JP4515857B2 - Navigation device, navigation method, and navigation program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention, for example, in a navigation device that guides and guides a moving route of a moving body, can automatically restart route guidance when it is estimated that the moving body is lost after the end of route guidance. The present invention relates to a navigation technique improved, that is, a navigation apparatus, a method, and a navigation program.

  In recent years, with the generalization of automobiles and the development of information processing technology, navigation devices represented by in-vehicle use are rapidly spreading. This navigation device uses the road map data stored in a DVD, HDD, etc. to detect the current position (latitude, longitude, etc.) of the vehicle that is sequentially detected by a geomagnetic sensor, a vehicle speed sensor, a GPS sensor, etc. In addition to displaying above, based on the route data included in the road map data, it calculates the optimal guidance route from the current position to the specified destination, and guides it with specific display or voice synthesis. is there.

In such a navigation device, the route guidance is usually terminated when the moving body reaches the vicinity of the destination.
JP-A-9-257505

  However, in the conventional navigation device as disclosed in Patent Document 1 and the like, the route guidance is automatically terminated when the vehicle reaches the vicinity of the destination (within a certain distance from the destination). Therefore, although it has arrived near the destination, the road near the destination is complicated, the road is one-way, and there are no landmark buildings. There were cases where it was impossible to reach.

  The present invention has been proposed in order to solve the above-described problems of the prior art. The purpose of the present invention is when a mobile object is estimated to be lost after completing the route guidance. It is an object of the present invention to provide a highly useful navigation technology, that is, a navigation device, a method, and a program that can automatically resume guidance.

In order to achieve the above object, a navigation device according to claim 1 uses a computer or an electronic circuit to determine a route on which a moving body moves from a starting point to a specified destination based on road map data prepared in advance. In a navigation device for searching and guiding guidance, a current position detecting unit for detecting a current position of the moving body, and the movement is not performed even though the route guidance is terminated because the moving body has arrived near the destination. A restart necessity determination unit that determines whether or not it is estimated that the vehicle is lost; a restart command unit that sends a command to restart route guidance when the mobile body is determined to be lost; In the restart necessity determination unit, it is determined whether the moving body has taken the road closest to the destination from the traveling locus of the moving body, and has been determined to be passing the road closest to the destination If you are traveling When it is determined whether the road has changed and it is determined that the moving body does not pass the road closest to the destination from the traveling locus of the moving body, or the road that is closest to the destination is passed, When it is determined that the traveling road has changed, it is determined that the moving body is lost on the road .

The navigation method according to claim 4 captures the invention according to claim 1 from the viewpoint of the method, and the moving object is designated from the departure place based on road map data prepared in advance by a computer or an electronic circuit. In the navigation method for searching and guiding the route moving to the destination, the step of detecting the current position of the mobile body, and the route guidance is terminated even though the mobile body has arrived near the destination, Determining whether the moving body is estimated to be lost, sending a command for resuming route guidance when the moving body is determined to be lost, and The step of determining whether or not the moving body is estimated to be lost is a determination as to whether or not the moving body has taken the road closest to the destination from the traveling locus of the moving body. If it is determined that the road is closest to the destination, it is determined whether or not the road has changed. If the moving body does not pass the path closest to the destination If it is determined, or if it is determined that the road has been changed but the traveling road has changed, it is determined that the moving body is lost on the road.

A navigation program according to a seventh aspect captures the inventions according to the first and fourth aspects from the viewpoint of a computer program, and is based on road map data prepared in advance by controlling the computer. In a navigation program for searching and guiding a route from the departure point to the designated destination, the computer detects the current position of the moving object, and guides the route as if the moving object has arrived near the destination. A command to resume route guidance when it is determined that the moving body is estimated to be lost, and the moving body is determined to be lost It is sent to, and in the determining whether or not the moving body is estimated to be lost, the road moving body closest to the destination from the travel locus of the moving object And if it is determined that the road is closest to the destination, it is determined whether or not the traveling road has changed. If it is determined that it is not following the closest road, or if it is passing the road closest to the destination but it is determined that the driving road has changed, it is determined that the moving body is lost in the road It is characterized by.

  In the inventions according to claims 1, 4, and 7 as described above, it is estimated that the moving body is lost in the road even after the route guidance is finished because it has arrived near the destination. In such a case, the route is automatically recalculated and the route guidance is restarted. Therefore, it is possible to provide a highly useful navigation device that does not require the user to set the destination again.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the navigation device according to claim 1, wherein in the restart necessity determination unit, the determination criterion for estimating that the moving body is lost is after route guidance is completed. The present invention is characterized in that it is detected that the moving body is still running even after a predetermined time has elapsed.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the navigation device according to the first aspect, the determination criterion for estimating that the moving body is lost in the road in the restart necessity determination unit ends the route guidance. The present invention is characterized in that it is detected that the moving body moves around the destination even after a predetermined time has elapsed.

  The invention according to claim 5 captures the invention according to claim 2 from the viewpoint of the method, and in the navigation method according to claim 4, it is determined that the moving object is lost. The reference is characterized in that it is detected that the moving body is still running even after a predetermined time has elapsed after the route guidance is completed.

  The invention described in claim 6 is obtained by capturing the invention described in claim 3 from the viewpoint of the method, and in the navigation method according to claim 4, the determination that the moving body is lost in the road. The criterion is that it is detected that the moving body is moving around the destination even after a predetermined time has elapsed after the route guidance is completed.

  The invention according to an eighth aspect is obtained by capturing the invention according to the second and fifth aspects from a viewpoint of a computer program. In the navigation program according to the seventh aspect, the moving body is lost. It is characterized in that the determination criterion for estimating that the mobile body has detected that the moving body is still running even after a predetermined time has elapsed after the completion of route guidance.

  The invention described in claim 9 captures the inventions described in claim 3 and claim 6 from the viewpoint of a computer program. In the navigation program according to claim 7, the mobile object is lost. It is characterized in that the determination criterion for estimating that the moving body has detected that the moving body is moving around the destination even after a predetermined time has elapsed after the completion of route guidance.

  The inventions according to claim 2, claim 3, claim 5, claim 6, claim 8 and claim 9 described above are based on the assumption that the mobile body has arrived in the vicinity of the destination and has finished the route guidance. Regardless, it clearly defines the criteria for estimating that the moving body is lost. When these criteria are met, route recalculation is automatically performed and route guidance is resumed. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a navigation device that is very useful for users who are lost.

  According to the present invention as described above, a highly useful navigation technique that can automatically resume route guidance when a mobile object is estimated to be lost after route guidance is completed. A navigation device, method, and program can be provided.

  Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as “embodiment”) will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. In addition, although this embodiment is realizable by controlling the computer provided with the peripheral device by the program, the implementation | achievement aspect of the hardware and program in this case can be variously changed. In addition to the navigation apparatus and method, the present invention can be grasped as a program as described above and a computer-readable storage medium storing such a program. Therefore, in the following description, virtual circuit blocks that implement the functions of the present invention and this embodiment are used.

(1) Configuration [1-1. overall structure〕
First, the navigation device according to the present embodiment (hereinafter referred to as “this device”) is roughly assumed that the mobile object is lost in the road after ending route guidance on the assumption that it has arrived near the destination. In addition, by automatically recalculating the route and resuming route guidance, the user has excellent usability, and includes the following elements shown in the functional block diagram of FIG.

  That is, the absolute position / orientation detection unit 1 calculates the absolute position coordinates and direction on the ground surface with respect to the current position of the automobile (referred to as the own vehicle) on which the apparatus is mounted, that is, the own vehicle position. This is a part for receiving GPS radio waves transmitted from GPS satellites with an antenna or a receiver. The relative azimuth detection unit 2 is a part for detecting the relative azimuth of the host vehicle using a gyroscope or the like. The vehicle speed detection part 3 is a part which calculates the speed of the own vehicle by processing the vehicle speed pulse obtained from a motor vehicle.

  The main CPU and its peripheral circuit 4 are parts that serve as a control circuit for controlling the entire apparatus. The memory group M is various memories necessary for the operation of the apparatus. For example, the ROM 5 for storing programs is accessed by the main CPU when the apparatus is activated. A main program is loaded into a dynamic RAM (DRAM) 6 that provides a work area and the like.

  The SRAM (static RAM) 7 is a storage means for acquiring and storing various settings such as the current position, destination, route, and information included in the road map data, and while the main power is off. Is also backed up by a battery and provides memory contents when turned on, but can be replaced by other storage means such as flash memory or hard disk drives. A display VRAM (video RAM) 8 stores bitmap data of an image to be displayed on the display unit 10.

  The display unit 10 is a part that displays various information such as a map, an operation menu, a search list, and point information on a liquid crystal display screen (not shown). The voice output means can be used together with the guidance by the synthesized voice. The input unit 11 is a part for a user to input information such as a command from a switch or the like. The input unit 11 includes a touch sensor function, a remote control unit, an infrared transmission / reception unit, and the like, but is configured integrally with the display unit 10 as a touch panel. It can also be configured as a front panel switch. The user interface unit 9 is a user interface that connects the display unit 10 and the input unit 11 to the main CPU and its peripheral circuit 4 using an I / O control circuit, a device driver, or the like.

  The HDD control unit 12 is means for reading various data such as a navigation program recorded in a hard disk (mass storage device) from a database. The database includes various scale map data, a network structure of roads or road sections. Is stored. The road map data includes various point information regarding points on the map. The point information includes, for example, the coordinates of the point, the name of the point, the type of the point, the data for the search list such as the address and the telephone number, the type of the road that the point is in contact with, and the like. In addition, interface data necessary for the navigation program, for example, menus, lists, buttons, guidance displays (direction, distance, time, etc.), various marks (landmarks, icons, current position, travel locus, etc.) may be included. Good.

  The program and data storage locations described above can be realized by various storage media, and it is possible to freely design which storage media to store a part or all of. Therefore, not only the main program but also a part of navigation interface data may be stored in the ROM 5 in advance. Further, instead of the hard disk, a CD-ROM control unit, a DVD-ROM control unit, or the like may use data read from the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM.

  The FM multiplex reception and processing unit 13 is a part that receives FM broadcast waves and extracts desired data such as traffic information of the VICS service from the broadcast waves. The traffic information includes traffic jam information. The optical / radio wave beacon reception and processing unit 14 is a part that receives and processes information such as identification information of each beacon and traffic information of the VICS service from an optical beacon or a radio beacon installed on a shoulder or the like.

[1-2. Role of main CPU and its peripheral circuits]
Further, the main CPU and its peripheral circuit 4 are configured to realize the roles of the following parts shown in FIG. 1 by the operation of the program as described above. That is, the current position detection unit 40 is means for sequentially calculating the own vehicle position, and specifically, is configured to calculate the own vehicle position by combining GPS navigation positioning and autonomous navigation positioning. .

  Here, in GPS navigation positioning, the current position is calculated using information obtained by the absolute position / orientation detection unit 1 based on radio waves from an artificial satellite. In the autonomous navigation positioning, the current position is calculated using information obtained from the relative bearing detection unit 2 and the vehicle speed detection unit 3 based on the geomagnetism and the speed of the host vehicle.

  The destination designation unit 41 is means for receiving designation of a destination, that is, input by facility search from a database in which the road map data is recorded or cursor designation on a map. The route setting unit 42 calculates a route from the current position detected by the current position detecting unit 40 to the destination specified by the destination specifying unit 41 based on the road map data, and obtains the result. It is a means for setting a given route.

  Based on the calculated vehicle position, route and road map data, the map display unit 43 displays a map around the vehicle position or a map displayed in a wide area on the display unit 10 in a three-dimensional display or other manner. It is. Further, the guidance control unit 44 is a means for controlling guidance guidance by determining elements to be displayed in the route, elements such as blinking emphasis, and using combined speech.

  The restart necessity determination unit 45 determines that the moving body is still running even after a predetermined time has elapsed after the completion of route guidance after the moving body has arrived near the destination. It is means for determining whether or not it is estimated that the user is lost.

  Further, the restart command unit 46 is a means for sending a restart command signal to the route setting unit 42 to restart route guidance when it is determined by the restart necessity determination unit 45 that the moving body is lost. is there. When the route setting unit 42 receives the restart command signal, the route setting unit 42 displays a route from the current position detected by the current position detecting unit 40 to the destination specified by the destination specifying unit 41 by road map data. Is calculated again, and the resulting route is set.

  The current position detection unit 40, the route setting unit 42, the map display unit 43, and the guidance control unit 44 are connected to the designated destination based on the road map data read from the HDD control unit 12. It constitutes navigation means for searching for routes and guiding them.

(2) Operation An example of processing according to the present embodiment as described above will be described. As an outline, the normal navigation display is performed on the display unit 10 until the mobile object arrives near the destination, and the mobile object is displayed even though the route guidance is terminated because the mobile object arrives near the destination. If it is estimated that the user is lost, the route is automatically recalculated and route guidance is resumed.

  Details of the processing will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Note that setting a destination and calculating a guidance route from the current position to the destination and performing guidance guidance are the same as in a normal navigation device, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  That is, when the vehicle starts traveling, normal navigation processing is performed, so that the current position and traveling direction, etc. are continuously detected by the absolute position / direction detection unit 1, the relative direction detection unit 2, the current position detection unit 40, and the like. Detected and route guidance is performed (steps 201 to 202). Then, it is determined whether or not the vehicle has arrived near the destination (step 203). When it is determined that the vehicle has arrived near the destination, the route guidance is terminated (step 204), and it is determined that the vehicle has not yet arrived. If so, the process returns to step 201 and the processes of steps 201 to 203 are repeated.

  Subsequently, when the restart necessity determination unit 45 determines whether or not the moving body is still traveling after a predetermined time has elapsed after the route guidance is completed (step 205), Terminates the processing as “arriving at the destination”.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the vehicle is still traveling, the process proceeds to step 206, where it is determined from the traveling locus of the moving body whether or not the road closest to the destination has been passed. Determines whether or not the destination has been reached (step 207). If the destination has not been reached, the restart command unit 46 instructs to recalculate the route. On the other hand, if it is determined that the destination has been reached, the process is terminated.

  If it is determined in step 206 that the vehicle has passed the road closest to the destination, then it is determined whether or not the mobile body has changed the traveling road (step 208). Then, the process proceeds to step 209, where it is determined whether or not the destination is being toured, and if it is determined that the user is traveling (in other words, he has lost his way), the restart command unit 46 determines the route. You are instructed to recalculate.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step 208 that the mobile body has not changed the traveling road, or if it is determined in step 209 that the mobile object has not traveled around the destination, the process proceeds to step 210 and arrives at the destination. If it has not arrived at the destination, it is estimated that the destination has been overdone even though the road closest to the destination has been reached. An instruction is given to recalculate the route. On the other hand, if it is determined that the destination has been reached, the process is terminated.

(3) Effect According to the present embodiment as described above, if it is estimated that the mobile body is lost in the road even after the route guidance is finished as it arrives in the vicinity of the destination, Since the route is recalculated and the route guidance is resumed, a highly useful navigation device that does not require the user to set the destination again can be obtained.

(4) Other Embodiments The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. In the restart necessity determination unit 45, the determination criterion for estimating that “the moving body is lost” is used. Adopt various criteria such as, after finishing the route guidance, still running even after a predetermined time, moving around the destination, leaving a certain distance from the destination, etc. Can do.

  Further, when the route guidance is resumed by the resume command unit 46, the scale of the map displayed on the display unit 10 may be automatically enlarged. Furthermore, the resumed route guidance may be performed until the user arrives at the destination and turns off the engine, or the guidance end point may be automatically changed to a point closer to the destination. good.

  Furthermore, the present invention can be applied to a so-called off-board type navigation system in which the latest data can be provided via a wireless communication network, instead of the so-called on-board type in which navigation data is placed in the vehicle. It is. In this case, a server outside the vehicle connected via the communication network can perform all or part of the above processing, and the processing result is reduced by the in-vehicle computer to acquire the processing result. be able to. In addition, this invention is not limited to vehicle-mounted use, It is applicable also to another moving means and portable navigation.

The functional block diagram which shows the structure of the navigation apparatus which concerns on this invention. The flowchart which shows the procedure of the process in the navigation apparatus which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Absolute position and direction detection part 2 ... Relative direction detection part 3 ... Vehicle speed detection part 4 ... Main CPU and its peripheral circuit 5 ... ROM
6 ... DRAM
7 ... SRAM
8 ... VRAM
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 9 ... User interface part 10 ... Display part 11 ... Input part 12 ... HDD control part 13 ... FM multiplex reception and processing part 14 ... Light / radio wave beacon reception and processing part 40 ... Current position detection part 41 ... Destination designation part 42 ... Route setting unit 43 ... Map display unit 44 ... Guidance control unit 45 ... Resumption necessity determination unit 46 ... Resumption command unit M ... Memory group

Claims (9)

In a navigation device that searches and guides a route for a moving body to move from a starting point to a designated destination based on road map data prepared in advance using a computer or an electronic circuit,
A current position detecting unit for detecting a current position of the moving body;
A restart necessity determining unit that determines whether or not the movement is estimated to be lost even though the route guidance is terminated as the moving object has arrived near the destination;
A restart command unit that sends a command to resume route guidance when it is determined that the moving body is lost ;
In the restart necessity determination unit,
If the travel path of the moving object determines whether the moving object has taken the road closest to the destination, and if it is determined that the moving object has taken the path closest to the destination, whether the driving road has changed Determine
If it is determined from the traveling track of the moving body that the moving body does not pass the road closest to the destination, or if the road is passing the closest road to the destination but it is determined that the driving road has changed, A navigation device characterized by determining that the moving body is lost .   In the restart necessity determination unit, the criterion for estimating that the moving body is lost is that the moving body is still running even after a predetermined time has elapsed after the route guidance is finished. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the navigation device is detected.   In the restart necessity determination unit, the determination criterion for estimating that the moving body is lost is that the moving body is moving around the destination even after a predetermined time has elapsed after the route guidance is finished. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein this is detected. In a navigation method in which a computer or an electronic circuit searches and guides a route for a moving body to move from a departure place to a designated destination based on road map data prepared in advance.
Detecting a current position of the moving body;
Determining whether or not the mobile body is estimated to be lost even though route guidance has been terminated as the mobile body has arrived near the destination; and
Sending a command to resume route guidance when it is determined that the moving body is lost ;
In the step of determining whether or not the moving object is estimated to be lost,
If the travel path of the moving object determines whether the moving object has taken the road closest to the destination, and if it is determined that the moving object has taken the path closest to the destination, whether the driving road has changed Determine
If it is determined from the traveling track of the moving body that the moving body does not pass the road closest to the destination, or if the road is passing the closest road to the destination but it is determined that the driving road has changed, A navigation method characterized by determining that the moving body is lost .   The criterion for estimating that the mobile object is lost is that it has detected that the mobile object is still running after a predetermined time has elapsed after the route guidance is completed. The navigation method according to claim 4, wherein:   The criterion for estimating that the moving body is lost is that it has detected that the moving body is moving around the destination even after a predetermined time has elapsed after the completion of route guidance. The navigation method according to claim 4. In a navigation program that searches and guides a route for a moving body to move from a starting point to a designated destination based on road map data prepared in advance by controlling a computer,
In the computer,
Detecting the current position of the moving object;
It is determined whether the moving body is estimated to be lost even though the route guidance is terminated as the moving body has arrived near the destination,
When it is determined that the moving body is lost, a command to resume route guidance is sent,
In determining whether or not the moving object is estimated to be lost,
If the travel path of the moving object determines whether the moving object has taken the road closest to the destination, and if it is determined that the moving object has taken the path closest to the destination, whether the driving road has changed Determine
If it is determined from the traveling track of the moving body that the moving body does not pass the road closest to the destination, or if the road is passing the closest road to the destination but it is determined that the driving road has changed, A navigation program characterized by determining that the moving body is lost .   The criterion for estimating that the mobile object is lost is that it has detected that the mobile object is still running after a predetermined time has elapsed after the route guidance is completed. The navigation program according to claim 7, wherein   The criterion for estimating that the moving body is lost is that it has detected that the moving body is moving around the destination even after a predetermined time has elapsed after the completion of route guidance. The navigation program according to claim 7.

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