associated with the pair of the navigation side entry link ID_b1 and the navigation side exit link ID_b2 can be specified as 10 seconds.

  Next, the conversion unit 204 changes the node cost of the navigation-side node ID_M2 specified in step A9 to the travel time calculated in step A8 (step A10). The node cost of the navigation-side node ID_M2 specified in step A9 is 10 seconds associated with a pair of the navigation-side entry link ID_b1 and the navigation-side exit link ID_b2 shown in FIG. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 8B, the conversion unit 204 changes the node cost of the navigation-side node ID_M2 of 10 seconds to 20 seconds calculated in step A8. Thereby, the travel time obtained by subtracting the minimum travel time by direction from the travel time by direction linked to the center-side link ID can be assigned to the node cost of the navigation-side node ID. Also, the update flag is changed to “updated” to manage that the node cost of the navigation-side node ID_M2 has been updated by the travel time for each direction.

  The conversion unit 204 determines whether or not the node cost conversion processing for all direction travel times has been completed (step A11), and until the node cost conversion processing for all direction travel times has been completed (step A11 / No). ), And repeat the processing of steps A5 to A10. Since the travel time for each direction shown in FIG. 2C has three directions, the processing of steps A5 to A10 is repeated until the node cost conversion processing of the travel time for each direction in three directions is completed. By repeating this process, as shown in FIG. 8B, the node costs of the navigation-side node ID_M2 for three directions can be obtained.

  The conversion unit 204 ends the processing (End) when the node cost conversion processing of all the travel times for each direction is completed (Step A11 / Yes).

  The navigation device 200 according to the present embodiment performs the processing operation shown in FIG. 7 and, based on the travel time for each direction of the center-side approach link ID_a1 shown in FIG. Forty seconds can be allocated to the link cost of the incoming link ID_b1. The node cost of the navigation-side node ID_M2 includes 20 seconds (a set of the navigation-side entry link ID_b1, the navigation-side exit link ID_b2, and the angle of 90 °), and 0 seconds (the navigation-side entry link ID_b1, the navigation-side exit link ID_b3, and the angle) 0 °) and 10 seconds (a set of the navigation side entry link ID_b1, the navigation side exit link ID_b4, and the angle of 270 °) can be assigned.

<Example of route guidance processing operation>
Next, an example of a route guidance processing operation performed by the navigation device 200 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the route guidance processing operation.

  The traffic information acquisition unit 202 receives, for example, various information necessary for a route search such as a departure place, a destination, and route search conditions (distance priority, time priority) and receives a route search request (step S1 / Yes), and inquire of the traffic information center 100 about the direction-specific travel time of the area required for the route search and acquire it (step S2).

  For example, the traffic information acquisition unit 202 specifies an area including a departure place and a destination, and inquires of the traffic information center 100 about a travel time for each direction in the area, and acquires the travel time. When the travel time for each direction is acquired, the conversion unit 204 performs a process of distributing the travel time for each direction (step S3). The processing in step S3 performs the processing shown in FIG. 7 described above. Thereby, the travel time for each direction of the area required for the route search can be sorted into the navigation side link and the node and stored in the storage unit 203.

  Next, the route search unit 206 performs a route search process from the departure place to the destination (Step S4). In the route search processing, a plurality of, for example, five candidate routes that match the route search conditions are searched for using the road network data, traffic information, link cost, and node cost stored in the storage unit 203. For nodes to which node costs are not individually assigned, a cost (travel time) corresponding to the angle between the entrance link and the exit link is used with reference to the node cost table shown in FIG.

  The route search unit 206 displays the processing result of step S4 on the display unit 208 (step S5). For example, the display unit 208 displays information on the searched five candidate routes and the estimated arrival time on each candidate route. The estimated arrival time is calculated based on the sum of the link cost and the node cost from the departure point to the destination. After that, a user's input operation of selecting one of the candidate routes sets a travel route to be guided, and stores the route in the storage unit 203. The route search unit 206 reads out map data of a predetermined scale from the storage unit 203 according to the setting of the travel route to be guided, and superimposes the icon of the set travel route and the current position on the map information, and displays the map information on the display unit 208. To be displayed.

  When the route guidance unit 207 receives a travel route guidance request (Step S6 / Yes), the route guidance unit 207 starts a travel route guidance process based on the current position (Step S7).

  Thus, the navigation device 200 can perform the route search process and the guidance process of the moving route using the travel time for each direction provided from the traffic information center 100.

  When the navigation device 200 acquires a new travel time for each direction from the traffic information center 100 after starting the guidance guidance process, the navigation device 200 performs a process for distributing the travel time for each direction and searches again for a candidate route. May be.

<Example of display processing operation of travel time by direction>
Next, with reference to FIG. 10, an example of a display processing operation of travel time by direction will be described. FIG. 10 shows an example in which the travel time for each direction is displayed on a map.

  The travel time for each direction acquired from the traffic information center 100 is stored in the storage unit 203 separately for the navigation-side approach link ID and the navigation-side node ID. The route guidance unit 207 refers to the storage unit 203 and, if there is a node cost for the navigation-side approach link associated with the navigation-side node in the traveling direction from the current position, acquires the node cost. As shown in the figure, the information is displayed on the display unit 208 for each navigation exit link. FIG. 10 shows an example in which three node costs (20 seconds, 0 seconds, and 10 seconds) for the navigation-side entry link ID_b1 associated with the navigation-side node ID_M2 shown in FIG. 8B are displayed for each navigation-side exit link ID. It is. Thereby, the user can drive while grasping the travel time for each direction of the navigation-side node.

  When the travel time for each direction is displayed on the map, the travel time may be displayed in a different display mode depending on the magnitude of the travel time. For example, if the travel time is between 0 and 10 seconds, blue indicates that it is on track, if the travel time is between 11 and 30 seconds, it indicates that it is congested, and if it is more than 31 seconds, it is congestion. It may be displayed in red or the like. Further, when the travel time is equal to or longer than the reference value, the travel time may be highlighted or blinked. Thus, the user can be alerted according to the size of the travel time.

  Instead of displaying the travel time for each direction, the user may be notified by voice. For example, it may be informed that "It takes 0 seconds to go straight, 10 seconds to turn left, and 20 seconds to turn right".

<Operations and effects of the navigation device 200 according to the present embodiment>
The navigation device 200 according to the present embodiment refers to the conversion table shown in FIG. 6 when acquiring the travel time by direction linked to the center-side approach link, and converts the travel time by direction into the center-side approach link. The travel time is allocated to the travel time allocated to the corresponding navigation-side entry link and the travel time allocated to the navigation-side node adjacent to the navigation direction of the navigation-side entry link. Then, the navigation device 200 stores the travel time allocated to the navigation-side approach link in the storage unit 203 in association with the navigation-side approach link. The travel time allocated to the navigation-side node is stored in the storage unit 203 in association with the navigation-side node. Thus, the navigation device 200 according to the present embodiment can reflect the travel time for each direction distributed from the traffic information center 100 on the navigation-side node. As a result, the travel time for each direction provided from the traffic information center 100 can be used by the navigation device 200. Conventionally, costs (travel time) are assigned to the navigation node using the six-direction fixed node cost table shown in FIG. 5, so that the cost is assigned to the navigation node only in the six-direction costs. I couldn't. However, the travel time for each direction reflected on the navigation-side node in the present embodiment is a unique cost (travel time) defined by the entry link and the exit link. For this reason, a finer cost than before can be provided to the navigation-side node.

<Modification>
The above-described embodiment is a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and does not limit the scope of the present invention only to the above-described embodiment, and includes various modifications without departing from the scope of the present invention. Can be implemented.

(Modification 1)
In the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4B, the node cost for each direction is assigned to the navigation-side node data in advance, and when the route is searched, the navigation-side node data is used and included in the route. The node uses the cost (travel time) corresponding to the incoming link and the outgoing link. However, the node cost for each direction is not added to the navigation-side node data in advance, and at the time of the route search, the node cost table shown in FIG. 5 is used, and the angle between the incoming link and the outgoing link at the nodes included in the route May be used each time. In this case, at the node reflecting the travel time by direction, the reflected travel time by direction may be used without using the node cost table shown in FIG.

(Modification 2)
In the embodiment described above, the travel time (node cost) allocated to the navigation-side node is associated with a set of the navigation-side entry link ID, the navigation-side exit link ID, and the angle, as shown in FIG. 8B. It is stored in the storage unit 203. However, if the direction specified by the navigation-side entry link and the navigation-side exit link can be specified, for example, a set of the navigation-side entry link ID and the navigation-side exit link ID, or the navigation-side entry link ID and the angle And the travel time (node cost) may be stored in the storage unit 203.

(Modification 3)
In the operation example of the route guidance processing illustrated in FIG. 9 of the above-described embodiment, when the traffic information acquisition unit 202 receives a route search request (Step S1 / Yes), the traffic information acquisition unit 202 determines a travel time for each direction of an area required for the route search. It is also possible to determine whether or not all of the information has been acquired from the traffic information center 100 and, if there is an unacquired area, inquire the traffic information center 100 of the travel time for each direction of the unacquired area (step S2). ). For example, the traffic information acquisition unit 202 specifies an area including the departure point and the destination, and determines whether or not the navigation link and the cost of the navigation node included in each mesh in the area have been updated. Is determined based on the update flag shown in FIG. If there is an unupdated mesh, the unupdated mesh is set as an unacquired area, and the travel time for each direction of the unacquired area is inquired to the traffic information center 100 and acquired. Thereby, the traffic information acquisition unit 202 can inquire the traffic information center 100 only of the travel time for each direction of the unacquired area required for the route search and acquire it.

(Modification 4)
In the above-described embodiment, in the navigation device 200, the distribution process shown in FIG. 7 is performed, and the travel time for each direction linked to the center side link is assigned to the navigation side link and the navigation time to the navigation side node. And stored in the storage unit 203. However, the distribution processing shown in FIG. 7 may be performed in an information processing device such as a server existing in the network NW. Also in this case, the navigation device 200 can use the travel time in the navigation device 200 by acquiring the travel time after sorting from the information processing device.

(Modification 5)
In the above-described embodiment, the navigation device 200 executes the route search process. However, the information processing device such as a server existing in the network NW may execute the route search processing, and the navigation device 200 may acquire the route search result from the information processing device.

(Modification 6)
The control operation of each unit constituting the navigation device 200 of the present embodiment described above can be executed using hardware, software, or a combined configuration of both.

  When processing is performed using software, it is possible to install a program in which a processing sequence is recorded in a memory in a computer built in dedicated hardware and execute the program. Alternatively, it can be installed and executed in a memory in a general-purpose computer that can execute various processes.

  For example, the program can be recorded in a hard disk or a ROM as a recording medium in advance. Alternatively, the program can be temporarily or permanently recorded on a removable recording medium. Such a removable recording medium can be provided as so-called package software. Examples of the removable recording medium include various recording media such as a magnetic disk and a semiconductor memory.

  The program is installed in the computer from the removable recording medium as described above. In addition, the data is wirelessly transferred from the download site to the computer. Further, the data is transferred to the computer via a network via a wire.

  As a form of the program, use from a server on a network such as a cloud may be possible. There may be a form in which only some programs are transferred to a computer and used.

(Modification 7)
The components of the navigation device 200 according to the above-described embodiment are not limited to only performing the processing in a time series according to the processing operation described in the above-described embodiment. For example, it is also possible to construct the processing capability of the device that executes the processing, or to execute the processing in parallel or individually as needed. In addition, each function of the navigation device 200 of the above-described embodiment may be realized by cooperation of a plurality of information processing devices, and at least a part of the information stored in the storage unit 203 described above is stored in another device. It may be stored in an internal / external storage device, and may be built on a cloud, for example.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 traffic information center 101 traffic information storage unit 102 traffic information distribution unit 200 navigation device 201 position information acquisition unit 202 traffic information acquisition unit (acquisition means)
203 storage unit (first storage unit, second storage unit)
204 conversion unit (conversion means)
205 control unit 206 route search unit 207 route guidance unit 208 display unit (display means)
209 Input unit NW network

Claims (8)

An information processing device for processing a travel time for each direction provided from a traffic information center,
Acquisition means for acquiring the travel time by direction associated with a center-side link;
The travel time for each direction is divided into a first travel time assigned to a navigation link corresponding to the center link, and a second travel time assigned to a navigation node adjacent to the navigation direction of the navigation link. Conversion means;
First storage means for storing the first travel time in association with the navigation-side link;
Second storage means for storing the second travel time in association with the navigation-side node;
An information processing apparatus comprising: The conversion means,
Assigning the minimum travel time in each direction among the travel times in each direction to the navigation-side link as the first travel time;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a travel time obtained by subtracting the minimum travel time by direction from the travel time by direction is assigned to the navigation-side node as the second travel time. The acquisition means,
Acquires the travel time by direction and the center exit link linked to the center entrance link,
The conversion means,
Identifying a navigation-side entry link corresponding to the center-side entry link and a navigation-side exit link corresponding to the center-side exit link,
Identify a navigation node connecting between the navigation entry link and the navigation exit link,
Allocating the travel time for each direction to the first travel time to be assigned to the navigation-side approach link and the second travel time to be assigned to the navigation-side node;
The first storage means,
Storing the first travel time in association with the navigation-side approach link;
The second storage means,
The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the second travel time is stored in association with the navigation node together with information that can specify a direction defined by the navigation entrance link and the navigation exit link. The information processing device according to claim 2.   The information whose direction can be specified is at least one of information on an angle formed by the navigation-side entry link and the navigation-side exit link, and information on a set of the navigation-side entry link and the navigation-side exit link. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the information is one piece of information. The first storage means is provided with a link cost, which is a travel time required for passing through the navigation-side approach link, to the navigation-side approach link,
In the second storage means, a node cost, which is a travel time for each direction required to pass through the navigation node, is provided to the navigation node together with information that can specify the direction,
The first storage means,
Changing the link cost given to the navigation-side approach link identified by the conversion means to the first travel time;
The second storage means,
The node corresponding to a direction defined by the navigation-side entry link and the navigation-side exit link specified by the conversion means in the node cost assigned to the navigation-side node specified by the conversion means. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a cost is changed to the second travel time.   6. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit that displays the second travel time stored in the second storage unit in association with the navigation-side node. 7. Information processing device. A method in which an information processing device processes travel time for each direction provided by a traffic information center,
The information processing device,
A step of acquiring the travel time for each direction linked to a center-side link;
The travel time for each direction is divided into a first travel time assigned to a navigation link corresponding to the center link, and a second travel time assigned to a navigation node adjacent to the navigation direction of the navigation link. Process and
Storing the first travel time in a first storage unit in association with the navigation-side link;
Storing the second travel time in the second storage means in association with the navigation-side node;
Performing the method. A computer that processes travel time for each direction provided by the traffic information center,
Acquiring the travel time for each direction associated with a center-side link;
The travel time for each direction is divided into a first travel time assigned to a navigation link corresponding to the center link, and a second travel time assigned to a navigation node adjacent to the navigation direction of the navigation link. Steps and
Storing the first travel time in a first storage unit in association with the navigation-side link;
Storing the second travel time in a second storage unit in association with the navigation-side node;
To run the program.

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