JP3735258B2 - Navigation device and recording medium - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a navigation device that is mounted on a vehicle and searches for a recommended route to a destination, and more particularly, to a navigation device that uses information related to ETC, and a recording medium.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an in-vehicle navigation device detects a current position of a vehicle by receiving a GPS signal transmitted from a GPS (Global Positioning Systems) satellite, detects information detected by an autonomous navigation unit of the navigation device, and the navigation device Based on the map information recorded in the recording medium, the current position of the vehicle is matched with the road shape of the map information, and the current position of the vehicle is displayed together with the map on the navigation screen.
[0003]
When the destination and various conditions are set by the user, the recommended route to the destination is searched based on the set conditions based on the detected current position. Here, the various conditions are conditions such as whether to pass a toll road, give priority to time, give priority to distance, or the like. The searched recommended route is displayed on the navigation screen together with the toll and the like when traveling through the required time and toll road.
[0004]
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a conventional navigation device 10. As shown in FIG. 5, the navigation device 10 includes a GPS antenna 11, an autonomous navigation unit 12, a main controller 13, a reading device 14, a database 15, an operation unit 16, a video processing unit 17, a display 18 and the like. The
[0005]
Specifically, the main controller 13 of the navigation device 10 receives a GPS signal transmitted from a GPS satellite via the GPS antenna 11 to acquire absolute position information (latitude, longitude) of the vehicle, and autonomous navigation. A relative position change of the vehicle is obtained from the angle change information and the movement distance information detected by the unit 12. Next, the map information stored in the database 15 is read out via the reading device 14, and the current position of the vehicle is added to the road shape of the map data based on the absolute position information of the vehicle and the relative position change. To match. Then, in the video processing unit 17, data obtained by matching the current position of the vehicle with the map data is converted into displayable image data and displayed on the display device 18 as a navigation screen.
[0006]
Further, when an arbitrary destination or various conditions are set via the operation unit 16, the main controller 13 searches for a recommended route from the current location to the destination based on the set conditions. Here, when a toll road is included in the searched recommended route, the main controller 13 obtains toll road toll information from the database 15 via the reading device 14 and passes to the toll road included in the recommended route. The fee is calculated, and the recommended route and fee information are converted into data that can be displayed in the video processing unit 17 and displayed on the display 18. Then, route guidance is performed from the current location to the destination according to the recommended route.
[0007]
On the other hand, in recent years, an automatic toll collection system (ETC: ETC) that enables tolls on toll roads such as expressways to be collected without stopping the vehicle can reduce traffic congestion, reduce emissions, and reduce labor costs. Electronic Toll Collection Systems) has been developed.
In this ETC, wireless communication is performed when the vehicle passes through the toll gate between the electronic device installed at the toll gate on the toll road and the electronic device mounted on the vehicle, and the conventional pass ticket delivery is changed. Send and receive necessary information.
[0008]
Specifically, at the entrance of the toll road, when the electronic device at the toll gate detects that the vehicle has approached the gate with the vehicle detection sensor, it determines the vehicle type and number, and the time, vehicle type, number, Information on the toll gate and the like is transmitted to the vehicle electronic device. And the electronic device of a vehicle receives and memorize | stores these information, and transmits these information to the electronic device of a toll gate in the toll gate of a toll road exit. Then, the electronic device at the exit toll gate calculates the toll on the toll road from the received information, charges the toll for the vehicle, and transmits charging information including the toll to the electronic device of the vehicle. In this way, the charged toll is collected by a predetermined method such as credit card, account debit, prepaid card, or bill payment at a later date.
[0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional navigation device 10 as described above, the toll road charge information stored in the database 15 is not updated. Therefore, when the toll road charge is revised, the charge differs from the actual charge. Was displayed on the navigation screen. Alternatively, each time the fee is revised, the user must update the fee information in the database, which is troublesome and troublesome.
[0010]
An object of the present invention is to provide a navigation device and a recording medium that provide correct fee information by updating information stored in a database to the latest information.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  The invention described in claim 1
  An ETC unit that performs toll collection processing by performing communication with the entrance toll gate electronic device and the exit toll gate electronic device of the ETC on the toll road and receiving billing information transmitted from the exit toll gate electronic device (for example, FIG. 1 ETC unit 111),In a navigation device (for example, the navigation device 1 shown in FIG. 1) that detects the current location and searches for a recommended route to the destination,
  Storage means (for example, database 105 shown in FIG. 1) for storing toll road toll as toll information for each section;
Received by the ETC unitBilling InformationinA toll acquisition means (for example, the main controller 103 that performs the process shown in step S201 in FIG. 4),
  The toll acquired by the toll acquisition means and the storage meansInRememberedingCompare tollsComparing means to
By the comparison meansThe two tolls are differentDeterminedIn caseIsSaidReceivedBased on the billing information, the storage meansInRememberedingUpdate toll informationAre not updated if determined to be the sameupdatecontrolMeans (for example, the main controller 103 that performs the process shown in step S205 of FIG. 4);
  It is characterized by having.
[0012]
  According to the invention of claim 1,An ETC unit that performs toll collection processing by performing communication with the entrance toll gate electronic device and the exit toll gate electronic device of the ETC on the toll road and receiving billing information transmitted from the exit toll gate electronic device,In a navigation device that detects the current location and searches for a recommended route to the destination, the toll for toll roads is stored as toll information for each section by the storage means, and the toll acquisition meansBut,Received by ETC unitBilling InformationinGet tolls fromTo do. And the comparison meansCompare the toll acquired by the toll acquisition means with the toll stored by the storage meansTo do. As a result of comparison,If the two tolls are differentonly, Storage means based on the billing informationInRememberedingSince the toll information is updated, even if the toll road fee is changed, the database can be updated based on the information acquired from the ETC of the toll road to which the toll road passes, so that troublesome updating work is not required.
[0013]
  The invention according to claim 2
  An ETC unit that performs toll collection processing by performing communication with the entrance toll gate electronic device and the exit toll gate electronic device of the ETC on the toll road and receiving billing information transmitted from the exit toll gate electronic device,In a navigation device that detects the current location and searches for a recommended route to the destination,
  Storage means for storing tolls for toll roads as toll information for each section;
  When the recommended route includes a toll road, the toll information stored in the storage means is acquired and a toll fee calculating means for calculating a toll corresponding to the section of the toll road (for example, FIG. 3). A main controller 103) for performing the processing shown in step S106;
Received by the ETC unitBilling InformationinToll acquisition means for acquiring tolls from
  Comparing the toll calculated by the toll calculating means with the toll acquired by the toll acquiring meansComparing means to
By the comparison meansIf the two tolls are differentJudgedIn caseIsSaidReceivedBased on the billing information, the storage meansInRememberedingUpdate toll informationAre not updated if determined to be the sameupdatecontrolMeans,
  It is characterized by having.
[0014]
  According to the invention of claim 2,An ETC unit that performs toll collection processing by performing communication with the entrance toll gate electronic device and the exit toll gate electronic device of the ETC on the toll road and receiving billing information transmitted from the exit toll gate electronic device,In a navigation device that detects the current location and searches for a recommended route to the destination, the toll for toll roads is stored as toll information for each section by the storage means, and the toll road is included in the recommended route by the toll calculation means. If included, obtain toll information stored by the storage means and calculate the toll corresponding to the section of the toll roadTo do. on the other hand,Toll acquisition meansBut,Received by ETC unitBilling InformationinGet tolls fromTo do. And the comparison meansWhen the toll calculated by the toll calculation means and the toll acquired by the toll acquisition means are compared, and the two tolls are differentonly,Update control meansSince the toll information stored in the storage means is updated based on the billing information, the calculated toll and the toll charged can be confirmed, and the user can understand when the fee has been revised. It is easy to update the database.
[0015]
The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 2,
The toll calculating means calculates a toll based on the toll information updated by the updating means.
[0016]
According to the invention described in claim 3, since the toll calculation means calculates the toll based on the toll information updated by the updating means, the correct toll is calculated based on the accurate information of the updated database. Charges can be calculated and displayed.
[0017]
The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2,
The billing information includes at least one of a toll, a toll section, and a date and time of travel.
[0018]
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the billing information includes at least one of a toll, a toll section, and a toll date / time, new toll information can be updated for each section of the toll road that has passed. In addition, for example, in the case of a toll road with a uniform toll regardless of the toll road, such as the Metropolitan Expressway, the toll can be updated uniformly regardless of the tolled road, so the section that does not actually pass Even so, you can display new tolls.
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
1 to 4 are diagrams showing an embodiment of a navigation device to which the present invention is applied.
[0020]
First, the configuration will be described.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a navigation device 1 according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 1, a navigation device 1 includes a GPS antenna 101, an autonomous navigation unit 102, a main controller 103, a reading device 104, a database 105, an operation unit 106, a storage unit 107, a video processing unit 108, a display 109, and an ETC antenna 110. The ETC unit 111 and the like are configured, and these units are connected by a bus.
[0021]
The GPS antenna 101 is an antenna that receives a GPS signal transmitted from a GPS satellite. The received GPS signal is output to the main controller 103, and the absolute current position (latitude, longitude) of the vehicle can be detected based on the GPS signal.
[0022]
The autonomous navigation unit 102 includes an angle sensor, a distance sensor, and the like. The angle sensor detects the angular velocity of the vehicle (the rotation angle per unit time) and calculates the amount of change in the moving direction. A distance sensor detects the pulse signal output according to rotation of a wheel, and calculates the moving amount | distance of a vehicle. The autonomous navigation unit 102 calculates a relative position change of the vehicle based on the angular velocity signal and the vehicle speed pulse signal, and outputs it to the main controller unit 103.
[0023]
The main controller unit 103 reads and executes various system programs stored in the storage unit 107, and drives and controls each unit of the navigation device 1. Also, various application programs for navigation stored in the storage unit 107 are read out and various processes are performed based on data input via the GPS antenna 101, the autonomous navigation unit 102, the ETC unit 111, the operation unit 106, and the like. Then, the processing result is stored in the storage unit 107 and output to the video processing unit 108 to display the processing result on the display unit 109.
[0024]
Specifically, the main controller unit 103 performs a toll fee calculation process (see FIG. 3) and a database update process (see FIG. 4), which will be described later, based on a toll fee calculation processing program and a database update program stored in the storage unit 107. ).
[0025]
In this toll calculation process, the main controller 103 measures the current position of the vehicle based on the data input from the GPS antenna 101 and the autonomous navigation unit 102 and displays it on the navigation screen of the display 109. This current location is set as the departure location. When a destination and various conditions are set via the operation unit 106, a recommended route is searched based on the set conditions. Here, when a toll road is included in the recommended route, the toll information file stored in the database 105 is read via the reading device 104, the toll for the toll road to be used is calculated, and the calculation result is stored. The information is stored in the unit 107 and displayed on the display 109.
[0026]
Further, in the database update process, the main controller 103 acquires the toll fee to be charged through the ETC unit 111 at the exit toll gate on the toll road. Next, the toll calculated in the toll calculation process is compared with the toll transmitted from the exit toll gate. If the two tolls are different, the toll information received from the exit toll gate is stored in a toll fee information file 105a described later, and the toll information is updated.
[0027]
The reading device 104 reads predetermined data from the database 105 based on an instruction from the main controller 103, and outputs it to the main controller 103.
[0028]
The database 105 stores a map information file, a road information file, an ETC information file, a facility information file, a toll information file, and the like. The map information file stores data used for displaying the map. Specifically, map data, background data such as roads, seas, and lakes, and character data such as place names and icons are stored. The road information file stores data such as road attributes (road names, national roads, prefectural roads, toll roads), road connections, and the like.
[0029]
The ETC information file stores the ETC installation location on the toll road. In the facility information file, information on gas stations, convenience stores, restaurants, and the like is stored as data that can be searched with 50 sounds, telephone numbers, facility classifications, and the like.
[0030]
In the toll fee information file, a toll for the toll road is stored for each toll section. If the toll received at the exit toll gate is different from the toll stored in the toll file, the toll received at the exit toll gate is stored in the toll information file as a new toll. .
[0031]
Next, the toll information file will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a toll fee information file 105 a stored in the database 105. In FIG. 2, a section of a toll road is first stored for each toll gate, and then a toll corresponding to this section is stored. Further, when the vehicle passes through the section, if the toll received from the exit toll booth is different from the toll already stored, a new toll is stored as “toll obtained from ETC”. When a new toll is stored in “fee obtained from ETC”, “fee to be presented when searching for recommended route” is updated to “fee obtained from ETC”.
[0032]
For example, when the vehicle passes through the toll road “Tokyo ⇔ Yokohama Aoba”, the toll received from the exit toll gate is “450 yen”. Next, when the toll already stored in the toll information file 105a is read, the toll is “400 yen”. Therefore, “450 yen” received from the exit toll booth is stored as the charge obtained from the ETC, and the charge presented when searching for the recommended route is also updated to “450 yen”. As a result, when the toll road “Tokyo ⇔ Yokohama Aoba” is used in the next route search, “450 yen” is presented as the toll.
[0033]
The operation unit 106 includes various keys associated with various functions such as navigation use in addition to character keys, numeric keys, and search keys, and outputs an operation signal for the operated key to the main controller 103. The operation unit 106 may include a pointing device such as a touch panel and an input device such as a remote controller as necessary.
[0034]
The storage unit 107 includes a recording medium (not shown) in which programs, data, and the like are stored in advance. In the recording medium, various applications of the navigation device 1 executed by the main controller 103, and these programs are stored. Such data is stored. For example, on the recording medium, various programs such as a toll calculation program for performing the above processing, a database update processing program, a route searched in the past, a route through which a vehicle has passed in the past, and an operation of the navigation device 1 The setting data etc. in which various setting contents related to are recorded.
[0035]
The video processing unit 108 converts various processing results input from the main controller 103 into data that can be displayed on the display 109 and outputs the data to the display 109.
[0036]
The display device 109 is configured by a color liquid crystal display, and the display contents for navigation converted from the input content in the operation unit 106 and the data input from the main controller 103 and displayed as data that can be displayed by the video processing unit 108 are displayed on the display screen. indicate.
[0037]
The ETC antenna 110 transmits and receives information necessary for toll collection to and from electronic devices installed at a toll gate on a toll road.
[0038]
The ETC unit 111 is toll collection information processing means for processing information necessary for toll collection that is transmitted and received via the ETC antenna 110. Specifically, the ETC unit 111 receives toll collection information (time when the vehicle entered, vehicle type, number, toll gate identification information) transmitted from the electronic device at the entrance toll gate and stores it in the storage unit 107. . Next, the fee collection information is transmitted to the electronic device at the exit toll gate, and the billing information transmitted from the electronic device at the exit toll gate is received. This billing information includes information related to tolls, toll sections, and travel dates, and the ETC unit 111 stores the received billing information in the storage unit 107 and outputs the billing information to the main controller 103. If there is a change in the toll, the toll information in the database 105 is updated based on this billing information.
[0039]
Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.
The programs for realizing the functions described in the flowcharts of FIGS. 3 and 4 shown below are stored in the storage unit 107 in the form of readable program codes, and the main controller 103 The operations according to the program code are sequentially executed. It is also possible to execute operations peculiar to the present embodiment by using programs / data supplied from a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM control unit or the like (not shown).
[0040]
First, the toll calculation process executed by the main controller 103 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
First, the main controller 103 measures the current position of the vehicle based on various information input from the GPS antenna 101, the autonomous navigation unit 102, and the database 105, and displays the current position of the vehicle along with the map data on the display 109. (Step S101).
[0041]
Then, the main controller 103 inputs the destination and various conditions, sets the destination (step S102), and searches for the route to the destination based on the various conditions using the current position of the vehicle as the departure point (step S102). Step S103).
[0042]
Next, the main controller 103 determines whether a toll road is included in the searched route. If the toll road is not included (step S104; NO), the toll calculation processing is terminated as it is. If the toll road is included (step S104; YES), the toll is transferred from the toll information file 105a in the database 105. Charge information is read (step S105).
[0043]
Further, the main controller 103 calculates the toll for the toll section included in the searched route based on the read toll information (step S106). Then, the calculated toll is stored in the storage unit 107 and displayed on the display unit 109 (step S107), and the toll fee calculating process is terminated.
[0044]
Next, database update processing executed by the main controller 103 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
First, the main controller 103 acquires charging information from the ETC unit 111, and acquires a toll fee that is actually charged and is included in the charging information (step S201).
[0045]
Next, in the above toll calculation process, the calculated toll is read from the storage unit 107 (step S202). Whether the toll charged at the exit toll gate matches the toll calculated in the toll calculation process It is determined whether or not (step S203).
[0046]
If the tolls match (step S203; YES), it is determined that there is no change in tolls, and the process ends. If the tolls do not match (step S203; NO), the reader 104 is turned on. Then, the toll information is read from the toll information file 105a (step S204).
[0047]
Then, the main controller 103 stores the new toll in the “toll obtained from ETC” in the corresponding toll section of the toll information file 105a, updates the “toll presented at the time of search”, and performs this database update processing. The process ends (step S205).
[0048]
As described above, according to the navigation device 1 of the present embodiment, it is configured such that information on toll collection can be transmitted and received between the electronic device installed at the toll gate and the ETC unit 111 by wireless communication. When a toll road is included in the recommended route searched by the above, the toll is calculated based on toll information stored in the database 105 so as to be updatable. Then, at the exit toll gate, the toll fee charged from the electronic device at the toll gate is received, and if the calculated toll fee is different from the toll fee to be charged, the toll fee stored in the database 105 is stored. The information is updated based on the billing information (traffic section, toll, date and time) input from the ETC unit 111.
[0049]
In the above embodiment, the case where the toll calculated at the time of route search is compared with the toll received at the exit toll booth, but the vehicle is charged even when the toll is not calculated at the time of route search. When the user passes the road and receives the toll at the exit toll gate, the toll information can always be read from the toll information file 105a and compared with the already stored toll information.
[0050]
Therefore, even if the toll road charge is changed, the database can be updated based on the information acquired from the ETC, so that troublesome update work is not required. In addition, the correct toll can be calculated and displayed based on accurate information in the updated database. For example, if there are multiple recommended routes, the best recommended route is selected by displaying the correct toll. It is possible to reduce the economic burden on the user.
[0051]
In addition, for example, in the case of a toll road with a uniform toll regardless of the toll road, such as the Metropolitan Expressway, a uniform toll can be updated regardless of the tolled road, so the section that does not actually pass Even so, you can display new tolls.
[0052]
Note that the description in the present embodiment shows an example of the navigation apparatus according to the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this.
For example, the input operation may be configured to allow voice input, or may be configured to notify toll information by voice.
[0053]
Further, the information to be updated is not limited to the toll information, and the information stored in the ETC information file stored in the database may be updated when a newly installed ETC is passed.
In addition, the detailed configuration and detailed operation of the navigation device 1 according to the present embodiment can be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
[0054]
【The invention's effect】
According to the navigation device of the invention described in claim 1 and the recording medium described in claim 5, the database can be updated based on the information acquired from the ETC of the toll road that has passed, so that the user can perform troublesome update work. do not need.
[0055]
According to the navigation device of the second aspect of the present invention, the calculated toll and the toll charged can be confirmed, and when the fee is revised, the database can be easily updated by the user.
[0056]
According to the navigation device of the third aspect of the invention, it is possible to calculate and display a correct toll based on the accurate information in the updated database.
[0057]
According to the navigation device of the fourth aspect of the invention, new toll information can be updated for each section of the toll road that has passed. In addition, for example, in the case of a toll road with a uniform toll regardless of the toll road, such as the Metropolitan Expressway, the toll can be updated uniformly regardless of the tolled road, so the section that does not actually pass Even so, you can display new tolls.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a navigation apparatus 1 according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied.
2 is a diagram showing an example of a toll information file 105a stored in the database 105 of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a toll calculation process executed by the main controller 103 of FIG. 1;
4 is a flowchart showing database update processing executed by the main controller 103 of FIG. 1; FIG.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a conventional navigation device 10;
[Explanation of symbols]
1, 10 Navigation device
11, 101 GPS antenna
12, 102 Autonomous navigation unit
13, 103 Main controller
14, 104 Reader
15, 105 database
16, 106 operation unit
107 storage unit
17, 108 Video processing unit
18, 109 Display
110 ETC antenna
111 ETC units
105a Toll information file

Claims (5)

An ETC unit that performs toll collection processing by receiving communication information from the toll gate electronic device and the exit toll gate electronic device of the toll road and receiving the billing information transmitted from the exit toll gate electronic device, In a navigation device that detects the recommended route to the destination by detecting
Storage means for storing tolls for toll roads as toll information for each section;
A toll acquisition means for acquiring a toll from the received charging information by the ETC unit,
Comparing means for comparing the toll obtained by the toll acquisition means, and a toll which is stored in the storage means,
If when the two toll is determined differently by the comparing means based on the received charging information, but updates the toll information stored in the storage means, we are determined the same as Is an update control means that does not update, and
A navigation device comprising: An ETC unit that performs toll collection processing by receiving communication information from the toll gate electronic device and the exit toll gate electronic device of the toll road and receiving the billing information transmitted from the exit toll gate electronic device, In a navigation device that detects the recommended route to the destination by detecting
Storage means for storing tolls for toll roads as toll information for each section;
When the recommended route includes a toll road, obtaining toll information stored by the storage means, and calculating a toll corresponding to a section of the toll road;
A toll acquisition means for acquiring a toll from the received charging information by the ETC unit,
Comparing means for comparing the toll calculated by the toll calculating means with the toll acquired by the toll acquiring means ;
If when the two toll is determined differently by the comparing means based on the received charging information, but updates the toll information stored in the storage means, it is determined the same as Is an update control means that does not update, and
A navigation device characterized by comprising:   The navigation device according to claim 2, wherein the toll fee calculating means calculates a toll fee based on the toll fee information updated by the updating means.   The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the billing information includes at least one of a toll, a toll section, and a toll date and time. An ETC unit that performs toll collection processing by receiving communication from the toll gate electronic device and exit toll gate electronic device of the toll road ETC and receiving charging information transmitted from the exit toll gate electronic device, a computer for controlling the navigation device is detected to search for a recommended route to the destination, and
Storage means for storing tolls for toll roads as toll information for each section ;
Toll acquisition means for acquiring a toll from the received charging information by the ETC unit,
Comparing means for comparing the toll obtained by the toll acquisition means, and a toll which is stored in the storage means,
If the two toll is determined differently by the comparing means based on the received charging information, but updates the toll information stored in the storage means, if the same as the determination updating Update control means that do not
A computer-readable recording medium in which a program for functioning as a computer is recorded .

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