JP4108451B2 - Navigation device and route search method thereof - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a navigation device that guides a route suitable for a user and a route search method thereof.
[0002]
[Prior art]
When the navigation device performs route guidance to a destination or waypoint desired by the user, it is necessary to set the coordinates of the destination or waypoint and search conditions such as whether to give priority to a highway or general road. Conventionally, in order to reduce the labor when setting destinations and waypoints, frequently set points are registered in advance as registered places, and the destination and waypoints are selected by a simple method such as selecting from a registered place list. Navigation devices that can be set have been commercialized.
In addition, in order to simplify operations from destination / waypoint setting to route guidance start, the system can be used without setting user search conditions such as general road priority / toll road priority at the time of destination / routepoint setting. Is a specification that starts a search uniformly under the search conditions prepared as standard (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-11-094572 (page 6)
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The conventional navigation device and its route search method are configured as described above, which contributes to a reduction in operation labor for the user, but applies the same search conditions uniformly to all destinations and waypoints. Therefore, when a search condition different from the system standard search condition is used, the search condition change operation must be performed again after the start of the search, which causes a problem of bothering the user.
Even when a search condition that is convenient for the user can be assumed in advance, such as when guiding to a registered place that is frequently visited from home, such as a golf course, the system standard search condition is uniform. Because it is used, route guidance to a registered location that is frequently visited under search conditions that do not match the user's intention is performed, and such a route is usually different from the route used by the user. There is a problem that the user may feel inconvenience.
[0005]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and can automatically set a search condition suitable for the user without increasing the time and effort required for the operation, and a route according to the user's intention. It is an object of the present invention to obtain a navigation apparatus and route search method capable of realizing guidance.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The navigation device according to the present invention inputs map information acquisition means for retrieving and reading map information from a map database, own vehicle position detection means for detecting position information of the own vehicle, various information, and various settings. Storage means In For each registered point registered in advance When each registration point is set as a destination or waypoint Input means for inputting and setting search conditions, and the registered point is a destination Or When set as a waypoint, the set destination is set based on the search condition input and set at the registration point by the input means. Or A route search means for searching for a guide route to the waypoint and an output means for outputting the map information and the guide route are provided.
[0007]
The navigation device route search method according to the present invention provides: ,Ah For each registered point registered in advance When each registration point is set as a destination or waypoint Enter search conditions And store each registered point and its search condition as a pair A search condition setting step to perform the registration, and the registered point is the destination Or When the route is set, the destination set from the current position based on the search condition input and set at the registration point by the search condition setting step. Or And a route search step for searching for a route to the waypoint.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described.
Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a navigation device to which the route search method of the first embodiment is applied.
[0009]
The input means 1 is for the user to input various information and various settings. The search condition manual setting means 9, the search condition automatic setting means 10 based on the previous search condition, and the search condition automatic setting based on the number of times determination. Means 11 and search condition correction means 12 are included.
[0010]
The search condition manual setting means 9 is for realizing a function for the user to arbitrarily set the search condition for the registered place manually. In this manual search condition setting, it is possible to set “indeterminate” in accordance with the search conditions provided in advance by the system.
The search condition automatic setting means 10 based on the previous search condition, for the registered location set as the destination / route point this time, will be the next time the set location is set as the destination / route location, This is to realize a function of applying search conditions in the same manner. The search condition set as the registration place by the search condition automatic setting means 10 is set to the same search condition as the search condition set at the current destination / route.
The search condition automatic setting means 11 based on the determination of the number of times, when the registered place is set as the destination / intermediate place, the search condition set most frequently for the registered place in the past including this time This is to realize a function that is automatically set. As the search condition set in the registration place by the search condition automatic setting means 11, the search condition set most frequently for the registration place is set.
The search condition correction means 12 realizes a function for the user to directly set search conditions for destinations and waypoints.
[0011]
The own vehicle position detection means 2 is for detecting position information of the own vehicle, and includes an orientation sensor, a distance sensor, a GPS device, and the like.
The map information acquisition means 3 searches and reads map information from the map database.
The route search means 4 searches for a route from the current position to the destination based on the vehicle position information from the vehicle position detection means 2 and the map information read by the map information acquisition means 3 from the map database.
The output means 5 includes a display device that displays and outputs the guide route searched by the route search means 4 and its interface.
The destination / waypoint setting means 6 implements a function for setting a registered point as a destination / waypoint.
The registered location storage means 7 stores a registered location registered for the purpose of use as a destination or waypoint and a search condition thereof as a pair.
The search condition determining means 8 is for determining the search conditions, and the search condition for the destination / waypoint set from the registered place by the destination / waypoint setting means 6 is stored in the registered place storage means 7. It is determined from the search conditions set by the user or the search conditions directly set by the search condition correction means 12.
[0012]
Next, the operation will be described.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation when a search condition for a destination / waypoint selected from a registered place is automatically set or a search condition for a destination / waypoint is set by a user operation. . FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation when manually setting a new registered location, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation when updating the registered location in the registered location list.
[0013]
According to the flowchart shown in FIG. 2, first, the user selects a destination / waypoint from the registered locations stored in the registered location storage means 7 (step ST1). Next, the user selects a search condition setting method, that is, “manual” setting or “automatic” setting (step ST2). When the setting of “automatic” is selected by the user, the search condition recorded for the registered place is subsequently read out by the registered place storage means 7 and the search condition determining means 8 automatically sets the search condition. (Step ST3). Then, the route search means 4 searches for a route based on the search conditions set by the search condition determination means 8 (step ST4), and starts guidance (step ST6).
On the other hand, when the setting of “manual” is selected by the user in step ST2, the user manually sets the search condition manually by the search condition manual setting means 9 (step ST5). In addition, the selection of “manual” and “automatic” in step ST2 is performed by the user every time the destination / route is set, but if the user operation is not performed for a certain time in step ST2, “automatic” is automatically performed. It may be considered that “is selected. Then, the route searching means 4 searches for a route based on the set search condition (step ST4) and starts guidance (step ST6).
[0014]
As a result, when the destination / waypoint is selected and set from the registered location, the search condition preset for each registered location can be automatically set as the search condition for the destination / routepoint. Labor for setting conditions can be reduced. In addition, since the user can consciously set a desired search condition for each registered place, and “undefined” can be set as the search condition at this time, a registered place that does not particularly require a search condition unique to the registered place. For, system standard search conditions can be applied. Furthermore, since the user can arbitrarily set the search conditions for the destination / waypoint manually, the search conditions are set without impairing the freedom of setting the search conditions for the destination / waypoint. Labor for setting conditions can be reduced.
[0015]
Further, according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 3, the user first sets the coordinates of the registration place to be registered (step ST41). Next, the user determines whether or not to specify a search condition (step ST42). When specifying the search condition, the user manually inputs the specified search condition by the search condition manual setting means 9 (step ST42). ST43). The registered location storage means 7 adds to the registered location list corresponding to the registered location that the user intends to register (step ST44).
If it is determined in step ST42 that the user does not designate a search condition, the registered location storage means 7 searches the search condition that the system has in advance as a search condition corresponding to the registered location that the user intends to register. Is set to “indefinite” (step ST45). Then, “indefinite” set for the registration location search condition is added to the registration location list in a pair with the registration location (step ST44).
[0016]
Further, in the flowchart shown in FIG. 4, the user selects a registered location from registered locations (step ST51). Next, the user determines whether or not to specify a search condition (step ST52), and when specifying the search condition, manually inputs the specified search condition (step ST53). The registered location storage means 7 corresponds to the registered location where the user wants to update the search condition, stores the input search condition, and updates the registered location list (step ST54). If the search condition is not specified in step ST52, “undefined” is set as the search condition in accordance with the search condition provided in advance by the system (step ST55). The set search condition “indefinite” is stored in association with the registered location where the search condition is to be updated, and the registered location list is updated (step ST54).
[0017]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation when the registration location search condition is automatically updated when the destination is set by the user. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the registration location update processing in the flowchart of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement when a function acts, and shows operation | movement when this time search condition is set as a search condition to be set. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation when the function of the search condition automatic setting means 11 operates in the registration place update process of the flowchart of FIG. 5. The search condition set for the registration place is for the registration place. This is the most frequently used search condition in the past including this time.
[0018]
According to the flowchart shown in FIG. 5, the user selects and sets a destination from registered locations (step ST11), and further sets a search condition for the set destination by the procedure shown in FIG. 2 (step ST12). ). Then, the search condition automatic setting means 10 or the search condition automatic setting means 11 performs a registration place update process (step ST13). This registered place update process is a process for updating the registered place list storing the registered place and the search conditions for the registered place. The registered place list is updated using the search condition used this time and the past including the current place. In some cases, the registered place list is updated using a search condition that is used most frequently. After executing the registration location update process, a route search is performed according to the search conditions set in step ST12 (step ST14).
[0019]
When the registered location list is updated using the search conditions used this time in step ST13, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6, the search conditions set this time by the user in step ST12 for the destination selected from the registered locations. Is stored (step ST21), and the registered location selected as the destination is opened as an edit target (step ST22). Then, the current search condition stored for the registered place is set as a search condition for the registered place (step ST23), and the registered place list is updated with the registered place and the search condition (step ST24). ).
As a result, when the user always selects the same route for the destination that frequently goes out, the route search is performed under the same search condition as the previous search condition, and the route to the destination that frequently goes out is A navigation device and a route search method that can automatically set the same search conditions as the previous time that are appropriate for the user, without being searched as a route that does not conform to the user's intention every time the setting is made. There is an effect to be obtained.
[0020]
In addition, when the registration destination list is updated using the search conditions most frequently used in the past including the current time in step ST13, the same destination is set in the past as shown in the flowchart of FIG. The search conditions are stored for any recent number of times (step ST31), and then the registered location selected as the destination is opened as an edit target (step ST32). Then, the stored search condition is added to the history of search conditions used for the registered location (step ST33). Further, the most frequently used search condition in the past is set as the search condition for the registered place from the search condition history (step ST34), and the registered place list is updated with the registered place and the search condition (step ST35). .
[0021]
As a result, since the route guidance until reaching the destination becomes a route frequently used by the user, the route to the destination that frequently goes out is not searched as a route that does not conform to the user's intention, and the user's hand There is an effect that a navigation device and its route search method capable of automatically setting appropriate search conditions without bothering are obtained.
[0022]
Embodiment 2. FIG.
FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a navigation apparatus to which the route search method of the second embodiment is applied. In FIG. 8, the same or equivalent parts as in FIG. To do. The navigation device according to the second embodiment includes a date / day detection unit 13 and a weather detection unit 14 in addition to the configuration of the navigation device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing registered locations stored in the registered location storage means 7, search conditions corresponding to the registered locations, and data of adaptive conditions for using the search conditions. The ground, the search condition for the registered place, and the application condition when the search condition is used are stored as a pair. This application condition includes an arbitrary date, day of the week, time, weather, coordinates of the departure place, a distance from the departure place to the destination / waypoint, and the like.
The date / day of the week detection means 13 detects the current date, day of the week, and time. The weather detection means 14 detects the current weather condition from, for example, the operation state of the vehicle wiper.
[0023]
Next, the operation will be described.
In the navigation device and its route search method according to the second embodiment, the application conditions (for example, the coordinates of the departure place, the departure place, etc.) when this search condition is used as the information accompanying the search condition recorded corresponding to the registered place. To the destination / waypoint, date / time, day of the week, weather, etc.). Further, when the destination / waypoint setting unit 6 selects and sets the destination / waypoint from the registered points, the search condition determination unit 8 detects the vehicle position detection unit 2, the date / day detection unit 13, and the weather detection. The present situation obtained from the means 14 is compared with the application condition of the search condition set in the registration place, and the search condition corresponding to the adaptation condition is found only when part or all of the conditions match the present situation. Used as search conditions for destinations and waypoints. Thus, for example, on the condition that the distance between the destination and the current position is 20 km or less and the weather is rainy on Sunday, the search condition that the expressway is not used and the prefectural road is used for the destination / route Or the use of a highway for the destination / passage point on the condition that the distance is 20 km or more for the same destination / passage point and the weather is clear on weekdays. Different search conditions can be applied such as non-prefectural road use, and different search conditions can be used according to the situation when setting destinations and waypoints, and search conditions that are more appropriate for the user can be set automatically. . At this time, the adaptation condition, which is information accompanying the search condition recorded in the registered place, is directly input by the user or automatically set from the situation when the search condition is set.
[0024]
It should be noted that a plurality of search conditions recorded corresponding to the registered locations can be set for each registered location together with information accompanying the search conditions. Then, the search condition determination means 8 at the time of setting the destination / waypoint, the most appropriate search condition (for example, information associated with the current situation and the search condition) among the plurality of search conditions recorded corresponding to the registered place With the highest degree of matching).
As a result, it is possible to automatically set a search condition more appropriate for the user from the registered location and the current situation.
[0025]
Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 used in the first embodiment.
First, the setting of search conditions in the second embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 2. First, the user selects a destination from registered locations stored in the registered location storage means 7 (step ST1). Next, a search condition setting method, that is, “manual” setting or “automatic” setting is selected (step ST2). When the setting of “automatic” is selected by the user, the adaptation condition most closely matches the current situation among the search conditions recorded for the registered place by the registered place storage means 7. The search condition is read, and the read search condition is set by the search condition determining means 8 as the search condition for the registered location (step ST3). In other words, the search condition determination means 8 selects and sets a search condition having the highest degree of coincidence between the current situation and the adaptation condition from among a plurality of search conditions recorded in the registered place when setting the destination / waypoint. . At this time, one search condition having the highest degree of coincidence with the current situation may be selected, and when it is determined that there is no matching search condition, the same as when no search condition is set The system standard search condition may be used. Then, the route search means 4 searches for a route based on the search conditions set by the search condition determination means 8 (step ST4), and starts guidance (step ST6).
On the other hand, when the “manual” setting is selected by the user in step ST2, the search condition manual setting means 9 allows the user to arbitrarily set the search condition manually (step ST5). Then, the route search means 4 searches for a route based on the set search conditions (step ST4) and starts guidance (step ST6).
[0026]
As a result, when the destination / route is selected and set from the registered location, the current situation, for example, the coordinates of the departure location, the destination Search conditions with the best adaptation conditions for distance, date / time, day of the week, and weather can be automatically set as search conditions for the route to the destination / route, reducing labor for setting search conditions it can. Further, since the search condition can be manually set by a user operation, the labor for setting the search condition can be reduced without impairing the degree of freedom of setting the search condition for the destination / route.
[0027]
Next, the new registration location setting in the second embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 3. First, the user sets the coordinates of the registration location to be registered (step ST41). Next, it is determined whether or not a search condition is specified (step ST42). When specifying a search condition, the specified search condition is manually input (step ST43). At this time, it is possible to manually input an application condition when using the search condition. The application conditions are, for example, the coordinates of the departure place, the distance between the destination and the departure place, the date, the day of the week, the time, and the weather conditions. For example, the coordinates of the departure place and the distance between the destination and the departure place are 20 km. The application condition and the search condition are input so that the search condition of not using the expressway and using the prefectural road is applied on the condition that the weather is raining on Sunday, and the application condition and the search condition are Paired and added to the registered location list corresponding to the registered location to be registered (step ST44).
At this time, one or more search conditions recorded in the registration place may not specify the application condition. This search condition is applied when there is no application condition that applies to the current situation among the other search conditions set in this registration place.
If it is determined in step ST42 that the user does not designate a search condition, “undefined” is set as the search condition to follow the search condition provided in advance by the system (step ST45). Then, “indefinite” set for the registration location search condition is added to the registration location list in a pair with the registration location to be registered (step ST44).
[0028]
In addition, the operation when the search condition for the registered place is updated in the second embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 4. First, the user has already registered the registered place for which the search condition is to be updated. Select from registered locations (step ST51). Next, it is determined whether or not a search condition is specified (step ST52). When specifying a search condition, the user manually inputs the specified search condition (step ST53). At this time, it is also possible to manually input application conditions when using the search conditions. The application conditions are, for example, the coordinates of the departure place, the distance between the registration place and the departure place, the date, the day of the week, the time, and the weather conditions. For example, the distance between the registration place and the departure place is 20 km or less, Entering the search condition and the application condition so that the search condition of using the expressway is not used and using the prefectural road is applied under the condition that it is raining, and the application condition and the search condition are paired to be updated. The registered place list is updated in correspondence with the registered place (step ST54). If it is determined in step ST52 that the user does not specify a search condition, “undefined” is set as the search condition to follow the search condition provided in advance by the system (step ST55), and registration to be updated is set. Regarding the ground search condition, the registered land list is updated by the set “undefined” (step ST54).
[0029]
As described above, according to the second embodiment, the registered location, the search condition for the registered location, and the adaptation condition when the search condition is used for the route search are stored, and the user can Every time a destination is selected and set, the coordinates of the vehicle position (departure point) detected by the vehicle position detection unit 2, the distance between the set destination and the departure point, and the date / day of the week detection unit 13 are detected. In addition, for the current situation including the current date and day of the week, and the current weather detected by the weather detection means 14, the search condition that best matches the adaptation condition for the destination is automatically set. For this reason, a navigation device and route search method capable of automatically setting a search condition more appropriate for the user from the registered location and the current situation, and capable of performing route guidance by a route that does not feel uncomfortable for the user. effective.
[0030]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the destination selected and set from the registered points registered in advance. Or The route search to the waypoint is input and set for each of the registered points registered in advance. When each registration point is set as a destination or waypoint Since the search is performed based on the search condition, the search condition input and set for the registered point registered in advance should be set as a search condition that provides convenient route guidance for the user. Can realize route guidance according to the user's intention, Or Select a stopover from a registered point, and Or Every time a route search to a transit point is performed, route guidance that does not conform to the user's intention is performed, so that it is possible to avoid an increase in labor required for the user to reset the search condition, etc. This has the effect of automatically setting.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a navigation device to which a route search method according to a first embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 shows a navigation apparatus to which the route search method according to the first embodiment of the present invention is applied. A search condition for a destination / waypoint is set by a user operation or a destination selected from a registered location is set. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement at the time of setting a search condition automatically.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation when a new registration place is manually set in the navigation device to which the route search method according to the first embodiment of the present invention is applied;
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation when updating a registered place in a registered place list in the navigation apparatus to which the route search method according to the first embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation when a registration location search condition is automatically set in the navigation apparatus to which the route search method according to the first embodiment of the present invention is applied;
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation when the function of the search condition automatic setting means acts in the registration place update process of the navigation device to which the route search method according to the first embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation when the function of the search condition automatic setting means acts in the registered place update process of the navigation device to which the route search method according to the first embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a navigation device to which the route search method according to the second embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing registered location, search conditions, and adaptation condition data stored in a registered location storage means of a navigation device to which the route search method of Embodiment 2 of the present invention is applied.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 input means, 2 vehicle position detection means, 3 map information acquisition means, 4 route search means, 5 output means, 7 registered location storage means.

Claims (9)

Map information acquisition means for retrieving and reading map information from the map database, own vehicle position detection means for detecting the position information of the own vehicle, input means for inputting various information and various settings, and from the current position to the destination Or in a navigation device comprising route search means for searching for a guide route to a waypoint, and output means for outputting the map information and the guide route,
It said input means inputs sets the search condition of setting the registration point for each registered point registered locations storing means near et beforehand registered in the destination or stopover, each registered in the registered place storing means A point and its search conditions are stored in pairs,
When the registered point is set as the destination or waypoint, the route search means is configured to input the set destination or waypoint based on the search condition set for the registered point by the input means. A navigation device characterized by searching for a guide route to   2. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input unit inputs and sets search condition change or cancellation for each registered point.   3. The navigation according to claim 1, wherein the input means automatically inputs and sets the search condition used for the previous route search including the registered point as the search condition for the registered point at this time. apparatus.   The input means automatically inputs and sets a search condition having the highest use frequency among search conditions used for a past route search including the registered spot as the search condition for the registered spot. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. The input means sets a plurality of setting conditions by adding arbitrary application conditions related to the departure place to the search conditions for each registration point, and the route search means is the departure place detected by the own vehicle position detection means when setting the destination or waypoint a vehicle position, based on the search condition selected by comparing the application condition that is added to the search condition of the registration point set as the destination or stopover, a route search for the destination or stopover performing the The navigation apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the navigation apparatus is characterized. It has date / day detection means for detecting calendar information including the current date, day of the week, and time, and the input means sets a plurality of setting conditions by adding arbitrary adaptation conditions related to the calendar information to the search conditions for each registered location The route search means compares the calendar information at the time of route search detected by the date / day of the week detection means with the adaptation condition added to the search conditions for the registration point set at the destination or waypoint. The navigation device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a route search for the destination or waypoint is performed based on the selected search condition.   The route search means is characterized by selecting a search condition to which any one of date, day of week, day of week, or time of calendar information, or any combination thereof is matched within a predetermined range or a similar adaptation condition is added. The navigation device according to claim 6. Weather detection means for detecting the current weather condition, the input means adds a plurality of arbitrary adaptation conditions related to the weather condition to the search condition for each registered point, and the route search means includes the weather Based on the search condition selected by comparing the weather condition at the time of the route search detected by the detecting means and the adaptive condition added to the search condition of the registration point set at the destination or waypoint or navigation system according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the performing a route search for the waypoint. A route search method in a navigation device for searching a guide route to a destination or waypoint selected and set from registered points ,
Oh et al. Type sets the search conditions for each registration point was set as the destination or stopover per beforehand registered registration spot, the search condition setting step of storing in pairs each registration point and its search conditions When,
When the registered point is set to the destination or waypoint, from the current position to the set destination or waypoint based on the search condition input and set to the registered point by the search condition setting step A route search method for a navigation device, comprising: a route search step for performing a route search.

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