JP4543541B2 - Navigation device, voice guidance method, route guidance method, storage medium - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a navigation device, a voice guidance method, a route guidance method, and a storage medium.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, navigation devices that can determine their own position and moving speed in real time using a GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite with an orbit in the sky are being mounted on mobile objects such as automobiles or portable. It has begun to spread widely.
In the navigation device, a map is displayed on the monitor based on the digitized map data, and the current position measured based on the radio wave from the GPS satellite, the movement route set by the user, etc. are displayed on the map. Overlay and display on top. Furthermore, in the navigation device, voice guidance is performed at an appropriate timing in order to perform route guidance along the movement route set by the user. That is, guidance such as “turn right at an intersection 300 m ahead” is performed in front of a guidance target point such as an intersection to bend on the set travel route. Conventionally, such guidance is performed based on the distance from the vehicle position to a point where guidance should be performed next.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, if guidance is made such as “700 m ahead”, “300 m ahead”, etc., the user's sense of distance is reliable, and the distance cannot be reliably grasped, and the guidance point to be guided is not guaranteed. May not be identified. In particular, in a place where a plurality of intersections are continuous, it may be unclear which of the consecutive intersections the guided intersection is.
In order to solve such a problem, there are some that display an enlarged view of the intersection in the vicinity of the intersection to be bent, etc., but in this case, the user must visually observe the enlarged view displayed on the display screen of the monitor, It is not necessarily convenient for the user.
The present invention has been made based on such a technical problem, and an object thereof is to provide a navigation device, a voice guidance method, a route guidance method, and a storage medium capable of surely recognizing a route.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
For this purpose, the present invention is characterized in that guidance based on the number of landmarks from its own position to the guidance target point is executed before the guidance target point. More specifically, as data of a route in a predetermined area, for example, a map area stored in the data storage means, data of nodes arranged at intervals from each other along the route is connected to nodes that are adjacent to each other. Link data, and node data or link data is associated with attribute data indicating the presence or absence of a mark present along the route. Then, the number of landmarks is counted based on the attribute data by sequentially referring to node data or link data between the own position and the guidance target point. Here, as the mark, for example, a traffic signal that exists along the movement path can be used.
In this way, in front of a guidance target point such as an intersection to be turned, guidance based on the number of landmarks such as traffic lights, for example, guidance such as “turn left at the third traffic light” can be executed. Thereby, the user can specify a guidance object point reliably by the number of landmarks, without depending on own sense.
[0005]
At this time, when the distance between the first mark from the self-position side and the self-position is less than a predetermined distance, guidance based on the number of marks can be prevented. As a result, the guidance immediately before the mark can prevent the user from wondering whether or not the first mark is included in the mark of the guidance content. In such a case, the guidance based on the number of landmarks may be completely stopped. However, depending on the number of landmarks before the first distance or after passing the first landmark. Guidance may be provided.
Further, when the predetermined condition for executing the guidance based on the number of marks is not satisfied, the guidance based on the distance from the own position to the guidance target point may be executed as in the conventional case.
Furthermore, at each guidance target point, a guidance of a type selected and registered in advance among guidance based on the number of landmarks and guidance based on the distance to the guidance target point can be executed.
[0006]
The present invention also includes a process for setting a movement route according to designation from the outside, a process for positioning the own position, and a process for counting a mark between the point where the guidance should be performed on the movement route and the own position. Further, it is also possible to grasp as a storage medium characterized by storing a program for causing a computer to execute a process for executing guidance based on the counted number of landmarks before a point where guidance is to be executed.
[0007]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on first and second embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.
[First embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the overall configuration of the navigation device according to the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 1, the navigation apparatus according to the present embodiment is a CD (Compact Disc) -ROM (Read Only Memory) or DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) -ROM or the like in which map data of a predetermined area is stored. A disk drive 11 having a recording disk (data storage means), a display unit 12 such as a liquid crystal display for displaying a map based on map data, a speaker 13 for outputting guidance sound, a remote controller, a control panel, etc. The operation unit 14, a positioning block 15 that performs positioning, and a control block 16 that controls the entire apparatus are configured.
[0008]
The positioning block 15 includes a GPS antenna 21 that receives a signal transmitted from a GPS satellite, a GPS positioning unit (positioning means) 22 that performs positioning based on a signal obtained from the GPS antenna 21, and a vehicle on which the navigation device is mounted. A vehicle speed sensor 23 for detecting the vehicle speed, a gyro sensor 24 for detecting the rotational displacement of the vehicle, a positioning correction unit 25 for correcting a positioning result in the GPS positioning unit 22 based on detection values obtained by the vehicle speed sensor 23 and the gyro sensor 24, It has.
[0009]
The control block 16 includes a CPU 30 that controls the entire system and arithmetic processing, a main memory 31 as an internal storage device including a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory), and a ROM 32 that stores a predetermined program for operating the navigation device. , A storage control unit 33 that controls the disk drive 11, a display control unit 34 that controls drawing on the display unit 12, an audio control unit 35 that controls audio output from the speaker 13, and input signals from the operation unit 14. An input control unit 36 for controlling, a map matching control unit 37 for performing a so-called map matching process for matching the own vehicle position measured by the positioning block 15 with a road on the map displayed on the display unit 12, and a moving route are set. A route setting control unit (moving route setting means) 38, a moving route set by the user A guidance control unit (guidance execution means) 39 for executing the corresponding guidance is provided.
[0010]
The route setting control unit 38 searches for a route from the map data stored on the recording disk based on the departure point / arrival point designated by the user, and sets a movement route.
Further, in the present embodiment, the guidance control unit 39 reaches the guidance point before a point to be guided (hereinafter referred to as “guidance point”) such as an intersection to bend on the set travel route. Voice guidance based on the number of traffic lights (markers) is performed instead of the distance.
[0011]
2 shows a map M displayed on the display unit 12 based on the map data, route data D1 used in the map matching control unit 37, route setting control unit 38, guidance control unit 39, and map matching data (routes). Data) D2 and route matching data D3. These route data D1, map matching data D2, and route matching data D3 are stored in the recording disk in association with the map data constituting the map M.
The route data D1 corresponds to the configuration of the road R drawn on the map M, and is composed of the position coordinates of the intersection j where the plurality of roads R intersect and the route r connecting the two intersections j before and after each other. . The route r includes data such as a route length, that is, a distance between two intersections j and road attributes indicating a road type (national road / prefectural road / city road, toll road / general road, etc.). The route setting control unit 38 uses this route data D1 to perform a search / setting process for the optimum movement route Z based on the departure / arrival points designated by the user and other various conditions.
[0012]
The map matching data D2 corresponds to the shape of the road R. The point-like nodes N (arranged other than the intersection j) arranged at intervals along the road R and the nodes N preceding and following each other. It is comprised with the link L which consists of a straight line segment arrange | positioned between. For example, a node N is arranged at a curved portion or a bent portion of the road R, an intersection j, and the like, and the nodes N that are adjacent to each other are connected by a link L made of straight line segments, thereby forming a shape close to the actual road R. In addition to the position coordinates (latitude / longitude), the node N has an intersection j (hereinafter referred to as an intersection attribute) and a traffic signal (hereinafter referred to as a traffic signal attribute). The data of the attribute such as (mark data) is included. In addition, the link L includes data such as the position coordinates of the node N that is the start point and the end point, and the link length (distance). This map matching data D2 is associated with the route data D1.
The map matching control unit 37 corrects the position coordinates of the vehicle position measured by the positioning block 15 to the position on the link L, that is, the position on the road R, based on the already used map matching processing program. Do.
[0013]
The route matching data D3 is generated from the route data D1 and the map matching data D2 according to the travel route Z set by the route setting control unit 38. For example, if the route setting control unit 38 sets the travel route Z as shown in FIG. 2, the intersection j and the route r corresponding to the travel route Z are extracted from the route data D1. Then, the route matching data D3 is generated by extracting the data of the node N and the link L corresponding to the extracted intersection j and route r from the map matching data D2. That is, the route matching data D3 is composed of a node N and a link L corresponding to the set travel route Z. In addition to the position coordinates of each node N and the link length of the link L, an intersection existing on the travel route Z j and traffic signal attribute data are included.
[0014]
FIG. 3 shows the flow of processing when the guidance control unit 39 executes voice guidance according to the movement route Z. The processing shown in FIG. 3 is performed when the vehicle is moving along the movement route Z set by the route setting control unit 38. At this time, the guidance control unit 39 executes processing while referring to the route matching data D3 generated from the route data D1 and the map matching data D2 based on the set travel route Z.
[0015]
In the guidance control unit 39, the data of the node N that constitutes the route matching data D3 is traced forward in the traveling direction, the point that is to be guided by the voice guidance on the moving route Z is recognized, and this is guided. Set as point Pg. At this time, as in the case of executing the conventional guidance, when the node N on the route matching data D3 has an intersection attribute and the intersection angle between the links L before and after the node L is equal to or larger than a predetermined angle, the node N Is set as the guide point Pg.
Then, the guidance control unit 39 executes voice guidance at a predetermined timing before each guide point Pg set in this way. The predetermined timing may be, for example, when reaching a point in front of the guide point Pg by a predetermined distance (for example, 700 m, 300 m, etc.), but in this embodiment, for example, the guide point Pg is reached. It is assumed that the arrival time to the guidance point Pg becomes a predetermined time, such as 60 seconds before or 30 seconds before.
[0016]
As shown in FIG. 4, in order to execute guidance by the guidance control unit 39 while moving along the movement route Z, first, the positioning block 15 measures the own vehicle position (own position) P0. For this purpose, positioning is performed by the GPS positioning unit 22 based on a signal from a GPS satellite received by the GPS antenna 21, and the positioning correction unit 25 converts the positioning data from the GPS positioning unit 22 into the vehicle speed sensor 23 and the gyroscope. By correcting based on the detection value obtained by the sensor 24, the host vehicle position P0 is obtained. Subsequently, the map matching control unit 37 corrects the vehicle position P0 so as to overlap the link L of the map matching data D2, and performs map matching processing (step S101).
[0017]
Also, at this time, the average speed of the device for a certain time until that time is calculated (step S102). For this purpose, the detection value from the vehicle speed sensor 23 may be used, or the average speed may be calculated from the movement amount (displacement amount of the vehicle position P0) within a certain time.
At the same time, the position of the vehicle position P0 on the route matching data D3 is determined. For this, when the map matching process is performed in step S101, the link L in the route matching data D3 corresponding to this is specified based on the link L of the map matching data D2 overlaid with the vehicle position P0. The position on the link L is determined (step S103).
[0018]
Next, a distance La between the host vehicle position P0 and the guidance point Pg located in front of it is calculated (step S104). Subsequently, a (predicted) required time Ta from the vehicle position P0 to the guidance point Pg is calculated from the average speed obtained in step S102 and the distance La obtained in step S104 (step S105). In the subsequent step S106, it is determined whether or not the calculated required time Ta is smaller than the guidance start time Tg defined in advance. This guidance start time Tg sets the timing for executing the voice guidance, and is set to 60 seconds, for example, in the present embodiment. As a result, if the calculated required time Ta is not smaller than the guidance start time Tg defined in advance, that is, before the timing for executing the voice guidance, the process returns to step S101 and the above processing is repeated.
When the calculated required time Ta is smaller than the guidance start time Tg defined in advance, the process proceeds to step S107 in order to execute voice guidance.
[0019]
In this step S107, first, it is determined whether or not there is traffic signal attribute data at the node N of the guidance point Pg ahead. If there is no traffic signal attribute, there is no signal at the guidance point Pg. Therefore, guidance based on the number of signals is not performed, and normal voice guidance based on the remaining distance to the guidance point Pg is performed (step S108). .
On the other hand, when there is traffic signal data at the node N of the guide point Pg, the process proceeds to the subsequent step S109.
[0020]
In step S109, it is determined whether or not the required time Ta from the vehicle position P0 to the guidance point Pg is longer than the guidance start limit time Tl. The guidance start limit time Tl is set based on the time required for the voice guidance, and is set so that the voice guidance is surely terminated before the guidance point Pg. In this embodiment, the guidance start limit time Tl is set to 20 seconds, for example. Has been. As a result, if the required time Ta is smaller than the guidance start limit time Tl, there is a possibility that the voice guidance cannot be surely ended before the guidance point Pg. Therefore, the normal voice guidance based on the remaining distance to the guidance point Pg is possible. Is performed (step S110). On the other hand, if the required time Ta is longer than the guidance start limit time Tl, the process proceeds to the subsequent step S111.
[0021]
In step S111, in the route matching data D3, the node N is sequentially referred from the own vehicle position P0 to the guidance point Pg, and it is detected whether each node N has a traffic signal attribute. Then, the node N having the traffic signal attribute, which is located first from the own vehicle position P0 side between the own vehicle position P0 and the guide point Pg, is specified. That is, the point P1 with the closest signal is specified. And the distance Lb from the own vehicle position P0 to the node N of the point P1 is calculated.
Subsequently, in step S112, the required time Tb from the identified distance Lb to the node N to the point P1 having the node N is calculated based on the average speed obtained in step S102. Then, in the following step S113, it is determined whether or not the calculated required time Tb is longer than a predetermined guidance completion time Te. This guidance completion time Te is set in order to complete the voice guidance up to a certain point P1 of the identified node N, that is, a certain point P1 of the next traffic light. In this embodiment, it is set to 5 seconds, for example. Has been. If the required time Tb is smaller than the guidance completion time Te, the voice guidance at that time is not performed, and the process returns to step S101 to repeat the process. If the required time Tb is longer than the guidance completion time Te, the process proceeds to the subsequent step S114.
[0022]
In step S114, the node N is sequentially referred from the own vehicle position P0 toward the guidance point Pg, and it is detected whether or not each node N has a traffic signal attribute, and the number of nodes N having the traffic signal attribute, that is, guidance. The number of traffic lights up to the point Pg is counted. Then, based on the counted number of traffic lights, voice guidance data using the number of traffic lights is generated. For example, if there are two traffic lights from the vehicle position P0 to the guidance point Pg (including the traffic lights at the guidance point Pg), voice guidance data with the content “two signals ahead is diagonally forward right” is generated. To do. Then, the voice guidance data generated by the guidance control unit 39 by such processing is transferred to the voice control unit 35. The voice control unit 35 outputs the guidance voice based on the number of traffic lights to the guidance point Pg from the speaker 13 based on the transferred voice guidance data (step S115).
[0023]
As described above, the number of traffic lights to the guidance point Pg is acquired from the attribute data associated with the node N constituting the route matching data D3 generated according to the travel route Z before the guidance point Pg. Voice guidance based on the number of traffic lights was executed. As a result, compared to the conventional voice guidance based on the remaining distance to the guidance point Pg, the user can change the guidance point Pg based on the absolute information obtained visually, such as the number of traffic lights, without relying on his sense of distance. Certainly can be identified. As a result, it is possible to reliably recognize his / her own course only by voice guidance, which is very convenient for the user.
Further, when the required time Tb from the vehicle position P0 to the node N having the next traffic light attribute, that is, the point P1 having the next traffic light is smaller than the predetermined guidance completion time Te, voice guidance is performed. I tried not to. As a result, voice guidance is not performed immediately before the next traffic light, and it is possible to prevent the user from wondering whether the next traffic light is included in the number of traffic lights guided by the voice guidance. Guidance accuracy can be further increased.
In addition, when there is no traffic signal attribute at the guidance point Pg, that is, at an intersection without a traffic signal, or when the required time Ta to the guidance point Pg is smaller than the guidance start limit time Tl, voice guidance based on the number of traffic lights Since the voice guidance based on the remaining distance to the guidance point Pg is performed in the same manner as in the past, guidance that is easy to understand for the user can be performed in this respect as well.
[0024]
In the first embodiment, specific set values such as the guide start time Tg, the guide start limit time Tl, and the guide completion time Te are given. Needless to say, these are merely examples of set values. Yes, any other setting value may be adopted.
[0025]
[Second Embodiment]
In the second embodiment to be described next, another form of processing in the guidance control unit 39 is shown. Here, only the processing contents in the guidance control unit 39 are different, and the overall configuration of the navigation device itself is the same as that in the first embodiment. Therefore, in the following description, only the processing content in the guidance control unit 39 will be described, and description of other configurations will be omitted.
The guidance control unit 39 in the second embodiment sets whether or not to perform voice guidance based on the number of traffic lights for each guidance point Pg at the time of generating the route matching data D3 prior to the execution of the navigation operation. Keep it.
[0026]
FIG. 5 shows an overall flow of processing at the stage of setting the movement route Z prior to performing the navigation operation along the movement route Z in the navigation device in the second embodiment. It is. As shown in FIG. 5, in the navigation device, in the same way as in the first embodiment, the route setting control unit 38 searches for a route based on the departure point / arrival point designated by the user, and the movement route Create Z. (Step S201).
In the subsequent step S202, route matching data D3 is generated from the route data D1 and the map matching data D2 according to the set travel route Z. This route matching data D3 is composed of a node N and a link L corresponding to the set travel route Z, and in addition to the position coordinates of each node N and the link length of the link L, an intersection j existing on the travel route Z. And traffic signal attribute data.
[0027]
Thereafter, in step S203, setting of an attribute indicating that guidance is to be performed for the node N of the guidance point Pg to be guided on the travel route Z constituted by the route matching data D3 (this is referred to as “guide attribute In step S204, the node N of the guidance point Pg is set with an attribute indicating whether or not guidance is to be performed based on the number of traffic lights at the guidance point Pg (this is referred to as “setting of the traffic signal attribute”). ").
[0028]
FIG. 6 shows the details of the processing of steps S203 to S204. As shown in FIG. 6, first, in order to set the guidance attribute, the route matching data D3 is traced forward in the traveling direction, and the departure is made. All the nodes N of the guidance point Pg to be guided by voice guidance, such as the intersection j to bend on the movement route Z, from the point to the destination point are specified. Then, each identified node N is registered as a node N having a guidance attribute “present” to be guided (step S301).
[0029]
Subsequently, for each of the registered guide points Pg, an attribute as to whether or not to perform guidance based on the number of traffic lights is set as follows. Here, in order to facilitate understanding, an example as shown in FIG. 7 is used. FIG. 7 shows the arrangement of the node N before (starting point side) of the guide point Pg. The node N is located at the positions of the points P10, P11, P12 in order from the guide point Pg side to the starting point side. Existing. Here, for example, the traffic signal attribute “none” is preset for the node N at the point P10, the traffic signal attribute “present” is set for the node N at the point P11, and the traffic signal attribute “none” is preset for the node N at the point P12. And
First, it is detected whether or not there is a traffic signal attribute at the node N of the guidance point Pg (step S302). As a result, when the traffic signal attribute of the node N is “none”, in step S303, data of the traffic signal guidance “none” attribute indicating that guidance based on the number of traffic signals is not performed for the node N of the guidance point Pg. It is added and stored in the node information storage area of the main memory 31. If the node N of the guidance point Pg has the traffic signal attribute “present”, the position (coordinates) of the node N of the guidance point Pg is registered as the node N of the traffic signal attribute “present” in the subsequent step S304. And stored in the node information storage area of the main memory 31.
[0030]
In step S305 following step S304, the node N of the point P10 located immediately before the guide point Pg, that is, one point on the start point side with respect to the guide point Pg is read from the recording disk and temporarily stored in the node information storage area of the main memory 31. To store. Then, it is determined whether or not the distance between the point P10 and the guide point Pg is greater than a predetermined guide start specified value Lx (step S306). This guidance start regulation value Lx regulates the timing at which voice guidance is performed before the guidance point Pg, and is set to 300 m, for example, in the present embodiment. In the case of the point P10 shown in FIG. The distance from the guidance point Pg is less than the guidance start specified value Lx.
When the distance between the point P10 and the guide point Pg is smaller than the guidance start specified value Lx, the process proceeds to step S307, and it is detected whether or not the node N of the point P10 has a traffic signal attribute. As a result, if the traffic signal attribute is set to “none”, the process returns to step S305, and if the traffic signal attribute is set to “present”, the process returns to step S304. Here, in the example of FIG. 7, since the point P10 is set with the traffic signal attribute “none”, the process returns to step S305 to read the node N immediately before that, that is, the node N of the point P11. In step S306, it is determined whether or not the distance from the guidance point Pg is larger than the guidance start value Lx for the point P11. In the example of FIG. 7, the point P11, the guidance point Pg, Is less than the guidance start prescribed value Lx, the process moves to step S307 also in the case of this point P11. Then, in step S307, since the traffic signal attribute is set to “present” at the node N of the point P11, the process returns to step S304, and the position of the node N at the point P11 is set as the node N of the traffic signal attribute “present”. sign up. Next, in step S305, the node N at the point P12, which is the node N immediately before the point P11, is read out. Then, in this embodiment, since the distance between the point P12 and the guide point Pg is equal to or greater than the guide start specified value Lx, the condition of step S306 is satisfied. This point P12, which satisfies the condition of step S306, serves as a reference for timing for starting voice guidance.
[0031]
Thus, when the node N whose distance to the guidance point Pg is equal to or greater than the guidance start specified value Lx is found, the process proceeds to step S308, and the traffic signal attribute “is present” ahead of the traveling direction with respect to this node N. The distance to the next node N set as follows is calculated. In the example of FIG. 7, the next node N whose traffic signal attribute is set to “present” with respect to the node N at the point P12 is the node N at the point P11, and thus the distance between the point P12 and the point P11. Is calculated. Then, it is determined whether or not the calculated distance is equal to or greater than a predetermined guidance suppression value Ly. The guidance suppression regulation value Ly is set to determine whether or not the next traffic signal is included in the number of traffic signals guided by the voice guidance when the location P12 satisfying the condition of step S306 is close to the location P11 where the next traffic signal exists. Is set so as not to be confused, and in this embodiment, for example, it is set to 50 m.
As a result of the determination in step S308, if the distance between the point P12 and the point P11 is less than the predetermined guidance suppression regulation value Ly, in step S303, the traffic signal is transmitted to the node N of the guidance point Pg. The data of the attribute “None” indicating that the guidance by number is not performed is added. On the other hand, when the calculated distance is equal to or greater than the prescribed guidance suppression regulation value Ly, the process proceeds to step S309, where traffic signal guidance “present” indicates that guidance based on the number of traffic lights is performed for the node N at the guidance point Pg. The attribute data is added and stored in the node information storage area of the main memory 31.
[0032]
In this way, after adding traffic signal attribute data indicating the presence / absence of guidance based on the number of traffic lights to one guidance point Pg, the above flow process is performed from the starting point to the destination point. It carries out sequentially with respect to each of the guidance point Pg which exists in between.
Thereafter, in step S205 shown in FIG. 5, the navigation operation is executed when the vehicle moves along the movement route Z set by the route setting control unit 38. At this time, the guidance control unit 39 sets each guidance point Pg at a predetermined timing before each guidance point Pg while referring to the route matching data D3 generated and set in advance by the processing as described above. The voice guidance corresponding to the attribute of the traffic signal guidance is executed. That is, when the attribute of traffic signal guidance “present” is set, voice guidance based on the number of traffic signals is performed, and when the attribute of traffic signal guidance “none” is set, the route to the normal guidance point Pg is performed. Voice guidance based on the remaining distance is performed.
[0033]
As described above, prior to the navigation operation, at the time when the route matching data D3 is generated in advance, it is set whether or not to perform voice guidance based on the number of traffic lights for each guidance point Pg existing on the movement route Z. I made it. Even in this manner, as in the first embodiment, at the guidance point Pg where the voice guidance based on the number of traffic lights is executed, the user can obtain visually the absolute number of traffic lights without relying on his sense of distance. The guide point Pg can be recognized based on the actual information. As a result, it is possible to surely know his / her course only by voice guidance, which is very convenient for the user.
Further, when the distance to the next signal is less than the guidance suppression regulation value Ly at the point P12 that is the reference timing for performing the voice guidance, the voice guidance based on the number of signals is not performed. As a result, it is possible to prevent the user from being confused as to whether or not the next traffic signal will be included in the number of traffic signals guided by the voice guidance, and the guidance accuracy can be further increased.
In addition, when there is no traffic signal attribute at the guidance point Pg, that is, at an intersection j or the like without a traffic signal, voice guidance based on the remaining distance to the guidance point Pg is performed without performing voice guidance based on the number of traffic lights. Since this is done, guidance can be reliably given in this respect as well.
[0034]
In the second embodiment, whether or not to perform guidance based on the number of traffic lights is determined according to various conditions at a predetermined timing before each guidance point Pg, for example, at a point P12 before 300 m or more. However, it is not necessarily limited to such processing. For example, if a condition for performing voice guidance according to the number of traffic lights cannot be satisfied at a predetermined timing (for example, a point 300 m before) each guidance point Pg, a point (node ), The same condition study may be performed, and if the condition is satisfied, voice guidance based on the number of traffic lights may be performed at that point. In addition, when the conditions for performing voice guidance based on the number of traffic lights cannot be satisfied at a predetermined timing before each guidance point Pg, a timing a predetermined distance from the point (for example, 300 + 50 m of the guidance point Pg). It may be possible to start voice guidance at a point in front of you.
[0035]
In the first and second embodiments, the route matching data D3 is generated from the route data D1 and the map matching data D2, and processing is performed based on the route matching data D3. May be anything else. That is, there is no problem even if data other than the route data D1 and the map matching data D2 is used as long as voice guidance can be performed on the set travel route Z by the number of traffic lights to the guide point Pg. .
Further, when realizing the configuration as shown in the first and second embodiments, it is necessary that the accuracy of the route matching data D3, that is, the number of traffic lights to the guide point Pg is accurate. For this purpose, the recording disk may be updated as appropriate, or the latest data may be acquired sequentially via the Internet, for example.
[0036]
Furthermore, in the first and second embodiments, the guidance based on the number of traffic lights is used. However, as long as it can be used as a mark for specifying the guide point Pg, other than traffic lights, for example, The number of intersections j regardless of the presence or absence of traffic lights, the number of alleys, etc. may be used as a mark. Further, not only those relating to the road R itself but also the number of stores and facilities such as a gas station and a convenience store along the road can be used. In this case, it is necessary to include the data of these stores and facilities in the route data D1, the map matching data D2, and the like.
Further, if guidance based on the number of landmarks such as traffic lights as shown in the first and second embodiments is performed, for example, not only voice guidance but also display of a character string on the display unit 12 Guidance can also be provided. Furthermore, the display unit 12 does not necessarily display the map M, but may display only an arrow or the like that displays the traveling direction of the travel route Z and perform guidance by voice or text. In addition, the display unit 12 may be omitted and guidance only by voice may be executed. Even in such a case, it is possible to reliably grasp the movement route Z by performing guidance based on the number of landmarks such as traffic lights.
[0037]
Further, the program for executing the voice guidance by the number of traffic lights up to the guidance point Pg as shown in the first or second embodiment is a form of the following storage medium or program transmission device. It can also be.
That is, as the storage medium, the above-described program may be stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, a DVD, various memories including a semiconductor memory, and a hard disk so that a computer device such as a navigation device can read the program.
As the program transmission device, a CD-ROM, a DVD, various memories including a semiconductor memory, a hard disk or the like storing the program as described above, and the program is read from the storage means and executed. The transmission device may be provided with a transmission means for transmitting the program via a connector or a network such as the Internet or a LAN. Such a program transmission device is suitable when a program for performing the above-described processing is installed in a navigation device or the like.
In addition to this, as long as it does not depart from the gist of the present invention, the configuration described in the above embodiment can be selected or changed to another configuration as appropriate.
[0038]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to surely know his / her own course only by voice guidance, which is very convenient for the user.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a navigation device in the present embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a map displayed on the navigation device, route data corresponding to the map, map matching data, and route matching data generated according to a set movement route.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a processing flow when performing guidance based on the number of traffic lights in the first embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of examination contents when performing guidance based on the number of traffic lights before a guidance point.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an overall flow of processing performed in the navigation device prior to executing navigation in the second embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a processing flow when examining whether or not to perform guidance based on the number of traffic lights.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of examination content when examining whether or not to perform guidance based on the number of traffic lights at each guidance point.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 ... Display part, 22 ... GPS positioning part (positioning means), 37 ... Map matching control part, 38 ... Route setting control part (movement path setting means), 39 ... Guidance control part (guidance execution means), D2 ... Map matching Data (route data), D3 ... route matching data, L ... link, N ... node, P0 ... own vehicle position (own position), Pg ... guide point (guide target point), Z ... movement route

Claims (8)

Positioning means for positioning its own position based on signals transmitted from a plurality of GPS satellites;
Data storage means for storing route data existing in the determined area, and landmark data existing along the route;
A travel route setting means for setting a travel route based on an input from the user;
The number of landmarks from the own position measured by the positioning means to the guidance target point on the movement route is counted based on the data of the landmarks, and the guidance based on the counted number of the landmarks is calculated for the guidance target point. Guidance execution means to be executed in front;
Equipped with a,
The guidance execution means specifies the first mark from the self-position side between the self-position measured by the positioning means and the guidance target point, and the identified first mark and the self-position When the distance between is greater than a predetermined distance, guidance by the number of landmarks is executed before passing through the first landmark, and the identified first landmark and the self-position when the distance between the is smaller than the distance which the predetermined a navigation device, wherein that you perform guidance by the number of the mark after passing through the first mark. The route data includes data of nodes arranged at intervals along the route and data of links connecting the nodes before and after each other, and the data of the nodes or the data of the links. , Attribute data indicating the presence or absence of the mark is associated as the mark data,
The guidance execution means sequentially refers to the data of the node or the data of the link corresponding to the movement route between the local position measured by the positioning means and the guidance target point, and the data of the associated mark The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the number of the landmarks is counted based on the information. The guidance executing means, when the guidance-target point is an intersection with no traffic lights, the navigation device according to claim 1, wherein performing a guidance according to the distance to the guidance-target point from the current position. The travel route setting means selects either the guidance based on the number of the landmarks or the guidance based on the distance to the guidance target point as guidance to be executed at each of the guidance target points existing on the travel route, Register the selected guidance type in association with the travel route,
2. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guidance execution unit executes the guidance of the type registered by the movement route setting unit for each of the guidance target points on the movement route. A method for executing voice guidance to a guidance target point existing on a moving route,
Based on the signal sent from the GPS satellite,
Based on the data of the landmarks that exist along the movement route, the landmarks that exist between the local position and the guidance target point are counted, and from the local position side between the local position and the guidance target point. When the first landmark is identified and the distance between the identified first landmark and the position is larger than a predetermined distance, the first landmark is counted before passing through the first landmark . After performing voice guidance according to the number of the landmarks and the distance between the identified first landmark and the position is smaller than the predetermined distance, after passing the first landmark A voice guidance method, wherein voice guidance is executed according to the counted number of the landmarks . 6. The voice according to claim 5 , wherein a traffic signal that exists along the moving route is used as the mark, and voice guidance is executed according to the number of traffic signals that exist between the local position and the guidance target point. Guidance method. A method of guiding a route along the moving route based on a moving route set by a user and a local position determined based on a signal transmitted from a GPS satellite,
The information of the nodes existing along the movement path is stored in association with the data of nodes arranged at intervals along the movement path,
A guidance target point on which guidance is to be performed is set on the movement route, and when the own position reaches a predetermined position in front of the guidance target point, the existing position exists between the own position and the guidance target point. The node data is sequentially referred to, the number of the landmarks is counted, the first landmark from the local position side is identified between the local position and the guidance target point, and the identified first landmark and when the distance between the current position is greater than the predetermined distance is the number of counted the landmark, guidance for specifying the guidance-target point before passing through the first mark run, when the distance between the identified the first mark and the current position less than the distance which the predetermined by the number of counted the mark, for specifying the guidance-target point The moth Route guidance method characterized by performing a dance after passing through the first mark. In a storage medium that stores a program to be executed by a computer so that the computer can read the program,
The program is
A process of setting a movement route according to the designation from the outside,
A process of positioning the user's position based on a signal transmitted from a GPS satellite;
A process of referring to the data of the mark along the movement route and counting the mark between the point where the guidance should be performed on the movement route and the own position;
A process of identifying a first mark from the own position side between the own position and the point where the guidance is to be executed;
When the distance between the identified first mark and the self-position is larger than a predetermined distance , guidance based on the number of counted marks is executed before passing the first mark. Processing to
When the distance between the identified first mark and the own position is smaller than the predetermined distance, after passing through the first mark, guidance based on the number of the counted marks Processing to be executed,
That the computer executes.

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