JP4808050B2 - Navigation device and multi-path fusion method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a navigation device and a multiple route fusion method, and is particularly suitable for use in a navigation device having a route guidance function for searching for a guidance route according to a plurality of search conditions.

  In general, in-vehicle navigation devices detect the current position of a vehicle using a self-contained navigation sensor, a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver, or the like, read out map data in the vicinity of the vehicle, and display it on a screen. Then, the vehicle position mark indicating the vehicle position is superimposed and displayed at a predetermined location on the screen, so that it can be seen at a glance where the vehicle is currently traveling.

  Most navigation devices are equipped with a route guidance function. This route guidance function automatically searches for the route with the lowest cost from the current location to the destination using map data, and uses the searched route as a guidance route to change the color of other roads on the map screen. draw. Further, when the vehicle approaches a guidance intersection on the guidance route within a certain distance, an enlarged view of the intersection is displayed and the intersection is guided to guide the driver to the destination.

  There are various route search conditions such as time priority, distance priority, general road priority, highway priority, and road width priority. Normally, the navigation device searches for a guidance route that minimizes the link cost under the conditions specified by the user.

Also known is a technique for performing a route search according to a plurality of different search conditions, displaying a plurality of searched routes on a screen, and accepting a selection operation from a user and determining any one route as a guide route. Yes. In this case, one of the plurality of search routes is selected in the first section from the current location to the waypoint, and one of the plurality of search routes is selected in the second section from the waypoint to the destination. And the technique which connects the selection path | route of a 1st area and the selection path | route of a 2nd area and makes it a guidance path | route is also provided (for example, refer patent document 1).
JP 2004-53358 A

  However, in the above conventional technique, a favorite route can be selected from routes searched under a plurality of search conditions. However, each route has advantages and disadvantages, and regardless of which one is selected, it is not always from the current location to the destination. This is not always the preferred route. In order to set a preferred guidance route, it is necessary to set a waypoint as described in Patent Document 1, for example, and there is a problem that the operation for that is complicated and troublesome.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and allows a user-preferred guide route to be set with a simple operation without performing troublesome user operations such as waypoint setting. Objective.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a route search unit that performs route search according to a plurality of different search conditions, an intersection node detection unit that detects an intersection node where the searched routes intersect, and a current location And a route setting unit that sets a route connecting the routes selected for each intersection node by a user operation as a guide route.

  In another aspect of the present invention, a route search unit that performs a route search according to a plurality of different search conditions, and a route connecting a node on one route to a node on another route among the plurality of searched routes. A connection path detection unit that detects a connection path whose cost is less than or equal to a predetermined value, and a route setting unit that sets a route that connects a route selected for each connection path by a user operation between the current location and the destination as a guide route And.

  According to the present invention configured as described above, it is possible to set a route that branches from one route to another route on the way using a plurality of routes first searched by the route search unit. In addition, the branch nodes and connecting paths that can be branched are automatically calculated and displayed on the screen, and the branch route can be determined freely by a simple selection operation performed through the screen display. This makes it possible to set a user-preferred guide route with a simple operation without performing troublesome user operations such as waypoint setting.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a navigation device according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a map recording medium such as a DVD-ROM, which stores map data necessary for map display, route search, and the like. Although the DVD-ROM 1 is used here as a recording medium for storing map data, other recording media such as a CD-ROM, a hard disk, and a semiconductor memory may be used. Reference numeral 2 denotes a DVD-ROM control unit which controls reading of data from the DVD-ROM 1.

  Reference numeral 3 denotes a position measuring device that measures the current position of the vehicle, and includes a self-contained navigation sensor, a GPS receiver, a position calculation CPU, and the like. The self-contained navigation sensor includes a vehicle speed sensor (distance sensor) that outputs a single pulse for each predetermined travel distance to detect the travel distance of the vehicle, and an angular velocity sensor such as a vibration gyro that detects the rotation angle (movement direction) of the vehicle. (Relative orientation sensor). The self-contained navigation sensor detects the relative position and direction of the vehicle using these vehicle speed sensor and angular velocity sensor.

  The position calculation CPU calculates the absolute own vehicle position (estimated vehicle position) and vehicle direction based on the relative position and direction data of the own vehicle output from the self-contained navigation sensor. The GPS receiver receives radio waves transmitted from a plurality of GPS satellites by a GPS antenna and performs a three-dimensional positioning process or a two-dimensional positioning process to calculate the absolute position and direction of the vehicle (the vehicle direction is The calculation is based on the current vehicle position and the current vehicle position one sampling time ΔT before).

  A map information memory 4 temporarily stores map data read from the DVD-ROM 1 under the control of the DVD-ROM control unit 2. In other words, the DVD-ROM control unit 2 inputs information on the current vehicle position from the position measuring device 3 and outputs an instruction to read out map data in a predetermined range including the current vehicle position, thereby displaying a map display and a guidance route. The map data necessary for the search is read from the DVD-ROM 1 and stored in the map information memory 4.

  Reference numeral 5 denotes a processor (CPU), which controls the entire navigation device. Reference numeral 6 denotes a ROM that stores various programs (guide route search program, multi-route fusion program, etc.). Reference numeral 7 denotes a RAM that temporarily stores data obtained in the course of various processes and data obtained as a result of various processes.

  The CPU 5 performs a route search according to a plurality of different search conditions using the map data stored in the map information memory 4 according to the guidance route search program stored in the ROM 6, and has the highest cost connecting the current location to the destination. Performs processing to search for a small route. For example, a route search is performed according to a plurality of search conditions such as time priority, distance priority, general road priority, expressway priority, and road width priority, and a plurality of routes from the current location to the destination are acquired.

  The CPU 5 also performs a process of setting a guidance route by fusing a plurality of routes obtained as a result of the above-described guidance route search program according to the multiple route fusion program stored in the ROM 6. The fusion of routes is performed by selecting any one of the intersecting nodes at each intersecting node for each intersecting node on the plurality of routes searched according to the plurality of search conditions. Details of this multi-path fusion processing will be described later.

  Reference numeral 8 denotes a guidance route memory, which stores guidance route data set by the CPU 5 as described above. The guidance route data represents, for example, the position of each node from the current location to the destination. When the CPU 5 performs a route search according to the guidance route search program, data of a plurality of routes searched according to a plurality of different search conditions are stored in the guidance route memory 8. In addition, when the CPU 5 performs the multi-path fusion process according to the multi-path fusion program, the guidance route data after the fusion is stored in the guidance route memory 8.

  A display controller 9 generates map image data necessary for display on the display device 15 based on the map data stored in the map information memory 4. The display device 15 includes a display panel 15a and a touch panel 15b. The display panel 15a displays a map image, an intersection enlarged view guide, a route process guide, and the like. The touch panel 15b is superimposed on the front surface of the display panel 15a and detects a touch operation by the user. Then, the touch position of the user is detected and the coordinate data is output.

  The touch panel 15b allows the user to set various information (for example, a route guidance destination) to the navigation device, various operations (for example, menu selection operation, enlargement / reduction operation, manual map scroll, numerical value input, etc.) ) Is used. Although details will be described later, at a node intersecting between a plurality of routes searched according to a plurality of search conditions, an operation for selecting any one of the routes intersecting at the intersecting node is also performed on the touch panel 15b. Through.

  A video RAM 10 temporarily stores image data generated by the display controller 9. That is, the image data generated by the display controller 9 is temporarily stored in the video RAM 10, and image data for one screen is read and output to the image composition unit 14. Reference numeral 11 denotes a menu generation unit that generates and outputs a menu image necessary for performing various operations using the touch panel 15b.

  A guidance route generator 12 generates drawing data for the guidance route using the result of the route search process stored in the guidance route memory 8. Immediately after the execution of the route search process, the guidance route generator 12 generates drawing data relating to all processes of a plurality of routes searched according to a plurality of search conditions. This drawing data is drawn with bold emphasis on a predetermined color different from roads other than the searched route. In particular, one search route among a plurality of search routes is drawn in a predetermined color different from other search routes. For example, when five routes are searched, one of them is drawn as a recommended route highlighted in purple and thick, and the other four are drawn as routes highlighted in green and thick.

  Further, during the execution of the multi-route fusion process, each time the route is selected as a branch destination at the intersection node described above, the guidance route generation unit 12 relates to a route ahead (destination side) from the intersection node. The route selected as the branch destination is drawn as a selected route highlighted in purple and thick, and the route not selected is drawn as a route highlighted in green and thick. That is, each time a branch destination route is selected at an intersection node, the route selected after the intersection node is switched to the selected route, and the display color of the route is also switched in real time accordingly.

  In addition, during the execution of the multi-path fusion process, the guidance path generation unit 12 generates path process guide drawing data. The route process guide is a guide map that sequentially represents intersections, branch points, and the like on the searched route from the closest to the vehicle position. The route process guide for which drawing data is to be generated relates to a route related to a selected route among a plurality of routes searched according to a plurality of search conditions and a route that intersects the selected route at any node. With respect to this route process guide, each time a route is selected as a branch destination at the above-described intersection node, the process guide regarding the route ahead of the intersection node is switched in real time.

  Further, when the vehicle is running after the guidance route is set, the guidance route generator 12 is drawn in the video RAM 10 at that time from the guidance route data stored in the guidance route memory 8. The information contained in the map area is selectively read out, and the guidance route highlighted in purple and thick is drawn. In addition, the guidance route generation unit 12 draws an enlarged view of the intersection when the vehicle position approaches the guidance intersection on the guidance route within a predetermined distance.

  A mark generation unit 13 generates and outputs a vehicle position mark displayed at the vehicle position after the map matching process, various landmarks displaying a gas station, a convenience store, and the like. Note that the map matching process includes the map data read into the map information memory 4, the vehicle position and vehicle orientation data measured by the GPS receiver measured by the position measuring device 3, and the estimated vehicle by the autonomous navigation sensor. This refers to processing for correcting the position of the vehicle on the road of the map data using the position and vehicle direction data.

  An image composition unit 14 synthesizes and outputs various images. That is, the map image data read out by the display controller 9 is superimposed on the image data output from each of the menu generation unit 11, the guidance route generation unit 12, and the mark generation unit 13 to perform image synthesis. The processed image data is output to the display panel 15a of the display device 15.

  Thereby, the map information around the vehicle is displayed on the screen of the display panel 15a together with the vehicle position mark and various landmarks. In addition, a guidance route is displayed on this map. Further, immediately after the route search, a plurality of searched routes are displayed at a scale where all the steps are included. Further, during the execution of the multi-route fusion process, the plurality of search routes and the route process guide are displayed.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of map data recorded on the DVD-ROM 1. Map data includes data related to nodes that correspond to points where multiple roads intersect, such as intersections and branches, and data related to links that connect between a node on the road and other adjacent nodes. Including. The road data includes a connection node table storing detailed data of all nodes, a node table indicating the storage position of the connection node table, a link table storing detailed data of links specified by two adjacent nodes, and It is included.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, the node table stores node records # 0, # 1, # 2,... Corresponding to each node. Each node record is given a node number from # 0 in the order of arrangement, and this node number indicates the storage position of the connection node table corresponding to each node.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2B, the connection node table includes, for each existing node, the normalized longitude / latitude of the node, the attribute flag of the node, the number of connected nodes, the traffic regulation Information such as the number, connection node record, traffic regulation record, intersection record storage position and size is included.

  The normalized longitude / latitude of the node indicates a relative position in the longitude direction / latitude direction with reference to a predetermined section. The node attribute flag includes an intersection node flag indicating whether or not the node is an intersection node. The number of connected nodes indicates the number of nodes constituting the other end of each link when there is a link having that node as one end of the link. The number of traffic regulations indicates the number of traffic regulations when there is traffic regulation such as right turn prohibition or U-turn prohibition on the link connected to the node.

  The connection node record indicates the link number of each link having the node at one end as many as the number of links. The traffic regulation record indicates the specific contents of the traffic regulation corresponding to the number of traffic regulations described above, if any. The storage position and size of the intersection record indicate the storage position and size of the corresponding intersection record when the node is an intersection node.

  As shown in FIG. 2C, the link table stores link records # 0, # 1, # 2,... Corresponding to each link. Each link record is given a link number from # 0 in the order of arrangement, and this link number indicates the storage position of the link record corresponding to each link.

  Each link record includes information such as a link ID, a node number, a link distance, a link cost, a road attribute flag, a road type flag, and a route number. The link ID indicates a code attached to each link mainly for displaying a searched route. The node number indicates a number that identifies two nodes located at both ends of the link. The link distance indicates the actual distance of the actual road corresponding to the link.

  The cost of a link is obtained by calculating the time required for traveling on the link from the road type or the like, and indicating the time required for passing the link in minutes, for example. The road attribute flag indicates various attributes relating to the link. The road type flag indicates a type indicating whether the actual road corresponding to the link is an expressway or a general road. The route number indicates the number assigned to the actual road corresponding to the link.

  FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration example of functions realized by the navigation device shown in FIG. In FIG. 3, the route search unit 31 performs route search according to a plurality of different search conditions, and acquires a plurality of routes from the current location to the destination. In FIG. 1, the route search unit 31 corresponds to the CPU 5 and the ROM 6 storing the guidance route search program.

  The route information storage unit 32 temporarily stores information representing a plurality of routes searched by the route search unit 31. The route information storage unit 32 corresponds to the guidance route memory 8 in FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of route information stored in the route information storage unit 32. It is assumed that each alphabet shown in FIG. 4 represents information of each node on the route.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the route information storage unit 32 includes, for example, five routes searched by the route search unit 31 according to five search conditions of time priority, distance priority, general road priority, expressway priority, and road width priority. For each, information representing the position of each node from the current location to the destination is stored. In addition to these five search routes, information indicating the position of each node from the current location to the destination for the selected route is also stored. Immediately after the route search by the route search unit 31, the search conditions determined in advance among the five search routes are stored as information on the selected route (recommended route). In the example of FIG. 4, the route searched with time priority is set as the selected route as the initial state.

  The intersection node detection unit 33 detects an intersection node where the routes searched by the route search unit 31 intersect. Specifically, a node where one selected route selected from the five searched routes stored in the route information storage unit 32 and another route intersect is detected. Here, a node having the same node number on two routes and a node having a different node number on each route is searched for and detected as a crossing node. To do. In FIG. 1, the intersection node detection unit 33 corresponds to the CPU 5 and the ROM 6 storing the multi-path fusion program.

  An example of the route shown in FIG. 4 will be described. Nodes A, C, X, Y,... Are included on the recommended route searched under the time priority condition (selected route in the initial state). There are two routes searched under the conditions of highway priority and general road priority in routes including the same nodes as these nodes. Of these, regarding the general road priority route, node C is the same as the selected route, and the next node is node I for the general road priority route and node X for the selected route. Therefore, this node C corresponds to the intersection node.

  On the other hand, regarding a route with a highway priority, the same node as the selected route is included on the route, but the next node is also the same as each other (for example, after the node C, the highway has priority) And the selected route is the same at node X). That is, the highway priority route and the selected route are the same route and do not intersect with each other, and in this case, node C does not correspond to the intersection node. The same applies to the nodes X and Y.

  The display control unit 34 controls the display device 15 to display a plurality of searched routes as images on the display device 15 immediately after the route search processing is performed by the route search unit 31. Further, when an instruction to perform the multi-path fusion process is given, control is performed so that the intersection node detected by the intersection node detection unit 33 at that time is displayed on the display device 15 as an image. In addition, the display control unit 34 controls the display device 15 to display the selected route and the process guide of the route intersecting the intersection route as an image on the display device 15 during the execution of the multiple route fusion process. The display control unit 34 corresponds to the guide route generation unit 12 in FIG.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image displayed on the display device 15 under the control of the display control unit 34. FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating an example of an image displayed immediately after the route search process is performed by the route search unit 31. In FIG. 5A, routes 54 and 55 represented by thick solid lines indicate a plurality of routes searched according to a plurality of search conditions.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, immediately after the route search processing is performed, five routes searched according to the five search conditions are displayed on the screen as images. Of the five searched routes, one is a selected route 54 (recommended route searched with time priority in the initial state), and is displayed as, for example, a purple and boldly highlighted route. The remaining four are the routes 55 searched under other search conditions, and are displayed as routes highlighted in green and thick, for example.

  At the right end of the screen shown in FIG. 5A, the required time and distance to the destination regarding the five routes are displayed, and each is a route selection button 51. When the desired route selection button 51 is touched, the touch position is detected by the touch panel 15b, and the route corresponding to the button at the touched position is set as the selection route. The example of FIG. 5A shows a state in which a highway priority route is selected by a touch operation.

  A guidance start button 52 and a fusion selection button 53 are displayed at the bottom of the screen in FIG. The guidance start button 52 is used to instruct the start of travel guidance on the selected route by touching the route selection button 51 after selecting the desired route. The fusion selection button 53 is used to instruct execution of the multi-path fusion processing.

  FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating an example of an image displayed when an instruction to perform a multi-path fusion process is given by touching the fusion selection button 53. As shown in FIG. 5B, immediately after the instruction to perform the multi-path fusion process is performed, the selected route 54 (represented by the thickest solid line) selected by the route selection button 51 and the selected route 54 A path 55 (represented by a thick solid line) intersecting at the intersection node 56 is displayed on the screen as an image. Also, one of the intersection nodes 56 detected by the intersection node detection unit 33 (the one closest to the current location in the initial state) is displayed on the screen as an image. Further, a route process guide 57 of the selected route 54 and a route process guide 58 of a route 55 that intersects the selected route 54 at the intersection node 56 are displayed as images. Here, the route process guide 57 of the selected route 54 is displayed on the left side.

  In the route process guides 57 and 58, the image of the portion corresponding to the intersection node is displayed in a manner that can be distinguished from other nodes. For example, the display mode is changed from that of other nodes by changing the display frame color of the intersecting node to display or highlighting the display frame. The intersection node displayed in the route process guides 57 and 58 is a selection button, and by touching either one, the touch position is detected by the touch panel 15b, and the route ahead of the node at the touched position is branched. It is selected as the previous route (part of the fusion route).

  The operation reception unit 35 in FIG. 3 receives a touch operation of a selection button displayed as an intersection node on the route process guides 57 and 58. That is, the operation reception unit 35 receives an operation for selecting any one of the routes intersecting at the intersection node. The operation accepting unit 35 corresponds to the touch panel 15b in FIG.

  Note that the operation of selecting any one of the routes 54 and 55 intersecting at the intersection node 56 is not necessarily performed by a touch operation on the route process guides 57 and 58. For example, the selected route 54 and other searched routes 55 intersecting the selected route 54 are displayed on the screen, and it is determined which route is selected by detecting which route display area is touched. Anyway. In this case, display of the route process guide is unnecessary.

  In the example of FIG. 5 (b), the highway priority route is the selected route 54, and the route process guide 57 of the selected route 54 is displayed on the left side. When the intersection node of “toll road entrance” on the route process guide 57 is touched, the route prioritizing the expressway is selected as the route ahead of it. On the other hand, a route process guide 58 giving priority to a general road is displayed on the right side as a route 55 that intersects with the selected route 54. When an intersection node of “intersection C” on the route process guide 58 is touched, A general road priority route is selected as the previous route.

  The route setting unit 36 sets, as a guide route (selected route), a route connecting the routes selected for each intersection node by the operation reception by the operation reception unit 35 between the current location and the destination. Specifically, the route setting unit 36 stores the information on the route selected for each intersection node between the current location and the destination as information on the selected route stored in the route information storage unit 32, thereby Information obtained by connecting the routes selected for each node is set as information on the guidance route. In FIG. 1, the CPU 5 and the ROM 6 storing the multiple path fusion program correspond to the path setting unit 36.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an example of generation of route information related to the selected route 54. FIG. 6A shows route information of a selected route that is set immediately after the route search process is performed by the route search unit 31, that is, a recommended route that is searched with time priority. This is the same content as the route information shown as the selected route in FIG. The display of the selected route 54 shown in FIG. 5A is generated according to the route information shown in FIG.

  FIG. 6B shows route information of the selected route 54 set when a general road priority route (node of intersection C) is selected as a branch destination at the first intersection node from the current location. As can be seen from FIG. 6B, the route information of the first recommended route is from the current location to the intersection C, and the route information from the intersection C to the destination (destination side) is the general road priority route information. As processing, the information of the nodes X, Y,... Stored as the route information ahead of the intersection C in FIG. 6A is deleted, and the general road priority stored in advance as shown in FIG. Information ahead of the intersection C from the route information may be copied as the route information of the selected route 54.

  When the route information of the selected route 54 is updated in this way, there is a possibility that the position of the route or the intersection node that intersects the route ahead of the intersection C (the general road priority route). Therefore, every time a branch destination route is selected at the intersection node and the route information of the selected route 54 is updated by the route setting unit 36, the intersection node detection unit 33 re-executes the intersection node detection process. Further, every time the route information of the selected route 54 is updated, the display control unit 34 redraws the selected route 54 according to the updated route information.

  FIG. 5C is a diagram illustrating an example of an image redrawn by the display control unit 34 when the display portion of “intersection C” is touched on the screen of FIG. When the display portion of “intersection C” is touched and a general road priority route is selected as a branch destination, a general road priority route is selected from the tip of the intersection node 56 as shown in FIG. 5C. As purple and bold. At this time, the highway-priority route remains in purple as the selected route 54 before the intersection node 56, but the highway-priority route 55 is switched to green display after the intersection node 56.

  Further, the route process guide 57 of the selected route 54 displayed on the left side is switched from the intersection C to the route process guide related to the general road priority route. On the other hand, the route process guide 58 displayed on the right side is switched to a route process guide related to a route that intersects with the selected route 57 (in this case, the route is switched to a general road priority route) before the intersection C at the intersection node. It is done. In the example of FIG. 5C, a route process guide 58 relating to a highway priority route is displayed as a route that intersects a general road priority route at a node next to the intersection C.

  Similarly, a plurality of routes are merged by selecting a branch destination route for each intersection node existing between the current location and the destination. Then, the route information finally stored as the selected route in the route information storage unit 32 becomes route information regarding the guidance route. The route guidance unit 37 executes vehicle travel guidance according to the route information stored as a selected route in the route information storage unit 32.

  It is also possible to touch the guidance start button 52 in the middle of the multi-route fusion process as described above. When the guidance start button 52 is touched, the route guidance unit 37 starts traveling guidance according to the selected route selected at that time (route information stored as a selected route in the route information storage unit 32). The route guidance unit 37 corresponds to the CPU 5 and the ROM 6 storing the guidance route search program in FIG.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the navigation device according to the first embodiment configured as described above. In FIG. 7, the route search unit 31 performs route search according to a plurality of different search conditions, and acquires a plurality of routes from the current location to the destination (step S1). At this time, the route search unit 31 stores the acquired information on the plurality of routes in the route information storage unit 32, and stores one of them in the route information storage unit 32 as an initial selected route. Further, the display control unit 34 displays each searched route on the screen as shown in FIG. 5A according to the route information stored in the route information storage unit 32 in this way.

  Next, the intersection node detection unit 33 determines whether or not the execution of the multi-path fusion process is instructed by touching the fusion selection button 53 (step S2). When execution of the multi-route fusion process is instructed, the intersection node detection unit 33 detects an intersection node where the routes searched by the route search unit 31 intersect (step S3). The display control unit 34, based on the route information stored in the route information storage unit 32, among the plurality of routes searched by the route search unit 31, at least a selected route 54 and a route 55 intersecting with the selected route 54, The intersection node 56 detected by the intersection node detection unit 33 and the route process guides 57 and 58 for the routes 54 and 55 are displayed on the screen as shown in FIG. 5B (step S4).

  The operation reception unit 35 determines whether or not a user operation for selecting any one of the routes intersecting at the intersection node 56 is performed through the image displayed on the screen as illustrated in FIG. Determine (step S5). Specifically, it is determined whether or not the intersection node selection button highlighted in the route process guides 57 and 58 is touched. When the selection button is touched, the route setting unit 36 relates to the selected route information stored in the route information storage unit 32, the route information ahead of the touched intersection node, and the route information related to the selected route. Therefore, it is updated (step S6). And it returns to step S3 and continues a process.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S5 that the selection button has not been touched, the operation reception unit 35 determines whether or not the guidance start button 52 has been touched (step S7). When the guidance start button 52 is touched, the route guidance unit 37 executes vehicle travel guidance based on the route information stored as the selected route in the route information storage unit 32 at that time (step S8). If the guidance start button 52 is not touched, the process returns to step S5. If it is determined in step S2 that the fusion selection button 53 has not been touched for a predetermined time, the route guidance unit 37 immediately executes vehicle travel guidance based on the initial selected route (step S8).

  As described above in detail, in the first embodiment, a crossing node where routes searched according to a plurality of different search conditions intersect is detected, and a route selected for each crossing node by a user operation is connected. The route is set as a guide route. Thereby, the path | route branched on the way from one path | route to another path | route can be set using the some path | route searched initially. In addition, a branching intersection node is automatically calculated and displayed on the screen, and a branching route can be freely determined by a simple selection operation performed through the screen display. Thereby, a user-preferred guide route can be set with a simple operation without performing troublesome user operations such as waypoint setting.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the navigation device according to the second embodiment. In FIG. 8, the same reference numerals as those shown in FIG. 1 have the same functions, and therefore redundant description is omitted here.

  The connection path detection unit 81 has a cost of a path connecting a node on the currently selected route to a node on another search path among a plurality of paths searched by the path search unit 31 is equal to or lower than a predetermined value. A set of nodes and a path between the nodes are detected, and the detected path is acquired as a communication path. For example, a set of nodes in which the distance from a node on the selected route to a node on another search route is a predetermined value or less, or a travel time from a node on the selected route to a node on another search route is a predetermined value or less A set of nodes to be detected is detected, and a route connecting the nodes is acquired as a connection route.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the communication path. In FIG. 9, the same elements as those shown in FIG. 5A are denoted by the same reference numerals. As shown in FIG. 9, there is a route 91 that communicates between the selected route 54 and another searched route 55. The communication path detection unit 81 detects such a communication path 91.

  The processing by the connection path detection unit 81 will be specifically described as follows. That is, the connection path detection unit 81 extracts intersection nodes on the selected route 54, and sets these intersection nodes as temporary current locations. Further, intersection nodes on the search route 55 other than the selected route 54 are extracted, and these intersection nodes are set as temporary destinations. Then, a route from one temporary current location to one temporary destination is searched, and it is determined whether or not the cost of the searched route is equal to or lower than a predetermined value. When a route having a cost equal to or lower than a predetermined value is found, the route is acquired as one of the connection routes. Such a search process is performed round-robin for the temporary current location and the temporary destination.

  In addition, when there are a plurality of routes whose costs are equal to or less than a predetermined value, for example, only the route with the lowest cost is extracted as the connection route. Further, the portion where the selected route 54 intersects with another search route 55 has a minimum cost because the cost between the nodes becomes zero, and such a crossing node may be extracted as a connecting route, or extracted. You don't have to.

  By the way, many intersection nodes often exist on the selected route 54 and the other search routes 55. In this case, if all the intersection nodes are set to the temporary current location and the temporary destination and the search is performed, the processing load becomes very large. Therefore, the intersection node set at the temporary current location or temporary destination may be only the node at the main intersection. Here, the main intersection means an intersection where main roads intersect. The main road is a road whose road classification rank is set to a predetermined rank or higher by the road type flag in the map data.

  For example, in the Japanese road classification, in order from the highest rank: (1) Highway national highway, (2) Urban highway, (3) General national road, (4) Main local road, (5) Main local road (designated city road) , (6) General prefectural roads, (7) Main roads, (8) General roads, (9) Narrow roads, (10) Ferry routes (routes), (11) Kartrain, (12) Other, etc. It is divided into. Of these, for example, (7) a road with a rank higher than the main road can be used as the main road.

  Alternatively, the operation receiving unit 83 may receive a user operation for designating a desired intersection node on the selected route 54, and only the designated intersection node may be set as a temporary current location. In this case, the contact path detection unit 81 sets the intersection node designated by the operation reception by the operation reception unit 83 as a temporary current location, and temporarily sets a plurality of intersection nodes on the search route 55 other than the selected route 54. Set the destination. Then, a route that connects the temporary current location to a plurality of temporary destinations and that has a cost equal to or less than a predetermined value is detected brute force.

  The intersection node on the selection route 54 to be set as the temporary current location may specify one main intersection as a pinpoint by a touch operation on the touch panel 15b, or a predetermined range centered on the touched position. It may be possible to designate one or more major intersections within. In the former case, the connection path detection unit 81 performs a route search by setting only the main intersection existing at the touch position detected by the touch panel 15b as a temporary current location. On the other hand, in the latter case, the communication path detection unit 81 detects whether or not a main intersection exists within a predetermined range from the touch position detected by the touch panel 15b, and finds one or more main points found. Route search is performed with the intersection set as a temporary current location.

  The display control unit 82 controls to display a plurality of searched routes on the display device 15 as images immediately after the route search processing is performed by the route search unit 31. Further, when an instruction is given to perform the multi-path fusion process, the communication path detected by the communication path detection unit 81 at that time is controlled to be displayed on the display device 15 as an image. For example, the detected communication path is displayed with yellow highlighting. In addition, during the execution of the multi-path fusion process, the display control unit 34 displays the selected route 54 and the process guide of the other search route 55 connected to the connection route 91 as an image on the display device 15. Control.

  The operation reception unit 83 receives a user operation for instructing whether or not to select the communication path 91 detected by the communication path detection unit 81. For example, the node connected to the connecting path 91 on the selected route 54 is highlighted in the route process guide, and the node connected to the connecting path 91 on the other search route 55 is displayed on the route process guide. A highlight operation is performed, and a selection operation is accepted by a touch operation on the touch panel 15b. Here, when a node on the route process guide of the selected route 54 is touched, the connecting path 91 is not selected. On the other hand, when a node on the route process guide of another search route 55 is touched, the connecting route 91 is selected.

  Note that the selection as to whether or not to select the communication path 91 is not necessarily performed by a touch operation on the route process guide. For example, the selected route 54 being set by the route setting unit 84 and the connecting route 91 detected by the connecting route detecting unit 81 are displayed on the screen as an image, and the contact area is detected by detecting which route display area is touched. It may be determined whether or not the path 91 has been selected. In this case, display of the route process guide is unnecessary.

  The route setting unit 84 sets, as a guide route, a route connecting the routes selected for each connection route by the operation reception by the operation reception unit 83 between the current location and the destination. Specifically, the route setting unit 84, as information on the selected route stored in the route information storage unit 32, information on at least a part of the route searched by the route search unit 31 between the current location and the destination, When the communication path 91 is selected, information related to the communication path 91 is stored, so that a piece obtained by connecting a fragment of each searched path and the selected communication path is set as information related to the guidance path.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the navigation device according to the second embodiment configured as described above. In FIG. 10, the route search unit 31 performs a route search according to a plurality of different search conditions, and acquires a plurality of routes from the current location to the destination (step S11). At this time, the route search unit 31 stores the acquired information on the plurality of routes in the route information storage unit 32, and stores one of them in the route information storage unit 32 as an initial selected route. Further, the display control unit 34 displays each searched route on the screen as shown in FIG. 9 according to the route information stored in the route information storage unit 32 in this way.

  Next, the connection path detection unit 81 determines whether or not the execution of the multi-path fusion process is instructed by touching the fusion selection button 53 (step S12). When the execution of the multi-path fusion process is instructed, the connection path detection unit 81 selects a node on the selected route 54 from a node on the selected route 54 out of the plurality of routes searched by the route search unit 31. A route whose cost is equal to or less than a predetermined value is detected from the connected routes, and this is acquired as the connecting route 91 (step S13). The communication path detection unit 81 also stores the information of the detected communication path 91 in the path information storage unit 32.

  Based on the route information stored in the route information storage unit 32, the display control unit 82 includes at least a connection route 91 detected by the connection route detection unit 81 and a plurality of routes searched by the route search unit 31. The selected route 54, other searched routes 55 connected to the selected route 54 via the connecting route 91, and route process guides 57 and 58 relating to the routes 54 and 55 are displayed on the screen (step S14).

  The operation receiving unit 83 determines whether or not a user operation for instructing whether or not to select the communication path 91 has been performed through the image displayed on the screen as described above (step S15). Specifically, any of the nodes highlighted on the route process guides 57 and 58 (nodes on the selected route 54 and nodes on the other search routes 55 located at both ends of the connecting route 91) is touched. It is determined whether or not it has been done. When any of the nodes is touched, the route setting unit 36 uses the route information ahead of the touched node as the route related to the selected route for the information on the selected route stored in the route information storage unit 32. Update with information (step S16). And it returns to step S13 and continues a process.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S15 that no node is touched, the operation accepting unit 83 determines whether or not the guidance start button 52 is touched (step S17). When the guidance start button 52 is touched, the route guidance unit 37 executes vehicle travel guidance based on the route information stored as the selected route in the route information storage unit 32 at that time (step S18). If the guidance start button 52 is not touched, the process returns to step S15. If it is determined in step S12 that the fusion selection button 53 has not been touched for a predetermined time, the route guiding unit 37 immediately executes vehicle travel guidance based on the initial selected route (step S18).

  As described above in detail, in the second embodiment, a connection path connecting paths searched according to a plurality of different search conditions is detected, and a route connecting the paths selected for each connection path by a user operation is guided. It is set as a route. Thereby, the path | route branched on the way from one path | route to another path | route can be set using the some path | route searched initially. In addition, a branchable connecting route is automatically calculated and displayed on the screen, and a branching route can be freely determined by only a simple selection operation performed through the screen display. Thereby, a user-preferred guide route can be set with a simple operation without performing troublesome user operations such as waypoint setting.

  In the first and second embodiments, the example in which the user operation is accepted by the touch panel 15b has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a user operation may be accepted through an operation of a remote controller, or a user operation may be accepted through an operation of an operation key of the display device when an operation key is provided on the display device. good.

  Moreover, although the said 1st and 2nd embodiment demonstrated the example which performs a multi-route fusion process after performing a route search by the route search part 31, it is not limited to this. For example, even after starting the travel guidance, the screen as shown in FIG. 5A or 9 is displayed at any time by operating the touch panel 15b, and the multi-path fusion process is started by touching the fusion selection button 53 there. Is also possible.

  In addition, each of the first and second embodiments described above is merely an example of implementation in carrying out the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention should not be interpreted in a limited manner. It will not be. In other words, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the spirit or main features thereof.

  The present invention is useful for a navigation device having a route guidance function for searching for a guidance route according to a plurality of search conditions.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the navigation apparatus by 1st and 2nd embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structural example of map data. It is a block diagram which shows the function structural example of the navigation apparatus by 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the route information stored in a route information storage part. It is a figure which shows the example of the display screen by 1st Embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the production | generation example of the route information regarding a selection route. It is a flowchart which shows the operation example of the navigation apparatus by 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the function structural example of the navigation apparatus by 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the connection path by 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the operation example of the navigation apparatus by 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

5 CPU
6 ROM
7 RAM
8 Guide route memory 12 Guide route generation unit 15 Display device 15b Touch panel 31 Route search unit 32 Route information storage unit 33 Intersection node detection unit 34 Display control unit 35 Operation reception unit 36 Route setting unit 37 Route guidance unit 81 Contact path detection unit 82 Display control unit 83 Operation accepting unit 84 Route setting unit

Claims (13)

A route search unit that performs route search according to a plurality of different search conditions and acquires a plurality of routes from the current location to the destination;
An intersection node detection unit for detecting an intersection node where the routes searched by the route search unit intersect;
A display control unit that controls to display the route searched by the route search unit and the intersection node detected by the intersection node detection unit;
An operation accepting unit that accepts a user operation for selecting any one of the routes intersecting at the intersecting node detected by the intersecting node detecting unit;
A route setting unit for setting a route connecting the routes selected for each intersection node by the operation reception by the operation reception unit between the current location and the destination as a guidance route ;
A navigation device characterized in that route guidance is started in accordance with the guidance route set by the route setting unit . A route information storage unit that temporarily stores information representing a plurality of routes searched by the route search unit;
2. The information on the guidance route according to claim 1, wherein the route setting unit sets information on the guidance route by connecting information on a route selected for each intersection node between the current location and the destination. Navigation device. The said display control part is controlled to further display the process guide of the path | route currently selected by the operation reception by the said operation reception part, and the path | route which cross | intersects this in the said intersection node. Navigation device. The operation reception unit includes a touch panel that detects a user's touch operation on the image displayed on the display unit, and which display area is touched among the intersection nodes on each route displayed in the process guide. The navigation apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the navigation apparatus determines which one of the routes intersecting at the intersection node has been selected by detecting. A route search unit that performs route search according to a plurality of different search conditions and acquires a plurality of routes from the current location to the destination;
Among a plurality of routes searched by the route search unit, a set of nodes whose routes from a node on one route to a node on another route have a predetermined cost or less and a route between the nodes are detected. A communication path detection unit for acquiring the detected path as a communication path;
A display control unit for controlling the route searched by the route search unit and the connection route detected by the connection route detection unit to be displayed on a screen;
An operation accepting unit that accepts a user operation for instructing whether or not to select the communication path detected by the communication path detection unit;
A route setting unit that sets, as a guide route, a route connecting the routes selected for each connection route by the operation reception by the operation reception unit between the current location and the destination ;
A navigation device characterized in that route guidance is started in accordance with the guidance route set by the route setting unit . A route information storage unit that temporarily stores information representing a plurality of routes searched by the route search unit and a connection route detected by the connection route detection unit;
The said route setting part sets the information regarding the said guidance route by connecting the information regarding the route selected for every said connecting route between the said present location and the said destination. Navigation device. The operation reception unit includes a touch panel that detects a user's touch operation on the image displayed on the display unit, and displays any of the route searched by the route search unit and the connection route detected by the connection route detection unit. 6. The navigation device according to claim 5, wherein it is determined whether or not the communication path is selected by detecting whether or not the area is touched. The navigation device according to claim 5, wherein the node on the one route is a node at a main intersection. 6. The navigation device according to claim 5, wherein the node on the other route is a node at a main intersection. The operation receiving unit receives a user operation for designating a node on the one route,
The communication path detection unit detects a set of nodes and a path between the nodes in which the cost of a path connecting the node designated by the operation reception by the operation reception unit to the node on the other path is equal to or less than a predetermined value. The navigation device according to claim 5, wherein: The operation receiving unit includes a touch panel that detects a user's touch operation on the image displayed on the display unit, and a node on the one route is designated by detecting a touch operation on the node on the one route. The navigation device according to claim 10, wherein it is determined whether or not it has been performed. A first step in which the navigation device performs a route search according to a plurality of different search conditions, and acquires a plurality of routes from the current location to the destination;
A second step in which the navigation device detects an intersection node where the routes searched in the first step intersect;
A third step in which the navigation device displays on a screen the route searched in the first step and the intersection node detected in the second step;
A fourth step in which the navigation device receives a user operation for selecting any one of the routes intersecting at the intersection node through the image displayed on the screen in the third step;
The navigation apparatus, possess a fifth step of setting a route connecting the selected route for each of the intersection node in between from the current position to the destination as a guide route,
A multi-route fusion method, wherein the processing from the first step to the fifth step is performed before the start of route guidance . A first step in which the navigation device performs a route search according to a plurality of different search conditions, and acquires a plurality of routes from the current location to the destination;
A set of nodes in which the cost of a route connecting a node from one route to a node on another route among the plurality of routes searched in the first step is less than or equal to a predetermined value by the navigation device and its A second step of detecting a route between nodes and acquiring the detected route as a connection route;
A third step in which the navigation device displays on a screen the route searched in the first step and the communication path detected in the second step;
A fourth step in which the navigation device receives a user operation for instructing whether or not to select the communication path through the image displayed on the screen in the third step;
The navigation apparatus, possess a fifth step of setting a route connecting the selected route to the communication path for each during the period from the current position to the destination as a guide route,
A multi-route fusion method, wherein the processing from the first step to the fifth step is performed before the start of route guidance .

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