JP4751845B2 - Navigation device and route search method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a navigation device, and more particularly to a method for displaying a position of a user other than the user of the navigation device on a map and further searching for a route.

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. Widely used (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
In the navigation device, a map is displayed on a monitor based on the digitized map data. In particular, a navigation device mounted on a moving body has a function of guiding a course direction based on a route set by a user.

  When the user sets a route, at least a starting point and a destination are specified. Then, the navigation device searches for the optimum route connecting the two points of the designated starting point and destination and presents it to the user as a recommended route. In addition, the user can arbitrarily designate a point where he / she wants to stop before arrival at the destination, or a point such as an intersection, an interchange, a ramp, or the like during travel as a transit point. At this time, a plurality of points can be designated as waypoints. In this way, when the waypoint is designated by the user, the navigation device searches for an optimum route connecting the departure point, one or more waypoints, and the destination.

JP 2001-27530 A

  Conventional navigation devices have been fixed at both the destination and waypoints to be set. Accordingly, the present invention provides a novel navigation device that can display a dynamic destination or waypoint. It is another object of the present invention to provide a map display method and a route search method applied to such a navigation device.

When the navigation device includes a communication terminal, the current position of the user can be directly or indirectly distributed to other users from the communication terminal, and the current position can be displayed on a navigation device owned by the other user. Shall. Then, a specific user can easily grasp the current position of another user. For example, when the user A and the user B join at a predetermined point and then go to the final destination, the joining point is set, changed, or joined based on the current positions of the user A and the user B grasped by the navigation device The recommended route to the point can be changed. The present invention proposes a utilization form of such a new navigation device.
The present invention relates to a map data storage unit for storing map data, an information receiving unit for receiving position information of other users distributed from the outside, and the positions of other users based on the position information received by the information receiving unit. There is provided a navigation device comprising a display unit for displaying on a map based on map data.

In the navigation device of the present invention, the information receiving unit can receive position information of a plurality of other users. In this case, the display unit divides the display area of the display unit based on the number of other users received by the information receiving unit, and maps each user's position to the divided display area based on the map data. Can be displayed above.
In the navigation device of the present invention, the information receiving unit can receive the position information of other users every predetermined time. In this case, the display unit can display the position of the other user on the map based on the map data based on the position information of the other user received every predetermined time. When another user moves after the predetermined time has elapsed, the display on the display unit is updated as the user moves.

The navigation device of the present invention includes a route search unit, and the route search unit can perform a route search based on the position information of other users received by the information receiving unit.
There are various modes for performing a route search based on position information of other users. For example, a route search is performed by adding own position information to the position information of other users. As a more specific aspect, a route search to the destination is performed using the position of the user as the starting point and the position of another user as the waypoint. In addition, as another mode, there is a route search in which a joining point of another user and the user predicted based on the position information of the other user and the user's own position information is placed on the route to be searched. In addition, the said navigation apparatus can obtain | require the own position using a GPS satellite.
Other users are assumed to move over time. Therefore, in the navigation device of the present invention, it is preferable that the information receiving unit receives the position information of another user every predetermined time. In this case, the route search unit can perform a route search based on the position information of other users received every predetermined time.

  The present invention provides a map display method in a map display device. The map display method includes a step of accepting designation of a plurality of dynamic points on which a map is to be displayed, a step of dividing a display area of the map display device based on the number of designated dynamic points, Displaying a map of a plurality of points by displaying a map of a dynamic point in each of the displayed areas. When there are a plurality of users who want to know the positions, the positions of the plurality of users can be known at a time.

Further, the present invention is a route search method for searching a route on a map from a departure point to a destination, the step of receiving a designation of a dynamic point where the map is to be displayed, And a step of displaying a map reflecting the result of the route search to be performed. If another user constitutes a dynamic point, it is possible to search for an optimum route that reaches the destination after joining with the other user.
Furthermore, the present invention is a route search method for searching a route on a map from a departure place to a destination, the step of receiving the position information of another user received from the outside, the position information of the other user, and the self There is also provided a route search method including a step of predicting a merging point of another user with the user based on position information and a step of displaying a route search result reflecting the predicted merging point on a map. According to this route search method, it is possible to set and change the meeting point as appropriate according to traffic conditions such as traffic jams. Therefore, it is unnecessary to wait for one user to arrive at the original meeting point. It is possible to prevent time from occurring.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a novel navigation device that can display a dynamic destination or waypoint.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a user location information distribution system according to the present embodiment. In the first embodiment, a service business company server 100 (hereinafter simply referred to as server 100) and a user 110 (AD) owning a navigation device are connected via a network such as a public telephone line network or the Internet 120. It is a connected configuration. The users 110 (A to D...) Can receive a location information distribution service of other users 110 (A to D...) Provided by the server 100. The server 100 includes a user list DB 101 that stores a list of users who have registered to receive this service. The user location information stored in the user list DB 101 is provided to the server 100 via the Internet 120. The location information of the users 110 (A to D...) Received via the communication unit 103 is stored in the location information DB 102. The location information of the users 110 (A to D...) Stored in the location information DB 102 is received from the server 100 via the Internet 120 in response to requests from the users 110 (A to D...). D ...).

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining the overall configuration of the navigation device 1 included in each user 110 (A to D...).
As shown in FIG. 2, the navigation apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is a communication means for connecting to a speaker 11 that outputs guidance sound, an operation unit 12 such as a remote controller or a control panel, the Internet 120, and the like. A communication terminal 13, a disk drive 14 on which a recording disk such as a CD (Compact Disc) -ROM (Read Only Memory) or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) -ROM, in which map data of a predetermined wide area is stored, Display unit 15 comprising a monitor such as a liquid crystal display for displaying an image such as a map, positioning block 16 for positioning the own vehicle position (own position), control block 17 for controlling the entire apparatus, traffic jam, accident, traffic regulation, A traffic information receiving block 18 for acquiring traffic information such as a parking lot is provided.

  The recording disk stores a plurality of types of map data having different scales for the same region. Also, point data such as nodes (points) and search data such as facility names are stored in association with map data on the recording disk.

  The positioning block 16 includes a GPS antenna 21 that receives a signal transmitted from a GPS satellite, a GPS positioning unit 22 that performs positioning based on a signal obtained from the GPS antenna 21, and a vehicle (mobile body) on which the navigation device 1 is mounted. A vehicle speed sensor 23 for detecting the vehicle speed of the vehicle, 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 is equipped with.

The control block 17 includes a CPU 30 that controls the entire system and arithmetic processing, a RAM 31 as an internal storage device such as a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory), a ROM 32 that stores a predetermined program for operating the navigation device 1, Recommended based on the voice control unit 33 that controls the voice output from the speaker 11, the input control unit 34 that controls the input signal from the operation unit 12, and the departure point, waypoint, and destination (destination) set by the user A route setting control unit 35 that calculates a route, and a communication unit 36 that communicates with the Internet 120 and the like through a communication terminal 13 such as a portable telephone terminal that is detachably attached or a portable information terminal such as a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant). A storage control unit 37 for controlling the disk drive 14 and the like.
When the user performs a predetermined operation on the operation unit 12, the input control unit 34 receives designation of a point where a map is to be displayed. Moreover, the setting of the user selection and update time mentioned later is received.

The traffic information reception block 18 includes an FM multiplex receiver 41, a beacon receiver 42, and a traffic information processing control unit 43.
The FM multiplex receiver 41 receives FM multiplex broadcast waves including traffic information data by an FM antenna, and outputs the multiplexed traffic information data by demodulating the FM multiplex broadcast wave.
The beacon receiver 42 receives a signal including traffic information data from a radio wave (or optical) beacon transmitter by a beacon antenna, and obtains and outputs traffic information data by demodulating the signal.
The traffic information processing control unit 43 processes traffic information data such as traffic jam information received by the FM multiplex receiver 41 and the beacon receiver 42, so-called VICS information, and the FM multiplex receiver 41 and the beacon receiver 42 perform processing. The received traffic information data is stored in the RAM 31.

  By the way, in the navigation apparatus 1 of this Embodiment, the information (map) of several points can be displayed on the display part 15 simultaneously. At this time, a number of maps corresponding to the number of points to be displayed are displayed on the display unit 15 by dividing the display area of the display unit 15. In order to realize such a configuration, the control block 17 includes a display control unit 38 that controls drawing on the display unit 15 and a display size setting that calculates the size of the display area per selected user based on the number of selected users. A control unit 39 is further provided.

The display size setting control unit 39 calculates the size of the display area per selected user based on the number of user lists stored in the selected user storage unit 40a described later. Specifically, the display size setting control unit 39 calculates the display size of each area (the size of the divided display area) in order to divide the display area of the display unit 15 into a plurality of areas. When the number of lists is an even number, the display size of each area is calculated by dividing the display area so as to match the number of lists. In addition, when the number of list items is an odd number and it is difficult to divide the display area so as to match the number of list items, for example, when the number of list items is an odd number and a prime number, The display size of each area can be calculated by dividing the display area so that it matches the closest non-prime number with a larger number. However, even if the number of lists is an odd number and a prime number, if the number of lists is 3, the display size of each area can be calculated by simply dividing the display area into three.
When calculating the display size, for example, a device fixed value set based on the number of pixels of the display unit 15 (for example, 640 × 480 dots) is referred to. That is, the display size setting control unit 39 can efficiently display a plurality of point maps on the display unit 15 (with a size that is easy to see) by setting the display size of the point map centered on an arbitrary point. Is calculated. In addition, the display size setting control unit 39 can hold the specified value K as the upper limit of the number N of lists that can be displayed simultaneously in order to prevent the visibility of the map from being lowered.

  The display control unit 38 includes a graphic controller 38a and a video RAM 38b. The graphic controller 38a develops and stores image data such as a map read from the disk drive 14 and RAM 31 in the video RAM 38b based on the instruction from the display size setting control unit 39 described above, and stores the map and the like stored in the video RAM 38b. Are displayed on the display unit 15. Further, the graphic controller 38a performs an image size changing process of image data such as a map based on the instruction from the display size setting control unit 39 described above. Here, the image size change processing is image enlargement / reduction, image cropping, etc. When the image is a map, the map size is enlarged / reduced, map scale change, map cutout, etc. An example of the change process is given.

In the present embodiment, the enlargement / reduction of a map means changing the size (zoom) of the map using the same map. For example, a case where the map is displayed from 100% display to 200% is referred to as map enlargement, and conversely, a case where the map is displayed from 100% display to 50% display is referred to as map reduction. As an example of enlarging the map, it is difficult to see the information around the point specified by the user simply by cutting the map to the display size (for example, when the road name, building name, etc. are too small to read) Is mentioned. Further, as an example of reducing the map, there is a case where information around a point designated by the user is reduced only by cutting the map to the display size. That is, the graphic controller 38a cuts the map into a size corresponding to the display size after appropriately expanding or reducing the map in order to improve the visibility of the map.
On the other hand, changing the scale of the map means switching the display of the map using a plurality of types of maps having different scales. For example, a change from a wide area map to a detailed map or a change from a 1/1500 scale map to a 1/3000 scale map is a map scale change. Changing the scale of the map is a process performed to improve the visibility of the map, similar to the enlargement / reduction of the map.
The map enlargement / reduction process and the scale change process can be performed only in one of them, or the map scale change process is given priority, and the map can be enlarged when the scale change cannot be performed. -It can also be configured to perform reduction processing.

In the navigation device 1 according to the present embodiment, the current position transmitted from the navigation device owned by another user can be displayed on the display unit 15. For this purpose, the navigation device 1 has a selected user setting control unit 40. The selected user setting control unit 40 includes a selected user storage unit 40a, a selected user position information storage unit 40b, and an update time control unit 40c.
The selected user storage unit 40a stores, as a list, information related to other users (selected users) that the user who owns the navigation device 1 desires to know the current position. Information regarding the selected user is acquired from the server 100 via the communication terminal 13. For example, it is possible to acquire a list of users whose current position can be acquired from the server 100, and select a user who wants to know the current position from the list.
The selected user position information storage unit 40b stores the current position information of the selected user acquired from the server 100 via the communication terminal 13 based on the list of selected users stored in the selected user storage unit 40a.
The update time control unit 40 c sets and controls the time for acquiring the current location information of the selected user from the server 100 via the communication terminal 13. This time can be set by the user performing a predetermined operation on the operation unit 12. For example, when the user sets to acquire the current location information of the selected user every 10 minutes, the update time control unit 40c sets the communication terminal 13 to acquire the current location information of the selected user from the server 100 every 10 minutes. Control. The update time control unit 40c has a built-in clock to fulfill its function.

In the navigation device 1 having the above configuration, the current position of the selected user can be displayed on the map of the display unit 15 based on the position information of the selected user acquired from the server 100. Moreover, since the current position information can be updated every set time, the current position of the selected user displayed on the display unit 15 is also updated to the latest one. When there are a plurality of selected users, the display area of the display unit 15 can be divided according to the number of the selected users, and the current position of each selected user can be displayed on the map.
Furthermore, in the navigation apparatus 1, the selected user can be displayed on the map, and this position can be updated at regular intervals.

Next, the operation procedure of the navigation device 1 will be described.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when the navigation device 1 according to the present embodiment divides one screen and displays the positions of a plurality of selected users on the display unit 15.

First, the user of the navigation device 1 sets an update time (S201 in FIG. 3). The update time means a time interval for updating the position of the selected user. For example, if the update time is set to 10 minutes, the position information of the selected user is acquired from the server 100 every 10 minutes and displayed on the display unit 15.
When the update time is set, the user is inquired whether to instruct the user to select (S203 in FIG. 3). When a user selection instruction is given by the user, a user selection process is performed (S205 in FIG. 3).
The procedure of the user selection process is shown in FIG. That is, a user list is acquired from the user list DB 101 of the server 100 through the communication terminal 13 (S301 in FIG. 4). The acquired user list is displayed on the display unit 15. FIG. 6 shows an example of a user list displayed on the display unit 15. As shown in FIG. 6, users A to Z are listed in the acquired user list, and the user is selected by operating the operation unit 12 from the list (S <b> 303 in FIG. 4). The selected users are stored in a list format in the selected user storage unit 40a. This completes the user selection process.

  When there is no user selection instruction in S203 of FIG. 3 or when the user selection process is completed in S205, it is determined whether or not there is a user map display instruction (S207 in FIG. 3). This determination is to confirm whether or not the user has instructed the display unit 15 to display a map indicating the position of the selected user. The case where the user selection is performed later or the case where only the user selection is made and the display on the map is not desired at present is considered. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, a message indicating whether to display a map for the selected user is displayed on the display unit 15, and the user selects “Yes” or “No” using the operation unit 12. Can do.

  If there is no user map display instruction, the process ends. On the other hand, if there is an instruction to display the user map, it is determined whether or not the time is an update timing (S209 in FIG. 3). This determination is made to newly give the user an opportunity for user selection even when there is no user selection instruction in S203 of FIG. Therefore, if the user has already been selected, the process proceeds to the point map editing process (S215 in FIG. 3). Otherwise, the user selection process is performed (S213 in FIG. 3). The contents of the user selection process are the same as described above.

Next, a point map editing process is performed (S215 in FIG. 3). The procedure of the point map editing process is as shown in FIG.
In the point map editing process, first, the current position information of the selected user already stored in the selected user storage unit 40a is acquired through the communication terminal 13 (S401 in FIG. 5).
Next, the display size setting control unit 39 calculates the display size according to the number of selected users stored in the selected user storage unit 40a (S403 in FIG. 5). This process is a process for displaying the positions on the map for all selected users on one screen of the display unit 15. Here, it is assumed that the size of the display unit 15 is W × H and the number of selected users is four. In this case, the display size setting control unit 39 forms areas so that the screen of the display unit 15 is divided into four as shown in FIG. 8A, and sets the display size of each area to W / 2 × H /. 2. For example, if the number of selected users is 6, as shown in FIG. 8B, the display size of each area is W / 3 × H / 2 (or W / 2 × H / 3), and the number of selected users is 8. Then, as shown in FIG. 8C, the display size of each area can be calculated as W / 4 × H / 2 (or W / 2 × H / 4). Furthermore, it is assumed that the number of selected users is a prime number other than 1, 2, and 3, for example, five. In this case, it is assumed that the nearest non-prime number is 5 or more, that is, the number of selected users is 6, and the display size of each area is W / 3 × H / 2 (or W / 2 × H / 3). One of the two areas can be blank (see FIG. 8D). The display size setting control unit 39 preferably calculates the display size so that the aspect ratio of the display size of the area is as close to 1 as possible.

  When the display size setting control unit 39 calculates the display size of the area per selected user as described above, the storage control unit 37 that has received an instruction from the display size setting control unit 39 then selects the selected user. The surrounding map data is read from the recording disk by referring to the position information storage unit 40b (S405 in FIG. 5), and the map data is developed and stored in the video RAM 38b of the display control unit 38 (S407 in FIG. 5). At this time, the graphic controller 38a cuts or enlarges / reduces (or appropriately changes the scale) so that the map size of each point matches the display size of the area calculated previously, and then stores the map in the video RAM 38b. Store. When this map data reading and storing process is executed for all selected users, the point map editing process ends (S409 in FIG. 5).

  When the point map editing process ends, the edited map is displayed on the display unit 15 (S217 in FIG. 3). FIG. 9 shows an example in which a map of each point of the selected users A to F is displayed. Thus, according to this Embodiment, the map where the selected several user is located can be displayed on one screen. Here, FIG. 9B shows a state after the update time set from FIG. 9A has elapsed. Thus, according to this Embodiment, the positional information on several selection users AF can be updated automatically and displayed on a map. Therefore, when a plurality of automobiles having different starting points are heading for the same destination, the current positions of the vehicles can be grasped, so that it is possible to predict a delay in arrival at the destination.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a description will be given of a second embodiment in which a route search is dynamically and automatically performed according to the update of the user's position. The gist of this embodiment is that when a plurality of users join once and then go to the final destination, a route search is performed so as to change the meeting (meeting) point according to the traffic condition and other conditions of each user. To do. Hereinafter, this route search is referred to as dynamic route search. The second embodiment also uses the same user location information distribution system and navigation device 1 as those in the first embodiment, but since the basic configuration has already been described, description thereof is omitted here. To do.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when performing a dynamic route search.
When performing a dynamic route search, first, a destination is set (S501 in FIG. 10). In this example, the destination is point C. This destination is a common destination with the selection user A described later.
After setting the destination, an update time for automatically confirming the user position is set (S503 in FIG. 10). For example, if it is set as 10 minutes, the position of the user selected every 10 minutes is automatically confirmed.

  Next, a user selection process is performed (S505 in FIG. 10). The user selection process is as described based on FIG. However, in the case of the dynamic route search according to the present embodiment, it is assumed that the user A is selected. When the user selection process is completed, the position (a) of the selected user A is acquired (S507 in FIG. 10). Acquisition of the position (a) of the user A is performed as described above. When the position (a) is acquired, a route search is executed using the acquired current position (a) of the user A as a transit point (S509 in FIG. 10). The route search itself may be performed by a known method.

If the position confirmation time is reached during the route search (S511 in FIG. 5), the current position (b) is acquired for the selected user A (S513 in FIG. 5). Here, the position (a) acquired in S507 and the position (b) acquired in S513 are compared (S515 in FIG. 10). If the position (a) and the position (b) match, the result of the route search using the position (a) as a transit point is continuously displayed on the display unit 15. On the other hand, if the position (a) is different from the position (b), the route search is executed with the position (b) as a new waypoint (S517 in FIG. 10).
If the local position reaches the waypoint, that is, the position of the user A during execution of the route search using the position (b), the dynamic route search ends (S519 in FIG. 10). On the other hand, if the location does not reach the waypoint, the dynamic route search is continued (S511 in FIG. 10).

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a dynamic route search result for the selected user A, where (a) is a route search before update (14:10), and (b) is a route search after update (14:20). Results are shown. In FIG. 11A, since the user A is located between the points P2 and P3, the route C that reaches the destination C through the points P1, P2, and P3 is searched. It is shown that. On the other hand, FIG. 11B shows that since the user A has arrived at the point P3, a route C ′ that reaches the destination C through the points P1, P4, and P3 is searched. ing. The route C has a longer distance to reach the destination than the route C ′.
As described above, by using the dynamic route search, it is possible to perform an appropriate route search for a dynamic waypoint. Specifically, if the user A's current position is set as a transit point, the user A's current position is automatically acquired at regular intervals and a new route search is performed, so the navigation apparatus 1 is owned. The user and the user A can save the trouble of contacting each other and determining the meeting point again.

(Third embodiment)
Next, an embodiment of route search that further expands the above dynamic route search will be described as a third embodiment. This dynamic route search is characterized in that a route search is performed using a predicted junction point with the selected user as a transit point. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of this dynamic route search.
In FIG. 12, when a dynamic route search is performed, a destination is first set (S601 in FIG. 12). In this example, the destination is point C.
After setting the destination, an update time for automatically confirming the user position is set (S603 in FIG. 12). For example, if it is set as 10 minutes, the position of the user selected every 10 minutes is automatically confirmed.

Next, a user selection process is performed (S605 in FIG. 12). The user selection process is as described based on FIG. However, in the case of the dynamic route search according to the present embodiment, the user to be selected is A. When the user selection process is completed, the position information (a1) of the selected user A and the position information (a2) of the own vehicle are acquired (S607 in FIG. 12). The position information of the own vehicle can be obtained by the positioning block 16. The acquired positions a1 and a2 are stored in the selected user position information storage unit 40b.
Next, based on the history of the position information stored in the selected user position information storage unit 40b, the average speeds of the user A and the own vehicle are obtained. That is, the distance traveled by the user A and the own vehicle is obtained from the history of the position information, and the average of the user A and the own vehicle is determined based on the travel distance and the time required for the travel (measured by the update time control unit 40c). Find the speed. Then, based on the position a1 of the user A and the position a2 of the own vehicle, the calculated average speed of the user A and the own vehicle, a predicted joining point of the user A and the own vehicle is calculated (S609 in FIG. 12), and the calculated predicted joining is calculated. A route search starting from the point is started (S610 in FIG. 12). The junction point calculated here is Pa.

If the position confirmation time is reached during execution of the route search using the point Pa (S611 in FIG. 6), the position information (b1) and the position information (b2) about the selected user A are acquired. (S613 in FIG. 12). Based on the acquired positions b1 and b2, a predicted joining point Pb is obtained in the same manner as described above (S615 in FIG. 12).
Next, the merge point Pa calculated in S609 is compared with the merge point Pb calculated in S615 (S617 in FIG. 12). If the joining point Pa and Pb match, the route search using the joining point Pa as a transit point is continued (S611 in FIG. 12). On the other hand, if the merge point Pa and Pb are different, the route search is executed with the merge point Pb as a new waypoint (S619 in FIG. 12).
If the vehicle is able to join the route point, that is, the user A during the route search using the junction point Pb, the dynamic route search ends (S621 in FIG. 12). On the other hand, if the location does not reach the waypoint, the dynamic route search is continued (S621 in FIG. 12).

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a dynamic route search for the selected user A, where (a) is a route search image before update (10:00), and (b) is a route search image after update (10:20). An example is shown. In FIG. 13A, since the vehicle position (current position) and the user A are located on the route where the points P2 and P4 exist, the destination C is reached using the point P2 as a transit point (predicted merge point). This indicates that the route C to be searched is being searched. On the other hand, in FIG. 13B, the point P4 is set as the predicted joining point. Here, comparing FIGS. 13A and 13B, it can be seen that the movement distance before and after the update of the user A is smaller than the movement distance before and after the update of the own vehicle. That is, it can be seen that the average speed before and after the update is considerably faster for the own vehicle. Therefore, the meeting point is changed to P4 closer to the user A than P2.
FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating another example of the dynamic route search for the selected user A, where (a) is a route search before update (10:00), and (b) is a route search after update (10:20). An example of the image is shown. In FIG. 14 (b), since the average speed of the own vehicle is slow, the predicted junction point in the initial (FIG. 14 (a)) was P2, whereas the vicinity of P1 closer to the own vehicle is set as the predicted junction point. Yes.

  The example in which the present invention is applied to the navigation device 1 has been described above, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in addition to the navigation device 1, it is also possible to display a map centered on a plurality of points on a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a notebook computer, a portable terminal such as an electronic notebook, a personal computer, or the like.

In the second and third embodiments, the example in which the user A is used as the waypoint has been described. However, the user A can be set as the destination. That is, in the present invention, a dynamic point such as the user A can be set as either a transit point or a destination. Furthermore, in the second and third embodiments, the selected user is A, but it is also possible to target a plurality of users.
Other than this, as long as it does not depart from the gist of the present invention, it is possible to select the configuration described in the above embodiment and appropriately change to another configuration.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the user location information delivery system by this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the navigation apparatus in this Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence in which the navigation apparatus in this Embodiment updates the map which shows the present position of a selection user automatically. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the user selection process of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the point map edit process of FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a display at the time of performing user selection. It is a figure which shows the example of a display at the time of displaying the point map of the selected user. (A) has 4 list items, (b) has 6 list items, (c) has 8 list items, and (d) has 5 list items. It is a figure which shows the display size. It is a figure which shows the example of displaying the selected user's point map, and the point map of the selected user after the set time progress. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the dynamic route search based on the position update of the selected user. It is a figure which shows the route search result before the position update of the selected user and after a position update. It is a flowchart which shows the other process sequence of the dynamic route search based on the position update of the selected user. It is a figure which shows an example of the route search result before the position update of the selected user and after a position update. It is a figure which shows the other example of the route search result before the position update of the selected user and after a position update.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Navigation apparatus, 12 ... Operation part, 15 ... Display part, 34 ... Input control part, 35 ... Path | route setting control part, 37 ... Memory | storage control part, 38 ... Display control part, 39 ... Display size setting control part, 40 ... Selected user setting control unit, 40a ... selected user storage unit, 40b ... selected user position information storage unit, 40c ... update time control unit

Claims (3)

A map data storage unit for storing map data;
An information receiving unit for receiving position information of other users distributed from the outside;
A display unit for displaying the position of the other user based on the position information received by the information receiving unit on a map based on the map data;
A route search unit for performing a route search in consideration of its own location information in addition to the location information of the other user received by the information receiving unit;
With
The route search unit searches for the junction point of the user and the other user predicted based on the location information of the other user and the location information of the user as a waypoint to the destination and on the route. location-out, yet the junction, the moving speed of the other users are changed over routes searched if slower than its moving speed, the moving speed of the other users on faster than its moving speed Is a navigation device that is changed on the searched route . The information receiving unit receives the position information of the other user every predetermined time,
The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the route search unit performs a route search based on the position information of the other user received every predetermined time. A route search method for searching a route on a map from a starting point to a destination,
Receiving position information of other users received from outside;
Predicting the meeting point of the other user and the self based on the position information of the other user and the position information of the self;
Displaying a route search result on the route with the predicted junction point as a waypoint to the destination on a map;
Only including,
Further, the joining point is changed together with the searched route when the moving speed of the other user is slower than the own moving speed, and searched when the moving speed of the other user is faster than the own moving speed. Changed on the route,
Route search method.

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