JP4273936B2 - Information providing apparatus, information providing system, computer program for information providing apparatus, and information providing method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an information providing apparatus, an information providing system, a computer program for an information providing apparatus, and an information providing method.

  Conventionally, a service for providing a navigation function to a vehicle registered as a member via a mobile phone network or the Internet has been provided. The information center is equipped with a server that stores map information, facility information, and the like. When there is a request from a member vehicle, the map information and facility information around the current position of the vehicle are transmitted via the network. And deliver. Such services are not limited to those intended for vehicle navigation devices, but also for so-called portable navigation systems that can be carried by users, mobile phones that have position calculation functions in the main body or in cooperation with information centers, etc. Even being done. An example of the navigation function by such an information center is disclosed in Patent Document 1 below.

In the device described in Patent Document 1, when a passenger operates a vehicle-mounted device to set a destination when the vehicle travels, a route from the current position of the vehicle or a specific point to the destination is calculated, and the route is mounted on the vehicle. Display on the device. If the destination situation changes, an alternative destination is newly set, and the route to the alternative destination is recalculated and displayed. For example, when the information center recognizes that the parking lot is full when the parking lot is set as the destination of the vehicle, the information center selects another nearby parking lot and recalculates the route. While transmitting to the vehicle, a new route is displayed on the in-vehicle device side.
JP 2001-91280 A

  By the way, as a usage pattern of the vehicle, there may be a scene where it is desired to gather at a certain point by meeting with an acquaintance or a friend. That is, it is a case where friends who individually drive vehicles want to gather for leisure or other purposes. In such a case, there is a case where a certain occupant invites the group members in advance with the destination in mind, but there is a case where there is a request to gather in a group, and the destination is determined after consultation. In the latter case, the group members first contact each other and agree to gather, then the group members consult to determine the destination, and each then drives the vehicle to that destination. However, in determining the destination, it is considered that one of the major factors is where each vehicle is currently located.

  However, in the first place, a different screen is displayed for each vehicle in the navigation device of each vehicle. Therefore, in order to determine the destination after grasping the current position of each vehicle, a passenger other than the driver of each vehicle or the driver of the vehicle after stopping the vehicle, a communication tool such as a mobile phone It is conceivable to operate the map screen of the navigation device while confirming the position of each other and the destination candidate desired by the members of the group using this, but this operation is very troublesome. Further, when there are three or more group vehicles, all the group vehicles cannot communicate at the same time, and a large number of calls are required for all the vehicles to share information. In other words, there is a need to eliminate the complexity in determining the destination between the group vehicles as described above. However, the technique described in Patent Document 1 describes the destination setting in a single vehicle. There is no problem or suggestion about the above-mentioned needs. In addition, such needs are not limited to vehicle navigation devices, but are intended for portable navigation devices and mobile phones that can be carried as described above, that is, in consultation with group members who own such devices. The same is true when a place is determined and then each person travels to the destination by walking or using public transportation.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and the problem is that when a user of a plurality of navigation devices sets a common destination, the destination is set in consideration of the current position of each member. It is to be able to perform easily.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has the following configuration. That is, the first configuration of the present invention is as follows.
An information providing device connected to a plurality of navigation devices so as to be capable of information communication,
Among the navigation devices, group registration means for registering users of a plurality of specific navigation devices as a group,
A destination candidate receiving means for receiving a destination candidate input by a user registered in the group registration means;
Current position acquisition means for acquiring each current position of the navigation device used by the user or the user registered in the group registration means;
Index calculation means for calculating an index related to the distance between the current position and each destination candidate;
Map screen creating means for creating a map screen including each destination candidate obtained by the destination candidate receiving means and each current position obtained by the current position obtaining means;
A map screen generated by the map screen creating means, have a, a map screen distribution means for distributing to be displayed on at least one of the group registered user of the navigation device,
In the information providing apparatus, the map screen creating unit creates a map screen in which the display forms of the respective destination candidates are changed based on the index calculated by the index calculating unit .

  According to the above configuration, a map including the current position of each user registered as a group or the navigation device of the user and the destination candidate desired by the group member is distributed and presented to the group member, and the group member Can select a destination from the destination candidates. Accordingly, it is possible to provide an information providing apparatus capable of selecting a destination very easily while looking at a map on which a current position of each group member and a destination candidate desired by each group member are displayed on one screen. I can do it.

Further , according to the above configuration, on the map screen displayed when selecting the destination, the display form of each destination candidate is an index (for example, actual distance) between the current position of the group member and the destination candidate. And the estimated travel time determined by the distance and the travel speed). In other words, when selecting a destination from among the destination candidates, the relationship between each destination candidate and the current position of the group member based on an index related to the distance between them is the destination candidate display form. Therefore, it is possible to more easily select the destination in consideration of the distance to the destination and the corresponding estimated travel time.

Specifically, in changing the display form, the second configuration of the present invention varies the size of the mark indicating the position of each destination candidate, and / or the third configuration of the present invention This can be realized by changing the color of the mark indicating the position of the destination candidate.

The fourth configuration of the present invention is as follows.
The index calculation means calculates a value for each of the destination candidates by calculating a value related to a distance to the current position and adding the values.

  According to the above configuration, the destination candidate is displayed based on the sum of values related to the distance between the current position of the group member and each destination candidate desired by the group member (that is, the actual distance and the estimated travel time). The form will be different. That is, for each of the destination candidates, a value related to the distance between the point and the current position of the group member is added as it is, and the display format of the destination candidates is changed based on the value. Destination candidates are displayed in a form suitable for selecting an optimum destination when the cost of traveling to the ground is shared by group members.

The fifth configuration of the present invention is:
The index calculation means calculates the index by obtaining values related to the distance to the current position for each destination candidate and weighting and adding those values for the current position. is there.

  According to said structure, based on the value which weighted and added the value regarding the distance between the current position of the group member and each destination candidate desired by the group member (that is, the actual distance and the estimated travel time) The display form of the destination candidate will be different. For example, if one member wants a nearby destination for some reason, the distance from the member's current location to each destination candidate is weighted, that is, the member's current location and each destination candidate. The longer the actual distance, the greater the distance, and / or the shorter the actual distance, the more discounted the distance and the addition. Therefore, destination candidates can be displayed in a manner that takes into account the circumstances of the group members.

The sixth configuration of the present invention is as follows.
The index calculating means calculates the index by calculating a deviation of a value related to the distance obtained for each destination candidate.

  According to the above configuration, according to the above configuration, a value related to a distance between the current position of the group member and each destination candidate desired by the group member (that is, an actual distance or an estimated travel time) is a destination. It is obtained for each candidate, and the display forms of the destination candidates are made different according to their deviations, that is, variations in values related to the distance. Therefore, it is possible to easily grasp the destination candidate having the smallest difference in the moving distance or moving time of each group member, and display the destination candidate in a form that is least likely to cause unfairness among the group members. I can do it.

The seventh configuration of the present invention is:
The index calculating means calculates the index by extracting the maximum value for each destination candidate from the values related to the distance obtained for each destination candidate.

  According to the above configuration, a value related to the distance between the current position of the group member and each destination candidate desired by the group member (that is, the actual distance and the estimated travel time) is obtained for each destination candidate. The display form of the destination candidate is displayed based on the maximum value selected from the values obtained for each place candidate. Therefore, among the destination candidates, the maximum value among the values related to the distance between the current position of the group member and each destination candidate desired by the group member, that is, the one with the longest distance and the estimated travel time. Since the display form of each destination candidate is changed, it is possible to easily set the destination based on the time taken for all the group members to finally arrive in each destination candidate.

The eighth configuration of the present invention is:
An information providing system including a plurality of navigation devices having an information communication function and capable of direct or indirect communication via an information providing device,
Among the navigation devices, group registration means for registering users of a plurality of specific navigation devices as a group,
Destination candidate input means for allowing a user registered in the group registration means to input a destination candidate via the navigation device;
Current position specifying means for specifying each current position of the navigation device used by the user or the user registered in the group registration means;
Index calculation means for calculating an index related to the distance between the current position and each destination candidate;
Map screen creating means for creating a map screen including each destination candidate input to the destination candidate input means and each current position specified by the current position specifying means;
A map screen that was created by the map screen creating means, have a, and the map screen presentation means for presenting at least one of the users who are the above-mentioned group registration,
The information providing system is characterized in that the map screen creating means creates a map screen in which the display forms of the respective destination candidates are changed based on the index calculated by the index calculating means .

  According to the above configuration, the map including the current position of each user registered as a group or the navigation device of the user and the destination candidate desired by the group member is presented to the group member. The destination can be selected from the destination candidates. Accordingly, it is possible to provide an information providing system capable of selecting a destination very easily while looking at a map on which a current position of each group member and a destination candidate desired by each group member are displayed on one screen. I can do it.

The ninth configuration of the present invention is:
A computer program for an information providing apparatus, which is executed by an information providing apparatus as a computer connected in a communicable manner with a plurality of navigation apparatuses, and provides information to the navigation apparatus,
In the information providing apparatus,
Step A of registering users of a plurality of specific navigation devices as a group among the navigation devices,
Step B for receiving a destination candidate input by the group registered user,
Obtaining each current position of the navigation device used by the user or the user registered in the group;
Calculating an index relating to the distance between the current position and each of the destination candidates;
And step E of creating a map screen including a respective current positions obtained each destination candidate obtained in step B, and in step C,
A map screen created in step E, to execute the, steps F to distribute to be displayed on at least one of the group registered user of the navigation device,
In step E, the information providing computer program is characterized in that a map screen in which the display forms of the respective destination candidates are made different based on the index calculated in step D is created .

  According to the above configuration, a map including the current position of each user registered as a group or the navigation device of the user and the destination candidate desired by the group member is distributed and presented to the group member, and the group member Can select a destination from the destination candidates. Accordingly, there is provided a computer program for an information providing apparatus capable of selecting a destination very easily while looking at a map on which a current position of each group member and a destination candidate desired by each group member are displayed on one screen. Can be provided.

In order to solve the above problems, the following method is adopted in the present invention. That is,
A method of providing information to a plurality of navigation devices having an information communication function from an information providing device having an information communication function with the navigation device,
Step A of registering users of a plurality of specific navigation devices as a group among the navigation devices,
Step B for receiving a destination candidate input by the group registered user,
Obtaining each current position of the navigation device used by the user or the user registered in the group;
Calculating an index relating to the distance between the current position and each of the destination candidates;
And step E of creating a map screen including a respective current positions obtained each destination candidate obtained in step B, and in step C,
A map screen created in step D, have a, a step F of distributing to be displayed on at least one of the group registered user of the navigation device,
In the step E, a map screen in which the display forms of the respective destination candidates are changed based on the index calculated in the step D is created .

  According to the above configuration, a map including the current position of each user registered as a group or the navigation device of the user and the destination candidate desired by the group member is distributed and presented to the group member, and the group member Can select a destination from the destination candidates. Therefore, it is possible to provide an information providing method capable of selecting a destination very easily while looking at a map on which a current position of each group member and a destination candidate desired by each group member are displayed on one screen. I can do it.

According to the present invention, when a user of a plurality of navigation devices sets a common destination, the destination can be easily set in consideration of the current position of each member .

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. In the following embodiments, a vehicle navigation system in which an in-vehicle device as a navigation device is mounted on a vehicle will be described as an example. However, a so-called portable navigation device that can be carried by a user, a position calculation function in the main body, or in cooperation with an information center. The present invention can also be applied to a system using a mobile phone or the like that works.

  FIG. 1 shows an outline of a network constituting a system according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is an information center, 2 is a network using the Internet as an example, and 3A to 3C are vehicles (cars A to C) equipped with in-vehicle devices. Although only three vehicles are illustrated, it is assumed that the vehicle is a plurality of member vehicles contracted with the information center 1 and the group registration described below is exemplified. The information center 1 is owned by an automobile manufacturer as an example, and is connected to the network 2 so as to be able to transmit and receive data, for example, by wire, and the vehicles 3A to 3C are wirelessly using the network 2 and the in-vehicle device. Data can be transmitted to and received from the center 1 and between the other vehicles 3A to 3C.

  As is well known, the information center 1 provides the member vehicles 3A to 3C with navigation functions such as provision of information on points and facilities and route guidance to the destination. Further, in addition to the above function, the information center 1 according to the present embodiment groups a plurality of member vehicles, and each vehicle 3A to 3C has each current vehicle installed in at least one of the in-vehicle devices of the vehicles 3A to 3C belonging to the group. Provided is a destination setting map screen distribution function that distributes a destination setting map screen that is displayed when a common destination is set for each vehicle including a position and a destination candidate desired by the passenger of each vehicle 3A to 3C. . This will be specifically described later. In the present embodiment, the member vehicles contracted with the information center 1 and the member vehicles to be grouped are collectively referred to as “vehicles” hereinafter.

  The information center 1 includes a server 10 as an information providing server and a storage unit 11 connected to the server 10 as a configuration for providing the above functions. The storage means 11 includes a map database 110 that stores maps used for providing the navigation function, a vehicle ID used for providing the grouping function, and an address of a vehicle-mounted device (distribution of map data, etc.). Member vehicle database 111 that records information such as e-mail addresses), group vehicle database 112 that stores IDs and addresses for each group, and server 10 side prepared in advance. And / or a spot information database 113 storing spot information registered in the server 10 by being provided from the member vehicle.

  Next, the group vehicle database 112 and the point information database 113 will be described with reference to FIG. Since the map database 110 has been conventionally known, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. In addition, the member vehicle database 111 stores the owner, contact information, ID, and address for each vehicle that is a member, and detailed description thereof is also omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 2 (a), the group vehicle database 112 manages a group of vehicles generated by a predetermined operation in the in-vehicle devices of the vehicles 3A to 3C, and manages the vehicles belonging to the group as IDs for each group. It is what. Specifically, the group vehicle database 112 sequentially obtained and stored a field indicating the generated group, a field listing the IDs and corresponding addresses of vehicles belonging to the group, and the current position coordinates of the vehicle. Field. The current position coordinate data stored in the field of the current position of the vehicle is read out that the server 10 is sequentially updating so that the server 10 provides a conventional navigation function of the member vehicle. A vehicle group A shown in FIG. 2A indicates that three vehicles having the illustrated ID and address are grouped.

  As shown in FIG. 2B, the spot information database 113 stores spot information prepared in advance on the server 10 side and / or received from the member vehicle and registered in the server 10. Specifically, the point information database 113 includes a field indicating names of facilities, sights, etc., a field indicating their position coordinates, a field indicating their genre, and a field storing comments as reference information related to them, and It is composed of This point information database 113 is also used for providing point information to members for a fee or for searching for a point in the navigation function in which member vehicles are provided from the server 10.

  Next, the configuration of the in-vehicle device 30 will be described with reference to FIG. The in-vehicle device 30 includes a controller 31 composed of a microcomputer, an antenna 320 and an interface 321, a transmitter / receiver 32 for transmitting / receiving information via the network 2, and navigation in each of the vehicles 3 </ b> A to 3 </ b> C. Display 33 for displaying a map screen, a destination setting map screen described later, an operation device 34 used by the occupant to operate the in-vehicle device 30, a current position and a map screen obtained by the map screen and a GPS receiver described later Are temporarily stored, and a GPS receiver 37 used to obtain the current position of the vehicle.

  The in-vehicle device 30 implements a navigation function by transmitting / receiving information to / from the server 10 of the information center 1 via the transmitter / receiver 32 and the network 2. Specifically, creation of a map screen including the current positions of the vehicles 3A to 3C, calculation of a route to the destination, creation of a map including a guidance route, and the like are performed on the server for the map screen and operation input. The in-vehicle device 30 displays the screen and accepts the operation input by the passenger. In addition, as will be described in detail later, in the grouping of vehicles 3A to 3C and the creation and distribution function of the destination setting map screen including each destination candidate input by the current position of each vehicle and each vehicle occupant, Creation of operation screens for grouping, group registration, creation and distribution of destination setting map screens are performed by the server 10, and input of grouping, destination candidate input, operation reception for map screen display, etc. is onboard Performed on the machine 30 side. In other words, the in-vehicle device 30 substantially has only the calculation function of the own vehicle position and the interface function in the communication between the server 10 and the vehicles 3A to 3C. The navigation system by is configured.

  Next, a flowchart shown in FIG. 4 for creating and distributing a destination setting screen to be referred to when setting the common destination between the grouped vehicles and the grouped vehicles, which is a feature of the present invention, A display display screen (screen displayed on the display in a predetermined step of the flowchart) shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 will be described. The flowchart shown in FIG. 4 shows processing performed in the server 10 and the vehicle-mounted device 30 of each vehicle, and the screens shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 are screens displayed on the vehicle-mounted device 30 in accordance with the processing performed in the server 10. Indicates. The processing performed in the server 10 is performed by loading a program for causing the server 10 as a computer to perform such processing. In the present embodiment, an example in which the A car 3A, the B car 3B, and the C car 3C shown in FIG. 1 are grouped (the A car to C shown in the top row in the group vehicle database 112 shown in FIG. 2). Will be described.

  When a predetermined operation for grouping is performed via the in-vehicle device 30 of the A car 3A, specifically the operation device 34, the information, that is, the group registration request is transmitted to the server 10 (step SV1). The server 10 receives the group registration request (step SS1).

  When the server 10 receives the group registration request, the server 10 creates screen data for group registration and transmits it to the A car 3A (step SS2). In the in-vehicle device 30 of the A car 3A, the screen for group registration is displayed on the display 33 (step SV2), and the occupant of the A car 3A and the vehicle ID to be grouped and the user name of the vehicle (in this embodiment, for convenience) Enter A, B and C). The screen after input is shown in FIG. In this state, when the occupant of the A car 3A presses the “OK” button displayed on the group registration screen and determines the vehicles to be grouped, the information is transmitted to the server 10. Thereafter, the server 10 reads the IDs and addresses of the group registration candidate vehicles (A vehicle, B vehicle and C vehicle) from the member vehicle database 111 and informs each vehicle 3A to 3C that it has been selected as a group registration candidate ( Step SS3).

  Although not shown in the drawings, the vehicle-mounted device 30 of the vehicles 3B and 3C displays that a group registration request has been received from the vehicle A. If the passengers of the vehicles 3B and 3C do not depend on the grouping, that fact is displayed. Is responded by operating the in-vehicle device 30 (step SV3). Upon receiving the information (step SS4), the server 10 registers the vehicles 3A to 3C that have agreed to the grouping in the group vehicle database 112, and the grouped vehicles 3A to 3C have a grouped vehicle. A screen showing which vehicle it is is created and transmitted to each of the vehicles 3A to 3C that have agreed to group (step SS5). At this time, the vehicles that have agreed to the grouping are displayed at the lower right of the screen shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, since all of the A car 3A to the C car 3C agree to the grouping, all of the A car to the C car are displayed at the lower right of the screen in FIG.

  Here, a screen on which the destination candidates can be input is displayed on the vehicle-mounted device 30 of each vehicle 3A to 3C. That is, by pressing the “destination setting” button on the screen of FIG. 5B, the screen shifts to the screen shown in FIG. On the screen shown in FIG. 5C, it is possible to select whether the destination is set by the own vehicle alone or by consultation with the passengers of the grouped vehicles 3A to 3C. When the “single” button is pressed, the destination is set only for the vehicle, which is performed in the conventional navigation device (detailed explanation thereof is omitted), while the “group” button is set. When is pressed, the display screen changes to that shown in FIG. In this screen, when the crew of each of the grouped vehicles 3A to 3C sets a common destination, first, a destination desired by the passenger can be input. On this screen, the occupants of the cars 3A to 3C input destination candidates to the in-vehicle device 30 and transmit them (step SV4). The destination candidate is input by the occupant selecting from the points stored in the in-vehicle device 30 or those stored in the point information database 113 of the server 10, or the pointer displayed on the map is desired. This is done by moving to the destination location to be confirmed. In either case, in addition to the name of the point, the position coordinates are transmitted together.

  The server 10 receives the destination candidate data transmitted from each of the vehicles 3A to 3C (step SS6), and reads the position coordinates of the destination candidate (step SS7). Next, the server 10 reads the current position coordinates of the vehicles 3A to 3C (step SS8). The reading of the current position coordinates is performed by writing the current position data obtained by the server 10 to provide the conventional navigation function for each of the vehicles 3A to 3C in the group vehicle database 112.

  Subsequently, the server 10 creates a map that fits them on one screen based on the current positions of the vehicles 3A to 3C and the destination candidates input by the passengers of the vehicles 3A to 3C. Specifically, based on the position coordinates of each current position and each destination candidate, the range to include them is specified, and by setting the maximum scale within the range where the range can be displayed, each current position and Each destination candidate is displayed at once, and a map that is maximally detailed (hereinafter referred to as a destination setting map screen) is created (step SS9). Thereafter, the data on the destination setting map screen is transmitted to the in-vehicle device 30 of each vehicle 3A to 3C (step SS10). The in-vehicle device 30 receives the map data and displays a destination setting map screen on the display 33 (step SV5).

  FIG. 6A shows an example of the destination setting map displayed on the display 33. The upper part of the screen is a map display area. In this part, the current position (displayed by marks A, B, and C) of each vehicle 3A to 3C created by the server 10 at step SS9 and each vehicle 3A are displayed. The map of the maximum scale is displayed, including the destination candidates (those with triangles attached with numbers) set by 3C and leaving a predetermined margin at the periphery. A vehicle occupant can easily set a common destination while viewing this screen. Such scale setting of the map screen is the most detailed while the current position of each vehicle 3A to 3C and each destination candidate are accommodated when the types of map scales are set in a plurality of stages in advance. You can configure the map to be selected. When the map scale can be changed continuously, each vehicle 3A to 3C is left with a predetermined margin (for example, set as a distance on the map or a length on the display) around the displayed area. You may make it set the scale used as a detailed map to the extent that the present position and each destination candidate fit. In addition, if the current position of each vehicle 3A to 3C and each destination candidate are located within a predetermined administrative division unit (for example, a unit such as a certain prefecture or municipality), the details will be maximized in that unit. A map may be displayed. In either case, a predetermined margin will be left around the map as a result, or a setting will be left so that a map around the current position or destination candidate displayed near the periphery of the display area is displayed. It is desirable to make it.

  Here, when the current position of each vehicle 3A to 3C and the distance to each destination candidate are much larger than the distance between each vehicle 3A to 3C and / or the distance between each destination candidate Even if a map in which each of the vehicles 3A to 3C and each destination candidate is accommodated is created, the relative position of each destination candidate may be difficult to understand. In such a case, a map of a scale in which each vehicle 3A to 3C fits and a map of a scale in which each destination candidate fits are separately created, and a map in which they are arranged is created as a destination setting map screen To do.

  When the server 10 creates the destination setting map screen at step SS9, the destination candidate is displayed in consideration of the distance between each vehicle 3A to 3C and each destination candidate (FIG. 6). The size of the triangular mark in (a) is changed. That is, for example, referring to FIG. 6A, for the destination candidate 1, the distance between the point and each of the vehicles 3A to 3C is added. Similarly, for the destination candidates 2 and 3, the distances from the respective vehicles 3A to 3C are added (as shown in FIG. 6A), this calculation formula is used for the destination setting map for each destination candidate. On the screen). The triangle size is varied according to the added value, and the smaller the value, the larger the triangle size is displayed. That is, by adding the distances from the respective vehicles 3A to 3C as they are and displaying the destination candidates according to the added value, for example, the cost of all the group members related to the movement to the common destination can be grouped. Destination candidates are displayed in a form suitable for selecting the optimum destination when sharing with members.

  It should be noted that in changing the display form of the destination candidates, a method different from the above can be used. For example, instead of or in addition to changing the size of the mark as in the above embodiment, the color of the mark may be changed. Also, for example, if one of the group members wants a destination that is as close as possible, that fact can be entered separately, and the distance from the member's vehicle to each destination candidate is weighted and added. You may do it. Specifically, the distance between the vehicle and the nearest destination candidate is set shorter, the distance between the vehicle and the farthest destination candidate is set longer, and the above addition is performed. . That is, a destination candidate close to the vehicle is displayed as a closer one, and conversely, a destination candidate far from the vehicle is displayed as a farther one. By changing the display form of the destination candidate mark based on the value obtained in this way, the destination candidate can be displayed in a manner that takes into account the circumstances of the group members.

  Further, for example, the distance to the current position of each vehicle 3A to 3C is obtained for each destination candidate, and the destination candidate is determined according to the deviation of the distance to the current position of each vehicle 3A to 3C obtained for each destination candidate. The size of the display mark may be changed. FIG. 7A shows an example in which the display mark is changed as described above. In this way, for each destination candidate, the difference in distance to each destination candidate between each of the vehicles 3A to 3C can be easily visually recognized in the form of display of the destination candidate. It is possible to display the destination candidates in a form that has the least risk of causing unfairness in between. Alternatively, the distance to the current position of each vehicle 3A to 3C is determined for each destination candidate, and the maximum distance among the distances to the current position of each vehicle 3A to 3C determined for each destination candidate is determined. It is possible to change the size of the display mark of the destination candidate in accordance with the result of extraction every time. FIG. 7B shows an example in which the display mark is changed as described above. In this way, destination candidates are displayed in a manner that makes it easy to set a common destination based on the time it takes for all group members to finally arrive within each destination candidate. . Furthermore, the above-described criteria for different mark display may be selected as appropriate.

  Further, as described above, instead of calculating the distance from each vehicle 3A to 3C to each destination candidate, the estimated travel time between each vehicle 3A to 3C and each destination candidate (from each vehicle 3A to 3C to each destination The distance to the ground candidate divided by the assumed vehicle speed may be calculated. The map shown in FIG. 6 (a) (and the same applies to FIGS. 6 (c) and 6 (d) to be described later) is omitted for the sake of easy understanding. The route to the destination candidate is also displayed.

  As described above, the in-vehicle device 30 receives the destination setting map screen in step SV5 and displays it on the display 33. In this screen, the map around the current position of the vehicle equipped with the in-vehicle device 30 is displayed. Can be switched. That is, the screen shown in FIG. 6 (a) and the screen shown in FIG. 6 (b) are stored in the storage device 35 of the vehicle-mounted device 30, and the “display switching” button is displayed on the screen shown in FIG. 6 (a). When is pressed, the screen is switched to the screen shown in FIG. In addition, when the “display switching” button is pressed on the screen shown in FIG. 6B, the screen is switched to the destination setting map screen shown in FIG.

  The passengers of the respective vehicles 3A to 3C select a common destination from the destination candidates while looking at the destination setting setting map screen displayed on the display 33. Specifically, the vehicle that issued the grouping request is determined as a vehicle having a decision right (vehicle A in the example of the present embodiment), and the passengers of cars B and C agree to the determination of the passenger of car A. It will be determined whether or not. That is, when car A selects and sends a common destination (step SV6), that fact is received by server 10 (step SS11), and server 10 sends an approval request to car B and car C. (Step SS12). The in-vehicle devices 30 of the B car and the C car receive the approval request (step SV7), and display an approval screen on the display 33. In addition, the vehicle with the decision right is configured so that a passenger can input and decide it separately at the time of group registration confirmation performed in step SV3, instead of the vehicle that issued the grouping request as described above. Also good.

  The approval request transmitted from the server 10 to the B car and the C car is made by transmitting the screen shown in FIG. 6 (c) to each in-vehicle device 30, and the passengers of the B car and the C car see the screen. Will be approved. Specifically, the screen shown in FIG. 6 (c) displays that the second destination candidate has been determined as a common destination in Car A, and whether or not to approve the determination. A button for selecting is displayed. When the passengers of the B and C cars agree with the destination determined by the occupant of the A car, they press the “Approve” button. On the other hand, if the user does not agree, the user will press the “non-approval” button. If the occupants of each vehicle B and C approve, that is, if all the occupants of the group vehicle including the vehicle with the decision are approved, the fact is transmitted to the server 10 (step SV8). The approval is accepted (step SS13), and the destination is determined (step SS14). When the destination is determined, the server 10 creates a screen shown in FIG. 6D and transmits the screen to the in-vehicle device 30 of each vehicle 3A to 3C. After the server 10 transmits the approval screen, if a predetermined time has passed without confirmation of approval / non-approval by the occupant, a message prompting confirmation is transmitted to the vehicle of the occupant to prompt confirmation.

  If the approval of all the group members is not obtained, the procedure is to re-set the destination separately or to unavoidably remove the vehicle that does not agree from the group registration.

  Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. . For example, in the above embodiment, each step of vehicle group registration, creation of a destination setting map screen, and distribution of the destination setting map screen is performed by the server 10 or via the server 10, A part of them may be configured to be performed on the in-vehicle device 30 side. Although the above embodiment has been described as a vehicle navigation system, a system using a so-called portable navigation device that can be carried by a user, a mobile phone having a position calculation function in the main body or in cooperation with an information center, etc. Needless to say, this is also applicable. Furthermore, the current position need not be the actual position of the device installed in the vehicle or owned by the user, but can be input by setting any position by the occupant or the user. Also good. Further, in the above embodiment, transmission of the destination setting screen from the server 10 is transmitted to all the vehicles registered in the group, but it is not transmitted to all the vehicles, but is transmitted to at least the vehicles having the decision right. You may make it.

It is the schematic which shows the structure of the communication network in which the information provision by this invention is performed. (A) The schematic which shows typically the content of a group vehicle database, (b) The schematic which shows typically the content of a point information database. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a vehicle equipment. 5 is a flowchart illustrating processing performed in a server and a flowchart illustrating processing performed in an in-vehicle device in the information providing function according to the present invention. It is a figure which shows typically the display screen displayed on the vehicle equipment of a vehicle with the process performed in a server. It is a figure which shows typically the display screen displayed on the vehicle equipment of a vehicle with the process performed in a server. FIG. 7 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 6A, showing an example in which the size of the display mark of the destination candidate is changed according to another standard.

Explanation of symbols

3A A car (vehicle)
3B B car (vehicle)
3C C vehicle (vehicle)
10 server (information providing device, group registration means, destination candidate acceptance means, current position obtaining means, map screen creation means, map screen distribution means, index calculation means, map screen presentation means)
30 In-vehicle device (Destination candidate input means, current position specifying means, map screen presentation means)
112 Group vehicle database (group registration means)

Claims (10)

An information providing device connected to a plurality of navigation devices so as to be capable of information communication,
Among the navigation devices, group registration means for registering users of a plurality of specific navigation devices as a group,
A destination candidate receiving means for receiving a destination candidate input by a user registered in the group registration means;
Current position acquisition means for acquiring each current position of the navigation device used by the user or the user registered in the group registration means;
Index calculation means for calculating an index related to the distance between the current position and each destination candidate;
Map screen creating means for creating a map screen including each destination candidate obtained by the destination candidate receiving means and each current position obtained by the current position obtaining means;
A map screen generated by the map screen creating means, have a, a map screen distribution means for distributing to be displayed on at least one of the group registered user of the navigation device,
The information providing apparatus, wherein the map screen creating means creates a map screen in which the display forms of the respective destination candidates are changed based on the index calculated by the index calculating means . The information providing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the map screen creating means creates a map screen in which the size of the mark indicating the position of each destination candidate is different. The information providing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the map screen creating means creates a map screen in which colors of marks indicating positions of the respective destination candidates are different. Said indicator calculation means, for each of the destination candidates respectively determined values for the distance to the respective current position, by adding those values, characterized in that for calculating the index, according to claim 1 to 3 The information provision apparatus in any one. The index calculation means calculates each value related to the distance for each of the destination candidates to the respective current position, characterized by calculating the index by weighted addition of the values for the above current position, wherein Item 4. The information providing apparatus according to any one of Items 1 to 3 . 4. The information providing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the index calculating means calculates the index by calculating a deviation of a value related to the distance obtained for each destination candidate. . The index calculating means, among the values relating to the distances determined for each of the destination candidates, characterized by calculating the index by extracting the largest one for each of the destination candidates, claim 1 4. The information providing apparatus according to any one of 3 to 3 . An information providing system including a plurality of navigation devices having an information communication function and capable of direct or indirect communication via an information providing device,
Among the navigation devices, group registration means for registering users of a plurality of specific navigation devices as a group,
Destination candidate input means for allowing a user registered in the group registration means to input a destination candidate via the navigation device;
Current position specifying means for specifying each current position of the navigation device used by the user or the user registered in the group registration means;
Index calculation means for calculating an index related to the distance between the current position and each destination candidate;
Map screen creating means for creating a map screen including each destination candidate input to the destination candidate input means and each current position specified by the current position specifying means;
A map screen that was created by the map screen creating means, have a, and the map screen presentation means for presenting at least one of the users who are the above-mentioned group registration,
The information providing system, wherein the map screen creating means creates a map screen in which the display forms of the respective destination candidates are changed based on the index calculated by the index calculating means . A computer program for an information providing apparatus, which is executed by an information providing apparatus as a computer connected in a communicable manner with a plurality of navigation apparatuses, and provides information to the navigation apparatus,
In the information providing apparatus,
Step A of registering users of a plurality of specific navigation devices as a group among the navigation devices,
Step B for receiving a destination candidate input by the group registered user,
Obtaining each current position of the navigation device used by the user or the user registered in the group;
Calculating an index relating to the distance between the current position and each of the destination candidates;
And step E of creating a map screen including a respective current positions obtained each destination candidate obtained in step B, and in step C,
A map screen created in step E, to execute the, steps F to distribute to be displayed on at least one of the group registered user of the navigation device,
In said step E, the computer program for information provision characterized by producing the map screen which varied the display form of each said destination candidate based on the parameter | index calculated in said step D. A method of providing information to a plurality of navigation devices having an information communication function from an information providing device having an information communication function with the navigation device,
Step A of registering users of a plurality of specific navigation devices as a group among the navigation devices,
Step B for receiving a destination candidate input by the group registered user,
Obtaining each current position of the navigation device used by the user or the user registered in the group;
Calculating an index relating to the distance between the current position and each of the destination candidates;
And step E of creating a map screen including a respective current positions obtained each destination candidate obtained in step B, and in step C,
A map screen created in step D, have a, a step F of distributing to be displayed on at least one of the group registered user of the navigation device,
In the step E, an information providing method is characterized in that a map screen is generated in which the display forms of the respective destination candidates are made different based on the index calculated in the step D.

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