JP4999946B2 - Navigation server and navigation system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a navigation server having a communication function with a navigation device.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a technique for setting a destination after searching and listing destinations that satisfy a condition input by a user who has accessed a navigation server (hereinafter referred to as a navigation server) through a navigation device (hereinafter referred to as a navigation device). Methods have been proposed. For example, a technical method has been proposed in which information on a destination set in advance by a terminal device such as a personal computer is transmitted to a navigation device (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2002-48558 A

  However, a spot or POI (Point of Interest) as a destination candidate such as a store or facility that the user wants to select changes according to fluid factors such as changes in the user's environment.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a server or the like that can improve the convenience of spot extraction in a navigation device.

  The navigation server of the present invention for solving the above problem recognizes a plurality of spots and respective attributes of the plurality of spots, and based on communication with a terminal device among the plurality of spots, the terminal A first support calculation processing element configured to extract a spot having an attribute satisfying the first search condition as a first spot group after recognizing the first search condition input to the apparatus; Based on the communication with the navigation device, after recognizing a second search condition different from the first search condition input to the navigation device, the second search condition is selected from the first spot group. A second support arithmetic processing element configured to extract a spot having a satisfying attribute as a second spot group and to output the second spot group to the navigation device. The features.

  According to the navigation server of the present invention, a part of the search condition (first search condition) for extracting the second spot group from the plurality of spots is set through the terminal device. For this reason, compared with the case where all the search conditions are input into the navigation device, the burden of inputting the search conditions in the navigation device is reduced.

  On the other hand, other search conditions (second search conditions) for extracting the second spot group from the plurality of spots are set through the navigation device. For this reason, compared with the case where all the search conditions are input into the terminal device, the search conditions can be set fluidly according to changes in factors such as the environment of the user who uses the navigation device.

  As a result, the convenience of spot extraction in the navigation device can be improved.

  The second support arithmetic processing element recognizes the position of the navigation device input to the navigation device from the position measurement device attached to the navigation device as at least part of the second search condition, and then Of one spot group, a spot having a position or region attribute that further satisfies the second search condition may be extracted as the second spot group.

  According to the navigation server of the said structure, compared with the case where all the search conditions are input into a terminal device, a search condition is set fluidly according to the change of the position or area attribute of the user who uses a navigation apparatus. Can be done.

  As a result, the convenience of spot extraction in the navigation device can be improved.

  As a result, according to the navigation server having this configuration, the convenience of creating a list of destination candidates that can determine the destination according to the change in the traveling environment of the vehicle is improved by considering the position information of the navigation device. It can be made.

  A navigation system according to the present invention for solving the above-described problems is characterized by comprising the navigation server, the terminal device, and the navigation device.

  According to the navigation system of the present invention, as compared with the case where all search conditions are input to the terminal device, the search conditions are set fluidly according to changes in factors such as the environment of the user who uses the navigation device. Can be done. As a result, the convenience of spot extraction in the navigation device can be improved.

The block diagram of the navigation system of this invention. Functional explanatory drawing of the navigation system of this invention. FIG. 4 is an exemplary diagram of an output image.

(Configuration of the navigation system of the present invention)
A configuration of a navigation system as an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  The navigation system shown in FIG. 1 includes a navigation server 100, a terminal device 200, and a navigation device 300 mounted on the vehicle 3. Note that part or all of the navigation device 300 may be configured by a portable device that can be removed from the vehicle 3 and carried.

  The navigation server 100 has a communication function with each of the navigation device 300 and the terminal device 200 via a network, and is configured by one or a plurality of server computers. As the communication network, the Internet, a telephone line network, a communication network using satellite broadcasting, or the like can be adopted.

  The navigation server 100 includes a database 101, a first support calculation processing element 110, and a second support calculation processing element 120.

  The database 101 is configured by a storage device such as a memory, HDD, or SSD. The database 101 stores the spot and the attribute of the spot in association with each other. The “attribute” of a spot means attributes such as a spot category (department store, restaurant, entertainment facility, etc.), business hours and location (latitude, longitude). The database 101 stores a first spot group and a second spot group, which will be described later, in a state that can be browsed via the network through the terminal device 200 or the navigation device 300.

  The database 101 is used for route search by the navigation device 300 mounted on the vehicle 3 indicating the level of traffic cost for each link as a road component, in addition to “map information” indicating road layout. Save “traffic information”.

  Each of the first support arithmetic processing element 110 and the second support arithmetic processing element 120 includes a processor and a memory as hardware resources of a computer. Each of the first support arithmetic processing element 110 and the second support arithmetic processing element 120 may be partially or entirely configured by a common hardware resource, or may be entirely configured by separate hardware resources. Good.

  The first support arithmetic processing element 110 is configured to recognize the “first search condition” input to the terminal device 200 through communication with the terminal device 200. The first support arithmetic processing element 110 is configured to recognize one or a plurality of spots having an attribute that satisfies the first search condition among the plurality of spots stored in the database 101 as a “first spot group”. Has been.

  The second support arithmetic processing element 120 is configured to recognize the second search condition input to the navigation device 300 through communication with the navigation device 300. The second support arithmetic processing element 120 is configured to recognize one or a plurality of spots satisfying the second search condition among the first spot groups stored in the database 101 as “second spot groups”. Yes.

  The terminal device 200 is a personal computer, a mobile phone, a PDA or the like having an image display function on a display. The terminal device 200 includes a terminal input device 201, a terminal output device 202, and a terminal arithmetic processing element 210.

  The terminal input device 201 includes buttons such as a keyboard, a touch panel, and a mouse, and enables various settings by user operations.

  The terminal output device 202 is a display device such as a personal computer, a mobile phone, or a PDA, and displays or outputs various information such as spot information and conditions for searching for the information.

  The terminal arithmetic processing element 210 recognizes conditions for searching for spot information based on communication with the navigation server 100, and the first search condition input by the user to the terminal input device 201 with respect to the navigation server 100. And it is comprised so that the various information of a 2nd search condition may be recognized.

  Note that “recognition” of information by a component as hardware means that the component receives and transmits information, searches or reads information from a database or memory, and operates based on received basic information. For other information processing, such as calculating, estimating, setting, determining, searching, etc. by processing, decoding packets to reveal information, and storing calculated information in memory It means that any information processing for preparing the information is executed.

  In addition, a component as hardware “outputs” information means that information is displayed in all forms that humans can recognize through the five senses, such as visual display, audio output, and vibration output. Means to output.

  The navigation device 300 includes a navigation input device 301, a navigation output device 302, and a navigation calculation processing element 310. The navigation input device 301 includes a voice recognition device that recognizes a user's voice instruction, a button or a dial operated by the user's finger or hand, and the like. For various settings using the operation buttons, an input using a pull-down menu is often employed in order to enable an intuitive operation. The navigation output device 302 is configured by a display device or the like disposed on the center console or the like of the vehicle 3.

  The navigation calculation processing element 310 is configured to transmit to the navigation server 100 after recognizing the current position of the vehicle 3. In addition to GPS, the current position of the vehicle 3 can be measured using an acceleration sensor that outputs a signal corresponding to the acceleration of the vehicle 3 as necessary. The position may be represented by latitude, longitude, and altitude (three-dimensional coordinate value) as well as latitude and longitude (two-dimensional coordinate value).

  In addition, the navigation calculation processing element 310 recognizes conditions for searching for spot information based on communication with the navigation server 100 and recognizes the second search condition input to the navigation input device 301 to the navigation server 100. It is configured to let you.

  Further, the navigation calculation processing element 310 is configured to search for a route from the current position of the vehicle 3 to the target position using the traffic information after recognizing the traffic information through communication with the navigation server 100. Yes.

(Function of the navigation system of the present invention)
The functions of the navigation system configured as described above will be described while focusing on the functions of the navigation server 100.

  First, in the terminal device 200, an initial screen for browsing the search service is displayed on the terminal output device 202 in response to the activation of a predetermined application, and a login operation by the user is executed according to the initial screen (FIG. 2). / STEP 200). Specifically, a “authenticator” such as a password and a user ID is input through the terminal input device 201. The authenticator is transmitted from the terminal device 200 to the navigation server 100 (see FIG. 2 / arrow 10).

  In response to this, the first support arithmetic processing element 110 of the navigation server 100 executes “authentication processing” of the user for permitting use of the search service (FIG. 2 / STEP 100). Specifically, the first support arithmetic processing element 110 authenticates the user based on whether or not the authenticator is registered or stored in a predetermined database or a storage device such as a memory. Note that if the authentication process fails, that is, if the authenticator is incorrect, the subsequent processing is prohibited.

  And the 1st assistance arithmetic processing element 110 transmits the designation | designated signal which shows that the user was authenticated to the terminal device 200 (refer FIG. 2 / arrow 11).

  In response to the designated signal, the terminal device 200 displays a first search condition setting screen for performing a first search in the search service on the terminal output device 202. Thereby, for example, as shown in FIG. 3A, a screen on which the attributes of spots such as “keyword”, “area”, “genre”, “budget”, and “scene” can be set is displayed on the terminal output device 202. Is displayed. According to this screen, the “first search condition” is input through the operation of the terminal input device 201 by the user (FIG. 2 / STEP 202). For example, at least one of the attributes is set as the first search condition such that “ramen” is selected as the “genre”. The first search condition is transmitted from the terminal device 200 to the navigation server 100 by the terminal arithmetic processing element 210 (see FIG. 2 / arrow 12).

  In the navigation server 100, the “first search condition” is recognized by the first support arithmetic processing element 110, and the spot stored in the database 101 in association with the attribute satisfying the first search condition among the plurality of spots is “ The “first spot group” is extracted (FIG. 2 / STEP 102). The first support arithmetic processing element 110 transmits data representing the first spot group from the navigation server 100 to the terminal device 200 (see arrow 13 in FIG. 2).

  In the terminal device 200 that has received the first spot group, the “first spot group” is displayed on the terminal output device 202 (FIG. 2 / STEP 204). Thereby, for example, as shown in FIG. 3B, the attributes “ramen (genre)”, “˜2000 (budget)” and “fashionable shop (scene)” as the first search condition are set. The terminal output device 202 displays a plurality of spots such as the A hotel XX store.

  Then, a button for selecting whether or not the navigation server 100 can transmit data representing the first spot group to the navigation device 300 is displayed on the terminal output device 202, and whether or not the permission is given by the terminal arithmetic processing element 210. It is determined (FIG. 2 / STEP 206).

  When the transmission is permitted (FIG. 2 / STEP206... YES), the terminal arithmetic processing element 210 transmits a designated signal indicating permission to transmit data representing the first spot group from the terminal device 200 to the navigation server 100 ( FIG. 2 / see arrow 21). In response to this, the first support arithmetic processing element 110 of the navigation server 100 stands by until the navigation apparatus 300 logs in with the “first spot group” stored in the database 101.

  On the other hand, in the navigation device 300, an initial screen for browsing the search service is displayed on the navigation output device 302 in response to activation of a predetermined application, and a login operation by the user is executed according to the initial screen (FIG. 2). / STEP 300). Specifically, an “authenticator” such as a password or a user ID is input through the navigation input device 301. The authenticator is transmitted from the navigation device 300 to the navigation server 100 (see FIG. 2 / arrow 20).

  In response to this, the first support arithmetic processing element 110 of the navigation server 100 executes “authentication processing” of the user for permitting use of the search service (FIG. 2 / STEP 100). Specifically, the first support arithmetic processing element 110 authenticates the user based on whether or not the authenticator is registered or stored in a predetermined database or a storage device such as a memory. Note that if the authentication process fails, that is, if the authenticator is incorrect, the subsequent processing is prohibited.

  When the authentication process is successful (see FIG. 2 / arrow 21), the first support arithmetic processing element 110 determines whether or not a designated signal indicating transmission permission of the first spot group is transmitted (FIG. 2 / (STEP 104).

  When the designated signal indicating the transmission permission is transmitted (FIG. 2 / STEP 104... YES), the first support arithmetic processing element 110 transmits the “first spot group” stored in the database 101 from the navigation server 100. It transmits to the navigation apparatus 300 corresponding to the authenticator at the time of execution of authentication processing (see FIG. 2 / arrow 22).

  In the navigation device 300 that has received the first spot group, the “first spot group” is displayed on the navigation output device 302 (FIG. 2 / STEP 304). In addition, the display form in the navigation device 300 of the first spot group may be different from the display form in the terminal device 200 (see FIG. 3B). Moreover, the display in the navigation apparatus 300 of a 1st spot group may be abbreviate | omitted.

  Here, it is determined whether or not the second search condition needs to be input (FIG. 2 / STEP 305). For example, a message that asks whether the second search condition needs to be input is output through the navigation output device 302. Then, through the operation of the navigation input device 301 by the user, it is determined whether the second search condition needs to be input. Options such as a YES button and a NO button for confirming whether the second search condition needs to be input may be output or displayed on the navigation output device 302 as a touch screen type operation button constituting the navigation input device 301. .

  When it is determined that the second search condition needs to be input (FIG. 2 / STEP 305... YES), the “second search condition” is input to the navigation device 300 (FIG. 2 / STEP 306). For example, in addition to the current position of the navigation device 300 or the vehicle 3 measured by the position measurement device attached to the navigation device 300, an attribute based on the current position of the navigation device 300 by the user is used as the second search condition as the navigation device 300. Is input. The attribute of the spot based on the current position of the navigation device 300 includes the administrative division including the current position, the travel cost from the current position (travel distance, fuel consumption, road fee, frequency of uphill and downhill, As well as the designated range within which the travel cost should be kept, and the like.

  Note that a second search condition setting screen may be displayed on the navigation output device 302, and the user may input the second search condition to the navigation input device 301 in accordance with this screen. Whether the search condition depending on the current position of the navigation device 300 is included in the second search condition may be selectable by the user. The second search condition is transmitted from the navigation device 300 to the navigation server 100 by the navigation calculation processing element 310 (see arrow 2 in FIG. 2).

  In response to this, the navigation server 100 recognizes the “second search condition” by the second support arithmetic processing element 120, and further has an attribute of the first spot group that satisfies the second search condition. A “two-spot group” is extracted (FIG. 2 / STEP 106).

  For example, the current position p1 of the vehicle 3 and the position p2 of one or more destination candidates as the “first spot group” are recognized. Based on the “map information” and “traffic information” stored in the database 101, the estimated travel time, travel distance, travel fee (road usage fee) that connects the current position p1 and the position p2 of each destination candidate. Alternatively, the predicted fuel consumption or the minimum value thereof is calculated as the movement cost. The type or designated range of the movement cost can be set by the user as part of the second search condition.

  Then, spots having an attribute that satisfies the “second search condition” that the travel cost is within the specified range are extracted as the “second spot group”. The second support calculation processing element 120 transmits the data of the second spot group from the navigation server 100 to the navigation device 300 (see FIG. 2 / arrow 24).

  In response to this, the navigation device 300 displays the “second spot group” on the navigation output device 302 (FIG. 2 / STEP 308). As a result, a screen displaying the second spot group as shown in FIG. 3C is displayed on the navigation output device 302.

  In the navigation device 300, when one of the second spot groups is selected as the destination, the first support calculation processing element 110 is a route connecting the current position and the destination, and the travel cost is minimized. The route is searched as a guidance route. Then, the guidance route is output from the navigation output device 202 by the second support arithmetic processing element 120.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the input of the second search condition is unnecessary (FIG. 2 / STEP305... NO), the second spot group is not extracted. In this case, in the navigation device 300, the first support arithmetic processing element 110 currently selects one of the first spot groups (see FIG. 2 / STEP 304) instead of the second spot group as a destination. A route that connects the position and the destination and that has the lowest movement cost is searched for as a guidance route. Then, the guidance route is output from the navigation output device 202 by the second support arithmetic processing element 120.

  Note that the second spot group may be extracted according to the second search condition input to the terminal device 200. Specifically, when transmission of the first spot group is not permitted (FIG. 2 / STEP 206... NO), a user departure position input screen for inputting the user departure position and a second search condition setting screen. In accordance with this screen, the starting position and the second search condition are input by the user through the terminal input device 201 (FIG. 2 / STEP 208).

  The departure position input screen and the second search condition setting screen may be displayed as separate screens at different timings, or may be displayed simultaneously as a common screen. The input user departure position and the second search condition are transmitted from the terminal device 200 to the navigation server 100 by the terminal calculation processing element 210 (see FIG. 2 / arrow 15).

  In response to this, in the navigation server 100, the “second spot group” is extracted by the first support arithmetic processing element 110 (FIG. 2 / STEP 106). For example, instead of the current position p1 of the vehicle 3, based on the departure position p1 ′ input by the user, the estimated travel time, travel distance, travel fee (road) connecting the departure position p1 ′ and the position p2 of each destination candidate Usage fee) or predicted fuel consumption or their minimum value is calculated as the movement cost. Then, a “second spot group” is extracted for spots having an attribute that satisfies the second search condition that the movement cost is within the specified range. The first support arithmetic processing element 110 transmits the second spot group from the navigation server 100 to the terminal device 300 (see FIG. 2 / arrow 16).

  In response to this, in the terminal device 200, the “second spot group” is displayed on the terminal output device 202 (FIG. 2 / STEP 210). In addition, the display form in the terminal device 200 of the second spot group may be different from the display form in the navigation device 300 (see FIG. 3B).

  Then, a button for selecting whether or not the navigation server 100 can transmit the data of the second spot group to the navigation device 300 is displayed on the terminal output device 202, and the terminal calculation processing element 210 determines whether or not it is possible (FIG. 2 / (STEP 212).

  When the transmission is permitted (FIG. 2 / STEP 212... YES), the terminal calculation processing element 210 transmits a designation signal indicating permission of data transmission of the second spot group from the terminal device 200 to the navigation server 100. In response to this, the second support calculation processing element 120 of the navigation server 100 transmits the data of the second spot group from the navigation server 100 to the navigation device 300.

  If the transmission is not permitted, execution of the subsequent processing is prohibited, but the second spot group is saved, and the transmission permission can be performed again later. Also good.

  Further, the first spot group may be extracted according to the first search condition input to the navigation device 300. Specifically, when the authentication processing of the navigation device 300 is successful, but a designation signal indicating transmission permission has not been transmitted from the terminal device 200 to the navigation server 100 (see FIG. 2 / STEP 104... NO, arrow 25). The first search condition is input in the navigation device 300 (FIG. 2 / STEP 302). The first search condition is transmitted from the terminal device 200 to the navigation server 100 by the terminal arithmetic processing element 210 (see FIG. 2 / arrow 26).

  In the navigation server 100 that has received the first search condition, spots having an attribute satisfying the “first search condition” are extracted as the “first spot group” by the second support arithmetic processing element 120 (FIG. 2 / STEP 102). . Then, the second support arithmetic processing element 120 transmits the data of the first spot group from the navigation server 100 to the navigation device 300 (see FIG. 2 / arrow 27).

  The first spot group may not be extracted. Specifically, the first search condition is transmitted from the terminal device 200 to the navigation device 300 via the navigation server 100 by the terminal calculation processing element 210. Then, according to the input of the second search condition, a spot having an attribute satisfying the first search condition and an attribute satisfying the second search condition in the navigation server 100 is extracted as the second spot group. When the first search condition is input in the navigation device 300, the first search condition and the second search condition may be input simultaneously.

(Operational effect of the navigation system of the present invention)
According to the navigation system of this embodiment, a part of the search condition (first search condition) for extracting the second spot group from the plurality of spots is set through the terminal device 200 (see FIG. 2 / STEP 202).

  For this reason, compared with the case where all the search conditions are input into the navigation apparatus 300, the burden of the input of the search conditions in the navigation apparatus 300 is reduced. That is, even if the user does not input all of the first search conditions (see FIG. 3A) such as “keyword”, “area”, “genre”, “budget”, and “scene” in the navigation device 300, the second spot. Group search results can be obtained.

  The input operation in the terminal device 200 is executed by a keyboard such as a personal computer, a mobile phone, and a PDA, a touch panel, a mouse pointing device, and the like. On the other hand, an input operation in the navigation device 300 is executed by a pull-down menu selection and a jog dial and buttons for menu selection. Thereby, when the input operation of the terminal device 200 is relatively easy for the user, the burden of inputting the search condition in the navigation device 300 is reduced as compared with the case where all the search conditions are input to the navigation device 300. The

  On the other hand, other search conditions (second search conditions) for extracting the second spot group from the plurality of spots are set through the navigation device 300 (see FIG. 2 / STEP 306). In addition to the current position of the navigation device 300 measured by the position measurement device attached to (or as a component of) the navigation device 300, a search condition based on the current position set by the user in the navigation device 300 is provided. The second search condition can be input to the navigation device 300.

  For this reason, compared with the case where all the search conditions are input to the terminal device 200, the search conditions are fluidized according to changes in factors such as the current position, weather, and temperature of the user who uses the navigation device 300. Can be set.

  As a result, the convenience of spot extraction in the navigation device 300 can be improved.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Navi server, 110 ... 1st assistance arithmetic processing element, 120 ... 2nd assistance arithmetic processing element, 200 ... Terminal device, 300 ... Navigation apparatus.

Claims (3)

Recognizing a plurality of spots and respective attributes of the plurality of spots, and recognizing the first search condition input to the terminal device based on communication with the terminal device among the plurality of spots. Then, a first support arithmetic processing element configured to extract a spot having an attribute that satisfies the first search condition as a first spot group,
Based on communication with the navigation device, after recognizing a second search condition different from the first search condition input to the navigation device, the second search condition among the first spot group is satisfied. A navigation system comprising: a second support arithmetic processing element configured to extract a spot having an attribute as a second spot group and output the second spot group to the navigation device. server. The navigation server according to claim 1, wherein
The second support arithmetic processing element recognizes the position of the navigation device input to the navigation device from the position measurement device attached to the navigation device as at least part of the second search condition, and then A navigation server configured to extract, as the second spot group, a spot having a position or region attribute that further satisfies the second search condition from one spot group.   A navigation system comprising the navigation server according to any one of claims 1 and 2, the terminal device, and the navigation device.

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