JP4367257B2 - Navigation device and navigation system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a navigation device and a navigation system.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a navigation apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known as a navigation apparatus that can confirm in advance what kind of guidance can be received at which place. The navigation device in Patent Document 1 includes a map data storage device, a vehicle position detection device, a display device, an operation device, a traffic information acquisition device, and a control device connected thereto.

When the destination is set by the operating device, the control device uses the map data in the map data storage device to guide the route with the lowest cost from the current location of the vehicle to the destination. Search for a route. The control device displays the guidance route obtained by the search in a superimposed manner on the map image. After the search for the guide route is completed, the control device, when the button of the operating device indicating the on-route information mode for confirming the situation around the guide point is pressed, guide route information, traffic information, and map data With reference to the above, guide points within 10 km ahead of the vehicle in the traveling direction are extracted. Then, the control device scrolls the map image along the guidance route to the guidance point.
JP 2003-240586 A

  In the navigation device described in Patent Document 1, the surroundings of a guidance point such as an intersection that makes a right or left turn on a guidance route, a point where a traffic jam or an accident occurs, a preset danger point such as a sharp curve or a railroad crossing, etc. are guided. It's just what you do. However, road conditions may change depending on weather conditions. Even if the situation around the guidance point such as an intersection is guided, there may be a case where the road condition changes due to the weather condition or the like, which may hinder driving.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a navigation device and a navigation system capable of guiding road conditions that change in advance according to weather conditions and the like.

In order to achieve the above object, the navigation device according to claim 1 sets a destination, a position detection means for detecting the current position of the vehicle, a map data storage means for storing map data including information on the road shape, and a destination. Destination setting means, output means for outputting images and / or sound, information for acquiring weather information related to weather , specific weather and / or a situation generated by a specific time, and area information indicating location information generated An acquisition unit; a route setting unit that sets a guide route from the current position to the destination when the destination is set; a time calculation unit that calculates a scheduled travel time of the guide route; and an information acquisition unit weather information in the running scheduled time, to get the local information in the running scheduled time of the guide route by the information acquisition means, weather information, the road that make up the regional information and guidance route Together to determine the road condition of the guide route based on the road shape, a road condition determining means for outputting the road conditions to the output means,
The road condition judging means assigns a numerical value corresponding to the degree of attention to the information obtained by the information obtaining means excluding regional information and the road shape of the road constituting the guide route, and the total value of each numerical point is predetermined. to determine the road conditions by determining whether reaches a value, the total value to output a traffic condition of the point has reached a predetermined value, it outputs road conditions without assigning regional information numeric It is characterized by this.

In this way, by obtaining the weather information at the scheduled travel time of the guide route to the destination, and outputting the road condition determined based on the road shape of the road constituting the weather information and the guide route to the output means, The road conditions that change depending on weather conditions can be guided in advance. Further, more detailed road conditions can be guided by determining the road conditions of the guide route in consideration of regional information. Furthermore, in this way, a value corresponding to the degree of attention is assigned to the information obtained by the information obtaining means excluding the regional information and the road shape of the road constituting the guide route, and the total value of these values is set to a predetermined value. By outputting the road condition at the point reached, it is possible to guide only the road condition that should be traveled with care.

  Further, in the navigation device according to claim 2, the time calculation means divides the guide route into predetermined ranges and calculates a scheduled travel time for each predetermined range. In addition, the information acquisition means acquires information.

  Thus, appropriate weather information can be acquired by dividing the guide route into predetermined ranges and acquiring information by the information acquisition means for each predetermined range.

  Further, as described in claim 3, more detailed road conditions can be guided by determining the road conditions of the guide route in consideration of traffic information.

Further, the navigation device according to claim 4, comprising storage means for storing indicates to symbol the contents of care factors, the road condition determining means, a road condition to be output to the output means, the total value is a predetermined value The symbol mark linked to the information corresponding to the reached point and the regional information is output.

Thus, by outputting the information corresponding to the point where the total value reaches the predetermined value and the symbol mark linked to the area information according to the road condition, the user can easily understand the road condition. .

The navigation device according to claim 5 further comprises instruction means for instructing the symbol mark, the storage means stores the precautions corresponding to the symbol mark, and the road condition determination means has the symbol mark indicating means. When it is instructed, a precautionary note is output.

  Thus, by outputting the precautions corresponding to the symbol mark, it is possible to guide the user how to deal with the change in the road condition.

With regard to the operation and effect of the navigation system of claim 7 to claim 1 2, identical to those at claims 1 to 6 above.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to a navigation system including a navigation device 10 mounted on a vehicle and an information providing device 20 provided in an external station will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a navigation device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the information providing apparatus 20 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  First, the navigation device 10 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the navigation apparatus 10 in this embodiment includes a control circuit 1, a position detector 2, a map data input device 3, an operation device 4, a transceiver 5, a storage device 6, a display device 7, and an audio output device. 8. A remote control sensor 9a is provided.

  The control circuit 1 that controls the entire navigation device 10 is configured mainly with a microcomputer, and includes a memory such as a ROM and a RAM, an interface circuit, and a bus line.

  The position detector 2 includes various sensors such as a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver 2a, a gyroscope 2b, a distance sensor 2c, and a geomagnetic sensor 2d as devices for detecting the current position of the host vehicle. A detection signal (current position) detected by the position detector 2 is input to the control circuit 1.

  Since these sensors 2a to 2d have detection errors of different properties, they perform position detection with high accuracy while complementing each other with detection errors. Further, depending on the level of detection accuracy required, it is not necessary to provide all the sensors 2a to 2d, and a configuration can be adopted in which necessary ones are appropriately selected and provided.

  The map data input unit 3 is for inputting map data such as road data, landmark data, or various search information for setting a destination to the control circuit 1. As a storage medium of the map data input device 3, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, or the like is generally used from the viewpoint of data capacity or handling, but a memory card or a hard disk may be used. The road data includes road shape data, node data regarding points where a plurality of roads intersect, merge and branch, link data regarding roads connecting the points, and the like.

  The operation device 4 is for inputting an operation signal associated with a function such as setting a guide route from the current position to the destination executed by the navigation apparatus 10 to the control circuit 1. The operation device 4 includes a touch switch configured integrally with the display device 7 and set on a display screen, or a mechanical key switch provided around the display device 7.

  The transmitter / receiver 5 is used for communication with the information providing apparatus 20 and the like, and is a mobile phone or the like including a transmission unit, a modulation unit, a demodulation unit, a reception unit, and the like. The transmitter / receiver 5 modulates the signal output from the control circuit 1 by the modulating unit, and transmits the signal to the information providing apparatus 20 or the like on the radio wave by the transmitting unit. In addition, when a radio wave is transmitted from the information providing device 20 or the like, the transceiver 5 demodulates the radio wave received by the reception unit by the demodulation unit, and inputs the demodulated signal to the control circuit 1.

  The storage device 6 stores data handled in the control circuit 1 such as an attention factor table as necessary, and uses a non-volatile memory unit such as an EEPROM or a storable device such as an IC card. The attention factor table is used when creating an attention list, which will be described later, and is associated with attention factors, cautions, and symbol marks. The caution factor is information such as snow, freezing, curves, traffic volume, landslide caution in areas where the ground is weak in rainy weather, and cautions indicate what caution is required for each caution factor. The symbol mark is an image representing the content of the attention factor.

  The display device 7 is configured by a color liquid crystal panel or the like. The display device 7 displays a road map around the vehicle generated by the map data stored in the map data input device 3 and the like. The audio output device 8 includes a speaker, an audio amplifier, and the like, and is used for audio guidance and the like.

  The remote control sensor 9a is for inputting an operation signal to the control circuit 1 instead of the operation device 4, and includes an infrared receiving unit. When the remote control sensor 9a receives an infrared signal transmitted from the remote control 9b, an operation associated with a function such as setting a guide route from the current position to the destination executed by the navigation device 10 according to the received infrared signal. A signal is input to the control circuit 1.

  In the above configuration, when an operation signal indicating destination setting and a route search instruction is input from the operation device 4 or the remote control sensor 8 to the control circuit 1, the control circuit 1 uses the map data from the current position to the destination. The guide route to is set.

  When setting the guide route, the control circuit 1 calculates the route cost by the Dijkstra method or the like using the node data forming the route from the current position to the set destination and the cost given to the link data. Then, when the calculation of all the route costs to the destination is completed, the control circuit 1 sets a guide route from the current position to the destination by connecting a link that minimizes the route cost.

  When the guide route is set in this way, the control circuit 1 divides the guide route into a predetermined range (for example, for each municipality), and calculates a scheduled travel time for each range. Then, the control circuit 1 transmits the position information of the divided range and the scheduled traveling time for each range to the information providing device 20 by the transceiver 5 as a transmission request for weather information, traffic information, and area information. In addition, when the control circuit 1 receives weather information, traffic information, and area information with the transceiver 5, the control circuit 1 provides guidance on road conditions. The road condition guidance will be described in detail later.

  Next, the information providing apparatus 20 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the information providing apparatus 20 in the present embodiment includes a control unit 21, a transceiver 22, a storage unit 23, and the like.

  The control unit 21 that controls the entire information providing apparatus 20 is configured mainly by a microcomputer, and includes a memory such as a ROM and a RAM, an interface circuit, and a bus line.

  The transceiver 22 is used for communication performed with the navigation apparatus 10 and includes a transmission unit, a modulation unit, a demodulation unit, a reception unit, and the like. The transmitter / receiver 22 modulates the signal output from the control unit 21 by the modulation unit, and transmits the signal to the navigation device 10 on the radio wave by the transmission unit. Further, when a radio wave is transmitted from the navigation device 10 or the like, the transceiver 22 demodulates the radio wave received by the reception unit by the demodulation unit, and inputs the demodulated signal to the control unit 21.

  The storage unit 23 stores, as necessary, region information indicating a situation generated by specific weather and / or a specific time and location information generated, and data handled in the control unit 21 as necessary. -ROM, DVD-ROM, memory card, and hard disk.

  Here, the operation of the navigation system in the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the navigation device 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the information providing apparatus 20 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The flow shown in FIG. 3 starts when a guide route is set. Also, the flow shown in FIG. 4 starts when position information and scheduled travel time are received.

  First, in step S1 in the flow of FIG. 3, the control circuit 1 divides the guide route into a predetermined range (for example, for each municipality) in order to obtain appropriate weather information. In step S2, the control circuit 1 calculates the scheduled traveling time within the range divided in step S1 in order to determine the road condition at the actual traveling time. The scheduled travel time is the time when traveling at the legal speed.

  In step S <b> 3, the control circuit 1 transmits the position information of the divided range and the scheduled traveling time of the range to the information providing device 20 by the transceiver 5 in order to acquire information for determining road information. .

  Here, in step S11 in the flow of FIG. 4, the control unit 21 of the information providing device 20 receives the position information received by the transmitter / receiver 22 and the information corresponding to the scheduled travel time in the range (weather information, traffic information, Search and obtain (regional information).

  For example, in the case of weather information, the control unit 21 acquires the weather information from a system that provides the weather information via the transceiver 22. Regarding the traffic information, the control unit 21 acquires the traffic information from a traffic information providing system such as VICS via the transceiver 22. For the area information, the control unit 21 searches the storage unit 23 using the position information and the scheduled traveling time as keywords. (VICS is a registered trademark of the Road Traffic Information and Communication System Center.)

  In step S <b> 12, the control unit 21 transmits the information searched / acquired in step S <b> 11 (weather information, traffic information, regional information) by the transceiver 22.

  Here, returning to the flow of FIG. 3, in step S <b> 4, the control circuit 1 transmits and receives various information (weather information, traffic information, and regional information) transmitted by the control unit 21 of the information providing device 20 using the transceiver 22. Received by machine 5.

  In step S5, the control circuit 1 creates an attention list based on the information and map data received in step S4.

  The control circuit 1 assigns a numerical value corresponding to the degree of attention to each received information, and calculates a total value of the numerical values for each point. For example, in the case of weather information, a higher numerical value is assigned to an item that has a greater influence on the road, such as snow or freezing. In the case of traffic information or map data, a higher numerical value is assigned to a vehicle that has a high degree of difficulty or needs attention when traveling, such as a sharp curve or a large amount of traffic.

  Local information is a situation that occurs due to specific weather and / or specific time, for example, attending school roads only during school hours, landslides in areas where the ground is weak in rainy weather, cautions regarding runaway vehicles on mountain roads at night, etc. It is. Since this area information has a high degree of attention, it is added to the attention list without assigning a numerical value.

  And the control circuit 1 makes a point where the sum total of the numerical value is a predetermined value or more as a caution point, and creates a caution list from information corresponding to this caution point (weather information, traffic information, regional information, map data). . As for the area information, if the area information is included in the information received in step S4 as described above, the area information is always added to the attention list.

  The control circuit 1 creates link information between the information included in the attention list and the attention factor table by referring to the attention factor table, and creates the attention list including the link information and the position information of the information included in the attention list. To do.

  In step S6, the control circuit 1 guides the road condition by displaying a symbol mark. The control circuit 1 acquires the symbol mark of the caution factor table using the link information included in the caution list created in step S5. And the control circuit 1 outputs this symbol mark to the display apparatus 7 with the map data which comprises a guidance route. In this way, the control circuit 1 displays the symbol mark so as to overlap the guide route on the display device 7. When a plurality of symbol marks overlap on the guide route, it is preferable to prevent the guide route from becoming difficult to see by displaying each symbol mark in turn.

  In step S7, the control circuit 1 determines whether or not there is a symbol mark instruction. That is, the control circuit 1 determines whether or not an operation signal indicating that a symbol mark is instructed is output from the operation device 4 or the remote control sensor 8, and if an operation signal indicating that the instruction is output is output The process proceeds to step S8, and if the operation signal indicating instruction is not output, the explanation of the precautions is regarded as not requested, and the process proceeds to step S9.

  In step S8, when an operation signal indicating that a symbol mark is instructed is output from the operation device 4 or the remote control sensor 8, the control circuit 1 displays information on the precaution associated with the symbol mark in the attention factor table. Output to the display device 7 or the audio output device. In this way, the control circuit 1 explains the precautions corresponding to the symbol mark instructed by the operation device 4 or the remote control sensor 8 with images and / or sounds.

  In step S9, the control circuit 1 determines whether or not to start route guidance. That is, the control circuit 1 determines whether or not an operation signal indicating the start of route guidance is output from the operation device 4 or the remote control sensor 8, and starts the guidance when an operation signal indicating the start of route guidance is output. Accordingly, the process proceeds to step S10, and if the operation signal indicating the start of the route guidance is not output, it is regarded that the guidance is not started, and the process returns to step S6.

  In step S10, the control circuit 1 displays the road map on the display device 7 by outputting the map data to the display device 7, and guides the intersection where the audio output device 8 makes a right or left turn while starting from the current position. Route guidance to the destination.

In the present embodiment it has been described using an example in which the guiding of the road conditions before performing the route guidance, the present invention is not limited to this, even during route guidance guidance road conditions You may make it perform. In addition, when providing guidance on road conditions during route guidance, it is only necessary to provide the voice output device 8 with a minimum explanation that requires attention so as not to impair attention to driving the vehicle.

  Moreover, in this Embodiment, although demonstrated using the example which acquires traffic information in the information provision apparatus 20, this invention is not limited to this. The navigation device 10 may directly acquire traffic information from the VICS.

It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the sensor attachment apparatus in embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the information provision apparatus 20 in embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the navigation apparatus 10 in embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the information provision apparatus 20 in embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Control circuit, 2 Position detector, 3 Map data input device, 4 Operation device, 5 Transmitter / receiver, 6 Memory | storage device, 7 Display apparatus, 8 Voice output device, 9a Remote control sensor, 10 Navigation apparatus, 20 Information provision apparatus, 21 Control unit, 22 transceiver, 23 storage unit

Claims (12)

Position detecting means for detecting the current position of the vehicle;
Map data storage means for storing map data including information on the road shape;
Destination setting means for setting the destination;
Output means for outputting images and / or sounds;
Information acquisition means for acquiring weather information related to the weather , specific weather and / or local information indicating a situation generated by a specific time and position information generated ;
When the destination is set, route setting means for setting a guide route from the current position to the destination;
Time calculating means for calculating a scheduled travel time of the guide route;
The information acquisition means acquires the weather information at the scheduled travel time of the guide route, the information acquisition means acquires the regional information at the planned travel time of the guide route , the weather information , the regional information, and the guide route together to determine the road condition of the guide route based on the road shape of a road constituting the, and a road condition determining means for outputting the road conditions on the output means,
The road condition judging means assigns a numerical value corresponding to a degree of attention to information excluding the regional information from the information acquired by the information acquiring means and a road shape of the road constituting the guide route, and for each point of the numerical value The road condition is determined by determining whether or not the total value reaches a predetermined value, the road condition at a point where the total value reaches the predetermined value is output, and the area information is assigned the numerical value. navigation device according to claim that you output the road conditions without.   The time calculation unit divides the guide route into predetermined ranges and calculates a scheduled travel time for each predetermined range. The road condition determination unit performs the information acquisition unit for each predetermined range. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein information is acquired. The information acquisition means further acquires traffic information, and the road condition determination means acquires the traffic information of the guide route by the information acquisition means, and also takes the traffic information into consideration. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the road condition is determined. Storage means for storing a symbol mark indicating the content of a caution factor, the road condition determination means, as road conditions to be output to the output means, information corresponding to a point where the total value has reached a predetermined value, 4. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the symbol mark linked to area information is output . Instructing means for indicating the symbol mark is provided, the storage means stores precautions corresponding to the symbol mark, and the road condition determining means is configured to instruct the symbol mark by the indicating means. The navigation device according to claim 4 , wherein the precautions are output. The navigation device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein when outputting a road condition during route guidance from the current position to the destination, the output means outputs a voice. . A navigation system in which a navigation device mounted on a vehicle and an information providing device provided in an external station are connected by communication,
The information providing apparatus includes:
An external station communication means for communicating with the navigation device;
External station information acquisition means for acquiring weather information related to the weather,
Storage means for storing regional information in which a situation that occurs due to specific weather and / or a specific time and positional information that occurs are stored
In response to a transmission request from the navigation device, the weather information, the external station control means for transmitting the region information to the navigation device,
The navigation device
Navigation communication means for communicating with the information providing device;
Position detecting means for detecting the current position of the vehicle;
Map data storage means for storing map data including information on the road shape;
Destination setting means for setting the destination;
Output means for outputting images and / or sounds;
When the destination is set, route setting means for setting a guide route from the current position to the destination;
Time calculating means for calculating a scheduled travel time of the guide route;
The navigation communication means makes a transmission request for weather information and area information at the scheduled travel time of the guidance route, and receives the weather information, the area information and the road shape of the road constituting the guidance route received by the navigation communication means. And determining the road condition of the guide route based on the road condition determining means for outputting the road condition to the output means,
The road condition judging means assigns a numerical value corresponding to a degree of attention to information excluding the regional information from the information received by the navigation communication means and a road shape of the road constituting the guide route, and for each point of the numerical value The road condition is determined by determining whether or not the total value reaches a predetermined value, the road condition at a point where the total value reaches the predetermined value is output, and the area information is assigned the numerical value. A navigation system that outputs road conditions without any problems . The time calculation means divides the guide route into predetermined ranges and calculates a scheduled travel time for each predetermined range, and the road condition determination means makes a transmission request for information for each predetermined range. The navigation system according to claim 7 . The external station information acquisition means further acquires traffic information, and the external station control means transmits the traffic information to the navigation device in response to a transmission request from the navigation device, The road condition judging means makes a transmission request for the traffic information of the guidance route by the navigation communication means, and judges the road situation of the guidance route in consideration of the traffic information received by the navigation communication means. The navigation system according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the navigation system is characterized. Navigation storage means for storing a symbol mark indicating the content of a caution factor, the road condition determination means, as road conditions to be output to the output means, information corresponding to the point where the total value has reached a predetermined value, the navigation system according to any of claims 7 to 9 and outputs the symbol linked to the region information. Instructing means for instructing the symbol mark is provided, the navigation storage means stores precautions corresponding to the symbol mark, and the road condition judging means is instructed by the instruction means for the symbol mark. The navigation system according to claim 10 , wherein the precautions are output . When outputting the road conditions in the route guidance from the current position to the destination, and the output means, the navigation system according to any of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that outputting by voice .

Images