JP3393443B2 - Vehicle navigation device and storage medium - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle navigation system, and more particularly to automatic re-search when a vehicle deviates from a guidance route.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a vehicle navigation device which searches for a guide route to a destination by inputting a destination, a passing point, a facility to be seen, and the like, and guiding along the searched route. Such a device usually has a function of automatically re-searching when it deviates from the guide route. In this automatic re-search, when it is detected that the current position deviates from the guide route, all routes to the destination are searched or road information around the current position is used to return to the original route. I try to find a route.

[0003]

When the system deviates from the guide route, all routes to the destination are searched, but it takes a very long time to complete the search. Therefore, in order to shorten the search time, we usually use the road information around the current position to search for a route to return to the original route, but in this method, it is standard to return to the original route. Therefore, there are many cases in which a route that does not meet the driver's will, such as a detour, is searched for.

The present invention is intended to solve the above-mentioned problems, and shortens the search time by selectively using the whole route search or the peripheral route search according to the condition when the route is deviated, and the driver's desire. The purpose is to be able to provide guidance in accordance with.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a vehicle navigation device that searches for a route to a destination and provides guidance along the searched route, depending on conditions when the vehicle deviates from the guidance route. Either the peripheral route search process or the entire route to the destination search process is selected, and it has the function of re-searching by the selected search process. It is characterized in that all route search processing to the destination is selected on the condition that is detected. Further, the present invention is a vehicle navigation device that searches for a route to a destination and guides along the searched route, and a current position detection unit that detects the current position, and a current position detection means that the current position deviates from the route. An off-route detecting means for detecting, a route search processing selecting means for selecting one of route search processing around the current position or all route search processing to the destination, and the route search processing selecting means. A route search means for performing a route search by a route search process, wherein the route search process selection means is a condition that the route deviation detecting means detects a route deviation which goes straight at an intersection to be turned a predetermined number of times, The feature is that all route search processing to the destination is selected.

Further, according to the present invention, in a storage medium having a built-in program for searching a route to a destination and providing guidance along the searched route, it is detected that the current position deviates from the route, and the vicinity of the current position is detected. Select the route search process of either the route search process of No. 1 or the entire route to the destination, and perform the route search by the selected route search process. On the condition that it is, a program for selecting all route search processing to the destination is incorporated.

[0007]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a vehicle navigation device to which the present invention is applied. The vehicle navigation device according to the present invention is required for input / output device 1 for inputting / outputting information regarding route guidance, current position detecting device 2 for detecting information regarding the current position of the vehicle, and route calculation as shown in FIG. Information storage device 3 in which various navigation data and display / voice guidance data necessary for route guidance and programs (application and / or OS) are recorded, display / voice guidance processing required for route search processing and route guidance And a central processing unit 4 for controlling the entire system. First, each configuration will be described.

The input / output device 1 instructs the central processing unit 4 to perform navigation processing at the will of the driver so that the driver can input the destination or output the guidance information by voice and / or screen when the driver needs it. In addition, it has a function of printing out the processed data. As a means for realizing the function, the input unit has a touch switch 11 and an operation switch for inputting a destination by a telephone number, coordinates on a map, or requesting route guidance. Of course, an input device such as a remote controller may be used. In the output unit, input data is displayed on the screen, or a display 12 that automatically displays route guidance on the screen in response to a driver's request, data processed by the central processing unit 4, and stored in the information storage device 3 are stored. A printer 13 that prints out the data and a speaker 16 that outputs the route guidance by voice are provided.

Here, a voice recognition device for enabling voice input or a recording card reading device for reading data recorded in an IC card or a magnetic card can be added. In addition, an information center that stores data necessary for navigation and provides information via communication lines at the driver's request, and a notebook-type electronic device that stores driver-specific data such as map data and destination data in advance. It is also possible to add a data communication device for exchanging data with an information source such as a device.

The display 12 is composed of a color CRT or a color liquid crystal display, and is necessary for navigation such as a route setting screen based on map data or guidance data processed by the central processing unit 4, a section map screen, an intersection map screen, etc. In addition to outputting all screens in color display, buttons for setting route guidance, guidance during route guidance, and screen switching operations are displayed on this screen. In particular, passing intersection information such as the name of a passing intersection is displayed in a pop-up color on the section map screen at any time.

This display 12 is provided in the instrument panel near the driver's seat, and the driver can confirm the current position of the vehicle by looking at the section map and obtain information on the route from now on. it can. Further, the display 12 is provided with a touch switch 11 corresponding to the display of the function buttons, and is configured to execute the above-mentioned operation based on a signal input by touching the button. The input signal generating means including the button and the touch switch constitutes an input section, but a detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

The present position detecting means 2 obtains information by utilizing the present position satellite navigation system (GPS) of the vehicle.
By using the PS receiver 21, the VICS information receiver 22 for obtaining information using FM multiplex broadcasting, radio wave beacons, optical beacons, etc., mobile phones, personal computers, etc., an information center (for example, ATIS) Data transmitter / receiver 23 for bidirectionally communicating information with other vehicles
And an absolute azimuth sensor 24 that detects the traveling azimuth of the vehicle in an absolute azimuth by using, for example, geomagnetism, and a relative azimuth that detects the traveling azimuth of the vehicle in a relative azimuth by using, for example, a steering sensor or a gyro sensor. The sensor 25 and, for example, a distance sensor 26 that detects the traveling distance of the vehicle from the number of rotations of the wheels are used to transmit and receive information regarding the traveling of the vehicle, such as road information and traffic information, and information regarding the current position of the vehicle. It is a device for detecting and transmitting / receiving information on the current position.

The information storage device 3 is an external storage device that stores a navigation program and data, and is composed of, for example, a CD-ROM. The program is a program for performing processing such as route search and automatic re-search (peripheral route search, all route search), processing program shown in the flowchart of this embodiment, display output control necessary for route guidance, and voice guidance. A program for performing voice output control necessary for the above and data necessary therefor, and display information data necessary for route guidance and map display are stored. In addition, the data consists of files such as map data, search data, guidance data, map matching data, destination data, registration point data, road data, genre data, etc., and all data necessary for the navigation device is stored. . The present invention can be applied to a type in which only data is stored in the CD-ROM and the program is stored in the central processing unit.

The central processing unit 4 has a CPU 40 for executing various arithmetic processes, a flash memory 41 for reading and storing a program from a CD-ROM of the information storage device 3,
ROM 42 storing a program (program reading means) for performing program check and update processing of flash memory 41, set destination point coordinates, road name code No. Based on the display output control signal from the RAM 43, the image memory 44 in which the image data used for the screen display on the display is stored, the RAM 43 for temporarily storing the searched route guidance information and the data being calculated. An image processor 45, C for extracting image data from the image memory 44, performing image processing and outputting the image data to a display.
Information storage device 3 based on audio output control signal from PU
The speaker 1 which synthesizes the voice, the phrase, the sentence, the sound, etc. read from
6, a voice processor 46 for outputting to 6, a communication interface 47 for exchanging input / output data by communication, a sensor input interface 48 for taking in a sensor signal of the current position detection device 2, and a date and time for writing internal diagnostic information. It is equipped with a clock 49 and the like. Here, the route guidance is performed by screen display and voice output, and the presence or absence of voice output can be selected by the driver.

The program for performing the above-mentioned update process may be stored in an external storage device. The programs according to the present invention and other programs for executing navigation may all be stored in a CD-ROM that is an external storage medium, or some or all of these programs may be stored in the ROM 42 on the main body side. Good.

Various navigation functions are realized by inputting data and programs stored in the external storage medium as external signals to the central processing unit of the navigation apparatus body and performing arithmetic processing.

The navigation device according to the present invention, as described above, has a relatively large capacity flash memory 41 for reading a program from the CD-ROM of the external storage device.
A small-capacity ROM 42 storing a program (program reading means) for performing a CD startup process is built in.
The flash memory 41 is a non-volatile storage means that retains stored information even when the power is turned off. Then, as the CD startup processing, the program of the ROM 42, which is the program reading means, is activated to check the program stored in the flash memory 41, and the disc management information of the CD-ROM of the information storage device 3 is read. Program loading process (update process)
It is performed by judging from this information and the state of the flash memory 41.

2 to 4 show examples of the structure of main data files stored in the information storage device 3 according to the present invention shown in FIG. FIG. 2A shows a guide road data file in which data necessary for calculating a route by the route calculating means and performing route guidance is stored. For each number of roads n, the road number, length, and road Address of attribute data, shape data, address of size and guidance data,
It consists of each size data. The road number is set for each of the roads between the branch points (direction, return). As shown in FIG. 3A, the road attribute data as road guidance assistance information day is data indicating the number of lanes, whether the road is an elevated road, an elevated road, an underpass, an underpass, or a lane. is there. As shown in FIG. 2B, when the road is divided into a plurality of nodes, the shape data has coordinate data of east longitude and north latitude for each m node number.

As shown in FIG. 2C, the guidance data includes intersection (or branch) name, caution point data, road name data, road name voice data address, size and destination data address, size. It consists of each data. As shown in FIG. 4 (A), the caution data is data indicating information such as railroad crossings, tunnel entrances, tunnel exits, width reduction points, and nothing. Crossings other than branch points, tunnels, etc. This is the data for calling the driver's attention. As shown in FIG. 3B, the road name data includes information on road types of highways, urban highways, toll roads, general roads (national roads, prefectural roads, etc.), highways, urban highways, and toll roads. It is data indicating information indicating whether the road is a main line or an installation road, and is composed of road type data and an in-type number which is individual number data for each road type.

As shown in FIG. 2D, the destination data includes destination road number, destination name, destination name voice data address, size and destination direction data, and travel guidance data. The destination name also includes a direction name. In addition, destination direction data is invalid (does not use destination direction data), unnecessary (does not guide), goes straight,
It is data indicating information on the right direction, the diagonal right direction, the direction returning to the right, the left direction, the diagonal left direction, and the direction returning to the left. As shown in FIG. 4 (B), the traveling guidance data stores data for guiding which lane to drive when there are a plurality of lanes, and whether it is from the right, from the left, or from the center. ,
It is data indicating information of nothing.

Next, the navigation processing of the present invention will be described. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the flow of the entire system of the navigation device according to the present invention. When the program is read from the information storage device 3 into the CPU 40 of the central processing unit 4 and the route guidance program is activated,
The current position detection device 2 detects the current position and displays a map around the current position as a center, and also displays the name of the current position and the like (step S1). Next, a destination is set using a target name such as a place name or a facility name, a telephone number or an address, a registration point, a road name, etc. (step S2), and a route search from the current position to the destination is performed (step S3). ). When the route is determined, the current position is traced by the current position detection device 2 and the route guidance / display is repeatedly performed until the destination is reached (step S4). When the detour setting is input before reaching the destination, the search area is set, the search is performed again in the search area, and the route guidance is repeated until the destination is reached. If you track your current location and detect that you are out of the guidance route,
Again, all the routes from the current location to the destination set in step S2 are re-searched, or a search area is set with the intersection on the guide route around the current location as the destination and re-searched.

Next, the automatic re-search process of the present invention will be described. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a search processing flow of the present invention, FIG.
Is a diagram illustrating a method of determining whether or not guidance is required, and FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a re-search method. In FIG.
This is a process in which a route to the destination has already been obtained and the vehicle is traveling along this route. First, the current position is detected (step 11), it is determined whether the detected locus of the current position is on the route (step 12), and if it is on the route, route guidance is continued (step 13). To the destination (step 14). On the other hand, when the vehicle departs from the route (step 12N), it is determined whether or not the current location is a searchable road such as a narrow back road or a parking lot (step 15),
If the search is not possible (step 15N), it is necessary to drive until the road can be searched. If it is a searchable road (step 15Y), it is determined whether or not guidance is required by comparing the road at a point deviating from the route with the road currently running (steps 16 and 17).

For example, as shown in FIG. 7, when the guide route is a right turn at the intersection O (thick line in the figure), the processing in the steps 16 and 17 is performed when the vehicle goes straight through the intersection O (in the figure). (Arrow), the driver determines that he / she does not need guidance because he / she is conscious of leaving the guidance route. That is, the current road is compared with the route passing through the intersection O, and when it is detected that the vehicle has gone straight at the intersection where it should turn, it is determined that the guidance is unnecessary.

If it is determined in step 17 that guidance is required (step 17Y), a search area is set, route search processing is performed around the current location with an intersection on the original route as a destination (step 18), and route search is performed. If it succeeds (step 19Y), the vehicle travels along the route returning to the original route (thick line), and the process from step 12 is repeated.

When it is determined in step 17 that the guidance is unnecessary, that is, when the vehicle goes straight through an intersection to be turned, the system counter is incremented by 1, and it is determined whether or not the count value of the counter is a predetermined number n or more. ,
When the number of times is less than the predetermined number n, a peripheral route search for returning to the original route is performed. When the number of times is a predetermined number n or more, regardless of the original route, a new route search up to the target value is newly performed,
Reset the counter value. This is because if you go straight through an intersection that should turn only once, you may forget to turn, so when you go straight through an intersection where you should turn several times, it is determined that the driver has no intention of returning to the original route. The whole route is searched.

The predetermined number of times n, which is a condition for determining whether or not to perform the all-routes search, can be set as necessary, for example, 1, 2, 3, ... 10 as shown in the table of FIG. If n = 1, the entire route is searched only by going straight at the intersection to be turned, and if n = 10, the entire route is searched after going straight 10 times at the intersection to be turned. It will be. Generally, it is considered that n = 3 to 5 is appropriate, but in the following, in FIG.
= 3 is set, that is, an example in which the driver has no intention of returning to the original route when going straight at an intersection that should turn three times will be described with reference to FIG. 9. As shown by the bold line in FIG. 9, the guidance route is at intersections C1, C2, C3, C4, C
In the case of the route to the destination D through 5, C6, C7,
When the vehicle travels straight at the intersection C1 without making a right turn and the current position is P1, the counter is incremented by 1. However, since the count value is smaller than 3, the peripheral route search for setting the search area and returning to the route indicated by the bold line is performed. Although the route for turning right at the intersection E1 was guided by this search, the intersection E1
If you go straight, the count-up will be "2". At this time, since the count value is smaller than 3, a peripheral route search for returning to the original route is performed at the current position P2.
Despite the fact that the route for turning right at the intersection E2 was guided in this search, if you go straight ahead at the intersection E2, the count value becomes "3", and at the current value P3, it is assumed that the driver has no intention of returning to the original route. A route search is performed.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 shows a case in which a peripheral search or an all-routes search is selected according to the road type when the route deviates, and when it is determined that the road type is, for example, a circular line or a toll road, It is a figure which shows the example which performed the route search process. In the guide route (solid arrow in the figure) from the A direction, enter the loop line like the Metropolitan Expressway at the branch point P2 and go down the loop line at the branch point P3 toward the B direction (solid arrow in the figure)
At the branch point P2, the vehicle accidentally bends in the opposite direction as indicated by the dotted arrow, and as a result, the route that descends at the branch point Q1 and returns to the branch point P1 through the branch points Q2 and Q3 is re-searched ( The case where the peripheral route is searched) is shown. However, in the case of the loop line, if the vehicle does not go down at the branch point Q1 and travels on the loop line as shown by the broken line, it should reach the branch point P3. Determines that the driver intentionally deviates from the guide route and searches for the entire route. This kind of case is not limited to the loop line, but on types of roads such as toll roads and farm roads that have clear entrances and exits, if there is a route deviation, it is necessary to reach the destination rather than returning to the original route. Sometimes it is better to search all routes for better results. Therefore, by determining whether the road type when the route deviation occurs is a specific type of road, such as a loop line or a toll road, and performing an entire route search according to the determination result, a better guide is provided. It can be performed.

FIG. 11 shows another embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 11, intersections C1, C2, C from the direction A
In the case of the route going through direction 3, C4, C5, C6 to the direction B, as shown by the solid arrow, depart from the route at the intersection C1 and turn right. Ignoring the fact that the return route was guided, it goes from intersection P1 to intersection C3, and at intersection C3, it deviates from the original guide route to intersection P2, and at this time, the route returns from the next intersection P2 to intersection C4 by re-searching. Ignoring the fact that the vehicle is being guided, it shows a case where the vehicle travels from the intersection P2 to the intersection P3 and the intersection C5, and further at the intersection C5, the vehicle deviates from the original route. When the route searched in this way is repeatedly or continuously turned or goes straight out of the route, it is considered that there are many cases in which the route currently being guided is disliked. Even in this case, it is necessary to search all routes. In this case, a predetermined number of times consecutively, for example, 2
All routes may be searched when the route is deviated an appropriate number of times out of 10 times. In addition, when the route is deviated many times, when the route deviates due to a bend and when the route deviates through a straight line, the weighting is differentiated. Alternatively, the entire route may be searched when the total value of all route deviations reaches a predetermined value.

In this way, when the driver intentionally deviates from the guidance route, the peripheral route search is stopped for the first time and the entire route to the destination is searched, so that the entire route search is not performed unnecessarily. On the other hand, since only the peripheral route search is not always performed, it is possible to shorten the search processing time and provide guidance according to the driver's intention.

[0030]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the route deviation is detected a predetermined number of times in succession or when the route deviation is detected in a specific road type, after the route deviation, the driver is Since it was judged that there was no intention to follow the route search and switched to the whole route search from the peripheral search to the destination, it is possible to effectively use the peripheral route search and the whole route search when the route is off, and the search time It becomes possible to shorten the travel time and provide guidance in line with the driver's intention.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a vehicle navigation device to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a main data file according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a main data file according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a main data file according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the flow of the entire system of the navigation device according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a search processing flow of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a method of determining whether or not guidance is required.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a table of a predetermined number of times.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a re-search method.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a case where the route is off the loop line.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a case where a route deviation occurs continuously.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Input / output device, 2 ... Present position detection device, 3 ... Information storage device, 4 ... Central processing unit, 11 ... Touch switch, 12
... display, 13 ... printer, 16 ... speaker, 2
1 ... GPS receiver, 22 ... Beacon receiver, 23 ...
Data transmitting / receiving device, 40 ... CPU, 41 ... Flash memory, 42 ... ROM, 43 ... RAM, 44 ... Image memory, 45 ... Image processor, 46 ... Voice processor, 4
7 ... Communication interface, 48 ... Sensor input interface, 49 ... Clock.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── --Continued from the front page (56) References JP-A-8-201091 (JP, A) JP-A-8-189837 (JP, A) JP-A-8-30193 (JP, A) JP-A-8- 54252 (JP, A) JP-A-5-313575 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G01C 21/00 G08G 1/0969 G09B 29/10

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. In a vehicle navigation device that searches for a route to a destination and guides along the searched route, a route search process around the current position or a purpose is performed according to the condition when the vehicle deviates from the guide route. any of the search process or the entire route search processing to the earth is selected, it has the function of re-search by the selected search processing, on condition that the route out of the intersection is to turn the predetermined number of times straight is detected , A vehicle navigation device characterized by selecting all route search processing to a destination. 2. A vehicle navigation device which searches for a route to a destination and guides along the searched route, and a current position detecting means for detecting the current position, and detecting that the current position deviates from the route. The route deviation detection means, the route search processing selection means for selecting either the route search processing around the current position or the route search processing up to the destination, and the route search processing selection means. Route search means for performing a route search by route search processing, wherein the route search processing selection means is provided on the condition that the route deviation detecting means detects a deviation from the route which goes straight at an intersection to be turned a predetermined number of times. A vehicular navigation device characterized by selecting a process for searching all routes to the ground. 3. A route search process for detecting a route to a destination and detecting that the current position deviates from the route in a storage medium including a program for guiding along the searched route, Or, select any route search process of all route to the destination, perform the route search by the selected route search process, and on the condition that the deviation from the route that goes straight at the intersection to be turned a predetermined number of times is detected. , A storage medium containing a program for selecting the entire route search process to the destination.