JP3951790B2 - Navigation device, route display method, and storage medium - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a navigation device, a route display method, and a storage medium.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, navigation devices that can determine their own position and moving speed in real time using a GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite with an orbit in the sky are being mounted on mobile objects such as automobiles or portable. It has begun to spread widely.
In the navigation device, a map is displayed on a monitor based on the digitized map data. In particular, a navigation device mounted on a moving body has a function of guiding a course direction based on a route set by a user.
[0003]
When the user sets a route, at least a starting point (start point) and a destination (end point) are specified. Then, the navigation device searches for and generates an optimum route connecting the two points of the designated starting point and destination, and presents it to the user as a recommended route. In addition, the user can arbitrarily designate a point where he / she wants to stop before arrival at the destination or a point such as an intersection, an interchange, a ramp, or the like during travel as a transit point. At this time, a plurality of points can be designated as waypoints. In this way, when the waypoint is designated by the user, the navigation device searches for an optimum route connecting the departure point, one or more waypoints, and the destination. Even when the user does not particularly specify the waypoint, when the navigation device presents the recommended route to the user, the point located between the departure point and the destination can be presented to the user as the waypoint. . Thereby, the user can grasp | ascertain previously the image of a route and a guide point before departure.
[0004]
In recent years, as a system that provides traffic information such as traffic jams, accidents, traffic regulations, and parking lots in real time using beacons (information communication facilities) and FM (frequency modulation) multiplex broadcasting installed on roads, VICS ( Vehicle Information and Communication System (road traffic information communication system) is spreading. In a navigation device equipped with such a unit for receiving VICS information, it is possible to display traffic obstacle information and traffic jam information due to traffic restrictions and traffic accidents on the monitor as text information and graphic information based on VICS information. It has become. In addition, there is also a navigation device that performs route search in consideration of VICS information. This navigation device provides a recommended route including a detour to the user.
[0005]
Here, FIG. 10 shows an example of the display screen 100 in the conventional navigation device. On the display screen 100, the searched recommended route 101 is displayed, and the traffic congestion location and the traffic congestion length based on the VICS information are displayed by arrows 102 to 105. In addition, instead of the arrows 102 to 105, the traffic jam location and the site corresponding to the traffic jam length of the recommended route 101 are displayed in a color (for example, red or orange) different from the color of the traffic jam site (for example, blue) ( For example, there is a display (for example, see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-71365) that displays a required time to a destination in consideration of a traffic jam time.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in such a navigation device, although it is possible to grasp the traffic location and length of the recommended route 101 or the required time to the destination taking into account the delay time due to the traffic jam, the required time However, there is a problem that it is difficult to grasp how long it will take compared to the normal time when there is no traffic jam.
[0007]
Further, in the conventional navigation device, for example, when considering where the user is going to drive today, it is necessary to perform route search separately for each different destination, and further, for each obtained destination. There was a problem that the routes to could not be directly compared.
[0008]
The present invention has been made to solve the above technical problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a navigation device, a route display method, and the like that are easy to obtain information visually.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The navigation device of the present invention includes a static road information storage unit that stores static road information, a dynamic road information acquisition unit that acquires dynamic road information from the outside, and a recommended route from the departure point to the destination. For the recommended route search unit to be searched and the recommended route searched by the recommended route search unit, the static required time based on the static road information and the expected required based on the dynamic road information added to the static road information It is characterized by comprising a required time calculation unit for calculating time, and a display unit for displaying a static required time and an estimated required time together with a recommended route. As a result, how long it takes to travel through the recommended route (expected time) compared to the time required to travel through the same recommended route without traffic congestion (static time required) It can be easily grasped whether it is timed.
[0010]
Here, the display unit can display the time difference between the estimated required time and the static required time, which makes it very easy to see how much longer the expected required time is compared to the static required time. can do. In addition, when the display unit displays the recommended route on the bird's-eye view, the time difference can be displayed by the time difference curve attached to the recommended route, which makes it possible to easily grasp the time difference visually. it can.
[0011]
Furthermore, the recommended route search unit can search for a recommended route based on static road information including dynamic road information. According to this, the recommended route search unit searches for a recommended route in accordance with actual road conditions. It can be carried out.
As the dynamic road information, for example, VICS (Vehicle Information and Communication System) information can be used. According to this, dynamic road information can be obtained in a wide range and at a low cost. it can. Further, as the dynamic road information, the above-described VICS information or weather information transmitted from another information source can be used.
[0012]
Further, the navigation device of the present invention includes a recommended route search unit that searches for a recommended route from one departure point to a plurality of different destinations, and a recommended route to a plurality of different destinations searched by the recommended route search unit. Is provided with a display unit for displaying on a single screen. Thereby, route search for different destinations can be performed collectively, and the obtained recommended routes to each destination can be directly compared on one screen.
In such a navigation device, a static road information storage unit that stores static road information, a dynamic road information acquisition unit that acquires dynamic road information from the outside, and a plurality of different routes searched by a recommended route search unit The recommended route to the destination is further provided with a required time calculation unit that calculates a static required time based on static road information and an estimated required time based on dynamic road information added to the static road information. The display unit can display the static required time and the estimated required time for a plurality of different destinations together with the recommended routes to the different destinations. According to this, the user can perform route search for different destinations at once, and can directly compare the obtained recommended routes to each destination on one screen. In addition, how long will it take to travel the recommended route for each destination (expected time required) compared to the normal time required for traffic congestion (static time required)? Can be easily grasped.
[0013]
Furthermore, the route display method of the present invention is based on the static time required for passing the route based only on the static road information of the route from the departure point to the destination, and the static road information of this route. Including a step of calculating an estimated time required to travel along the route based on the road information taken into consideration, and a step of comparing the static required time and the estimated required time together with the route. . As a result, the amount of time required to pass the route (expected time required) is longer than the time required to pass the same route (static time required) without traffic congestion. You can easily figure out what to do.
[0014]
Furthermore, the route display method of the present invention includes a step of searching for a first route from the departure point to the first destination, a step of searching for a second route from the departure point to the second destination, A step of displaying the one route and the second route on the same screen. As a result, route search for the first destination and the second destination can be performed collectively, and the route to the first destination and the second destination can be directly compared on one screen. it can.
[0015]
Further, the storage medium of the present invention uses a stored program to calculate a static required time required to pass the route based only on static road information of the route from the departure point to the destination, and the route A process for calculating an estimated required time for passing the route based on the dynamic road information added to the static road information, and a process for comparing the static required time and the estimated required time together with the route, Is executed by the computer. By causing such a program to be executed by a computer device such as a navigation device, the time required for passing the route (expected required time) is required for passing the same route in which no traffic congestion has occurred. It is possible to easily grasp how long it takes compared to time (static time required).
[0016]
Furthermore, the storage medium of the present invention uses a stored program to search for a first route from the departure point to the first destination and to search for a second route from the departure point to the second destination. And a process for displaying the first route and the second route on the same screen. By causing such a program to be executed by a computer device such as a navigation device, it is possible to perform a route search for the first destination and the second destination in a lump, and the first destination and the second destination. The recommended route to can be directly compared on one screen.
The route includes a route specified by the user in addition to the recommended route described above.
[0017]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.
—Embodiment 1—
FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the overall configuration of the navigation apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 1, the navigation apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is connected to a speaker 11 that outputs guidance voice, a keyboard, a mouse, an operation unit 12 such as a remote controller or a control panel, the Internet, and the like. A communication terminal 13, which is a communication means, a disk on which a recording disk such as a CD (Compact Disc) -ROM (Read Only Memory) or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) -ROM, in which map data of a predetermined wide area is stored. Drive 14, display unit 15 comprising a monitor such as a liquid crystal display for displaying an image such as a map, positioning block 16 for positioning the own vehicle position, control block 17 for controlling the entire apparatus, traffic jam, accident, traffic regulation, parking A traffic information receiving block 18 for acquiring traffic information such as a car park is provided.
[0018]
The recording disk stores a plurality of types of map data having different scales for the same region. Also, point data such as nodes (points) and search data such as facility names are stored in association with map data on the recording disk.
The positioning block 16 detects the vehicle speed of the vehicle on which the GPS antenna 21 that receives the signal transmitted from the GPS satellite, the GPS positioning unit 22 that performs positioning based on the signal obtained from the GPS antenna 21, and the navigation device 1 is mounted. A vehicle speed sensor 23, a gyro sensor 24 that detects rotational displacement of the vehicle, and a positioning correction unit 25 that corrects a positioning result in the GPS positioning unit 22 based on detection values obtained by the vehicle speed sensor 23 and the gyro sensor 24. .
[0019]
The control block 17 includes a CPU 30 that controls the entire system and arithmetic processing, a RAM 31 as an internal storage device such as a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory), a ROM 32 that stores a predetermined program for operating the navigation device 1, A recommended route is calculated based on the voice control unit 33 that controls the voice output from the speaker 11, the input control unit 34 that controls the input signal from the operation unit 12, and the departure point, waypoint, and destination set by the user. A route setting control unit 35, a communication unit 36 that communicates with the Internet or the like through a communication terminal 13 such as a portable telephone terminal or a portable information terminal such as a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) that is detachably mounted, a disk drive 14, etc. A storage control unit 37 for controlling the display, and a display control unit 38 for controlling the display of the map and the like on the display unit Eteiru. The display control unit 38 includes a graphic controller 38a that performs display control and a video RAM 38b.
When the user performs a predetermined operation on the operation unit 12, the input control unit 34 receives designation of a point where a map is to be displayed. When the user selects a current screen, that is, an active screen in a state where a plurality of screens are displayed on the display unit 15, the input control unit 34 can switch the current screen in response to the selection.
[0020]
The traffic information reception block 18 includes an FM multiplex receiver 41, a beacon receiver 42, and a traffic information processing control unit 43.
The FM multiplex receiver 41 receives FM multiplex broadcast waves including traffic information data by an FM antenna, and outputs the multiplexed traffic information data by demodulating the FM multiplex broadcast wave.
The beacon receiver 42 receives a signal including traffic information data from a radio wave (or optical) beacon transmitter by a beacon antenna, and obtains and outputs traffic information data by demodulating the signal.
The traffic information processing control unit 43 processes traffic information data such as traffic jam information received by the FM multiplex receiver 41 and the beacon receiver 42, so-called VICS information, and the FM multiplex receiver 41 and the beacon receiver 42 perform processing. The received traffic information data is stored in the RAM 31.
[0021]
Next, a route search process of the navigation device 1 according to the present embodiment will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG. In this description, it is assumed that the user lives in Tokyo and wants to go to Nikko or Hakone. The user first inputs a departure place (step S11). However, this step S11 can be omitted when the current location is the departure location.
Next, the user inputs a destination (step S12). Here, FIG. 3A shows a menu screen displayed on the display unit 15, and by selecting “Destination setting” in this screen, the destination setting menu shown in FIG. You can call the screen. In the navigation device 1 according to the present embodiment, a plurality (five places) of different destinations 1 to 5 can be set. Since the destination is not set at this time, the display colors of the destinations 1 to 5 and the route search start are gray in FIG. Then, by selecting “Destination 1” in this screen, the map screen shown in FIG. The destination 1 is set using scroll and scale change on the map screen. While the destination 1 is being set, a message “Please set the destination 1” is displayed on the screen. In this description, the destination 1 is assumed to be Nikko (distance from Tokyo: about 150 km).
[0022]
When the setting of the destination 1 is completed, the destination setting menu screen shown in FIG. 4A is displayed again. At this time, since the destination 1 has been set, the text “Destination 1” is displayed in bold to indicate that it has been set. When one or more destinations are set, a route search is possible, and “route search start” is also displayed in bold. Then, by selecting “Destination 2” in this screen, the map screen shown in FIG. 4B is called. The destination 2 is set by scrolling and changing the scale on the map screen. During the setting of the destination 2, a message “Please set the destination 2” is displayed on the screen. In this description, the destination 2 is Hakone (about 100 km from Tokyo).
When the setting of the destination 2 is completed, the destination setting menu screen shown in FIG. At this time, the destination 2 is also boldly displayed. Then, if it is desired to further set the destination, the above-described operation is repeated. In this description, it is assumed that two locations, the destination 1 and the destination 2, are set as described above.
[0023]
Then, after all the destinations are set, by selecting “Start route search” on the destination menu screen shown in FIG. 5A, recommendations for each destination (here, destinations 1 and 2) are recommended. A route search is started (step S13 in FIG. 2). The route search is performed in ascending order of the number of destinations. While the route search for each destination is being performed, messages such as those shown in FIGS. 5B and 5C are displayed on the display unit 15, for example. The It should be noted that other operations can be performed during the route search.
In this embodiment, as a recommended route search method, distance data, road width data, lane number data, road type data (highway, national road, general road, etc.) stored in association with map data on a recording disk, restriction Static road information such as speed data, VICS information received by the FM multiplex receiver 41 and beacon receiver 42 and stored in the RAM 31, and weather information received by the communication terminal 13 and stored in the RAM 31 (for example, created by the Japan Meteorological Agency) In consideration of dynamic road information consisting of GPV (numerical information data by supercomputer)), a method of calculating a recommended route by the Dijkstra method is used.
Therefore, in the present embodiment, a route having the shortest required time (hereinafter referred to as expected required time) in which dynamic road information is added to static road information is selected as a recommended route.
[0024]
Next, regarding the recommended route obtained, the above static road information (distance data, road width data, lane number data, road type data (highway, national road, general road, etc.) recorded on the map data of the recording disk), A required time (hereinafter referred to as static required time) based only on speed limit data or the like is calculated (step S14), and a required time difference between the estimated required time and the obtained static required time is calculated (step S15). ). Note that these steps S14 and S15 are repeated for the set number of destinations.
Then, the recommended route and required time difference for each destination (here, destination 1 and destination 2), that is, how much extra time is required than usual, is displayed on the display unit 15 (step S16).
[0025]
Here, FIG. 6 shows an example of the route search result displayed on the display unit 15. In this display example, the recommended route C from the point A corresponding to the departure point to the point B corresponding to the destination 1 on the solid map (bird's eye view), and the point A to the destination 2 corresponding to the departure point. The recommended route E (both indicated by broken lines in the figure) to the point D corresponding to is simultaneously displayed. Corresponding to these recommended routes C and E, time difference curves F and G (both indicated by solid lines in the figure) representing the required time difference with respect to the destinations 1 and 2 are also displayed. The time difference curves F and G are drawn with the point A corresponding to the starting point as the starting point and the points B ′ and D ′ on the perpendiculars of the points B and D corresponding to the destinations 1 and 2 as the end points. The distance a between the point B and the point B ′ is set according to the required time difference between the departure point and the destination 1, and the distance b between the point D and the point D ′ corresponds to the required time difference between the departure point and the destination 2. Is set. Further, the time difference curves F and G are drawn so as to overlap the corresponding recommended routes C and E when the displayed map is viewed from directly above. It should be noted that it is also possible to display congestion points or traffic congestion points in the recommended routes C and E on the recommended routes C and E or the time difference curves F and G with arrows and colors.
[0026]
By performing such a display, the user can see how far the distance and required time differ between sunlight (destination 1) and Hakone (destination 2), and the roads to each destination 1 and 2 It becomes possible to accurately grasp how crowded each one is. Here, in this display example, since a> b, the recommended route C toward the destination 1 (Nikko) is more recommended route E toward the destination 2 (Hakone) than in the normal case. It can also grasp that it is crowded. Then, the user can determine the destination (real destination) based on the information obtained in this way.
[0027]
In this embodiment, in step S13, a route search is performed based on static road information added with dynamic road information, and then in step S14, a static required time of the obtained recommended route is calculated. Thus, the estimated required time and the static required time are obtained, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, based on only the static road information as shown in FIG. A route search is performed, and then in step S14 ′, the estimated required time of the recommended route obtained (the required time obtained by adding the dynamic road information to the static road information) is calculated. It is also possible to obtain a static duration.
[0028]
In the present embodiment, the required time difference between the expected required time and the static required time is displayed on the display unit 15 as the time difference curves F and G. However, the present invention is not limited to this. You may make it display the numerical value (for example, "30 minutes") of a time difference in the vicinity of the points B and D corresponding to 1 and 2.
[0029]
—Embodiment 2—
The present embodiment is substantially the same as the first embodiment, but instead of displaying the required time difference between the expected required time and the static required time on the display unit 15, these expected required time and static required time itself. Is displayed on the display unit 15. In the present embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
[0030]
FIG. 8 shows a route search flow in the present embodiment. The steps up to step S14 are the same as those in the embodiment. Thereafter, in step S17, the recommended route to each destination (the destination 1 and the destination 2 in this embodiment), the estimated required time, and the static required time are displayed. This is displayed on the part 15.
Here, FIG. 9 shows an example of the route search result displayed on the display unit 15. In this display example, as in the first embodiment, the recommended route C from the point A corresponding to the starting point to the point B corresponding to the destination 1 and the starting point are displayed on one solid map (bird's eye view). The recommended route E (both indicated by broken lines in the figure) from the point A to the point D corresponding to the destination 2 is displayed at the same time. In addition, above the points B and D corresponding to the destinations 1 and 2, static required time (“normal” in the figure) and expected required time (“present” in the figure) )) Is displayed. In this example, although there are fewer destinations 2 than destinations 1 for static duration, there are more destinations 2 than destinations 1 for expected durations, so it is more stressful towards destination 1 That you can drive without
[0031]
In the present embodiment, the user can know the expected required time, and can also know how crowded it is by comparing the expected required time with the static required time.
[0032]
In addition, as shown in the above embodiment, a program for displaying a static required time and an estimated required time together with the recommended route or a time difference between the static required time and the estimated required time, and a plurality of different destinations. The program for displaying the recommended route to the same screen on the same screen can be in the form of the following storage medium and program transmission device.
That is, as a storage medium, the above-described program may be stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, DVD, various memories including semiconductors, and a hard disk so that a computer device such as a navigation device can read the program.
Further, as the program transmission apparatus, a CD-ROM, DVD, various memories including a semiconductor, a hard disk or the like storing the program as described above, the program is read from the storage means, and the program is executed. What is necessary is just to set it as the structure provided with the transmission means which transmits the said program via networks, such as a connector or the internet, LAN, on the apparatus side. Such a program transmission apparatus is suitable when a program for performing the above-described processing is installed in a navigation apparatus or the like.
[0033]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a navigation device, a route display method, and the like that allow a user to easily obtain information visually.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a navigation device according to a first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a route search process of the navigation device according to the first embodiment.
FIGS. 3A to 3C are explanatory diagrams showing screens displayed on a display unit. FIGS.
4A to 4C are explanatory diagrams showing screens displayed on a display unit. FIG.
FIGS. 5A to 5C are explanatory diagrams showing screens displayed on the display unit. FIGS.
6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a search result displayed on a display unit in the navigation device according to Embodiment 1. FIG.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a modification of the route search process of the navigation device according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a route search process of the navigation device according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a search result displayed on the display unit in the navigation device according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a search result displayed on a display unit in a conventional navigation device.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Navigation apparatus, 11 ... Speaker, 12 ... Operation part, 13 ... Communication terminal, 14 ... Disk drive, 15 ... Display part, 16 ... Positioning block, 17 ... Control block, 18 ... Traffic information receiving block, 21 ... GPS antenna , 22 ... GPS positioning unit, 23 ... vehicle speed sensor, 24 ... gyro sensor, 25 ... positioning correction unit, 30 ... CPU, 31 ... RAM, 32 ... ROM, 33 ... voice control unit, 34 ... input control unit, 35 ... path Setting control unit, 36 ... communication unit, 37 ... storage control unit, 38 ... display control unit, 41 ... FM multiplex receiver, 42 ... beacon receiver, 43 ... traffic information processing control unit

Claims (9)

A static road information storage unit for storing static road information;
A dynamic road information obtaining unit for obtaining dynamic road information from outside;
A recommended route search unit for searching for a recommended route for each destination from one departure point to a plurality of destinations so that an estimated required time based on the static road information and the dynamic road information is minimized ;
With respect to the recommended route to each searched destination, a required time calculation unit for calculating a required time difference between the static required time calculated based on the static road information and the estimated required time ,
The starting point, the plurality of destinations, and the recommended route to each destination are displayed in a bird's-eye view, and the calculated time difference from the starting point to each destination is calculated for the corresponding recommended route. A navigation device including a display unit that displays a time difference curve associated with a departure point and a destination in a superimposed manner on the bird's eye view . The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the display unit displays the time difference curve with the starting point as a starting point and a position on the perpendicular of the destination as an ending point. The navigation device according to claim 2, wherein the display unit separates the destination from the end point of the time difference curve as the required time difference increases. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the display unit displays the time difference curve so as to overlap a corresponding recommended route when the bird's eye view is viewed from directly above. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the static road information includes distance data, road width data, lane number data, road type data, and speed limit data. It said dynamic road information, VICS (Vehicle Information and Communication System : Vehicle Information and Communication System, registered trademark) navigation system according to claim 1, characterized in that the information.   The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the dynamic road information is weather information. Searching for a recommended route for each destination from one departure point to a plurality of destinations such that an expected travel time based on static road information and dynamic road information is minimized;
Calculating a required time difference between the static required time calculated based on the static road information and the estimated required time for the recommended route to each searched destination,
The starting point, the plurality of destinations, and the recommended routes to the respective destinations are displayed in a bird's-eye view, and the calculated required time differences from the starting point to the plurality of destinations are indicated by corresponding recommended routes. A route display method, comprising: a step of superimposing and displaying on the bird's-eye view as a time difference curve associated with the starting point and destination of the vehicle. In a storage medium in which a program to be executed by a computer is readable by the computer,
The program is
A process of searching for a recommended route for each destination from one departure place to a plurality of destinations so that an estimated required time based on static road information and dynamic road information is minimized;
Relates recommended route to the destination is searched, a process of each to calculate the required time difference between the a calculated by static duration based on the static road information the expected time,
The starting point, the plurality of destinations, and the recommended routes to the respective destinations are displayed in a bird's-eye view, and the calculated required time differences from the starting point to the plurality of destinations are indicated by corresponding recommended routes. A storage medium that causes the computer to execute a process of superimposing and displaying on a bird's eye view as a time difference curve associated with a starting point and a destination .

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