JP2690459B2 - Route guidance device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a route guidance device mounted on a vehicle, and more specifically, it provides route data from an information center to a destination or its vicinity in consideration of real-time information such as traffic information. The present invention relates to a route guidance device that can be guided to a destination by acquiring the route via an external communication device, displaying the optimal route to the destination based on the acquired communication device, and sonicating the route.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order to support the driving of a vehicle on an unfamiliar land, the detected current location of the vehicle is displayed along with a road map around the vehicle by a liquid crystal display device (LCD) or CR.
A navigation device adapted to be displayed on a display device such as T is mounted on a vehicle and used. Some such navigation devices allow the driver to set and input a destination, and the set and input destination is displayed together with the detected current position on the road map. Therefore, the driver can reliably reach the destination by traveling toward the displayed destination.

However, in the above navigation device,
The choice of the route to take to reach the destination was left to the driver himself. Therefore, when traveling on a strange land or at night, the driver may be confused about selecting a road to reach the destination, and it may take time to select an optimum road. As a result, it may not be possible to reach the destination smoothly, it may take time to reach the destination, or the user may get lost on the road and cannot safely drive.

Therefore, the present applicant has developed various navigation devices having a function of guiding the vehicle to the destination in order to reduce the burden on the driver (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 53504/1993). ). In the navigation device having such a route guidance function, the route between the current position of the vehicle and the destination is automatically calculated by the computer in response to the setting input of the destination by the driver.

Specifically, the roads (lanes) to be calculated are expressed as a series of vectors (each vector is called a "link"), and the link near the starting point (or destination) may be the calculation start link. , The link close to the destination (departure point may be used) is the calculation end link, the road map data stored in the road map memory between them is read and moved to the work area, and the tree of all links is searched in the work area. , The link costs of the routes that form the tree (link running time and running distance) are sequentially added, and only the route with the lowest link cost that reaches the calculation-completed link is selected.

Then, the route thus obtained is displayed. Therefore, if the vehicle travels along the displayed route, the destination can be reliably reached, which is convenient for a driver who does not know the road. By the way, to calculate the route by the above method,
It is necessary that the link cost of each link is uniquely obtained. However, the link cost changes from moment to moment depending on traffic conditions such as road congestion, traffic restrictions due to road construction, and the presence or absence of accidents. Therefore, in order to strictly calculate the route, the vehicle side must have the link cost data including the traffic condition that changes from moment to moment, but this is almost impossible. After all,
On the vehicle side, the average link cost that does not take into account the traffic situation is stored as a database, and only routes that do not take into account the traffic situation that changes from moment to moment can be obtained.

Therefore, a system for transmitting route data to the vehicle, which takes into account the latest traffic conditions for guiding the vehicle to the destination, is being studied through a road beacon or a car telephone network installed at various places on the road. There is. According to this system, route data using the latest link cost including traffic conditions is prepared on the system side, and when the destination data is acquired from the vehicle through the road beacon or car telephone network, the same data is obtained immediately after that. The route data using the latest link cost is transmitted to the vehicle through a road beacon or a car telephone network. This will help the vehicle get the best route (although the current announcement is a system for transmitting traffic congestion on the road using the car telephone network (ATIS),
Alternatively, there are only beacon systems and systems using FM multiplexing (VICS).

[0008]

However, the system for transmitting the route data using the latest link cost to the vehicle is a large-scale project, and is considered to be installed in the urban area for the time being. Therefore, the rural area is out of the area where route data can be provided (hereinafter referred to as "route providing area"). Therefore, even if the departure place exists in the route providing area, the destination does not always exist in the route providing area, and vice versa. Further, even if the starting point and the destination are in the route providing area, the route along which the route should travel may be outside the route providing area. In such a case, a route outside the route providing area cannot be obtained via a road beacon or a car telephone network.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned technical problem, and even if a part of the route between the starting point and the destination is outside the route providing area, the latest route in the route providing area is used. It is an object of the present invention to provide a route guidance device capable of guiding a route to a destination by making maximum use of route data using link costs.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the route guiding apparatus according to claim 1 has input means for inputting route calculation conditions such as a destination and road map data for route calculation in advance. When the stored map memory and the route calculation conditions are input from the input means, the route calculation road map data stored in the map memory is read out to the destination and the current location input from the input means, respectively. A route calculation unit that calculates a route between close links according to a designated route calculation condition, a link used when this route calculation unit performs route calculation, and route data transmitted from an external communication device are configured. If the destination input from the input means is outside the route providing area of the external communication device, the route calculation table showing the correspondence relation with the link is calculated. When the external communication device matching the link forming the route searches the above-mentioned link correspondence table based on the link forming the route between the current position and the destination calculated in the step A link selecting means for selecting one or a plurality of links to be used, an intermediate link storing means for storing a link selected by the predetermined standard among the links selected by the link selecting means as an intermediate link, and an intermediate link storing means. The intermediate link and the current position stored in the link storage means are transmitted to the external communication device, and in response thereto, the route data between the current position and the intermediate link transmitted from the external communication device is received. A part of or all of the route between the communication means and the current position and the destination calculated by the route calculation means between the current position and the intermediate link received by the communication means; Wherein the substituting a road and a best path definition means that the optimal path for use in the induction and guidance of the vehicle.

Here, the "predetermined criterion" for selecting a link in the link selecting means means, for example, a link in the route providing area farthest from the current location. The "route providing area" refers to an area where route data can be provided. Further, the route guiding apparatus according to claim 2 evaluates route data between the current position and the intermediate link received by the communication means by a predetermined standard, and the route data is highly reliable and valid route data. The optimum route creating means further includes a determining means for determining whether or not there is any, and the optimum route creating means determines that the route data between the current position and the intermediate link received by the communication means by the determining means is valid. The route is replaced with a part or all of the route calculated by the route calculation means to be an optimum route for use in guiding or guiding a vehicle.

Here, the following criteria can be considered as the "predetermined criteria" which are criteria for evaluation by the above-mentioned judging means. In the links that make up the route received by the communication means,
Whether there are more than a certain percentage of links that make up the optimal route or route calculated by the route calculation means that was used for route display and route guidance up to that point.

The difference between the route distance or travel time of the route received by the communication means and the route distance or travel time of the route calculated by the optimum route or route calculation means used up to now for route display or route guidance, or Whether the magnification is less than a certain difference or less than a certain magnification, respectively. Either the straight line distance to the destination, the route distance of the route received by the communication means, or the optimum route used for route display or route guidance up to that point or the route distance of the route calculated by the route calculation means is constant Whether it is more than a distance.

The route calculated by the route calculating means is calculated by the vehicle without adding the latest traffic information. However, since it is based on detailed map data, it represents the shortest physical route. It is thought that Therefore, according to each of the above criteria, it can be inferred that the route received by the communication means substantially matches the route calculated by the route calculation means, or at least is not a detour route.

On the other hand, according to the above criteria, when the destination is some distance away, it can be inferred that the route received by the communication means does not indicate a detour route. The reason is as follows. That is, the route received by the communication means is not based on all the roads included in the road map as described above, but is based on the route information using the coarse links connecting the main positions in the route providing area. However,
This rough link is considered to almost coincide with the main road. On the other hand, when the destination is far, the route along the main road is often the optimum route. Therefore, it can be considered that the route received by the communication means indicates the shortest route.

Further, the route guiding apparatus according to the present invention comprises an input means for inputting route calculation conditions such as a destination, a map memory in which road map data for route calculation is stored in advance, and the input means. When the route calculation condition is input, the route calculation road map data stored in the map memory is read out and calculation is performed by designating a route between links close to the destination and the current position input from the input means. A route correspondence means for calculating according to the conditions, a link used when the route calculation means performs route calculation, and a link correspondence table showing a correspondence relation between the links forming the route data transmitted from the external communication device, When the destination input from the input means is outside the route providing area of the external communication device, the destination is changed from the destination to the present location in the route calculation means. Route calculation is performed, and the link correspondence table is searched based on the links forming the route obtained in the calculation process, and the route data transmitted from the external communication device that matches the link forming the route is configured. When a link is present, the intermediate link storage means for storing the link as an intermediate link, the intermediate link and the current location stored in the intermediate link storage means are transmitted to the external communication device, and in response thereto. Communication means for receiving route data between the current location and the intermediate link transmitted from the external communication device, a route received by the communication means, the intermediate link and the current location calculated by the route calculation means. It is characterized in that it includes an optimum route creating means for connecting the route between the two and an optimum route for use in guiding or guiding a vehicle.

Further, in the route guiding apparatus according to claim 4, the external communication device is a road beacon installed on the road, and the communication means is a beacon transceiver that communicates with the road beacon. Is characterized by. Further, in the route guiding apparatus according to claim 5, the external communication device is a wireless base station, and the communication means is a wireless telephone that communicates with the wireless base station.

Further, the route guidance device according to the present invention is a position detecting means for detecting the present position of the vehicle, an input means for inputting a route calculation condition such as a destination, and road calculation road map data. When the route calculation conditions are inputted from the map memory prestored in the above and the input means, the route calculation road map data stored in the map memory is read out, and the destination inputted from the input means and the above A route calculation means for calculating a route between links respectively close to the current position of the vehicle detected by the position detection means, a link used when the route calculation means performs route calculation, and a radio base station. The link correspondence table showing the correspondence with the links forming the route data transmitted from the station, and the current position of the vehicle detected by the position detecting means is the route of the radio base station. When present outside the test area searches the link correspondence table based on the link path constituting between the calculated current position and the destination by the route calculation means,
A link selecting means for selecting one or a plurality of links to be used when the wireless base station that matches the link forming this path performs path calculation, and a predetermined link from the links selected by this link selecting means. An intermediate link storage means for storing the link selected by the standard as an intermediate link, and the intermediate link stored in the intermediate link storage means and the destination input from the input means are transmitted to the radio base station, In response to this, a wireless telephone that receives route data between the intermediate link and the destination transmitted from the wireless base station, and one of the routes between the current position and the destination calculated by the route calculation means. Optimal route creation means that replaces all or part of the route with the route between the intermediate link received by the wireless telephone and the destination and uses it as the optimal route for guiding or guiding the vehicle. Characterized in that it comprises and.

Here, the "predetermined criterion" for selecting a link in the link selecting means means, for example, a link in the route providing area farthest from the destination. Further, the route guiding device according to claim 7 evaluates route data between the present location and the intermediate link or route data between the intermediate link and the destination received by the wireless telephone according to a predetermined standard, and The optimal route creating means further includes a determining means for determining whether or not the route data is highly reliable and valid route data. If it is determined that the route data of or the route data between the intermediate link and the destination is appropriate, the route is replaced with a part or all of the route calculated by the route calculation means to guide or guide the vehicle. The feature is that it is an optimum route to use.

Further, the route guiding apparatus according to the present invention is a position detecting means for detecting the current position of the vehicle, an input means for inputting a route calculation condition such as a destination, and road map data for route calculation. When the route calculation conditions are inputted from the map memory prestored in the above and the input means, the route calculation road map data stored in the map memory is read out, and the destination and the above inputted from the input means. Route calculating means for calculating a route between links respectively close to the current position of the vehicle detected by the position detecting means, a link used when the route calculating means performs route calculation, and a radio base station The link correspondence table showing the correspondence with the links forming the route data transmitted from the station, and the current position of the vehicle detected by the position detecting means is the route of the wireless base station. If it exists outside the service area, the route calculation means calculates the route from the current position toward the destination, and searches the link correspondence table based on the links constituting the route obtained in the calculation process, When there is a link that constitutes the route data transmitted from the radio base station that matches the link that constitutes the route, intermediate link storage means for storing the link as an intermediate link, and the intermediate link storage means for storing the intermediate link storage means. The intermediate link and the destination input from the input means are transmitted to the radio base station, and in response thereto, route data between the intermediate link and the destination transmitted from the radio base station is received. Of the vehicle by connecting the wireless telephone to be connected, the route received by this wireless telephone, and the route between the current location calculated by the route calculation and the intermediate link. Characterized in that it comprises a best path definition means that the optimal path for use in guiding or guide.

Further, the route guiding apparatus according to claim 9 is a position detecting means for detecting the present position of the vehicle, an input means for inputting a route calculation condition such as a destination, and road calculation road map data. When the route calculation conditions are inputted from the map memory prestored in the above and the input means, the route calculation road map data stored in the map memory is read out, and the destination and the above inputted from the input means. A route calculation means for calculating a route between links respectively close to the current position of the vehicle detected by the position detection means according to a designated route calculation condition, a link used when the route calculation means performs route calculation, and a radio From the link correspondence table showing the correspondence with the links forming the route data transmitted from the base station, the current position of the vehicle detected by the position detecting means and the input means Different forces has been the destination each 2
Within the route providing area of one wireless base station, and when a part of the route between the current position of the vehicle and the destination calculated by the route calculating means is outside the route providing area,
The link correspondence table is searched on the basis of the link forming the route between the current position and the destination calculated by the route calculating means, and is transmitted from one radio base station that matches the link forming the route. Link selection that selects one or more links that form route data and one or more links that form route data transmitted from the other radio base station that matches the link that forms the route Means and, in each link selected by this link selection means, a link selected from a predetermined number of links constituting route data transmitted from one radio base station is stored as a temporary destination, and the other A storage unit for storing a link selected from a predetermined number of links constituting the route data transmitted from the wireless base station as a provisional current location, and the storage unit. The temporary destination or the temporary departure point stored in the column and the current position of the vehicle detected by the position detection means or the destination input from the input means is transmitted to the radio base station and responds thereto. A wireless telephone that receives route data between the current location and the temporary destination or route data between the temporary current location and the destination transmitted from the wireless base station; and a current location calculated by the route calculation means. Replace part or all of the route to the destination with the route between the current location and the temporary destination or the route between the temporary current location and the destination received by the wireless telephone to guide or guide the vehicle. It is characterized by including an optimum route creating means for making an optimum route for use.

Further, the route guiding device according to claim 10 is:
The route data between the current location and the temporary destination or the route data between the temporary current location and the destination received by the wireless telephone is evaluated by a predetermined standard, and the route data is highly reliable and valid. The optimum route creating means further includes a determining means for determining whether or not the route data between the current location and the temporary destination received by the wireless telephone by the determining means or the temporary current location and the destination. If the route data between the routes is judged to be valid, the route may be replaced with a part or all of the route calculated by the route calculation means to be used as the optimum route for guiding or guiding the vehicle. It is characterized by being.

The route guiding device according to claim 11 is:
Position detection means for detecting the current position of the vehicle, input means for inputting route calculation conditions such as destination, map memory in which road map data for route calculation is stored in advance, and route calculation from the input means When a condition is input, the road map data for route calculation stored in the map memory is read out, and the destination of the route input from the input means and the current position of the vehicle detected by the position detection means are linked to each other. A route calculation means for calculating a route between them according to a designated route calculation condition, a link used when the route calculation means performs route calculation, and a link forming route data transmitted from the radio base station. A link correspondence table showing a correspondence relationship, and two wireless bases in which the current position of the vehicle detected by the position detection means and the destination input from the input means are respectively different In the route calculation means, when the route is within the route provision area of the station and a part of the route between the current position of the vehicle and the destination calculated by the route calculation means is outside the route provision area, Route calculation is performed from the current location or destination toward the destination or current location respectively, and the link correspondence table is referenced based on the links that make up the route obtained in the calculation process, and one that matches the link that makes up the route When there is a link forming the route data transmitted from the wireless base station of, or when there is a link forming the route data transmitted from the other wireless base station that matches the link forming the route,
From the storage means for storing the link as the temporary destination or the temporary current location, the temporary destination or the temporary departure point stored in the storage means, and the current location of the vehicle detected by the position detecting means or the input means While transmitting the input destination and the wireless base station, in response to the route data between the current position and the temporary destination transmitted from the wireless base station or between the temporary current position and the destination A wireless telephone that receives route data, a route between the current location and the temporary destination received by this wireless telephone, or a route between the temporary current location and the destination, and a temporary destination calculated by the route calculation means. And an optimum route creating means for connecting the route between the destination and the destination or the route between the present position and the temporary present position to obtain the optimum route for use in guiding or guiding the vehicle.

[0024]

According to the above structure, when the destination input from the input means is outside the route providing area of the external communication device, the route calculating means calculates the route between the present location and the destination. Then, one or a plurality of links that form the route data transmitted from the external communication device that matches the links that form the calculated route are selected. Then, the link selected from the selected links based on a predetermined reference (the link farthest from the current position) is stored as the intermediate link.

The stored intermediate link is transmitted from the communication means to the external communication device together with the current position of the vehicle. In response to this, when the route data between the current location and the intermediate link transmitted from the external communication device is received by the communication means,
A part or all of the route between the current position and the destination calculated by the route calculation means is replaced with the route to be run between the received current position and the intermediate link. Then, the route between the present position and the destination after the replacement is set as the optimum route.

As described above, according to the above configuration, even when the destination is set outside the route providing area, the route data received in the route providing area is used to the maximum extent to guide the route to the destination. It can be carried out. Further, in the configuration according to claim 2, in the determination means, the route between the current position received by the communication means and the intermediate link is evaluated by a predetermined criterion, and whether the route is highly reliable and appropriate. It is judged whether or not. As a result, when it is determined that the route is appropriate, the route is replaced with a part or all of the route calculated by the route calculation means, and is set as an optimum route for use in guiding or guiding the vehicle. . Therefore, according to this configuration, it is possible to improve reliability regarding route guidance.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the destination input from the input means is outside the route providing area of the wireless base station, the route calculation means calculates from the destination toward the present location. Be seen. In this calculation process,
The link correspondence table is searched one by one based on the links constituting the route obtained in the above calculation process, and when there is a link constituting route data transmitted from an external communication device that matches the link, the link is It is stored as an intermediate link.

The stored intermediate link is transmitted from the communication means to the external communication device together with the current position of the vehicle. In response to this, when the route data between the current location and the intermediate link transmitted from the external communication device is received by the communication means,
This received route is connected to the route between the destination and the intermediate link calculated by the route calculation means, and the route after the connection is made the optimum route.

As described above, according to the above configuration, even when the destination is set outside the route providing area, the route data received in the route providing area is used to the maximum extent to guide the route to the destination. It can be carried out. The route calculation by the route calculation means may be terminated when the intermediate link is searched, or may be calculated up to the current position. In the former case, the route in the route providing area having a particularly high link density is not calculated, so that the time required to obtain the optimum route can be shortened. On the other hand, the latter case is useful for complementing the route data between the current position and the intermediate link, which is transmitted from the external communication device.

Further, in the configuration according to the fourth aspect, since the route data transmitted from the road beacon is received by the beacon transceiver mounted on the vehicle, the route can be automatically changed without the driver's operation. Obtainable. Also,
With the configuration according to the fifth aspect, since the route data is acquired using the wireless telephone, the route data can be acquired even if the current position is outside the route providing area of the wireless base station.

The following claims 6, 7 and 8 will be described.
The configuration described is based on the assumption that a vehicle exists outside the route providing area of the wireless base station, and the configurations described in claims 9, 10 and 11 are provided in the route providing areas of different wireless base stations. It is assumed that there are vehicles and destinations, respectively. In the configuration according to claim 6,
When the route calculation means calculates the route between the current position and the destination when the vehicle is outside the route providing area, the wireless base station that matches the link forming the calculated route transmits the route. One or a plurality of links forming the route data are selected, and the link farthest from the destination is stored as the intermediate link from the selected links.

The stored intermediate link is transmitted to the wireless base station by the wireless telephone together with the destination input from the input means. In response to this, when the route data between the intermediate link and the destination, which is transmitted from the wireless base station, is received by the wireless telephone, one of the routes between the current position and the destination calculated by the route calculation means is received. An optimal route is generated by replacing the part or all of the received route with the route between the intermediate link and the destination.

As described above, according to the above configuration, even when the vehicle exists outside the route providing area, the route data received in the route providing area is used to the maximum extent to guide the route to the destination. You can Further, in the configuration according to claim 7, the route between the intermediate link received by the wireless telephone and the destination is evaluated by the determination means according to a predetermined criterion, and the route is a highly reliable and valid route. It is determined whether or not. As a result, when it is determined that the route is appropriate, the route is replaced with a part or all of the route calculated by the route calculation means, and is set as an optimum route for use in guiding or guiding the vehicle. . Therefore, according to this configuration, it is possible to improve reliability regarding route guidance.

According to the eighth aspect of the invention, when the vehicle is outside the route providing area of the radio base station, the route calculating means calculates from the present position toward the destination. Then, the link correspondence table is searched one by one on the basis of the links constituting the route obtained in the calculation process, and when there is the link constituting the route data transmitted from the radio base station that matches the link, the link is found. Is stored as an intermediate link.

The stored intermediate link is transmitted to the wireless base station by the wireless telephone together with the destination input from the input means. In response to this, when the route data between the intermediate link and the destination transmitted from the wireless base station is received by the wireless telephone, the received route and the current position and intermediate link calculated by the route calculating means are received. The route between and is connected, and the route after the connection is made the optimum route.

As described above, according to the above configuration, even when a vehicle exists outside the route providing area, the route data received in the route providing area is used to the maximum extent to guide the route to the destination. In addition to the above, the same operation as the configuration according to claim 3 is achieved. Further, in the configuration according to claim 9, the current location and the destination of the vehicle calculated by the route calculation means are within the route providing areas of the two radio base stations in which the destinations input from the vehicle and the input means are different from each other. One part of the route to the ground has one link outside the route providing area, which constitutes the route data transmitted from one of the radio base stations that matches the link constituting the route calculated by the route calculation means, or A plurality of links are selected, and one or a plurality of links that form the route data transmitted from the other radio base station that matches the links that form the route are selected.

Then, in this selected link,
From the links that make up the route data transmitted from one of the wireless base stations, the links selected by the predetermined criteria are stored as temporary destinations, and from the links that make up the route data transmitted from the other wireless base station. The link selected according to a predetermined standard is stored as the provisional current location. The stored temporary destination or temporary current location is transmitted to the wireless base station together with the current location of the vehicle detected by the position detection means or the destination input from the input means. In response to this, when the wireless telephone receives the route data between the current location and the temporary destination or the route data between the temporary current location and the destination, which is transmitted from the wireless base station, it is calculated by the route calculation means. A part or all of the route between the current location and the destination is replaced with the route between the current location and the temporary destination or the route between the temporary current location and the destination received by the wireless telephone, and the optimum route is obtained. Is generated.

As described above, according to the above configuration, even when a part of the route between the current position of the vehicle and the destination calculated by the route calculating means is outside the route providing area, the signal is received within the route providing area. It is possible to guide the route to the destination by making maximum use of the obtained route data. Further, in the configuration according to claim 10, the determining means evaluates the route between the present location and the temporary destination or the route between the temporary present location and the destination received by the wireless telephone by a predetermined criterion, and It is determined whether the route is a reliable and valid route. As a result, when it is determined that the route is appropriate, the route is replaced with a part or all of the route calculated by the route calculation means, and is set as an optimum route for use in guiding or guiding the vehicle. . Therefore, according to this configuration,
The reliability of route guidance can be improved.

In the eleventh aspect of the present invention, the route calculation means calculates from the present location or destination toward the destination or present location, respectively. Then, the link correspondence table is searched step by step based on the links that form the route obtained in the calculation process, and when there is a link that forms the route data transmitted from one of the radio base stations that matches the link, or When there is a link that constitutes the route data transmitted from the other radio base station that matches the above-mentioned link, the link is stored as a temporary destination or a temporary current location, respectively.

The stored temporary destination or temporary current location is transmitted to the wireless base station by the wireless telephone together with the current location or destination input from the input means. When the wireless telephone receives the route data between the current location and the temporary destination or the route data between the temporary current location and the destination transmitted from the wireless base station in response to this, each received route And the route between the temporary destination and the destination calculated by the route calculating means or the route between the current position and the temporary current position are connected, and the route after the connection is set as the optimum route.

As described above, according to the above configuration, even if a part of the route between the current position of the vehicle and the destination calculated by the route calculating means is outside the route providing area, the signal is received within the route providing area. The route guidance to the destination can be performed by using the obtained route data to the maximum extent, and at the same time, the same operation as the configuration according to the third aspect is achieved.

[0042]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. <First Embodiment> FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a route information transmitting system of a first embodiment to which the route guiding apparatus of the present invention is applied. This route information transmission system is for transmitting route data in which the latest traffic information is added to the beacon transceiver A mounted on the vehicle, and in order to calculate route data in which the latest traffic information is added. Information Center B
And a road beacon C for transmitting the route data calculated by the information center B to the beacon transceiver A.
And In this embodiment, the information center B and the roadside beacon C correspond to external communication devices.

More specifically, the structure of the route information transmission system will be described. In the information center B, the map dedicated memory 110, the control device 120 and the modem 13 are provided.
0 is provided. The map-dedicated memory 110 stores data about links connecting points corresponding to major intersections in a route providing area, which is an area where route data can be provided.

The stored link data includes the identification number of each link, the link cost (passing time) when passing through the link, the link length (distance), and the other ingress links connected to the starting point of the link ( A pointer to a previous link), a pointer to another exit link (also referred to as a rear link) connected to the end point of the link, a connection cost, and the like are included.

The case where this link is viewed from the starting point of the link is referred to as an exit link, and the case where this link is viewed in the opposite direction from the end point of the link is referred to as an incoming link. Further, the connection cost is a right-left turn or straight-ahead cost for exiting from one link and entering the next link.
For example, when entry is prohibited, the connection cost is infinite, and when there is a traffic light, the cost takes into account the average signal waiting time when turning right or left or going straight.

The link cost and connection cost are usually
The cost for traveling at the legal speed is used, but if the latest traffic information is entered in the information center B, the change will be made according to the contents. For example, when a certain link is cut off due to an accident, the link cost of this link is assumed to be infinite until reopening. If the up lane of a certain road is congested, the cost of the link is increased according to the congested traffic.

It is stored in the map dedicated memory 110.
The link form of the link data shown in FIG.
Become like That is, for example, a road map is shown in the figure.
As shown in Figure 4, the link is
As you can see, intersection N₁To N _TwoLink L connecting up to₁₂,
Intersection N_TwoTo N₁Link L connecting_{twenty one},···such as
Is represented as

Here, the link is not a link connecting all the intersections existing on the road map, but a link connecting the points corresponding to the main intersections. Therefore, the intersection of non-main non-main roads cannot be the end point of the link (hereinafter referred to as "node"). This point is different from the route calculation road map data stored in the on-vehicle map dedicated disk described later.

The above-mentioned link may be, for example, a link connecting the installation positions of the on-road beacons C. In the information center B, the controller 120 constantly calculates a route from the point corresponding to the main intersection corresponding to the link to the point corresponding to another main intersection in the route providing area, and the calculated route. Is transmitted to the road beacon C via the modem 130 and the communication line L.

The road beacon C includes a modem 210, a control device 220 and a transceiver 230. In the road beacon C, when the route data is received from the information center B via the communication line L and the modem 210, the route data is stored in a memory (not shown) in the control device 220 in the form of a route table. . This route data is composed of a destination link, a pointer to a series of previous links, a route distance, a total link cost (travel time), etc., and is data that takes into account the latest traffic information as described above. .

As will be described later, in the control device 220, when the current position data and the destination data of the vehicle are received by the transceiver 230 from the beacon transceiver A, the route corresponding to the route between the current position and the destination is received. The data is read from the memory, and the read path data is read by the transceiver 230.
From the beacon transceiver A. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a vehicle-mounted navigation system including the beacon transceiver A. This in-vehicle navigation system is installed in a vehicle and is used.
The GPS receiver 5 and the engine control unit (ECU) 6 are used as a direction sensor and a distance sensor, respectively. These GPS receiver 5 and ECU
Each output of 6 is given to the vehicle position detection unit 14 which functions as a position detection means in the vehicle-mounted navigation device body 1.

In the vehicle position detector 14, the GPS receiver 5
The traveling azimuth of the vehicle is obtained based on the output of, and the traveling distance of the vehicle is obtained based on the output of the ECU 6. Accurate initial position data of the vehicle is given to the vehicle position detecting unit 14 by the driver, for example, before the vehicle starts. The current position of the vehicle is detected based on the traveling direction and the traveling distance of the vehicle. The current position of this vehicle is detected at a constant cycle (for example, 1.2
Every second).

The vehicle position detector 14 also corrects the detected current position of the vehicle by a so-called map matching technique (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-148115). That is, the GPS receiver 5 and the ECU
The track of the vehicle detected based on each output of 6 is collated with the road pattern stored in the vehicle-mounted map dedicated disk D, and the track of the vehicle is corrected on the road pattern according to the result.

The current position data of the vehicle corrected by the map matching technique is given to the controller 16. The controller 16 is a control center of the vehicle-mounted navigation device body 1, and functions as a CPU 161, a SRAM 162, an intermediate link storage means, and the like, and a DRAM 16.
3 and the like, and these CPU161, SRAM16
2 and the DRAM 163 are mutually connected to the internal bus 164. The controller 16 includes the vehicle position detector 14
When the current position data of the vehicle is given from, the display road map data is read from the vehicle-mounted map dedicated disk D via the memory control unit 11 and the CD drive 2. The read road map data for display and the present location data thus read are given to the display control unit 12. When the display road map data and the current position data are given, the display control unit 12 superimposes a car mark indicating the current position of the vehicle on the road map to display the display device 3 including a liquid crystal display element (LCD), a CRT, or the like. To display.

In addition to the display road map data, the vehicle position detection road map data, route calculation road map data, and intersection guidance road map data are stored in the on-vehicle map dedicated disk D. Next, the route calculation road map data which is particularly related to the present embodiment will be described. The road map data for route calculation divides the road map (including highway national roads, motorways, other national roads, prefectural roads, city roads of ordinance-designated cities, and other living roads) into meshes, and each mesh A route consisting of a combination of nodes and links is stored separately for a highway / national road map, a general road map, and a detailed map. Maps for highways and national roads mainly include highways (highways for national highways and motor vehicles) and other national roads. Maps for general roads include highways and other national roads. ) Is also included. The detailed map includes highways, other national roads, and general roads as well as residential roads (road width 3.3 m or more). Due to the characteristics of the road map database, a closed network is formed nationwide for roads higher than national roads.

The above mesh shows a Japanese road map with a longitude difference of 1
Divide by 40 degree difference in latitude and longitude, and the vertical and horizontal distance is about 80km x 80
The upper mesh set to km and the upper and lower meshes 8
It is composed of a triple structure of a medium mesh having an evenly divided vertical and horizontal distance of about 10 km × 10 km and a lower mesh having an evenly divided vertical and horizontal distance of 10 and having a vertical and horizontal distance of about 1 km × 1 km.

A node is generally a coordinate position for identifying an intersection or a turning point of a road. A node representing the intersection is an intersection node, and a node representing a bending point of the road (excluding the intersection). It is called an interpolation point node. The link is
It is a line that connects the start point node and the end point node and can be understood as a polygonal line with a direction along the shape of the road (see FIG. 5).

In addition to the various road map data described above, the on-vehicle map disk D also includes link data used when the information center B calculates the route, and when the on-vehicle navigation device body 1 calculates the route. A link correspondence table, which is a link correspondence table showing a correspondence relationship with the link data used for, is stored in advance. The correspondence table is read by the controller 16 and stored in the SRAM 162 in the controller 16 when the vehicle-mounted navigation device body 1 is activated.

A remote controller key (hereinafter simply referred to as “remote control key”) 4 functioning as an input means for inputting various calculation conditions such as a destination is connected to the controller 16 via the input control section 13. . In the controller 16, when the driver inputs various calculation conditions such as a destination through the remote control key 4, the input destination data and the like are stored in the DRAM 163 and a route is calculated from the vehicle-mounted map dedicated disk D. The road map data is read, and the route between the destination and the links respectively close to the current position detected by the vehicle position detection unit 14 is calculated by using, for example, the Dijkstra method. The calculated route is superimposed and displayed on the road map displayed on the display device 3 by, for example, a broken line, and is acoustically output from the microphone M via the voice control unit 18.

Here, the Dijkstra method is divided into a number of roads to be calculated, the divided points are defined as nodes, and the route connecting the nodes is defined as a link. In the present embodiment, a node or link close to the starting point is the end point, and a node or link closest to the destination (the starting point may be the destination in this embodiment) is the end point, and the link from the start point to the end point is This is a method in which a tree is assumed and the link costs of all the routes forming the tree are sequentially added, and the route having the lowest link cost to reach the destination or the departure place is set as the optimum route.

The remote control key 4 includes, for example, a "joystick key" for scrolling a map, setting a position, and selecting a menu, a "map key" for displaying a road map screen centered on a car mark indicating the present location, and a road map. "Scale key" for enlarging or reducing the display scale of ",""Rotationkey" for selecting whether to display the traveling direction of the vehicle at the top or the north of the map at the top, and whether to display the vehicle's travel path "Track key" to switch between, "Route key" that can input the calculation request signal with one touch when you want to calculate the route from the current location to the destination, "Return key" to return to the previous screen during menu operation, " Various keys (not shown) such as a "menu key" for displaying a menu screen such as "destination setting" and "route setting" are provided.

A beacon transceiver A is also connected to the controller 16. When the communication with the road beacon C is performed, the controller 16 reads the destination data stored in the DRAM 163, and the read destination data of the vehicle detected by the vehicle position detection unit 14 at that time. It transmits from the beacon transceiver A to the above-mentioned road beacon C via the destination etc. transmission part 17 with the present location data.

On the other hand, when the beacon transceiver A receives the route data between the current position and the destination transmitted from the road beacon C in response to the transmission of the destination data and the like, the controller 16 receives this route data. The route data thus obtained is fetched through the external route acquisition unit 15 and stored in the DRAM 163. The stored route data is used in the route acquisition process described later.

In the present embodiment, the controller 1
Reference numeral 6 functions as a route calculation unit, a link selection unit, an optimum route creation unit, a determination unit, and the like. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the route acquisition process in the vehicle-mounted navigation system. The route acquisition process shown in FIG. 6 assumes a case where a destination is set outside the route provision area E of the information center B as shown in FIG.

When the driver inputs various calculation conditions such as a departure place and a destination through the remote control key 4 as initial data before the departure after the power is turned on (step T
1) The controller 16 calculates the route between the departure point and the destination, and the obtained route is stored in the DRAM 163 as the optimum route (step T).
2). After that, the obtained optimum route and route distance are displayed on the display device 3 (step T3). At the same time, in the route obtained above, within the route provision area,
The point farthest from the current position is specified, and the specified point is stored in the DRAM 163 of the controller 16 as intermediate link corresponding coordinate data described later (step T4).

The above-mentioned intermediate link corresponding point is specified by SRAM.
This is performed based on the link correspondence table stored in 162. That is, the contents of the link correspondence table stored in the SRAM 162 are searched on the basis of the links forming the calculated route, and the link used for the route calculation in the information center B corresponding to the link forming the route is 1 A book or a plurality of books is selected, and the coordinate data corresponding to the link farthest from the current position among the selected links is set as the intermediate link corresponding coordinate data.

When the vehicle departs, it is determined whether or not the vehicle has arrived at a predetermined point for route guidance, for example, before an intersection on the route (step T5). The determination as to whether or not the vehicle has reached the predetermined point is made based on the current position data of the vehicle detected by the vehicle position detection unit 14. If,
When it is determined that the vehicle has reached a predetermined point for route guidance, the driver is instructed on the intersection shape and guidance direction on the screen or by voice, provided that the optimum route has been obtained. (Step T6).

Simultaneously with the processing of steps T5 and T6,
It is determined whether or not there is communication with the road beacon C (step T7). Here, when it is determined that there is communication with the road beacon C, the controller 16 sets the point (intermediate link corresponding coordinate point) stored in the DRAM 163 in step T4 as the destination data via the destination etc. transmitting unit 17. While transmitting from the beacon transceiver A to the road beacon C, the current position data of the vehicle detected by the vehicle position detection unit 14 at that time is acquired, and the acquired current position data is also transmitted from the beacon transceiver A to the road beacon C. It is transmitted (step T8).

At this time, data indicating the route calculation conditions may be transmitted together with the driver's preference.
The destination data (intermediate link corresponding coordinate data), the current location data, and the like transmitted in this way are received by the transceiver 230 of the road beacon C. In the control device 220 of the roadside beacon C, when the transceiver 230 receives each of the data, the intermediate link is specified. Then, the route table stored in the memory is accessed to obtain route data between the current position of the vehicle and the specified intermediate link, and the obtained route data is transmitted from the transceiver 230 to the beacon transceiver A. Sent to.

When the control device 220 accesses the route table stored in the memory, the route table is updated by the route data transmitted from the information center B via the communication line L as described above. Therefore, there is an advantage that a route that can avoid accidents and traffic congestion can be obtained at this time. However, the link data used for the route calculation in the information center B is as described above.
Since it is a link that connects points corresponding to major intersections, etc., it is rough and does not necessarily cover all roads. Therefore, the route data obtained based on the route table may be a detour even if there is no traffic congestion.

Therefore, in the vehicle-mounted navigation system of this embodiment, it is determined whether the route data transmitted from the road beacon C should be adopted or whether the route calculated by the controller 16 should be adopted. Next, this determination process will be described in detail. When the route data transmitted from the road beacon C is received by the beacon transceiver A (step T9), the controller 16 first determines whether or not this received route data is the first received route data. (Step T10). As a result, when it is determined that the route data is received for the first time, the linear distance between the reception position and the destination (intermediate link) in step T7 is calculated and stored in the DRAM 163 (step T11). On the other hand, if it is determined that the route data is not the first route data, the straight line distance between the first received position and the destination (intermediate link) stored before is referred to (step T13).

Then, it is judged whether or not the straight line distance is smaller than a predetermined constant distance (step T1).
2). The "fixed distance" is selected so that if the vehicle travels a distance longer than this distance, the vehicle is considered to travel along the main highway. If the result of determination in step T12 is that the straight-line distance is smaller than the fixed distance, it is determined that the route data transmitted from the road beacon C is not valid, and the above-described processing is repeated again. On the other hand, when it is determined that the straight line distance is greater than the fixed distance, it is determined whether or not the received route data is included in the optimum route calculated up to now (steps T14 and T15).

As a result of this determination, when it is determined that the received route data is included in the optimal route calculated so far, the received route data is a part of the optimal route calculated by the controller 16. Is replaced with (step T1
6). Then, after the new optimum route and the new route distance after the replacement are displayed on the display device 3 (step T17), the process returns to step T5. On the other hand, as a result of the determination in step T15, if it is determined that the received route data is not included in the optimum route, the process directly returns to step T5.

The optimum route obtained as a result of replacing the route data with a part of the optimum route in step T16 is shown by a solid line in FIG. In the figure, the broken line and the alternate long and short dash line respectively represent the route calculated by the controller 16 and the route received. As described above, according to the route information transmitting system of the present embodiment, even when the destination is set outside the route providing area, the intermediate link near the boundary of the route providing area is transmitted to the road beacon C, and this is transmitted. Since the route data whose destination is the coordinate point corresponding to the intermediate link is transmitted from the road beacon C to the beacon transceiver A, the route data obtained from the road beacon C can be maximized in the in-vehicle navigation system. It is possible to guide the route to the destination while using it.

Further, since the replacement of the route data obtained from the road beacon C with the optimum route calculated by the controller 16 is performed only when the route data obtained from the road beacon C is valid, the route guidance is not performed. It is possible to improve reliability. <Second Embodiment> FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a route information transmitting system of a second embodiment to which the route guiding device of the present invention is applied. In FIG. 8, the same functional parts as those shown in FIG. 2 are designated by the same reference numerals. The route information transmission system of the present embodiment is for transmitting route data in which the latest traffic information is added to a wireless telephone E including a car phone, a mobile phone, etc. mounted on a vehicle, and the latest traffic An information center B for calculating route data in consideration of information and a wireless relay station F for transmitting the route data calculated by the information center B to the wireless telephone E are included. In this embodiment, the information center B and the wireless relay station F correspond to wireless base stations.

More specifically, the structure of the route information transmission system will be described. In the information center B, the map dedicated memory 110, the control device 120 and the modem 13 are provided.
0 is provided. In the information center B, the control device 1
At 20, the route from the position of the main intersection corresponding to the link to the position of another main intersection in the route providing area is calculated at any time, and the calculated route is the modem 1
It is transmitted to the wireless relay station F via 30 and the communication line L.

The radio relay station F is installed not only in the route providing area but also outside the route providing area, and includes a modem 210, a control device 220 and a transceiver 230. In the wireless relay station F, the communication line L and the modem 2
When the route data is received from the information center B via 10, the route data is stored in a memory (not shown) in the control device 220 in the form of a route table.

As will be described later, in the control device 220, when the current position data and the destination data of the vehicle are received by the transceiver 230 from the wireless telephone E, the route data corresponding to the route between the current position and the destination is received. Is read from the memory, and the read route data is transmitted from the transceiver 230 to the wireless telephone E. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a vehicle-mounted navigation system including the wireless telephone E. In FIG. 9, the same functional parts as those shown in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals. The difference between the vehicle-mounted navigation system of this embodiment and the vehicle-mounted navigation system of the first embodiment is that the controller 16
That is, the wireless telephone E is connected not to the beacon transceiver. Therefore, only matters relating to the wireless telephone E will be described below.

When the route data acquisition request signal is input from the wireless telephone E after the line between the wireless telephone E and the wireless relay station F is connected, the controller 16 of the present embodiment makes a DR.
The destination data stored in the AM 163 is read out, and the read destination data is read together with the current position data of the vehicle detected by the vehicle position detection unit 14 at that time via the destination etc. transmitting unit 17 and the wireless telephone E. To the wireless relay station F to which the above line is connected.

On the other hand, when the wireless telephone E receives the route data between the present location and the destination transmitted from the wireless relay station F in response to the transmission of the destination data and the like, the controller 16 receives this data. The route data thus obtained is fetched via the external route acquisition unit 15 and stored in the DRAM 163. The stored route data is used in the route guidance process described later. <Route Acquisition Example 1> Route acquisition example 1 assumes a case where a destination is set outside the route provision area E of the information center B as shown in FIG. That is, FIG.
The same case as that assumed in the route acquisition processing of is assumed. Therefore, it is basically the same as the route acquisition process shown in FIG. Therefore, hereinafter, only the differences between the route guidance processing shown in FIG. 6 and the route acquisition example 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In the route guidance processing shown in FIG. 6, communication is performed between the beacon transceiver A and the road beacon C, but in the route acquisition example 1, the wireless telephone E and the wireless relay station F are used.
Communication is carried out with. In the route acquisition process shown in FIG. 6, it is determined in step T7 whether or not there is communication with the road beacon C. However, in the route acquisition example 1, in step S7,
It is determined whether or not the route data acquisition request signal is input from the wireless telephone E.

In the route acquisition process shown in FIG. 6, it is determined in step T10 whether the received route data is the first received route data. In the route acquisition example 1, in step S10, It is determined whether or not the received route data is the route data that was first requested and received. In the route acquisition process shown in FIG. 6, the linear distance between the reception position and the destination is calculated in step T11. However, in the route acquisition example 1, in step S11, the linear distance between the requested position and the destination is calculated. Straight line distance is calculated.

In the route acquisition process shown in FIG. 6, the straight line distance between the reception position and the destination calculated in the past is referred to in step T13, but in the route acquisition example 1, in step S13, The straight line distance between the requested position and the destination calculated in the past is referred to. As described above, according to the route acquisition example 1, even when the destination is set outside the route providing area, the intermediate link near the boundary of the route providing area is transmitted to the wireless relay station F, and the transmitted intermediate link is set to the transmitted intermediate link. Since the route data having the corresponding coordinate point as the destination is transmitted from the wireless relay station F to the wireless telephone E, in the in-vehicle navigation system,
It is possible to guide the route to the destination while making maximum use of the route data obtained from the wireless relay station F.

The replacement of the route data obtained from the wireless relay station F with the optimum route calculated by the controller 16 is performed only when the route data obtained from the wireless relay station F is valid. The reliability of guidance can be improved. <Route acquisition example 2> In route acquisition example 2, as shown in FIG. 11, it is assumed that the set destination is within the route providing area E and the current position of the vehicle is outside the route providing area E. It is a thing. That is, the case opposite to the above-described route acquisition example 1 is assumed. So basically,
This is the same as the processing of the above route acquisition example 1. Therefore, hereinafter, only the difference between the route acquisition example 2 and the route acquisition example 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart for explaining the route acquisition example 2 shown in FIG.

In the route acquisition example 1, in step S4, the farthest point on the calculated route and in the route providing area from the current position of the vehicle is stored as the intermediate link corresponding coordinate data. In Example 2, in step P4, the farthest point on the calculated route and in the route providing area from the destination is stored as the intermediate link corresponding coordinate data.

In the route acquisition example 1, in step S8, the intermediate link corresponding coordinate data stored in step S4 is transmitted to the wireless relay station F as destination data, and the current position data of the vehicle is transmitted to the wireless relay station F. However, in the route acquisition example 2, in step P8, the intermediate link corresponding coordinate data stored in step P4 is transmitted to the wireless relay station F as the current location data and the destination data is transmitted to the wireless relay station F.

In the route acquisition example 1, after the processing of step S8, the intermediate link is specified in the radio relay station F,
Route data between the current location of the vehicle and the above-specified intermediate link is obtained by referring to the route table,
Although the acquired route data is transmitted to the wireless telephone E (not shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6),
In the route acquisition example 2, after the process of step P8, the intermediate link is identified in the wireless relay station F, and the route data between the identified intermediate link and the destination is obtained by referring to the route table. The acquired route data is transmitted to the wireless telephone E (not shown in the flowchart of FIG. 12).

In the route acquisition example 1, the wireless telephone E receives the route data between the current position and the intermediate link from the wireless relay station F in step S9.
Then, in step P9, the wireless telephone E receives the route data between the intermediate link and the destination from the wireless relay station F. As described above, according to the route acquisition example 2, even if the current position is outside the route providing area, the intermediate link near the boundary of the route providing area is transmitted to the wireless relay station F, and the transmitted intermediate link is set as the current position. Since the route data is transmitted from the wireless relay station F to the wireless telephone E, the route guidance to the destination is performed in the vehicle-mounted navigation system while making maximum use of the route data obtained from the wireless relay station F. be able to. <Route acquisition example 3> As shown in FIG. 13, the route acquisition example 3 is performed in the route provision areas E ₁ and E _{2 of} two information centers B ₁ and B _{2 having} different current and destination destinations of vehicles. Moreover, it is assumed that a part of the route between the present location and the destination is outside the route providing area. Next, specific processing of the route acquisition example 3 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In the route acquisition example 3, the DRAM 163 is used.
Functions as a storage means. The processes of steps N1 to N3 before the departure of the vehicle after the power is turned on are the same as steps S1 to S3 of the flowchart of FIG. When the optimum route is obtained in step N3, the controller 16 refers to the link correspondence table to identify the farthest point in the route providing area E ₁ from the departure point existing in the route providing area E ₁ of the information center B _1. And this identified point is DRA as a "tentative destination"
Together are stored in the M16, identified farthest point of the route-provided area E in ₂ from the destination existing in the information center B in the path providing area E ₂ of _2, as a point of this were identified "temporary departure point" It is stored in the DRAM 16 (step N4).

The subsequent processing of steps N5 and N6 is the same as the processing of steps S5 and S6 of FIG. In step N7, it is determined whether or not a route data acquisition request signal for the current location has been input from the wireless telephone E. As a result, when it is determined that the route data acquisition request signal on the current location side is input, the route generation processing on the current location side is performed (step N8). On the other hand, if it is determined that the route data acquisition request signal on the current location side has not been input, it is determined whether or not the route data acquisition request signal on the destination side has been input (step N9). As a result, when it is determined that the route data acquisition request signal on the destination side has been input, the route generation process on the destination side is performed (step N10). On the other hand, when it is determined that the route data acquisition request signal on the destination side is not input, the optimum route obtained at that time is still displayed on the display device 3 (step N11), and the process returns to step N5.

FIG. 15 and FIG. 16 are flowcharts for explaining the route generation process on the present location side and the route generation process on the destination side, respectively. The route generation processing on the present side and the destination side is performed by the processing of steps S8 to S16 and S18 of FIG.
The process is almost the same as the process of steps P8 to P16 and P18 in FIG.
It is only that the intermediate link corresponding coordinate data stored in the DRAM 163 in step S4 of 0 is "temporary destination" data.
The only difference is that the intermediate link-corresponding coordinate data stored in the DRAM 163 in step P4 of 2 is "temporary departure place" data. Therefore, the description of this flowchart is omitted.

As described above, according to the route acquisition example 3, a part of the route between the current position and the destination is within the two route providing areas E ₁ and E ₂ whose current position and destination are different from each other. Even if is outside the route providing area, each intermediate link near the boundary between the route providing areas E ₁ and E ₂ is transmitted to the radio relay station F, and each transmitted intermediate link is set as a destination and a current location. Since the route data is transmitted from the wireless relay station F to the wireless telephone E, it is necessary to guide the route to the destination while making maximum use of the route data obtained from the wireless relay station F in the in-vehicle navigation system. You can <Other Embodiments> The embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, in the first embodiment, the route calculation is performed from the starting point to the destination, the route data in the route providing area from the starting point to the intermediate link is acquired, and a part of the calculated route is acquired. The optimal route is obtained by replacing the route, but for example, route calculation is performed from the destination to the intermediate link, route data in the route provision area from the intermediate link to the departure point is acquired, and the calculated route is acquired. The optimum route may be obtained by connecting the route that has been set.

To describe this modification in more detail, the controller 16 starts the route calculation from the destination, searches the link correspondence table step by step based on the links constituting the route obtained in the calculation process, and When a link used for route calculation is searched by the on-road beacon C that matches a link forming a route, a point corresponding to the searched link is stored as intermediate link corresponding coordinate data. Then, the calculation of the route is terminated when the coordinate data corresponding to the intermediate link is stored. After that, the beacon C on the road
When the route data from the intermediate link to the departure place transmitted from the road beacon C is acquired in response to the departure place data and the coordinate data corresponding to the intermediate link, the route calculated before the termination (Fig. The acquired route (dashed line in FIG. 17) is connected to the optimum route (solid line in FIG. 17).

As described above, according to the above modification, since the route in the route providing area such as the metropolitan area where the link density is particularly high is not calculated, the route calculation time can be shortened as a whole. In the above modification, the route calculation may be continued to the destination without stopping the route calculation when the intermediate link is searched. In this way, the calculated route serves to complement the route data transmitted from the road beacon C.

Needless to say, the above modification can be applied to the route acquisition example 1 of the second embodiment by replacing the “road beacon C” of the above modification with the “radio relay station F”. Furthermore, instead of the precondition of the above-mentioned modified example, "the place of departure is within the route providing area and the destination is outside the route providing area" is replaced with "the destination is within the route providing area and the current location is outside the route providing area". Needless to say, if the “road beacon C” is replaced with the “wireless relay station F”, the above modification can be applied to the route acquisition example 2 of the second embodiment.

Furthermore, the modified example of the route acquisition example 1 of the second embodiment and the modified example of the route acquisition example 2 of the second embodiment may be combined. That is, it is assumed that the departure place is in one of the route providing areas and the destination is in the other route providing area.
Also, the above modified example can be applied. Various other design changes can be made within the scope described in the claims.

[0097]

As described above, according to the route guiding apparatus of the first aspect, even when the destination is set outside the route providing area, the route data acquired from the external communication device in the route providing area is used. It is possible to guide the route to the destination by making maximum use. Further, according to the route guiding device of the second aspect, the replacement of the route data transmitted from the external communication device with the optimum route calculated by the route calculation means is performed by the route data transmitted from the external communication device. Since it is performed only when it is appropriate, it is possible to improve the reliability of route guidance.

Further, according to the route guiding apparatus of the third aspect, if the route calculation in the route calculating means is terminated at the time when the intermediate link is searched, the route in the route providing area having a particularly high link density is not calculated. It is possible to shorten the time until the optimum route is obtained. It is also possible to perform route calculation up to the current location, and in this case, the route obtained by the route calculation is useful for complementing the route data between the current location and the intermediate link transmitted from the external communication device. .

According to the route guiding device of the fourth aspect, the route can be automatically acquired without the driver's operation. Further, according to the route guiding device of the fifth aspect, it is possible to cope even if the vehicle is outside the route providing area. Further, according to the route guiding apparatus of claim 6, even when the current location of the vehicle is outside the route providing area, the route data acquired from the wireless base station in the route providing area is used to the maximum extent. The route guidance can be performed.

According to the route guiding apparatus of the seventh aspect, the replacement of the route data transmitted from the wireless base station with the optimum route calculated by the route calculation means is performed by the route data transmitted from the wireless base station. Since it is performed only when is appropriate, it is possible to improve the reliability of route guidance. Further, according to the route guiding apparatus of claim 8, if the route calculation in the route calculation means is terminated at the time when the intermediate link is searched, the route in the route providing area having a particularly high link density is not calculated, so that the optimum route is obtained. It is possible to shorten the time to obtain. It is also possible to perform route calculation to the destination. In this case, the route obtained by the route calculation can be used to complement the route data between the intermediate link and the destination transmitted from the radio base station. Be useful.

Further, according to the route guiding apparatus of the ninth aspect, even when a part of the route between the current position of the vehicle and the destination calculated by the route calculating means is outside the route providing area,
It is possible to guide the route to the destination by making maximum use of the route data received in the route providing area. Also,
According to the route guiding apparatus of claim 10, the replacement of the route data transmitted from the wireless base station with the optimum route calculated by the route calculation means is performed when the route data transmitted from the wireless base station is appropriate. Because I am trying to do only
The reliability of route guidance can be improved.

Further, according to the route guiding apparatus of the eleventh aspect, if the route calculation in the route calculating means is stopped when the temporary destination or the temporary present position is searched, the route in the route providing area with a particularly high link density is obtained. Is not calculated, it is possible to shorten the time until the optimum route is obtained. It is also possible to calculate the route to the destination or the current position. In this case, the route obtained by the route calculation is the route data or the current position between the temporary destination and the destination transmitted from the wireless base station. Helps to supplement the route data between the and current location.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a vehicle-mounted navigation system that constitutes a part of a route information transmission system of a first embodiment to which a route guidance device of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the route information transmission system.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a road map including major intersections.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing links set based on the road map of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing a link that is a polygonal line with directions along the shape of a road.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining route guidance processing in the vehicle-mounted navigation system.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a precondition for the route guidance processing.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a route information transmitting system of a second embodiment to which the route guiding device of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a vehicle-mounted navigation system that constitutes a part of the route information transmission system of the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining the route acquisition example 1;

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a precondition for a route acquisition example 2 in the vehicle-mounted navigation system according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining the route acquisition example 2;

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a precondition for a route acquisition example 3 in the vehicle-mounted navigation system according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart for explaining the route acquisition example 3;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart for explaining a route generation process on the current location side in the route acquisition example 3;

FIG. 16 is a flowchart for explaining a destination-side route generation process in route acquisition example 3;

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a state of a route obtained in a route calculation process of a modified example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A beacon transceiver B information center C road beacon D map-only disk E wireless telephone F wireless relay station 4 remote control key 5 GPS receiver 6 ECU 14 vehicle position detector 16 controller 163 DRAM

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (56) Reference JP-A-7-234995 (JP, A) JP-A-5-340762 (JP, A) JP-A-4-177288 (JP, A) JP-A-2- 79200 (JP, A) JP-A-3-278300 (JP, A) JP-B 7-104175 (JP, B2) JP-B 7-101479 (JP, B2) JP-B 3-66719 (JP, B2)

Claims (11)

(57) [Claims] 1. Used on a vehicle to transmit a destination to an external communication device, and in response thereto, receive route data to the destination transmitted from the external communication device,
A device for guiding a route to a destination, which includes an input means for inputting a route calculation condition such as a destination, a map memory in which road map data for route calculation is stored in advance, and a route calculation from the input means. When a condition is input, the road calculation road map data stored in the map memory is read out, and a route calculation condition in which a route between the destination and the current position is input from the input means is designated. And a link correspondence table showing a correspondence relationship between a link used when the route calculation means performs route calculation, and a link forming route data transmitted from the external communication device, When the destination input from the input means is outside the route providing area of the external communication device, the current location and the destination calculated by the route calculation means A link that searches the link correspondence table based on the links that form the route, and selects one or more links used when the external communication device that matches the link that forms the route calculates the route. Selecting means, an intermediate link storing means for storing a link selected by the predetermined standard among the links selected by the link selecting means as an intermediate link, the intermediate link stored in the intermediate link storing means and the current location To the external communication device,
In response to this, communication means for receiving route data between the current location and the intermediate link transmitted from the external communication device, and one of the routes between the current location and the destination calculated by the route calculation means. A route including an optimum route creating means for replacing a part or all of the route with the route between the current position and the intermediate link received by the communication means to be an optimum route for use in guiding or guiding a vehicle. Guidance device. 2. The route data between the current position and the intermediate link received by the communication means is evaluated by a predetermined standard,
The route data further includes determination means for determining whether or not the route data is highly reliable and valid route data, and the optimum route generation means is configured to determine whether the present location and the intermediate link received by the communication means by the determination means. When it is determined that the route data between the routes is appropriate, the route is replaced with a part or all of the route calculated by the route calculation means to be used as an optimum route for guiding or guiding the vehicle. The route guide device according to claim 1, wherein 3. A route to a destination, which is used by being mounted on a vehicle, transmits a destination to an external communication device, and receives route data transmitted from the external communication device in response to the destination. An apparatus for guiding, input means for inputting route calculation conditions such as a destination, map memory in which road map data for route calculation is stored in advance, and route calculation conditions are inputted from the input means. And a route calculation means for reading the route calculation road map data stored in the map memory and calculating a route between links respectively close to the destination and the current position inputted from the input means according to a specified calculation condition. And a link correspondence table showing a correspondence relationship between a link used when the route calculation means performs route calculation and a link forming route data transmitted from the external communication device, When the destination input from the input means is outside the route providing area of the external communication device, the route calculation means calculates the route from the destination toward the current location, and the route obtained in the calculation process When the above-mentioned link correspondence table is searched based on the link forming the link, and there is a link forming the route data transmitted from the external communication device that matches the link forming the route, the link is set as an intermediate link. And an intermediate link storage unit that stores the intermediate link and the current location stored in the intermediate link storage unit to the external communication device,
In response to this, a communication means for receiving route data between the current location and the intermediate link transmitted from the external communication device, a route received by this communication means, and an intermediate route calculated by the route calculation means. A route guidance device comprising: an optimal route creating means for connecting a route between a link and a current location to obtain an optimal route for use in guiding or guiding a vehicle. 4. The external communication device is a road beacon installed on the road, and the communication means is a beacon transceiver that communicates with the road beacon. 3. The route guidance device according to item 3. 5. The route according to claim 1, wherein the external communication device is a radio base station, and the communication means is a radio telephone that communicates with the radio base station. Guidance device. 6. A vehicle, which is mounted on a vehicle, transmits a destination to a wireless base station, receives route data transmitted from the wireless base station in response to the destination, and guides a route to the destination. A device for detecting a current position of a vehicle, an input device for inputting a route calculation condition such as a destination, a map memory in which route map data for route calculation is stored in advance, When the route calculation condition is input from the input means, the route calculation road map data stored in the map memory is read out, and the destination input from the input means and the current position of the vehicle detected by the position detection means are read. Route calculation means for calculating a route between links close to each other according to the specified calculation condition, a link used when this route calculation means performs route calculation, and a link transmitted from the radio base station. Link correspondence table showing the correspondence relationship with the links constituting the route data, and if the current position of the vehicle detected by the position detecting means is outside the route providing area of the wireless base station, the route calculating means The link correspondence table is searched on the basis of the links forming the route between the current position and the destination calculated in, and the radio base station that matches the link forming this route is used when performing the route calculation. A link selecting means for selecting one or a plurality of links, an intermediate link storing means for storing, as an intermediate link, a link selected by a predetermined reference from the links selected by the link selecting means, and the intermediate link storing The intermediate link stored in the means and the destination input from the input means are transmitted to the radio base station, and in response thereto, transmitted from the radio base station. A wireless telephone that receives route data between the intermediate link and the destination, and a part or all of the route between the current position and the destination calculated by the route calculating means, which is received by the wireless telephone. A route guidance device, comprising: an optimal route creation means that replaces a route between a link and a destination with an optimal route for use in guiding or guiding a vehicle. 7. The route data between the intermediate link and the destination received by the wireless telephone is evaluated according to a predetermined standard, and it is determined whether the route data is highly reliable and valid route data. The optimum route creating means further includes a determining means for performing the route when the determining means determines that the route data between the intermediate link and the destination received by the wireless telephone is valid. 7. The route guidance device according to claim 6, wherein a part or all of the route calculated by the calculation means is replaced with an optimal route to be used for guiding or guiding a vehicle. 8. A vehicle which is used by being mounted on a vehicle, transmits a destination to a radio base station, receives route data transmitted from the radio base station in response to the destination, and guides a route to the destination. A device for detecting a current position of a vehicle, an input device for inputting a route calculation condition such as a destination, a map memory in which route map data for route calculation is stored in advance, When the route calculation condition is inputted from the input means, the route calculation road map data stored in the map memory is read out, and the destination inputted from the input means and the current position of the vehicle detected by the position detecting means are read. Route calculation means for calculating a route between links close to each other according to the specified calculation conditions, a link used when this route calculation means performs route calculation, and a link transmitted from the radio base station. Link correspondence table showing the correspondence relationship with the links forming the route data, and if the current position of the vehicle detected by the position detecting means is outside the route providing area of the wireless base station, the route calculating means In the above, the route calculation is performed from the current location toward the destination, the link correspondence table is searched based on the links constituting the route obtained in the calculation process, and the radio base station matching the link constituting the route transmits from Intermediate link storing means for storing the link as an intermediate link when there is a link constituting the route data, the intermediate link stored in the intermediate link storing means, and the destination input from the input means. To the radio base station, and in response to this, route data between the intermediate link and the destination transmitted from the radio base station is transmitted. An optimal route to use for guiding or guiding a vehicle by connecting a wireless telephone that communicates with the route received by this wireless telephone and the route between the current location calculated by the route calculation and the intermediate link A route guidance device comprising an optimum route creation means. 9. A vehicle, which is used by being mounted on a vehicle, transmits a destination to a wireless base station, receives route data to the destination transmitted from the wireless base station in response to the destination, and receives the route data to the destination. A device for guiding a route, which is a position detecting means for detecting the current location of a vehicle, an input means for inputting a route calculation condition such as a destination, and a map in which route calculation road map data is stored in advance. When the route calculation conditions are inputted from the memory and the input means, the route calculation road map data stored in the map memory is read out and detected by the destination inputted from the input means and the position detecting means. A route calculation means for calculating a route between links close to the current position of the vehicle according to a designated route calculation condition; a link used when the route calculation means performs route calculation; A link correspondence table showing a correspondence relationship with links constituting route data transmitted from the ground station, and two radio bases in which the current position of the vehicle detected by the position detection means and the destination input from the input means are different from each other. In the route providing area of the station, if a part of the route between the current position of the vehicle and the destination calculated by the route calculating means is outside the route providing area, the route calculating means The link correspondence table is searched on the basis of the calculated link forming the route between the present location and the destination, and the route data transmitted from one of the radio base stations that matches the link forming the route is configured. One or more links are selected, and one or more links that form the route data transmitted from the other radio base station that matches the link that forms the above route are selected. Link selecting means, and in each link selected by this link selecting means, the link selected from a predetermined number of links constituting the route data transmitted from one radio base station is stored as a temporary destination, and Storage means for storing as a provisional current location a link selected from a predetermined number of links constituting route data transmitted from the other radio base station, and a provisional destination or provisional departure stored in this storage means. The location and the current location of the vehicle detected by the position detection means or the destination input from the input means is transmitted to the wireless base station, and in response, the current location transmitted from the wireless base station and A wireless telephone that receives route data between a temporary destination or route data between a temporary current position and a destination, and a current position and a destination calculated by the route calculation means. Replace part or all of the route between and with the route between the current position and the temporary destination or the route between the temporary current position and the destination received by the wireless telephone and use it for guiding or guiding the vehicle. A route guidance device comprising: an optimal route creating means for providing an optimal route for 10. The route data between the current location and the temporary destination or the route data between the temporary current location and the destination received by the wireless telephone is evaluated according to a predetermined standard, and the route data has a high reliability. The optimal route creating means further includes a determining means for determining whether or not the route data is highly appropriate, and the optimal route creating means is route data or a temporary data between the current location and the temporary destination received by the wireless telephone by the determining means. When it is determined that the route data between the current location and the destination is valid, the route is replaced with a part or all of the route calculated by the route calculation means, and is optimal for use in guiding or guiding the vehicle. The route guiding device according to claim 9, wherein the route guiding device is a route. 11. A vehicle which is used by being mounted on a vehicle, transmits a destination to a wireless base station, receives route data to the destination transmitted from the wireless base station in response to the destination, and receives the route data to the destination. A device for guiding a route, which is a position detecting means for detecting the current location of a vehicle, an input means for inputting a route calculation condition such as a destination, and a map in which route calculation road map data is stored in advance. When the route calculation conditions are inputted from the memory and the input means, the route calculation road map data stored in the map memory is read out and detected by the destination inputted from the input means and the position detecting means. A route calculation means for calculating a route between links close to the current position of the vehicle according to a designated route calculation condition; a link used when the route calculation means calculates a route; A link correspondence table showing a correspondence relationship with links constituting route data transmitted from the base station, and two radio bases in which the current position of the vehicle detected by the position detection means and the destination input from the input means are different from each other. In the route calculation means, when the route is within the route provision area of the station and a part of the route between the current position of the vehicle and the destination calculated by the route calculation means is outside the route provision area, Route calculation is performed from the current location or destination toward the destination or current location respectively, and the link correspondence table is referenced based on the links that make up the route obtained in the calculation process, and one that matches the link that makes up the route When there is a link that constitutes the route data transmitted from this wireless base station, or from the other wireless base station that matches the link that constitutes the above route When there is a link that constitutes route data to be stored, a storage unit that stores the link as a temporary destination or a temporary current location, a temporary destination or a temporary departure point stored in the storage unit, and the position While transmitting the current location of the vehicle detected by the detection means or the destination input from the input means to the wireless base station, in response to this, the current location and the temporary destination transmitted from the wireless base station Between the wireless telephone which receives the route data between or between the provisional present location and the destination, and the route between the present location and the provisional destination received by this wireless telephone or between the provisional present location and the destination The route and the route between the temporary destinations calculated by the route calculating means or the route between the current position and the temporary current position are connected to each other to form an optimum route for guiding or guiding the vehicle. Navigation system which comprises a best path definition means.