JPH0914983A - Navigation device and route searching method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a navigation device and a route searching method by which a pertinent route can be always searched including highways at the time of searching a route and, at the same time, the route searching time can be shortened. CONSTITUTION: The navigation device is provided with a connection information generating means 14 which generates a connection table indicating the connecting state of a highway from branch information contained in map data and a connection information storing means 15 which stores the connection table. A control means 19 selects a starting point-side interchange (IC) and a destination-side IC based on the connection table and a route generating means 16 generates routes from a starting point to the starting point-side IC, from the starting point-side IC to the destination-side IC, and from the destination-side IC to a destination.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a navigation system for displaying the position of a vehicle on a map data and a route search method for obtaining a route connecting a starting point and a destination point in this navigation system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional navigation device will be described below.

A vehicle-mounted navigation device is a G
The position of the vehicle measured by using PS (Grobal Positioning System) or the like is recorded on a CD-ROM (Compact Disk-Rea).
It is displayed on map data stored in a storage medium such as d Only Memory) to inform the user of the position of the vehicle on the map.

In such a navigation device, a user sets a starting point and a destination point, so that an appropriate route can be set based on the map data (for example, a route having a shortest travel distance, a main highway). Routes that preferentially select, routes that use highways, etc.) are searched and displayed on map data. This allows the user to easily reach the destination by driving along the set route.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional configuration, when the route including the expressway is automatically searched after the starting point and the destination point are set, the branch is made depending on which interchange is selected. The number of times will vary greatly. For example, even if the interchanges with the shortest distance from the starting point and the destination point are selected, if the number of branches on the expressway connecting the interchange on the starting point side and the interchange on the destination point side is large, it may not always be optimal. In addition, there is a problem that an inappropriate route may be set.

Further, when a route including a highway is searched for from a starting point to a destination point, when approaching a junction (junction) of the highway, one of the highways is searched first and it is determined that it is not appropriate. Then, since it returns to the branch point to search for the other expressway, there is a problem that it takes time to process the route search.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and a navigation device and a route capable of always searching for an appropriate route in a route search including a highway and shortening the processing time for searching the route. The purpose is to provide a search method.

[0008]

To achieve this object, the present invention provides a positioning means for positioning the position of a vehicle, a map storage means for storing map data, and an operation for a user to input data. Means, a display means for displaying the position of the vehicle together with the map data, a connection information creating means for creating a connection table indicating the connection status of the expressway from the branch information included in the map data, and a connection for storing the connection table. Based on the information storage means and the connection table stored in the connection information storage means, the interchanges on the starting point side and the destination point side (hereinafter referred to as “IC”) input and set from the operating means
Based on the control means for selecting and the map data,
An IC on the side of the starting point, an IC on the side of the destination, and a route creating means for creating a route connecting the destinations.

Further, the control means respectively searches for an IC within a predetermined range based on the starting point and the destination point,
From the combination of the IC on the starting point side and the IC on the destination point side, the IC combination with the smallest number of branch times is selected, and it is determined that there are multiple IC combinations with the same minimum number of branch times. For example, among the combinations of ICs that have the same minimum number of branches, the sum of the distance from the starting point to the IC on the starting point side and the distance from the destination point to the IC on the destination point side is the minimum distance. The combination is selected.

[0010]

With this configuration, a connection table indicating the connection status of the expressway is created by reading the branch information from the map data when the device is started, and the route on the expressway is selected based on the connection table. The processing time required for route search can be shortened.

Further, when selecting the ICs on the starting point side and the destination point side, in the combination connecting the ICs on the starting point side and the ICs on the destination point side, the combination with the smallest number of branches or the starting point is started. Since the IC is selected according to the combination in which the sum of the distance to the point side IC and the distance from the destination point to the destination point IC is the smallest, an appropriate highway can be set.

[0012]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a navigation device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the description is made assuming that it is mounted on the vehicle.

In FIG. 1, 11 is a positioning means for positioning the position of the vehicle, 12 is a map storage means for storing map data, 13 is an operating means for the user to input data,
Reference numeral 14 is a connection information creating means for creating connection information of expressways on the map data, 15 is a connection information storing means for storing the connection information created by the connection information creating means 14, and 16 is a set starting point. Route creating means for creating a route on the map data based on the destination point, 17 is route storing means for storing the route created by the route creating means 16, 18 is display means for displaying the map data, and 19 is It is a control means for controlling each of the above means.

As the positioning means 11, a GPS receiver for receiving positioning data from GPS satellites is used, but the positioning means 11 is not limited to this, and is calculated from the outputs of sensors such as a vehicle speed sensor, an acceleration sensor and a gyro sensor. Is also good.

The map storage means 12 is mainly a CD-ROM as a storage medium for storing map data.
A RAM (Random Access Memory) built in the device is used for the connection information storage means 15 and the route storage means 17.

The display means 18 has an LCD (Liquid Crystal).
Display) is used, but there is no problem even if it is a CRT display.

The operation of the navigation device configured as described above will be described below.

As shown in FIG. 1, the map data read from the map storage means 12 is displayed on the display means 18 by the control means 19. If the route created by the route creating means 16 is stored in the route storage means 17, the stored route is displayed on the map data. When the positioning data including the vehicle position is obtained by the positioning unit 11, the control unit 19 displays the position of the vehicle at the corresponding point on the map data displayed on the display unit 18.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of branch information in one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a connection table in one embodiment of the present invention.

The map data of the map storage means 12 stores branch information indicating the connection status of the highways. Expressways and interchanges in the map data (hereinafter "I
A code is given to (referred to as "C"). A description will be given using a junction between the highway 21 and the highway 22 (hereinafter referred to as "JCT") as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, when the apparatus is started, the control means 19 causes the branch point 23 to be separated from the map data.
3 to 30 are read, a connection table 35 as shown in FIG. 3 is created by the connection information creating means 14, and is stored in the connection information storing means 15. Since there are "up" and "down" on the highway, the highway 21 is about the highway 21a, the highway 21b, and the highway 2.
For No. 2, the connection status for each of the highway 22c and the highway 22d is shown. For example, when moving from the highway 21a to the highway 22, the branch point 2
As it passes through 3, the branch point 23 will be marked with "Highway 21a
To the highway 22c ”is included. Similarly, the branch points 24 to 30 also include branch information, and the connection table 35 can be created.

In the above description, the point information 23 to 30 is read from the map data when the apparatus is started up, and the connection table is created and stored. However, the connection table created in advance may be stored. .

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the operation of the navigation device in one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the route search processing in one embodiment of the present invention. The route setting process including the expressway will be described below with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

The connection table 35 is created and stored when the apparatus is started, and the user operates the operation means 13 to set the starting point 51 and the destination point 52 at the positions on the map data as shown in FIG. It is assumed to have been set.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the route creating means 16 is based on the map data stored in the map storage means 12 and has an IC based on a starting point 51 and a destination point 52.
Is searched (step 401 and step 402). Starting point 51 and destination point 52 are centered respectively, and starting point 5
In the present embodiment, the inside of a circle whose radius is a third of the straight line distance connecting 1 and the target point 52 is the search range.
In the example shown in FIG. 5, IC5 is used as the IC near the starting point 51.
3, IC54, IC55, IC close to the destination point 52
Are searched for IC56, IC57, and IC58, respectively.

Next, the control means 19 reads out the connection table 35 as shown in FIG. 3 from the connection information storage means 15 and divides the number of highway branches connecting the IC on the departure point 51 side and the IC on the destination point side. Is calculated (step 403). However,
The number of branches is counted only when the code assigned to the expressway changes. In the example shown in FIG. 5, IC53-IC
56 sections 2 times, IC53-IC57 section 3 times, IC
53-IC58 section 4 times, IC54-IC56 section 3 times, IC54-IC57 section 4 times, IC54-IC
58 sections 5 times, IC55-IC56 section 4 times, IC
The 55-IC57 section is three times, and the IC55-IC58 section is two times.

In this way, when the number of branches is obtained in step 403, a combination of ICs having the smallest number of branches is obtained (step 404). In the example shown in FIG. 5, the combination of IC53 and IC56 and the combination of IC55 and IC58 are the smallest when the number of branching is two each.

Here, the control means 19 judges whether or not there is only one IC combination that minimizes the number of branches (step 405). If one, step 40
If it is two or more, the linear distances α1, α2, and α3 between the starting point 51 and the IC53, IC54, and IC55 are obtained based on the map data (step 4).
06). In addition, the destination point 52 and IC56, IC57, IC
Linear distances β1, β2, and β3 with respect to 58 are obtained (step 407). In the example shown in FIG. 5, α1 = 2k
m, α2 = 4 km, α3 = 6 km, β1 = 5 km,
β2 = 3 km and β3 = 7 km.

The control means 19 selects the combination of the ICs selected in step 404, which gives the smallest sum of α and β (step 408). In the example shown in FIG. 5, the combination of IC53 and IC56 is α1 +
7 km for β1, and the combination of IC55 and IC58 is α
3 + β3 results in 13 km, and the combination of IC53 and IC56 is selected.

In this way, the starting point 51 side and the destination point 5
When the ICs on the second side are respectively determined, the route creating means 1
6, the route connecting the ICs is set based on the map data (step 409). Further, a route connecting the starting point 51 and the selected IC (IC53 in the example shown in FIG. 5) is set (step 410). Furthermore, the target point 52 and the selected IC (IC56 in the example shown in FIG. 5)
A route connecting with is set (step 411). It should be noted that various methods can be considered for obtaining a route connecting the starting point 51 or the destination point 52 and the IC, such as a route having the shortest traveling distance or a route for preferentially selecting a main road.

As described above, the navigation system of this embodiment sets the route including the expressway on the map data and displays it on the display means 18.

[0033]

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY As described above, the present invention creates a connection table indicating the connection status of an expressway at the time of starting the device by reading branch information from map data, and based on the connection table, a route on the expressway. By selecting, the processing time required for route search can be shortened, and the route can be searched for with less waiting time for the user.

Further, when selecting the ICs on the starting point side and the destination point side, in the combination connecting the ICs on the starting point side and the ICs on the destination point side, the combination with the smallest number of branches or the starting point is started. ICs are selected according to the combination in which the sum of the distance to the point side IC and the distance from the destination point to the destination side IC is the smallest, so that an appropriate highway can be set and used. It is possible to set a route that includes a highway that makes sense to the person.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a navigation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of branch information according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a connection table according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the navigation device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of route search processing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Positioning Means 12 Map Storage Means 13 Operation Means 14 Connection Information Creation Means 15 Connection Information Storage Means 16 Route Creation Means 18 Display Means 19 Control Means 35 Connection Tables

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A positioning means for positioning the position of a vehicle, a map storage means for storing map data including branch information, an operating means for a user to input a starting point and a destination, and a vehicle position. Display means for displaying together with the map data, and connection information creating means for creating a connection table showing a connection status of a highway from branch information included in the map data,
Connection information storage means for storing the connection table,
Based on the connection table stored in the connection information storage means, a control means for selecting an interchange (hereinafter referred to as "IC") on the departure point side and a destination point side, and a departure point based on the map data. A navigation device comprising: a starting point side IC; a starting point side IC and a destination point side IC; and a route creating means for creating a route connecting each of the destination point side IC and the destination point. 2. The control means searches for an IC in each predetermined range based on a starting point and a destination point, and selects the number of branches among combinations that connect the starting point side IC and the destination point side IC. 2. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the IC on the side of the starting point and the IC on the side of the destination are selected by obtaining a combination of ICs having the smallest number of times. 3. The control means searches for an IC in each predetermined range based on a starting point and a destination point, and selects a starting point among combinations connecting the starting point side IC and the destination point side IC. To the IC on the side of the starting point and the IC from the side of the destination to the IC on the side of the destination is the minimum distance, and find the combination of the IC on the side of the starting point and the IC on the side of the destination. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the navigation device is selected. 4. The control means searches for an IC in each predetermined range based on a starting point and a destination point, and selects the number of branches among the combinations connecting the starting point side IC and the destination point side IC. If a combination of ICs having the smallest number of branches is selected and it is judged that there are a plurality of combinations of ICs having the same smallest number of branches, from the starting point among the combinations of ICs having the smallest number of branches. 2. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein a combination of ICs is selected such that a sum of a distance from the starting point side IC and a distance from the destination point to the destination point IC is a minimum distance. 5. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the connection information creating means creates the connection table from the branch information included in the map data when the device is activated. 6. The predetermined range based on a starting point and a destination point when the control means searches for an IC is obtained based on a straight line distance connecting the starting point and the destination point. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the navigation apparatus is a navigation apparatus. 7. A route search method for setting a route connecting a starting point and a destination point set on map data, wherein the starting point side IC exists within a predetermined range with the starting point as a reference.
In the combination of connecting the starting point side IC and the destination point side IC, and the step of searching for the destination point side IC existing in a predetermined range based on the destination point. , The step of selecting the combination that minimizes the number of times, the step of setting the route connecting the selected starting point side IC and the destination point side IC, and the route between the starting point and the selected starting point side IC And a step of setting a route at a destination and an IC on the side of the selected destination, the route search method. 8. A route search method for setting a route connecting a starting point and a destination point set on map data, wherein the starting point side IC exists within a predetermined range based on the starting point.
In the combination of connecting the starting point side IC and the destination point side IC with each other, and searching the destination point side IC existing in a predetermined range based on the destination point. To the IC on the starting point side,
Selecting a combination having a minimum distance from the destination to the IC on the destination side, and setting a route connecting the selected IC on the starting side and the selected IC on the destination side. , A route search comprising the steps of setting a route between the starting point and the selected starting point side IC, and setting a route between the destination point and the selected destination point side IC Method. 9. A route search method for setting a route connecting a starting point and a destination point set on map data, the IC on the starting point side existing within a predetermined range based on the starting point.
In the combination of connecting the starting point side IC and the destination point side IC, and the step of searching for the destination point side IC existing in a predetermined range based on the destination point. And the step of selecting a combination with the minimum number of times, and if there are multiple combinations with the minimum number of branch times, the distance from the starting point to the IC on the side of the starting point and the destination point Selecting a combination having a minimum distance to the IC on the destination point side, setting a route connecting the selected IC on the departure point side and the IC on the destination point side, and the starting point And a step of setting a route in the selected starting point side IC, and a step of setting a route in the destination point and the selected destination point side IC. Route search method and butterflies. 10. The route according to claim 7, 8 or 9, further comprising the step of creating a connection table indicating a connection status of the expressway based on branch information included in the map data. Search method.