JP3814673B2 - Route search server, route search system, and route search method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a route search server, a route search system, and a route search method that provide route information of a desired section. In particular, the present invention relates to a route search server, a route search system, and a route search method capable of performing route search for each search request and providing route information of the same result when the same section is searched again.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as traffic jam information, information on the head position and tail position of a traffic jam section, the total length of the section, the time taken to traverse the traffic jam section from the tail to the head, etc. are installed on radio broadcasts and main trunk lines It is provided to the driver of the vehicle through the electronic bulletin board that has been used and other navigation devices mounted on the vehicle.
[0003]
In recent years, a vehicle detector that detects a traveling vehicle is installed on the side of the road, information obtained from the vehicle detector is analyzed on the center side, and a traffic congestion section is determined (for example, road traffic) An information communication system (VICS) has been introduced, and a driver can accurately obtain detailed traffic information such as the head position and the total length of a traffic jam section from this system.
[0004]
For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-73758 describes an information providing system that performs route search. In this information providing system, the management server of the information providing system receives a route search request from the terminal to the destination from the terminal via the Internet, performs route search processing, and transmits the search result to the terminal. The management server searches for public transport information and performs route search for travel using public transport, searches for road network information and taxi position information, performs route search for taxi travel, Search the information and search for the route for movement by car, search the walking road information and search for the route for movement by foot, and combine these search results to get from the departure point to the destination Perform route search.
[0005]
Thereby, based on the search condition, a route search can be performed by combining a movement using transportation and a movement by walking, and the search result can be transmitted to the terminal.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, according to the information providing system as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-73758, it is conceivable to manage the search result for each user by the management server in order to respond to a re-search request for the same route from the terminal. In this case, there is a problem that the management server is loaded and costs high.
[0007]
As a method for solving this, it is conceivable that a route search is performed by the management server for each re-search request for the same route from the terminal and the result is transmitted to the terminal. However, when a route search is performed for each search request, the following problem may occur.
[0008]
6 and 7 are diagrams showing search results when the same route is searched at different times in the conventional route search system. FIG. 6 shows search results when a search from the station A to the destination is performed at 10:00. At this time, the route display shown on the terminal can be displayed with characters and a map. In the case of character display, an intersection or the like becomes a route guidance point. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, “A station-> B three-way left turn-> C intersection straight turn-> D intersection right turn-> E intersection left turn-> F It is possible to display “Go straight on three-way-> Destination”.
[0009]
On the other hand, in the case of a map display, when the terminal is a mobile phone or the like, the display portion becomes a limited space and only a part of the map can be displayed. In such a case, the route from the current position (star) is displayed in the map display (the range of the dotted line is the displayable range).
[0010]
Here, when the user travels to the vicinity of the D intersection, the range in the map display is exceeded, so that the search is performed again from the terminal side (redisplay of the map). FIG. 7 shows a result of a route search from the station A to the destination when the user is near the D intersection. When the time of the search request to the server is different (the first search request is 10:00 (FIG. 6), the current search request is 10: 5 (FIG. 7)), the result of the search route differs due to changes in traffic jam information, etc. May come. The route in FIG. 7 (time 10: 5) is displayed as “A station-> B three-way left turn-> C intersection right-turn-> G intersection left-turn-> E intersection straight-> F three-way straight-> destination”. . On the other hand, since the map information displayed on the terminal is displayed with the current point as the base point, the range of the one-point difference line in FIG. 7 is displayed. As a result, the user in the vicinity of the D intersection is at a position deviating from the designated route, and the route information to the destination cannot be obtained.
[0011]
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a route search server capable of providing the same route information without managing search results for each user on the server side and even in the case of a re-search request for the same route at different times. It is to provide a route search system and a congestion information providing method.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a route search server of the present invention is a route search server that searches for a route of a road, and includes basic road network storage means for storing road network information, and congestion information storage for storing congestion information. A traffic congestion information processing means for generating a traffic jam road network at a predetermined timing based on the road network information stored in the basic road network storage means and the traffic jam information stored in the traffic jam information storage means; Congested road network storage means for storing the latest congested road network among the congested road networks generated by the information processing means, and historical traffic jam for storing the past congested road network among the congested road networks generated by the traffic information processing means. Based on the road network storage means and the specified routing information, The route information is generated by searching the route of the road from the information on the traffic road network stored in the traffic road network storage means or the traffic jam network stored in the historical traffic road network storage means and the basic road network storage means, comprising an information providing processing means for providing the route information, and information providing processing means, if it contains time information routing information, the traffic jam road network of time indicated by the time information congested road network storage means or It is characterized in that the route is searched from the history congested road network storage means, and the road network information stored in the selected congested road network and the basic road network storage means is used.
[0013]
In order to solve the above problem, a route search system according to the present invention includes a terminal device that transmits route designation information that designates a route to request route information, a traffic information center that provides traffic information, and a terminal device. In the state information providing system, the route search server includes a route search server that generates route information based on the traffic jam information and the route designation information from the traffic jam information center and provides the route information to the terminal device in response to a request from The route search server described above.
[0014]
In order to solve the above problem, the route search method of the present invention is a route search method executed by a computer to provide route information of a specified route, and (A) a basic of each unit route (i) The distance L0 (i), its type, and the average speed v for each route type are stored as road network information, (B) traffic information is acquired and stored at a predetermined timing, and (C) step (B) The latest traffic jam network is generated based on the road network information and traffic jam information at the same or different timing, and (D) the currently stored road traffic network is stored as the historical traffic jam network and the latest traffic jam network. (E) In response to a route search request, the route and time are updated based on the latest traffic jam network or history traffic jam network. And calculates the distance of the route based on the calculated route and the information of the road network, generates the route, distance and time as route information, and (F) indicates the time when the route information is generated in the generated route information. It is characterized by being provided with time information.
[0015]
Here, when the travel time t (i) in each unit route (i) is used as the traffic jam information, the traffic jam distance of each unit route (i) constituting the traffic jam road network using the average speed v for each route type. L (i)
<Formula 1>
L (i) = v · t (i)
Can be used to generate a congested road network.
[0016]
Further, using the traffic jam and / or congestion in each unit route (i) and the respective distances x and / or y as the traffic jam information, the basic distance L0 (i) in each unit route (i) of the road network information and the relevant route Based on the traffic jam information, the traffic jam distance L (i) of each unit route (i) constituting the traffic jam network is
<Formula 2>
L (i) = (L0 (i) -xy) + αx + βy
Where α is the weighted constant during traffic (> 1)
β is a weighted constant during congestion (> 1)
It is also possible to generate a congested road network by calculating by
[0017]
By adding the time information at the time of generating the route information to the route information of the search result, the route information at the time can be obtained when the same route is searched again, so the search result for each user is managed on the server side Even in the case of a re-search request for the same route at different times, the same route information can be provided.
[0018]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of a route search server, a route search system, and a route search method according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0019]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a usage pattern of the route search system of the present invention. In FIG. 1, this route search system includes a terminal device such as a car navigation device 20a or a mobile phone 20b that requests route information by specifying a route, and a traffic jam such as a road traffic information communication system (VICS) that provides traffic jam information. In response to requests from the information center (hereinafter also simply referred to as “VICS center”) 40 and the terminal devices 20a and 20b, route information is generated based on the traffic jam information from the VICS center 40, and the terminal devices 20a and 20b. A route search server 10 provided to the network, a dedicated line network 50 that connects the route search server 10 and the VICS center 40 with a dedicated line, a network 30 that connects the terminal devices 20a and 20b and the route search server 10 in a communicable manner, And a GPS (Global Positioning System) 60 that provides information.
[0020]
Here, the terminal devices 20a and 20b can acquire the current position information from the GPS 60 and use it as the starting point position of the designated route.
[0021]
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the form of the route search server 10 of the present invention. In FIG. 2, the route search server 10 includes a VICS information receiving unit 11 that receives traffic congestion information from the VICS center 40 (FIG. 1) at a predetermined timing (for example, every 5 minutes) via the leased line network 50. A traffic information DB (Data Base) 12 for storing traffic information received by the VICS information receiving unit 11, a route type for each predetermined unit route (i), a basic distance L0 (i), an average speed v for each route type, etc. Based on the road network information stored in the basic road network DB 14 storing the road network information and the road network information stored in the basic road network DB 14 and the traffic jam information stored in the traffic jam information DB 12 or different timings. The traffic jam information processing unit 13 for generating the latest traffic jam network (latest traffic jam network) And a traffic jam network DB 15 that stores the latest traffic jam network generated by the traffic jam processing unit 13 and a historical traffic jam that stores a past traffic jam network (historical traffic jam network) generated by the traffic jam processing unit 13. Based on the road network DB 18 and the designated route designation information, a route made up of character information, map information, etc. by performing a route search from the traffic jam road network stored in the traffic jam road network DB 15 or the history jam road network DB 18 An information provision processing unit 16 that generates information and provides the route information, and a communication control unit 17 that communicates with the terminal devices 20a and 20b via the network 30 are provided.
[0022]
Here, the route information includes the time information when the route information is generated, and the information provision processing unit 16 determines that the traffic congestion road network at the time indicated by the time information is a traffic jam road when the route specification information includes the time information. The route is searched by selecting from the network DB 15 or the history congested road network DB 18.
[0023]
Further, the information provision processing unit 16 calculates the shortest route (route) from the traffic jam distance included in the traffic jam road network based on the start point location information and the end point location information specified from the terminal devices 20a and 20b. And arrival time) can be generated as route information.
[0024]
The traffic information provided as traffic jam information from the road traffic information communication system (VICS) includes construction information indicating the location of the construction site, accident information indicating the location of the accident site, and closed information indicating the closed road. , There is common traffic information. In particular, the common traffic jam information includes a road number for enabling identification of a road where the traffic jam occurs, a traffic jam head position, a traffic jam position, a traffic jam amount (for example, a traffic jam length (x), a congestion length (y), It consists of information such as travel time (t) for a predetermined route.
[0025]
Next, an information providing method using the route search system and route search server 10 of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described.
[0026]
3 and 4 are flowcharts showing an information providing method using the route search system of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing route information by the route search system of the present invention. 1 to 5, in the information providing method of the present invention, first, the route search server 10 calculates the basic distance L0 (i) of each unit route (i), its type, the average speed v for each route type, and the like. The information of the road network that is included is stored in the basic road network DB 14 (step 301).
[0027]
Then, traffic jam information (traffic information) is acquired from the VICS center 40 and stored in the traffic jam information DB 12 (step 302).
[0028]
Next, the traffic jam information processing unit 13 generates a traffic jam road network based on the traffic jam information stored in the traffic jam information DB 12 and the road network information stored in the basic road network DB 14, and the traffic jam route information network DB 15 (Step 303).
[0029]
Here, a method for generating a congested road network will be described. When the traffic information stored in step 302 includes the travel time t (i) for each unit route (i), in step 303, the type of route (highway, general national road, prefectural road, etc.) Using the average speed v determined for each unit, the traffic jam distance L (i) of each unit route (i)
<Formula 1>
L (i) = v · t (i)
Can be used to generate a congested road network.
[0030]
If the traffic jam information stored in step 302 includes a traffic jam or congestion distance (traffic jam distance (x) or (crowd distance (y)) in each unit route (i), step 303 Based on the basic distance L0 (i) in each unit route (i) of the road network information, the congestion distance (x), and the congestion distance (y) in the unit route (i) included in the congestion information, The traffic congestion distance L (i) of each unit route (i) constituting the network is
<Formula 2>
L (i) = (L0 (i) -xy) + αx + βy
Where α is the weighted constant during traffic (> 1)
β is a weighted constant during congestion (> 1)
The traffic congestion road network can be generated by calculation.
[0031]
The latest congested road network generated in this way is stored in the congested road network DB 15 as the latest congested road network together with the generation time (step 303).
[0032]
Here, step 302 and step 303 can be performed at a predetermined timing (for example, every 5 minutes). For example, as shown in FIG. 3, step 302 and step 303 are performed at every update timing of traffic jam information. (Step 304). In step 302 and step 303, the latest congested road network is updated. At this time, before the processing of step 302, the latest traffic jam network stored in the current traffic jam network DB 15 is copied to the traffic jam road network DB 18 as a history traffic jam network (step 305). In FIG. 3, the update of the latest congestion road network is described to be performed at the update timing of the congestion information, but the update of the latest congestion road network and the update of the congestion information may be performed at different timings.
[0033]
When there is a route search request from the terminal devices 20a and 20b (step 306), a route input screen is displayed on the terminal 20a and 20b side, and the starting point position (departure location) from the terminals 20a and 20b. And the end point (destination) are input (step 307). Here, when the starting point position (departure point) is set as the current position, the current position information can be acquired from the GPS 60 and notified to the route search server 10 as the starting point position (departure point).
[0034]
When the start position (departure point) and the end point position (destination) are input as the routing information (step 307), the information provision processing unit 16 searches for the latest congested road network in the congested road network DB 15 (step 308). ), Route information is generated (step 309). Here, in the case of the first route search, the time information is the current time (10:00). Therefore, this route information includes the time when the route information was generated as time information. The route information includes a route and time calculated based on the congested road network, and a distance of the route calculated based on the information on the route and the road network.
[0035]
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the route information generated in step 309. The route information generated in step 309 is provided and displayed on the terminal devices 20a and 20b (step 310). FIG. 5 shows map information and character information at a time of 10 o'clock when the start point position is A station and the end point position is the destination. Here, the character information indicates a route from the station A to the destination, and an intersection or the like becomes a route guidance point. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, "10:00 search route: A station-> B three-way left turn"-> Go straight at C intersection-> Turn right at D intersection-> Turn left at E intersection-> Go straight at F three-way intersection-> Destination "is displayed.
[0036]
On the other hand, in the map display, when the terminal is a mobile phone 20b or the like, the display portion becomes a limited space, and only a part of the map can be displayed. In such a case, the route from the current position (star) is displayed in the map display (the range of the dotted line is the displayable range).
[0037]
Here, when the user travels to the vicinity of the D intersection, since the map display range is exceeded, re-search (re-display of the map) is performed from the terminal side (step 311).
[0038]
When re-search (re-display of the map) is performed from the terminal side, the start point position (A station) and end point position (destination) stored in the terminal and the generation time of the currently displayed route information are route search The information is sent to the server 10 and the generation time (time information) is confirmed by the information provision processing unit 16 (step 312).
[0039]
Based on the generation time (time information), the information provision processing unit 16 searches for the latest congested road network in the congested road network DB 15 or the historical congested road network in the historical congested road network DB 18 (step 313), and generates route information. (Step 314). At this time, the route and the time are calculated based on the latest traffic jam network or the history traffic jam network, the distance of the route is calculated based on the calculated route and the information of the road network, and the route, the distance and the time are route information. Generate as
[0040]
Here, the time information is not the current time (10: 5) but the generation time (10:00) of the first route information. Therefore, this route information is the same as the route information generated at 10:00. The route information generated in step 314 is the same as the route information shown in FIG. 5, and the character information indicates the route from the station A to the destination, and “10:00 search route: station A →> Turn left at B three-way intersection-> Go straight at C intersection-> Turn right at D intersection-> Turn left at E intersection-> Go straight at F three-way intersection-> Destination "is displayed.
[0041]
In addition, in the map display, the route from the current position (star mark in the vicinity of the D intersection) is displayed (the range of the one-point difference line is displayed). For this reason, even if the latest traffic jam road network is updated due to the traffic jam information update, route information is generated by the historical traffic jam road network. The route (route) to the destination can be displayed from the current position (intermediate position).
[0042]
On the other hand, when there is a new route search request (step 316) instead of the re-request of the route information at step 311, the processing from step 308 described above is repeated. In addition, when there is no re-request for route information or a new route search request (steps 311 and 316), and there is a route search end request (step 317), the route search process is ended. If there is no route search end request (step 317), the process waits for a route information re-request at step 311, a new route search request at step 316, or a route search end request at step 317.
[0043]
The route search server, the route search system, and the route search method of the present invention have been described above. However, the processes in steps 301 to 305 described above and the processes in and after step 306 can be performed independently.
[0044]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the route search server, route search system, and route search method of the present invention, by adding the time information at the time of generating the route information to the route information of the search result, Since the route information at the time can be obtained at the same time, the search result for each user is not managed on the server side, and the same route information is provided even in the case of a re-search request for the same route at different times. Can now.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a usage pattern of a route search system according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a route search server according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a route search method according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a route search method according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing route information by the route search system of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a search result when a route is searched by a conventional route search system.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a search result when a route is searched by a conventional route search system.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Route Search Server 11 VICS Information Receiving Unit 12 Congestion Information DB
13 Traffic Information Processing Unit 14 Basic Road Network DB
15 Traffic jam network DB
16 Information provision processing part 17 Communication control part 18 History road network DB
20a Car navigation device 20b Mobile phone 30 Network 40 VICS center 50 Dedicated line network 60 GPS

Claims (15)

A route search server that performs route search of a road,
Basic road network storage means for storing road network information;
Traffic information storage means for storing traffic information;
A traffic jam information processing means for generating a traffic jam road network at a predetermined timing based on the road network information stored in the basic road network storage means and the traffic jam information stored in the traffic jam information storage means;
A congested road network storage means for storing the latest congested road network among the congested road networks generated by the traffic jam information processing means;
History traffic congestion road network storage means for storing a past traffic congestion road network among the traffic congestion road networks generated by the traffic congestion information processing means;
Based on the designated routing information, the traffic jam road network stored in the traffic jam road network storage means or the history traffic jam road network storage means, and the road network stored in the basic road network storage means Information provision processing means for performing route search from information to generate route information and providing the route information;
With
When the route specification information includes time information, the information provision processing means selects the congestion road network at the time indicated by the time information from the congestion road network storage means or the history congestion road network storage means, and selects A route search of a road is performed from the information on the traffic network and the road network stored in the basic road network storage means,
A route search server characterized by that. The route information includes time information when the route information is generated,
The information provision processing means, when the time information is included in the routing information, selects the traffic jam road network at the time indicated by the time information from the traffic jam road network storage means or the history traffic jam road network storage means, A route search for a road is performed from the information on the selected traffic network and the road network stored in the basic road network storage means.
The route search server according to claim 1.   The traffic information is traffic information provided at a predetermined timing from a road traffic information communication system (VICS), and updated in the traffic information storage unit at the predetermined timing. 2. The route search server according to 2.   4. The route search server according to claim 1, wherein the information provision processing unit generates the route information using map information and character information. 5.   5. The route search server according to claim 1, wherein the information provision processing unit generates a shortest route as route information from the congested road network based on the route designation information. When the traffic information stored in the traffic information storage means is indicated by the travel time t (i) in the unit route (i),
The traffic jam information processing means
Using the average speed v for each type of route, the congestion distance L (i) of each unit route (i) constituting the congestion road network is
<Formula 1>
L (i) = v · t (i)
To generate a congested road network,
The route search server according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein The traffic jam information processing means
The basic distance L0 (i) in each unit route (i) of the information on the road network stored in the basic road network storage means, and the unit included in the traffic jam information stored in the traffic jam information storage means Based on the congestion and / or congestion in the route (i) and the respective distances x and / or y, the congestion distance L (i) of each unit route (i) constituting the congestion road network is
<Formula 2>
L (i) = (L0 (i) -xy) + αx + βy
Where α is the weighted constant during traffic (> 1)
β is a weighted constant during congestion (> 1)
To generate a traffic congestion road network,
The route search server according to claim 1, wherein the route search server is a route search server. A terminal device that requests routing information by sending routing information that specifies a route; and
A traffic information center that provides traffic information,
In response to a request from the terminal device, based on the traffic information and the routing information from the traffic information center, route information is generated and provided to the terminal device;
In a route search system comprising:
The route search server is the route search server according to any one of claims 1 to 7.
A route search system characterized by that.   9. The route search system according to claim 8, wherein the traffic jam information center is a road traffic information communication system (VICS).   10. The route search system according to claim 8, wherein the terminal device acquires current position information from a GPS (Global Positioning System) and uses the current position information as a start point position of a designated route. The routing information transmitted from the terminal device includes time information indicating a congested road network on which a route search is to be performed.
The route search system according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein: A route search method executed by a computer to provide route information of a specified route,
(A) The basic distance L0 (i) of each unit route (i) and its type, and the average speed v for each route type are stored as road network information,
(B) Obtain and store traffic information at a predetermined timing,
(C) generating the latest traffic jam network based on the road network information and the traffic jam information at the same or different timing as in the step (B),
(D) The currently stored road congestion network is stored as a historical road congestion network and updated with the latest road congestion network.
(E) In response to a route search request, a route and time are calculated based on the latest traffic jam network or the historical traffic jam network, and the distance of the route is calculated based on the calculated route and the information on the road network. Calculate, generate the route, distance and time as route information,
(F) providing the route information with time information indicating the time when the route information was generated;
A route search method characterized by that.   In the step (E), when time information is included in the route search request, the traffic congestion road network at the time indicated by the time information is selected from the latest traffic congestion road network or the history traffic congestion road network, and the route search is performed. The route search method according to claim 12, wherein the route search method is performed. The step (B) acquires and stores the travel time t (i) in each unit route (i) as traffic jam information,
The step (C)
Using the average speed v for each type of route, the congestion distance L (i) of each unit route (i) constituting the congestion road network is
<Formula 1>
L (i) = v · t (i)
To generate a congested road network,
14. The route search method according to claim 12 or 13, wherein: The step (B) acquires and stores the traffic jam and / or congestion in each unit route (i) and the respective distances x and / or y as traffic jam information,
In the step (C), the basic distance L0 (i) in each unit route (i) of the road network information and the distance x of each congestion and / or congestion in the unit route (i) included in the congestion information. And / or y based on the congestion distance L (i) of each unit route (i) constituting the congestion road network,
<Formula 2>
L (i) = (L0 (i) -xy) + αx + βy
Where α is the weighted constant during traffic (> 1)
β is a weighted constant during congestion (> 1)
To generate a congested road network,
15. The route search method according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein:

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