JP4196623B2 - Route guidance device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  The present invention searches for a route from a departure place to a destination based on road data and guides the searched route.In placeIt is related.
[0002]
[Prior art]
  The conventional route guidance device is configured to search for and display a plurality of routes based on several different conditions when a user inputs a destination and instructs to search for a route from the current location to the destination. Has been. For example,1)The distance of the route is the shortest,2)Estimating the time required to reach the destination in consideration of road traffic information such as traffic jams and road closures obtained from the outside, the required time is estimated as the shortest time,3)There are few left and right folding,4)Passing preferentially on automobile roads,5)There is a route search based on various conditions such as not passing through a toll road.
[0003]
  Among such various route search conditions, what is particularly important for the user are “the shortest distance” and “the route where the required time is estimated to be the shortest”. This is because the user usually selects a route that is likely to arrive at the destination as soon as possible. In particular, even if the distance is the shortest, the time required may not be the shortest when there are road conditions that hinder the progress of traffic jams, etc. Depending on the past experience or intuition based on it, the route with the shortest distance with traffic jams or the other route with no traffic jams is selected.
[0004]
  By the way, since the time required for such a route passage is only an estimate, in practice, how much time is required depends on the road traffic circumstances that change from moment to moment, and differs depending on the time. Therefore, even if the user is traveling along the route selected and presented by the route guidance device, if the user determines that it will take longer than expected during the process, the route Often rethinks that they should have chosen a different path. In such a case, in the conventional route guidance apparatus, it is necessary for the user to instruct the route re-search according to other conditions.
[0005]
  Further, in the conventional route guidance device, as in the “route guidance device” disclosed in Patent Document 1 below, the user instructs the route guidance device (route guidance device) to re-search for another route. Even if it is not done, if you travel on a road different from the route during guidance, you can detect that the vehicle deviates from the recommended route (optimum route) and re-search for a route that can return to the original recommended route, or There are some which continue the route guidance by searching for a new route from the current location of the deviating vehicle to the destination.
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-8-201091 (2nd to 6th pages, FIG. 2)
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
  However, according to the conventional route guidance apparatus as described above, in order to re-search a route under conditions different from the search condition of the route selected first during route guidance, the user must perform an operation for that purpose. In addition, if the route guidance device performs such a re-search, the route guidance that has been performed until that time is interrupted, and the user is temporarily unable to receive route guidance. . In addition, even if the search condition is changed and the re-search is performed, the same route as the route that has been guided up to that point may be searched. There is also the problem of being wasted.
[0008]
  Further, as in the “route guidance device” disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, when a route different from the route is traveled in the middle of guidance without instructing the route guidance device to search for the route again, the route is re-established. Even in the case of a route guidance device that automatically starts a search, the route guidance that has been performed so far is interrupted during the re-search, so that the user can receive the route guidance temporarily. It becomes impossible. Even if re-searching is performed, the search uses the same conditions as the search conditions for the route selected first. Therefore, as described above, the route is different from the guide route based on the initial search conditions. Will not be re-searched for routes that do not meet such intentions, but in many cases will search for routes that merge with the first selected route. It becomes. Further, in such a case, since the user is going to travel a route different from the first route, the user travels a route different from the route guidance resumed by the re-search, and as a result, such an unnecessary route is required. There are various problems that can lead to repeated re-search.
[0009]
  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a route guidance device that can increase the degree of freedom of route selection by the user.PlaceIt is to provide.
[0010]
[Means for solving the problems and functions and effects of the invention]
  In order to achieve the above object, the route guidance device according to claim 1 searches for a route from the departure place to the destination based on the road data, and in the route guidance device for guiding the searched route, Based on one route search condition, recommended route search means for searching a route from the departure point to the destination as a recommended route, and for each intersection existing on the recommended route based on a predetermined second route search condition In addition, another route search means for searching using the intersection as a starting point and the route to the destination as another route is compared with the route of the recommended route and the route of the other route, and a difference road between the two routes is extracted. Then, based on the difference road, a route difference guidance point extracting means for extracting, as a route difference guidance point, an intersection where the traveling direction of the different route at the starting point is different from the traveling direction of the recommended route, and the route phase And a route different guidance point data output means for outputting a different route travel direction data regarding the direction of the path differences guidance point data and said further pathway for guidance pointThe different route search means compares arbitrary two different routes from other routes searched from each intersection as the starting point, and the ratio of the distance of the portion where the routes match to the total distance of the different routes is If it is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, only one of the two different routes is extracted.Is a technical feature.
[0011]
  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the starting point / destination information acquiring unit acquires the starting point and destination information, and the recommended route searching unit acquires the route from the starting point to the destination based on a predetermined first route searching condition. Is searched for as a recommended route, and for each intersection existing on the recommended route based on a predetermined second route search condition, a route from the intersection to the destination is searched as a separate route by another route search means. To do. Then, the route guidance point extraction means compares the route of the recommended route with the route of the different route, extracts a difference road of both routes, and based on this difference road, the traveling direction of the different route at the starting point is the progress of the recommended route. An intersection different from the direction is extracted as a different route guidance point, and the different route guidance point data output unit outputs the different route guidance point data related to the different route guidance point and the different route traveling direction data related to the traveling direction of the different route to the user. Present. As a result, at each intersection (route different guidance point) in the route guidance traveling direction, the traveling direction of another route searched under different search conditions from the route in the middle of guidance is output and presented to the user. The presence / absence of a separate route and the traveling direction of the separate route can be grasped for each intersection. Therefore, the user can select a route based on another search condition without performing an operation of changing the search condition and performing a search again, and thus the degree of freedom of route selection can be increased.
  Further, the different route search means compares any two different routes from other routes searched from each intersection as the starting point, and the ratio of the distance of the portion where the routes match to the total distance of the different route is If it is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, only one of the two different routes is extracted, and the other route is excluded from the extraction. As a result, even if a route that is approximate to each other is searched, the other route that is approximated is not extracted, so that it is possible to prevent the route from being output and presented to the user. Therefore, since unnecessary route information that is another route that is approximated as described above is not output to the user and frequently presented at each intersection, it is possible to freely select a route within an appropriate range. The degree can be increased.
[0012]
  The route guidance device according to claim 2, further comprising a storage unit that stores data, wherein the storage unit includes the difference in route among the data relating to the different route. It is a technical feature that the guide point data and the another route traveling direction data are stored.
[0013]
  In the second aspect of the invention, the route difference guidance point data and the different route traveling direction data among the data relating to the different route are stored in the storage means. Therefore, the route data from the route difference guidance point to the destination is stored. I don't remember everything. As a result, even if there are a large number of route difference guidance points, the amount of data stored for that purpose can be reduced, so that the route guidance device according to the present invention can be implemented without requiring a large-capacity storage medium as a storage means. Can be
[0014]
  Furthermore, in the route guidance device according to claim 3, the route guidance device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising traffic information acquisition means for acquiring road traffic information, wherein the predetermined first route search condition is: It is a condition for searching for a route that is estimated to have a minimum required time to the destination based on road traffic information, and the predetermined second route search condition is a total distance of the route to the destination Is a condition for searching for the shortest route.
[0015]
  In the invention of claim 3, the predetermined first route search condition is for searching for a route that is estimated to have a minimum required time to the destination based on the road traffic information acquired by the traffic information acquiring means. The predetermined second route search condition is a condition for searching for a route with the shortest total distance of the route to the destination. ”And“ route estimated to have minimum required time ”. In other words, the recommended route is searched based on the “route estimated to have the minimum required time”, and another route is searched based on the “route with the shortest distance”. Thereby, it is possible to output a recommended route and another route for each intersection for the two conditions in which the user is particularly interested and present it to the user. Therefore, the user can perform a search based on the “shortest distance” route in addition to the recommended route based on the “route estimated to be the minimum required time” without changing the search condition and performing a search again. Therefore, the degree of freedom in route selection can be increased.
[0016]
[0017]
[0018]
[0019]
[0020]
[0021]
[0022]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
  Hereinafter, the route guidance apparatus of the present inventionPlaceAn embodiment applied to a navigation information providing apparatus will be described with reference to the drawings. The navigation information providing device is a device that provides route guidance information to the in-vehicle communication navigation device.
[0023]
  First, as a technique related to the present invention, a first reference example and a second reference example will be described with reference to FIGS.
[FirstReference example]
  FIG. 1 shows the firstAccording to the reference example2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a navigation information providing apparatus (hereinafter referred to as “information center”) 20 and an in-vehicle communication navigation apparatus (hereinafter referred to as “in-vehicle apparatus”) 50.
  As shown in FIG. 1, the information center 20 mainly includes a central information processing device (hereinafter referred to as “CPU”) 21, a communication control device (hereinafter referred to as “CCU”) 22, a memory device 23, a road information database 24, and the like. It is configured.
[0024]
  The CPU 21 controls a control unit, an arithmetic unit so that it can process an input program 23a, a route search program 23b, another route search program 23c, a different route guidance point extraction program 23d, a normal guidance point extraction program 23e, an output program 23f, and the like which will be described later. A logic operation unit and the like are provided, and the memory device 23 is configured as, for example, a personal computer or a workstation.
[0025]
  The CCU 22 is a communication control device that controls communication with the outside. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the CCU 22 performs communication control related to data exchange between the CPU 100 and the Internet 100 or the telephone line switching center 110 connected via a communication line. Is responsible for. As described above, the information center 20 is connected to the telephone circuit switching center 110 and the Internet 100, so that the information center 20 performs data communication with the vehicle-mounted device 50 via the telephone circuit switching center 110, and external traffic via the Internet 100. The latest road traffic information can be obtained from the information center 120.
[0026]
  The memory device 23 is a semiconductor memory that constitutes a main storage space used by the CPU 21, and is connected to the CPU 21 via a data bus. The memory device 23 stores an input program 23a, a route search program 23b, another route search program 23c, a route difference guide point extraction program 23d, a normal guide point extraction program 23e, an output program 23f, and the like. Each control process can be performed by the CPU 21.
[0027]
  The road information database 24 is a hard disk device, a compact disk device, a digital versatile disk device or the like constituting an auxiliary storage space used by the CPU 21 and is connected to the CPU 21 via a data bus. In this road information database 24, in addition to road map data from the past to the latest, traffic information obtained from the traffic information center 120, traffic information on traffic accidents and traffic regulations, etc. Various road data are stored and accumulated.
[0028]
  Although not shown in FIG. 1, the information center 20 is further provided with an input device for instructing operation of the information center 20, an output device for displaying the operation status, and the like. .
[0029]
  On the other hand, the vehicle-mounted device 50 facing the information center 20 is mainly composed of a control device 52, an output device 53, an input device 54, a position detection device 56, a wireless communication device 58, etc., as in the information center 20. .
[0030]
  The control device 52 includes an unillustrated CPU, memory device, and the like, like the CPU 21 and the memory device 23 of the information center 20. The memory device stores a route guidance program 52a that can provide route guidance via the output device 53 and the like based on recommended route data received from the information center 20 via the wireless communication device 58, and an input device. A route search program 52b that can uniquely search for a route based on a search condition or the like input via 54 or the like is also stored.
[0031]
  The output device 53 is connected to the control device 52 via an input / output interface (not shown), and displays route guidance information from the current location to the destination, estimated time required to reach the destination, etc. It is a device that can output by voice. When the route guidance is performed using images, the output device 53 is configured by, for example, a liquid crystal display or a CRT display, and is provided on the operation panel of the in-vehicle device 50. When route guidance is performed by voice, it is composed of a voice synthesizer, sound generator, amplifier, speaker, and the like. Some of these are configured to provide route guidance and the like using both images and sound.
[0032]
  The input device 54 is an information input device provided on the operation panel of the in-vehicle device 50 and is connected to the control device 52 via an input / output interface (not shown). The input device 54 is used for inputting information on a destination or the like that the user desires to search for a route. The input device 54 has a configuration in which a predetermined number of push-type switches are arranged, or a touch panel provided on the surface of the output device 53. There is also a type or a voice recognition device that recognizes a user's voice and converts it into input information to the in-vehicle device 50.
[0033]
  BookFirst reference exampleThen, although the output device 53 and the input device 54 were provided in the operation panel of the vehicle equipment 50, it is not restricted to this, The output device 53, the input device 54, and the vehicle equipment 50 are provided in a separate housing. May be configured. Further, the output device 53 and the input device 54 may be physically separated from each other.
[0034]
  The position detection device 56 is for detecting the current position of the vehicle on which the vehicle-mounted device 50 is mounted and outputting current position data. For example, the position detection device 56 receives signals from a plurality of GPS satellites and determines the absolute position of the user. It consists of a GPS sensor that measures and a gyro sensor that measures the relative position of the vehicle. The gyro sensor is used for autonomous navigation, and the relative position measured by the gyro sensor is obtained in a tunnel where the GPS receiver cannot receive radio waves from the satellite, or is measured by the GPS receiver. This is used to correct the positioning error of the absolute position.
[0035]
  The wireless communication device 58 is a wireless communication device for transmitting and receiving data to and from the information center 20 via a wireless communication line, and is connected to the control device 52 via an input / output interface (not shown). For example, a wireless communication system such as a mobile phone or PHS is used.
[0036]
  Here, an input program 23a, a route search program 23b, another route search program 23c, a route difference guidance point extraction program 23d, a normal guidance point extraction program 23e, and an output program 23f stored in the memory device 23 of the information center 20 are stored. An outline will be described. These programs may be stored in the memory device of the in-vehicle device 50. In such a case, the in-vehicle device 50 searches for a recommended route or another route described later independently of the information center 20. Set guide points.
[0037]
  The input program 23a acquires information on the departure point, destination, or current location from the in-vehicle device 50 via the CCU 22, or acquires operation information of the information center 20 itself input via an input device (not shown). It has a function of passing to other programs and processes. When the input program 23a is stored in the memory of the in-vehicle device 50, the program uses the navigation function in addition to information on the destination that the user of the in-vehicle device 50 desires for route guidance. In this case, the user has a function of allowing the user to input various information required via the input device 54 and transferring the information to other programs and processes.
[0038]
  The route search program 23b uses the function of searching for the destination input by the input program 23a from the map information stored in the road information database 24, and the departure point input in the same manner based on a predetermined first route search condition. Alternatively, it has two functions: a function of searching for a recommended route from the current location to the destination from the road information recorded in the road information database 24.
[0039]
  The different route search program 23c has a function of searching for another route from the departure point or the current location to the destination from the road information recorded in the road information database 24 based on a predetermined second route search condition. Is. The major difference between this program and the aforementioned route search program 23b is that the search conditions are different. Therefore, by changing the search conditions to the second search conditions using the route search program 23b, the second search condition is changed. Another route may be searched based on the search condition. In this case, the separate route search program 23c becomes unnecessary.
[0040]
  In addition, when the route search program 23b and the separate route search program 23c are stored in the memory of the vehicle-mounted device 50, these programs have the same function, but in this case, the road information database 24 is used instead. Thus, an unillustrated road information database provided in the in-vehicle device 50 is referred to by these programs.
[0041]
  The route difference guidance point extraction program 23d searches for another route from a certain intersection on the recommended route in the same direction as the traveling direction of the recommended route, and the intersection where the recommended route and the different route branch. It has something to find out.
[0042]
  The normal guidance point extraction program 23e has a place on the recommended route where the user should be informed of the direction of travel of the recommended route, for example, a place where the user should turn right or left, and a prominent facility (so-called landmark) in the vicinity. This function has a function of extracting, as route guidance data, a place where the location can be easily confirmed.
[0043]
  The output program 23f has a function of transmitting route data and guide point data generated by the route search program 23b, another route search program 23c, a route difference guide point extraction program 23d, and the like to the in-vehicle device 50 via the CCU 22. It is. When the output program 23f is stored in the memory of the in-vehicle device 50, the program draws and displays various route guidance information as a diagram on the output device 53, various route guidance information, and the like. Is output to the output device 53 as a synthesized voice or an alarm sound.
[0044]
  Next, the flow of the route information provision process processed by the information center 20 will be described with reference to FIGS. The route information providing process described below is executed by the above-described input program 23a, route search program 23b, another route search program 23c, route difference guidance point extraction program 23d, normal guidance point extraction program 23e, and output program 23f. Therefore, it is started from the main routine of the system program by the CPU 21 of the information center 20.
[0045]
  As shown in FIG. 2, in the information center 20, after a predetermined initialization process, first, a process of receiving current location information and destination information is performed in step S101. This process is performed by the input program 23a. Specifically, by receiving data sent from the in-vehicle device 50 via the CCU 22, the current position of the vehicle in which the in-vehicle device 50 is mounted and the vehicle's current position. Information about the destination for which the user wants route guidance is acquired by coordinates based on latitude and longitude, and names such as place names and facility names. Thereby, the acquired current location information and destination information are stored in the work area or the like of the memory device 23, and can be delivered to the route search program 23b or the like. In additionThisThe current position here corresponds to the “departure place” described in the claims.
[0046]
  In the next step S103, processing for searching for a recommended route is performed. This process is performed by the route search program 23b, and searches for a recommended route based on the current location information and destination information received in step S101.
  Specifically, for example, the route search algorithm disclosed in JP-A-1-173297 and JP-A-1-173298 is performed, and by referring to the road data in the road information database 24, for example, FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, a recommended route from the starting point α (current location) to the destination β is searched, and a route that satisfies a predetermined first route search condition is extracted. For example, based on the road traffic information acquired from the traffic information center 120 (the dotted line route is a traffic jam in FIG. 3), the route γ1-γ2-γ3-γ4-γ5 estimated to have the minimum required time to the destination. -γ6-γ7-γ8 (hereinafter abbreviated as “γ1 to γ8”) (thick line route in FIG. 3) is searched. This step S103 corresponds to “recommended route searching means” described in the claims. Further, here, the condition “route estimated that the time required to reach the destination is minimized” corresponds to the “predetermined first route search condition” recited in the claims.
[0047]
  In the subsequent step S105, processing for searching for another recommended route is performed. This process is performed by the different route search program 23c, and searches for a route different from the recommended route based on the current location information and destination information received in step S101. Specifically, as in the recommended route search in step S103, the search is performed by the route search algorithm disclosed in the above-mentioned publications and the like. Different from S103. That is, in step S105, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, a route δ1-δ2-δ3 (hereinafter abbreviated as “δ1 to δ3”) having the shortest total distance to the destination β is searched. However, in step S103, the route γ1 to γ8, which is estimated to have the minimum required time to the destination, is searched. This step S105 corresponds to “another route searching means” described in the claims. In addition, here, the condition “the route having the shortest total distance of the route to the destination” corresponds to the “predetermined second route search condition” described in the claims.
[0048]
  When a recommended route is searched for in step S103 and another route is searched for in step S105, processing for comparing the search results is performed in step S107. That is, the route of the recommended route searched in step S103 (for example, routes γ1 to γ8 shown in FIG. 3) is compared with the route of another route searched in step S105 (for example, routes δ1 to δ3 shown in FIG. 3), A process of extracting a difference road and a matching road on both routes is performed.
[0049]
  In the next step S109, a process for determining whether or not there is a difference between the two paths is performed. That is, if a difference road between both routes is extracted in step S107, there is a difference between both routes (Yes in S109). Therefore, the process proceeds to step S111, and a branch point (intersection) on the difference road between both routes is determined. Extract. On the other hand, if a difference road between the two routes is not extracted in step S107, there is no difference between the two routes (No in S109), and the process proceeds to step S121, and the normal route necessary for normal route guidance is used. A process for extracting guide points is performed. In the example of the searched route shown in FIG. 3, the recommended route γ2-γ3-γ4-γ5-γ6-γ7 and another route δ2 are extracted as different roads.
[0050]
  In step S111, processing for extracting an intersection where the recommended route and another route branch is performed. In this process, based on the difference road of both routes extracted in the previous step S107, the difference road is returned to the departure direction or the current location, so that an intersection where the recommended route and another route merge, that is, the destination region When traveling in the direction, the intersection where the recommended route and another route branch is extracted. In the example of the searched route shown in FIG. 3, the recommended route and another route merge by returning the difference road between γ2-γ3-γ4-γ5-γ6-γ7 of the recommended route and δ2 of another route in the direction of departure α. Intersection I is extracted.
[0051]
  In the subsequent step S113, processing for registering a route difference guide point is performed. That is, using the “branching intersection” extracted in step S111 as a path difference guidance point, the position data (for example, latitude / longitude) of the intersection, the traveling direction data of the recommended route at the intersection, and the traveling direction data of another route. A process of storing in a predetermined area of the memory device 23 is performed. In the example of the searched route shown in FIG. 3, the position data of the intersection I is registered as a route difference guide point, and the traveling direction data of the recommended route γ2 from the intersection I and the traveling direction data of the other route δ2 from the intersection I are registered. Is done. In this predetermined area, data indicating a difference between a recommended route starting from the intersection and another route, that is, data indicating a difference in distance between both routes, a difference in estimated required time, and the like are also registered.
[0052]
  When the route difference guidance point is registered in step S113, next, in step S115, a process for searching for another route with a direction from the route difference guidance point to the road direction of the recommended route is performed. This process is performed by the different route search program 23c as in the previous step S105. However, there is a condition that the registered route difference guidance point is used as a starting point and the recommended route is advanced from the route difference guidance point. Thus, the search for a new alternative route is different from step S105. For example, in FIG. 3, another route δ4-δ5-δ6-δ3 is searched by searching for another new route under the condition that the recommended route γ2 travels from the intersection (route difference guide point) I. This step S115 corresponds to “another route searching means” described in the claims.
[0053]
  When a new alternative route is searched in step S115 as described above, the process returns to step S107 to compare the search results, and further, in step S109, it is determined whether or not there is a difference between the two routes. Is called. In the example of the searched route shown in FIG. 3, the recommended route γ4-γ5-γ6-γ7 and another route δ6 are extracted as different roads.
[0054]
  When the same processing as described above is performed in steps S111, S113, and S115, in the example of the searched route shown in FIG. 3, a new route is added under the condition that the recommended route γ4 further proceeds from the intersection (route difference guide point) II. The route is searched, and another route δ7-δ8-δ9-δ10-δ3 is searched. By repeating the processing of steps S107 to S115 in this way, there is no difference between the another route δ11-δ3 and the recommended route γ7-γ8 that have been searched for, and the processing is shifted to step S121 by step S109.
[0055]
  The algorithm for repeating steps S107 to S115 is as follows: “A route to the destination (β) is searched as a first different route (δ1 to δ3) based on a predetermined second route search condition, and this first different route ( Starting from the branch point (intersection I) where δ1 to δ3) deviated from the recommended route (γ1 to γ8), the destination (β) is determined based on a predetermined second route search condition in the recommended route traveling direction (direction of γ2). Is further searched as a second alternative route (δ4-δ5-δ6-δ3), and this second alternative route (δ4-δ5-δ6-δ3) is the recommended route (γ2-γ3-γ4-γ5-γ6-). Starting from a branch point (intersection II) that deviates from γ7-γ8), a route to the destination (β) in the recommended route traveling direction (direction of γ4) based on a predetermined second route search condition is the third different route Further search as follows, and this third alternative route (δ7-δ8-δ9-δ10-δ3) is a branch point that deviates from the recommended route (γ4-γ5-γ6-γ7-γ8) Starting from the intersection III), the route to the destination (β) is further searched in the recommended route traveling direction (in the direction of γ7) based on a predetermined second route search condition as the nth route, and this nth route (Δ11-δ3) can also be expressed as “repeatedly search until it does not deviate from the recommended route (γ7-γ8)”, which is described in the claims as “intersection on the recommended route” Every other search for a route from the intersection to the destination as a different route ”is equivalent in terms of technical idea.
[0056]
  The above-described steps S107, S109, and S111 correspond to “route difference guide point extracting means” described in the claims.
[0057]
  In step S121, a process for extracting normal guidance points is performed. Specifically, in accordance with a predetermined algorithm, for example, intersection data that turns right and left along a recommended route and so-called landmarks that are facilities that serve as landmarks on the route are used to extract location data that informs the user as route guidance. The processing in step S121 is executed by the normal guide point extraction program 23e in FIG.
[0058]
  In the subsequent step S123, processing for storing the recommended route data, the route difference guidance point data, the different route traveling direction data, and the normal guidance point data in a predetermined area of the memory device 23 is performed.
[0059]
  In step S125, processing for transmitting recommended route data, route difference guidance point data, different route traveling direction data, and normal guidance point data is performed. This process is performed by the output program 23f, and among the data stored in step S123, the recommended route data, the different route guidance point data, the different route traveling direction data, and the normal guidance point data are converted into the vehicle-mounted device 50 via the CCU 22. Send to. When the transmission process in step S125 ends, a series of route information provision processes by the information center 20 ends.
[0060]
  As described above, in step S123 and step S125, only data related to the recommended route, the different route guidance point, the different route traveling direction, and the normal guidance point is stored in the memory device 23 or transmitted to the in-vehicle device 50. Thus, since all route data from each route difference guide point to the destination is not stored or transmitted, even if there are a large number of route difference guide points, the amount of data stored in the memory device 23 can be reduced. The amount of communication data transmitted to the in-vehicle device 50 can be greatly reduced. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the communication cost with the in-vehicle device 50 without using the memory device 23 uneconomically.
[0061]
  When the recommended route data or the like is transmitted from the information center 20 to the in-vehicle device 50, the in-vehicle device 50 receives them and the control device 52 performs a process for guiding the route based on the received data.
  That is, as shown in FIG. 4, in the in-vehicle device 50, after the predetermined initialization process, the data reception process is performed in step S <b> 2010, so that the control device 52 of the in-vehicle device 50 passes through the wireless communication device 58. The recommended route data, route difference guide point data, and normal guide point data are received.
[0062]
  In step S2030, based on the current position data obtained from the position detection device 56, it is determined whether or not the current position of the vehicle matches the route guidance conditions. If the current position of the vehicle matches the route guidance conditions (Yes in S2030), the process proceeds to step S2050 and the route guidance information is output. If not (No in S2030), the process proceeds to step S2070. To determine whether the vehicle has arrived at the destination.
[0063]
  In step S2050, the route guidance information is output to the output device 53. In this process, normal route guidance information is output to the output device 53 by a screen or a voice, and for example, a display screen as shown in FIG. In this example, in front of the intersection (the triangle in the circle shown in FIG. 5 is the vehicle position), the arrow X indicates the traveling direction of the recommended route (minimum time route), and the arrow Y indicates another route (shortest distance route). Indicates the direction of travel. Also, the required time and required distance are displayed in the balloons attached to the arrows (arrow X is required time 50 minutes, required distance 49.1 km, arrow Y is required time 70 minutes, required distance 45.3 km) ). Furthermore, by guiding the difference in the required time such as “If you turn right, you will arrive 20 minutes early” by the voice guidance function, the user will be able to reach the destination earlier in the direction of arrow X in time Notice. In addition to the required time, if there is a toll road in the guidance route, the toll required for the guidance route is also notified to the user by the screen display function or the voice guidance function.
[0064]
  In the subsequent step S2070, it is determined whether or not the vehicle has arrived at the destination, that is, whether or not the current position of the vehicle is at the destination. If it is determined that the vehicle has arrived at the destination (Yes in S2070), the route guidance for reaching the destination by the in-vehicle device 50 has been completed. finish.
[0065]
  On the other hand, if it is not determined that the vehicle has arrived at the destination (No in S2070), the process proceeds to step S2090 to determine whether or not the vehicle is traveling on the recommended route, and the recommended route is in progress. In this case (Yes in S2090), the process returns to step S2030 to determine again whether or not the current position of the vehicle matches the route guidance conditions.
[0066]
  If it cannot be determined in step S2090 that the vehicle is traveling on the recommended route, that is, if the recommended route is deviated and the vehicle travels in a direction such as another route, current vehicle position information (current position data) is obtained in subsequent step S2110. The destination information is transmitted to the information center 20. As a result, the information center 20 receives the current position information and destination information of the vehicle, thereby executing the same route information provision processing (S101 to S125 shown in FIG. 2) as described above, and again recommending it to the in-vehicle device 50. Route data and the like are transmitted.
[0067]
  In FIG. 4, each process in the information center 20 is simply expressed in three steps of “data reception”, “search / guide point extraction”, and “data transmission”. Step S101 shown in FIG. 3 and “search / guide point extraction” correspond to steps S103 to S115 and S121 shown in FIG. 3, and “data transmission” corresponds to steps S123 and S125 shown in FIG.
[0068]
  As explained above,Of the first reference exampleAccording to the information center 20, information on the departure point and the destination is acquired from the vehicle-mounted device 50 by the input program 23 a (S 101), and predetermined first route search conditions such as “traffic information by the CCU 22” are obtained by the route search program 23 b (S 103). The route from the departure point to the destination is searched as a recommended route on the basis of “conditions for searching for a route estimated that the required time to the destination is minimized based on the road traffic information acquired from the center 120”. By using another route search program 23c (S105, S115), on the recommended route based on a predetermined second route search condition, for example, “a condition for searching for a route with the shortest total distance to the destination” For each existing intersection, a search is made using the intersection as a starting point and a route to the destination as another route. Then, an intersection where the traveling direction of another route at the start point is different from the traveling direction of the recommended route is extracted as a route difference guidance point by the route difference guidance point extraction program 23d (S107, S109, S111), and the output program 23f (S125). The route difference guidance point data relating to the route difference guidance point and the different route traveling direction data relating to the traveling direction of another route are output to the output device 53 and presented to the user.
[0069]
  As a result, the traveling direction of another route searched under different search conditions from the route in the middle of guidance at each intersection (route different guidance point) in the route guidance traveling direction is output to the input device 54 and presented to the user. The user can grasp the presence / absence of a separate route for each intersection and the traveling direction of the separate route for the “path with the shortest distance” and the “route with the minimum required time” of particular interest. Therefore, the user can perform a search based on the “shortest distance” route in addition to the recommended route based on the “route estimated to be the minimum required time” without changing the search condition and performing a search again. Therefore, the degree of freedom in route selection can be increased.
[0070]
[SecondReference example]
  Next, the secondAccording to the reference exampleThe route information provision processing by the information center 20 will be described with reference to FIGS.
  First mentioned aboveReference exampleIn the route information providing process according to FIG. 2, the process of extracting the intersection where the recommended route and another route branch is performed in step S111 shown in FIG. 2, but according to the process, for each intersection existing on the recommended route, that is, “ For all “intersections”, if the recommended route and another route branch, the intersection is extracted, and if another route exists, a different route guidance point is registered for each such different route (S113). It is transmitted to the machine 50 (S125). Therefore, in front of the intersection I at point A as shown in FIG. 6, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, an arrow Y indicating that another route δ exists in addition to the arrow X indicating the direction of the recommended route γ is mounted on the vehicle. Displayed on the output device 53 of the machine 50.
[0071]
  However, unlike the recommended route γ, when traveling in the direction of another route δ where traffic is congested (the arrow in the dotted line direction in FIG. 6) (for example, the determination result in step S2090 shown in FIG. 4 is “No”) ) Shows an arrow Y indicating that another route δ exists and a recommended route γ direction in front of each intersection at points B and C existing in the forward direction in the subsequent direction as well as point A. An arrow X is displayed (see FIG. 5). Therefore, annoying and annoying guidance for the user is repeatedly displayed.
[0072]
  That is, as shown in FIG. 6, after traveling on another route δ branched from the recommended route γ at the intersection I, there is a route that returns to the original recommended route γ at the intersection at points B and C ahead in the traveling direction. An arrow Y indicating the existence of another route δ as shown in FIG. 5 and an arrow X indicating the recommended route γ as shown in FIG. 5 are displayed on the output device 53 of the in-vehicle device 50 in front of such points B and C. . Such guidance display by the arrows X and Y is meaningful to the user when the vehicle is output and guided after the vehicle travels a considerable distance from the intersection I branched from the recommended route γ to another route δ. However, if you are traveling right after passing through the intersection I or not so far away, the user is consciously traveling on another route δ. Such guidance display is merely annoying for the user, and is unlikely to be meaningful guidance display.
[0073]
  Therefore, this secondReference exampleThen, as shown in FIG.Reference exampleInstead of steps S113 and S115, each of the processes in steps S201 to S207 is configured to be performed, thereby preventing guidance display by such annoying arrows X and Y. Note that, in FIG. 7, processes having substantially the same processing contents as the steps shown in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same step numbers and description thereof is omitted.
[0074]
  That is, as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, when the intersection I where the recommended route γ and another route δ branch is extracted in step S111, the vehicle based on the current location information acquired in step S101 is next selected in step S201. A determination process is performed as to whether or not the distance L from the current location G to the intersection I extracted in step S111 is equal to or greater than a predetermined distance. Here, the “predetermined distance” is a considerable distance from the previous route difference guidance point and gives a complicated feeling to the user even if the in-vehicle device 50 outputs that another route exists again. It means the distance that can secure the interval of no gap. For example, the predetermined distance is set to 1 km.
[0075]
  If it is determined in step S201 that the distance L is greater than or equal to the predetermined distance (Yes in S201), the user is bothered even if another route δ is output. Since it is possible to notify that there is room for determination of route selection, the process of registering the intersection I extracted in step S111 as a route difference guidance point is performed in step S203. Further, in step S205, a process for searching for another route δ with a direction in the road direction of the recommended route γ from the route difference guide point I is performed.
[0076]
  On the other hand, if it is not determined in step S201 that the distance L to the extracted intersection I is greater than or equal to the predetermined distance (No in S201), it is complicated for the user to output that another route δ exists again. Therefore, the process of searching for another route δ with the direction from the route difference guidance point to the road direction of another route δ is performed in step S207 without registering the route difference guidance point.
[0077]
  Thus, this secondReference exampleAccording to the information center 20 according to the above, it is determined in steps S101 and S201 that the user of the information center 20 has advanced in the direction of another route δ at the different route guidance point, and the user proceeds in the direction of another route δ. If it is determined that the route difference guidance point has reached the predetermined distance, a predetermined second route search condition, for example “to search for a route having the shortest total distance to the destination β, is obtained in step S207. The other route δ based on the “condition” is searched, and guidance data for guiding the route δ is output in step S125 and presented to the user.
[0078]
  As a result, when the user proceeds in the direction of another route δ at the route difference guidance point, the route search is performed based on the predetermined second route search condition in step S207 from the route difference guidance point to the predetermined distance. It is estimated that when the predetermined distance is exceeded, the required time to the destination β is minimized based on a predetermined first route search condition, for example, “road traffic information acquired from the traffic information center 120 by the CCU 22. The route is searched and guided based on the “condition for searching for a route”. Therefore, during the predetermined distance immediately after traveling to another route δ, guidance is provided for the route searched based on the search condition for another route δ, so that the route guidance indicating the direction of another route δ immediately after traveling the other route δ. It is possible to prevent the troublesome and annoying guidance from being repeatedly displayed for the user who performs route guidance to join the original recommended route γ.
[0079]
[According to the present inventionEmbodiment]
  next,According to the present inventionThe route information provision processing by the information center 20 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
  First mentioned aboveReference exampleIn the route information providing process according to FIG. 2, the process of extracting the intersection where the recommended route and another route branch is performed in step S111 shown in FIG. 2, but according to the process, for each intersection existing on the recommended route, that is, “ For all “intersections”, if the recommended route and another route branch, the intersection is extracted, and if another route exists, a different route guidance point is registered for each such different route (S113). It is transmitted to the machine 50 (S125). Therefore, in front of the intersection I at point A as shown in FIG. 8, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, an arrow Y indicating that another route δ exists in addition to the arrow X indicating the direction of the recommended route γ is mounted on the vehicle. Displayed on the output device 53 of the machine 50.
[0080]
  However, even when the vehicle travels along the recommended route γ, for each intersection of points B, C, and D ahead in the traveling direction, the direction from the recommended route γ to another route δ with traffic jam (in FIG. 8). When there are other routes δb, δc, and δd that branch into (arrows in the dotted line direction), such points B, C, and D are also separated in front of the respective intersections in the same manner as point A. An arrow Y indicating that the path δ exists and an arrow X indicating the recommended path γ direction are displayed (see FIG. 5). Therefore, annoying and annoying guidance for the user is repeatedly displayed.
[0081]
  That is, as shown in FIG. 8, after traveling along the recommended route γ (bold line shown in FIG. 8) at the intersection I, it is possible to join another route δ from the intersection at points B, C, and D ahead of the traveling direction. If there is a simple route, an arrow Y indicating the presence of another route δ as shown in FIG. 5 and an arrow X indicating the recommended route γ in front of such points B, C, and D are output devices 53 of the in-vehicle device 50. Will be displayed. Such guidance display by the arrows X and Y is output to the user after the vehicle travels a considerable distance from the intersection I that can branch from the recommended route γ to another route δ. Although it can be said that it is meaningful, when the vehicle is traveling immediately after passing through the intersection I or where it is not so far away, the user consciously recommends the recommended route γ without proceeding with another route δ. Since the vehicle is traveling, such a guidance display is merely annoying for the user, and it is difficult to consider it as a meaningful guidance display.
[0082]
  Therefore,RealIn the embodiment, as shown in FIG.Reference exampleInstead of steps S113 and S115, the processing by steps S301 to S309 is configured to be performed, so that guidance display by such annoying arrows X and Y is prevented. In FIG. 9, the same processing numbers as those of the steps shown in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same step numbers, and description thereof is omitted.
[0083]
  That is, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, when the intersection I where the recommended route γ and another route δ branch is extracted in step S111, the route difference guide point extracted in step S111 is extracted in the next step S301. A process of determining whether or not is the first one is performed. If it is the first route difference guidance point (Yes in S301), the process proceeds to step S307 and the route difference guidance point is registered. For example, in the example of the route shown in FIG. 8, since the intersection I is the first one, in this example, the intersection I is registered in step S307.
[0084]
  In step S309, a process for searching for another route with a direction in the road direction of the recommended route from the difference is performed. In the case of the route example shown in FIG. 8, the point A where the intersection I is located is a different point, and thus another route δ ′ is searched with the direction of the point B which is the road direction of the recommended route γ. For example, if a route search is performed based on the condition that the total distance of the route to the destination β is the shortest, another route δb that branches in the direction from the point B to the point E is searched, so this different route δb is used as the recommended route. γ is compared in step S107, and it is further determined in step S109 whether there is a difference between both paths.
[0085]
  In this example, another route δ ′ passing another route δb to the starting point α-A-B-E-F-G-H-destination β and a starting point α-A-B-C- Compared with the recommended route γ to D-I-J-H-destination β, the route B-E-F-G-H and the route B-C-D-I-J-H are different. In step S111, an intersection (point B) where both routes branch is extracted. Then, as described above, it is determined whether or not this intersection is the first one in step S301. However, since this intersection appears next to intersection I, it is not the first time (in S301). No), the process moves to step S303.
[0086]
  In step S303, determination processing is performed as to whether or not the degree of coincidence between the previous different route and the current different route exceeds a predetermined threshold value processing. Here, the “matching degree” refers to the distance ratio of the route portion where the current another route and the previous route match with respect to the total distance of the previous different route. For example, in the example of the route shown in FIG. 8 described above, the total distance of another route δ reaching the starting point α-A-E-F-G-H-destination β which is the “previous another route” is “ The part of the route where the alternative route δ 'to the starting point α-A-B-E-F-G-H-destination β coincides with the current alternative route, ie, “E-F-G-H The percentage of the “Destination β” occupying the previous “A-E-F-G-H-Destination β” is the degree of coincidence. In this case, the degree of coincidence is obtained by (E-F-G-H-Destination β) / (A-E-F-G-H-Destination β).
[0087]
  Then, when the degree of coincidence calculated in this way exceeds a predetermined threshold, for example, 50%, that is, two different routes (another route searched last time and another route newly searched) were compared. As a result, when the ratio of the distance of the matching part to the total distance of another route (another route searched in the present embodiment in the present embodiment) is equal to or greater than a predetermined value (Yes in S303), such another route Since it is not necessary to output δ ′, the steps S305 and S307 are skipped, and as described above by step S309, the direction from the difference (point B) to the road direction of the recommended route γ with the direction (point C) is next. The process of searching for another route δ ″ of is performed. On the other hand, if the degree of coincidence calculated in step S303 does not exceed the predetermined threshold (No in S303), such another route should be output, and thus in step S305, the current time is set to the previous different route. The process of registering another route, that is, the process of updating the previous another route to the current another route is performed, and the process of registering the route difference guidance point in that case is performed in step S307.
[0088]
  In the case of the route example shown in FIG. 8, in step S309, the next route δ ″ (the route δc that reaches the starting point α-A-B-C-F-G-H-destination β is passed. ) Is searched, and then another next route δ ′ ″ (passing another route δd to the starting point α-A-B-C-D-G-H-destination β) is also searched. For example, the degree of coincidence between the previous alternative route δ ″ and the current alternative route δ ′ ″ is (GH−destination β) / (A−B−C−F−G−H−target). It is obtained from the ground β). As a result, if the degree of coincidence does not exceed the predetermined threshold (50%) (No in S303), the route difference guidance point (intersection where another route δd branches from the recommended route γ) of this different route δ ′ ″ It is registered in step S307 and transmitted to the in-vehicle device 50 in step S125.
[0089]
  in this way,RealAccording to the information center 20 according to the embodiment, in step S201, in step S301, S303, and S305, arbitrary two different routes are compared among the different routes searched from each intersection, and the routes match. When the ratio of the distance of the portion to the total distance of the other route is a predetermined value or more, only one of the other routes is extracted from any two different routes, so the other route is Excluded from the extraction (Yes in S303). As a result, even if a route approximate to each other is searched, such an approximate another route is not extracted, so that it is possible to prevent the route from being output and presented to the user. Therefore, the unnecessary route information, which is such an approximated different route, is not bothered to the user that it is frequently output and presented at each intersection. Can be increased.
[0090]
  The above explanationFruitIn the embodiment, the example in which the route guidance device and the route guidance program of the present invention are applied to the information center 20 has been mainly described. However, the route guidance device and the route guidance program of the present invention can also be applied to the in-vehicle device 50.
[0091]
  That is, the current position is acquired by the position detection device 56 and the destination is acquired from data input from the input device 54 in step S101 shown in FIGS. Further, the recommended route search in step S103 and the separate route search in S105 are processed by the route search program 52b. Further, in place of steps S123 and S125, the route guidance program 52a uses the recommended route data, the different route guidance point data, the different route traveling direction data, and the normal guidance point data as shown in FIG. A drawing process for displaying the screen can be provided. Thereby, also in the vehicle equipment 50, the effect | action and effect similar to the above can be acquired.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 shows the first of the present invention.Reference exampleIt is a block diagram which shows the structure of the information center which concerns on, and a vehicle equipment.
FIG. 2Reference exampleIt is a flowchart which shows the flow of the route information provision process by this information center.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an outline of processing in steps S107 to S115 shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4Reference exampleIt is a flowchart which shows the flow of the route information provision process by this information center, and the route guidance process by vehicle equipment.
FIG. 5Reference exampleIt is explanatory drawing which shows the example of an output by the output device of the vehicle equipment which received the data transmitted by this information center.
FIG. 6 shows the second of the present invention.Reference exampleIt is explanatory drawing illustrating the outline | summary of the route information provision process by this information center.
FIG. 7Reference exampleIt is a flowchart which shows the flow of the route information provision process by this information center.
FIG. 8The fruitIt is explanatory drawing illustrating the outline | summary of the route information provision process by the information center of embodiment.
FIG. 9BookIt is a flowchart which shows the flow of the route information provision process by the information center of embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
  20 Information center (route guidance device)
  21 CPU (Departure / Destination Information Acquisition Unit, Recommended Route Search Unit, Different Route Search Unit, Route Difference Guidance Point Extraction Unit, Route Difference Guidance Point Data Output Unit)
  22 CCU (Departure point / destination information acquisition means, route difference guide point data output means)
  23 Memory device (storage means)
  23a Input programMu
  23b Route search program (recommended route search means)
  23c Another route search program (other route search means)
  23d Route difference guidance point extraction program (route difference guidance point extraction means)
  23e Normal guide point extraction program
  23f output program (route difference guide point data output means)
  24 Road information database (road data)
  50 Onboard equipment
  52 Control device
  53 Display
  54 Input device
  56 Position detection device
  58 Wireless communication device
  100 Internet
  110 Telephone line switching office
  120 Traffic Information Center
S101(OtherRoute progress judgment means)
S103 (recommended route search means)
S105, S115 (another route search means)
S107, S109, S111 (route difference guidance point extracting means)
S113 (storage means)
S123 (route difference guide point data output means)
S201 (another route progress judging means)

Claims (3)

In the route guidance device for searching for a route from the departure point to the destination based on the road data and guiding the searched route,
Based on a predetermined first route search condition, a recommended route search means for searching a route from the departure place to the destination as a recommended route;
Based on a predetermined second route search condition, for each intersection existing on the recommended route, another route search means for searching using the intersection as a starting point and a route to the destination as another route;
The road of the recommended route and the route of the different route are compared to extract a difference road between the two routes, and based on the difference road, the traveling direction of the separate route at the starting point is different from the traveling direction of the recommended route. Route difference guidance point extracting means for extracting
Route difference guidance point data output means for outputting route difference guidance point data relating to the route difference guidance point and another route traveling direction data relating to the traveling direction of the other route , and
The different route search means compares any two different routes from other routes searched from each intersection as a starting point, and the ratio of the distance of the portion where the routes match to the total distance of the different route is predetermined. if the value or more, the route guidance device characterized that you extract only different route of either one of the arbitrary two different routes. The route guidance device according to claim 1, further comprising a storage unit for storing data,
The route guidance device characterized in that the storage means stores the route difference guidance point data and the route difference direction data among the data relating to the route. The route guidance device according to claim 1 or 2, comprising traffic information acquisition means for acquiring road traffic information,
The predetermined first route search condition is a condition for searching for a route that is estimated to have a minimum required time to the destination based on the road traffic information.
The route guidance device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined second route search condition is a condition for searching for a route having a shortest total distance to the destination.

Images