JPH10132591A - Navigation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To search for a recommended route by executing an algorithm with consideration for time of arrival at the destination. SOLUTION: Based on map data stored in a map storage device, a monitor displays a road map and a recommended route superimposed thereon. The scheduled time of arrival at the destination is input to search for several recommended routes from the current position to the destination, then calculating the time required for each recommended route. Subsequently, the time required for each recommended route is added to present time to calculate the estimated time of arrival. A route is displayed as the recommended route when its estimated time of arrival becomes nearest to the scheduled time of arrival.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a navigation device for searching for a recommended route to a destination and displaying the route on a monitor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a vehicle traveling route guidance apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 5-325096 and 6-249672. In such a route guidance device, when a destination is input, the current position (start point)
One route is set by various algorithms from among a plurality of routes connecting the destination and the destination (end point), and is displayed on the monitor.

[0003]

These publications disclose an algorithm for setting a route having the shortest traveling distance as a recommended route or an algorithm for setting a route having the shortest travel time as a recommended route. That is, the conventional route search algorithm depends on various conditions and situations between the current location and the destination.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide a navigation device that searches for a recommended route by an algorithm that takes into account the time at which the user wants to reach a destination.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

(1) The present invention is applied to a navigation device that displays a road map on a monitor based on map data stored in a map storage device and displays a searched recommended route on the road map. The above-mentioned object is achieved by providing a search means for searching for a recommended route from the starting point to the destination based on the estimated time of arrival at the destination. (2) The search means can search for a recommended route based on the required time from the current time to the expected arrival time. (3) The search means determines the most likely time of arrival that has been set based on the required time between nodes of the link stored in advance as the map data and the required time between nodes of the link wirelessly received as the congestion information. It is possible to search for a route that has a near expected arrival time. (4) The travelable distance may be calculated from the required time from the current time to the expected arrival time and the average speed to determine a search area, and a route search may be performed within the search area. In this case, the waypoints in the search area may be displayed on the display device, and when the waypoints are input, the search means may search for a recommended route from the starting point through the waypoints to the destination. . When the stopover is a local place requiring a predetermined time, such as a sightseeing spot, the estimated time of arrival may be calculated by adding the required time at the local place. (5) The invention according to claim 7 is applied to a navigation device that displays a road map on a monitor based on map data stored in a map storage device and displays a searched recommended route on the road map, Then, a plurality of recommended routes from the starting point to the destination through the waypoint input by the operator are searched for, and the travel time on the plurality of recommended routes and the required time on the waypoint are determined based on the required time at the waypoint. The above object is achieved by providing a search means for calculating an estimated time of arrival at the ground. (6) When the expected arrival time is calculated as in the invention of claim 7, the recommended route of the expected arrival time closest to the expected arrival time can be selected as the recommended route. A navigation device that displays a road map based on the map data stored in the map storage device, displays the searched recommended route on the road map, and further receives various types of traffic information including information on traffic congestion. (7) According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, a road map is displayed based on the map data stored in the map storage device, the searched recommended route is displayed on the road map, and various types of traffic information including information on traffic congestion are displayed. In a navigation device configured to receive, a search means for searching for a recommended route based on a required time between nodes of a link previously stored as map data and a required time between nodes of a link wirelessly received as congestion information. It is provided with. (8) According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, a road map is displayed based on the map data stored in the map storage device, the searched recommended route is displayed on the road map, and various types of traffic information including information on traffic congestion are displayed. The navigation apparatus is provided with a search means for searching for a recommended route based on search data stored in advance as map data and various types of traffic information data received wirelessly.

[0006]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

-First Embodiment- FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a navigation device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a current position detecting device for detecting a current position of a vehicle, for example, a direction sensor 1a for detecting a traveling direction of the vehicle, a vehicle speed sensor 1b for detecting a vehicle speed, and a GPS signal from a GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite. It consists of a GPS sensor 1c to detect. Reference numeral 2 denotes a map storage memory for storing data relating to a road map, which comprises, for example, a CD-ROM and a reading device therefor.

The road map data stored in the map storage memory 2 mainly comprises road data on a map, route search data, name data, background data, and the like. Road data is
The data includes link data obtained by dividing a road into a plurality of lengths, coordinate value data of the start node and end node of each link, required time between the start node and end node, road type data such as national roads and prefectural roads, and the like. The route search data includes branch point information and intersection information.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a control circuit for controlling the entire apparatus.
It consists of a microprocessor and its peripheral circuits. Reference numeral 4 denotes an input device having various switches for inputting a destination of the vehicle and the like. The detail / wide area switches 4a and 4b are switches for displaying the display map in detail or for wide area display, and the scroll switch 4c is a switch for scrolling the display screen up, down, left and right. The map switch 4d is a switch for setting the display screen to the current position of the vehicle.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a map data memory for storing road map drawing data for displaying a road map, which is created based on the road map data read from the map storage memory 2. Reference numeral 7 denotes an image memory for storing image data to be displayed on a display monitor 8 described later. The image data stored in the image memory 7 is read out as appropriate and displayed on the display monitor 8. The display monitor 8 has a touch panel switch provided at an appropriate position. The operator presses a start point, a stopover point, and an end point (destination) at an arbitrary point on the map displayed on the monitor 8 with a finger. , Can also be instructed. The start point, waypoint, and destination can also be input by other operations. Further, when inputting the estimated arrival time described later, the input can be performed by pressing a numeric keypad displayed on the display screen.

Reference numeral 9 denotes an FM multiplex broadcast receiving apparatus, 10 denotes an optical beacon receiving apparatus, and 11 denotes a radio beacon receiving apparatus. Traffic information (hereinafter referred to as VICS information) transmitted by an FM multiplex broadcast radio wave, an optical beacon, and a radio beacon, respectively. ) To receive.

[0011] The VICS information is, for example, traffic congestion information, regulation information, parking lot information, service area information, and parking area information. The congestion information includes congestion travel time link information. This traffic jam travel time link information is obtained by calculating the required time between nodes of each link based on the degree of traffic jam. Further, the regulation information includes lane regulation information, ramp regulation information on expressways, and interchange regulation information. The congestion information is displayed for each of the upper and lower lines of the road, and the congestion is displayed in red, congestion in yellow, and no congestion in green.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the main processing of the control circuit 3, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the recommended route search processing of the control circuit 3. The operation of this embodiment will be described below based on these flowcharts. The control circuit 3 starts the processing of FIG. 2 when, for example, a key of the vehicle is operated to an ignition on position.

In step S10 of FIG. 2, a recommended route search process is executed. In step S20, the current position detection device 1
The current position of the vehicle is detected based on the signal from the vehicle. In step S30, a map display process is performed to display a map on a monitor. At this time, the recommended route searched as described later is also displayed.

In step S40, the current position is detected in the same manner as in step S20. In step S50, it is determined whether to update the road map on the screen, that is, whether to rewrite the road map. Here, based on the detected current position, it is determined that the road map displayed on the screen is updated when the vehicle has traveled a predetermined distance or more since the last map update.

If the determination in step S50 is affirmative, the process returns to step S30, and if the determination is negative, step S60.
Proceed to. In step S60, it is determined whether to continue the main process of FIG. For example, when a power switch (not shown) is turned off or when a switch for stopping the process is operated, the determination in step S60 is denied, and the main process in FIG. 2 ends.

If the determination in step S60 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S70, where the display of the own vehicle position mark is updated, and then the process returns to step S40. Although the own vehicle position mark is displayed so as to be superimposed on the current position on the map, the own vehicle position mark is moved on the map according to the traveling distance until the map is scrolled by a predetermined distance in step S50. The display of the position mark is updated. Other additional information is also updated in this step.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the details of the recommended route search processing in step S10 of FIG. In step S11, input of a destination for route search is waited, and when a destination is input, input of expected arrival time of the destination is waited in step S12. When the expected arrival time is input, in step S13, input of search conditions for a recommended route search is awaited. For example, conditions such as whether to use a toll road or not.
When the search condition is input, the process proceeds to step S14, and a plurality of recommended routes from the current location to the destination are searched. This route search is based on the well-known die crust method or the like, and a specific description will be omitted.

In step S15, the required time from the current position to the destination based on the plurality of searched recommended routes is calculated, and the required time is added to the current time to calculate the expected arrival time. The calculation of the required time is performed by using a static required travel time preset for each route as road data and dynamic congestion travel time link information which is VICS information received from various receivers. Traffic conditions can be used. Then, in step S16, the route whose expected arrival time is closest to the estimated arrival time is selected as the recommended route. In step S17, the selected recommended route is displayed on the monitor 8 together with the estimated arrival time and the estimated arrival time.

Although the static travel time is set for the main road, the traffic congestion travel time link information is received only for roads in a narrow area. Cannot be calculated.

In the navigation apparatus according to the first embodiment, a route expected to arrive at a time closest to the previously input arrival time is selected from a plurality of routes connecting the current position and the destination. It is searched as a recommended route. Therefore, for example, the time from the current time to the expected arrival time can be made more effective compared to the case where the search is performed based only on various conditions and conditions between the current location and the destination as in the conventional shortest distance route search or the shortest time route search. Usability of the navigation device is improved, for example, a route to be used can be searched.

Second Embodiment A second embodiment of the navigation device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 shows a detailed procedure of the recommended route search process in step S10 of the main process, and corresponds to FIG. Steps similar to those in FIG. 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and differences will be mainly described. After executing steps S11 to S13, the process proceeds to step S13A to calculate a required time T from the current time to the estimated arrival time. In step S13B, the distance L that can be traveled at the predetermined average speed V within the required time is calculated to determine the search area. The average speed V may be set in the navigation device in advance, or may be appropriately set by an occupant according to the route search use situation.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a method of determining a search area from the possible travel distance L. Here, an elliptical area AR having the current position S and the destination D as focal points is calculated from the possible travel distance L. When traveling from the current location S to the destination D, the vehicle passes through one point W1 and an ellipse determined by the traveling distance L in that case is the maximum area of the travelable distance L. If the point on the line of the ellipse is one waypoint, the travelable distance is L and is constant at any position. For example, assuming via points indicated by W1 and W2, the current location S
If the distance between the stopover point W1 and the stopover point W1 is A1, the distance between the stopover point W1 and the stopover point D is B1, the distance between the current point S and the stopover point W2 is A2, and the distance between the stopover point W2 and the stopover point D is B2,

A1 + B1 = A2 + B2 = L = constant

Once the search area is determined in this way,
Step S14 to Step S as in the first embodiment.
The process of step 17 is executed, and only one recommended route of the estimated arrival time closest to the estimated arrival time is displayed on the monitor 8.

In the second embodiment, the search area is determined by calculating the distance that can be traveled within the required time from the current time to the estimated time of arrival, and the route search is performed in the search area. Therefore, the search area is narrowed and the search time is shortened.

Third Embodiment A third embodiment of the navigation device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 shows a detailed procedure of the recommended route search processing in step S10 of the main processing, and corresponds to FIGS. 3 and 4. Steps similar to those in FIGS. 3 and 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and differences will be mainly described. After executing steps S11 to S13, steps S13A and S13B are executed to determine a search area.

In step S13C, a list of transit points is displayed on the monitor 8, and whether or not one or more transit points are selected is instructed on the touch panel on the monitor 8. If it is determined in step S13D that one or more stopovers have been selected, the process proceeds to step S13E. If not selected, step S13D is denied and the process proceeds to step S14.

In step S13E, a recommended route from the current location to the destination through the selected transit point is searched. In step S14, a recommended route from the current location to the destination is searched as described above.

When the recommended route is searched in this way,
Steps S15 to S15 as in the first and second embodiments.
By executing the processing of step S17, only one recommended route of the estimated arrival time closest to the estimated arrival time is displayed on the monitor 8.

In the third embodiment described above, the search area is determined by calculating the distance that can be traveled within the required time from the current time to the estimated arrival time, and the occupant can arbitrarily select a stopover in the search area. Since the route search is performed after the input, the search area is narrowed, the search time is shortened, and the route search specifying the sightseeing spot or the like where the occupant wants to stop can be performed.

Fourth Embodiment A navigation device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 shows the detailed procedure of the recommended route search process in step S10 of the main process, and corresponds to FIG. Steps similar to those in FIG. 6 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and differences will be mainly described. Step S1
After executing steps 1 to 13, step S13A and step S13A
13B is executed to determine a search area.

In step S13F, a list of sightseeing spots is displayed on the monitor 8, and an instruction is made by the touch panel on the monitor 8 to select one or more sightseeing spots. If it is determined in step S13G that one or more sightseeing spots have been selected, the process proceeds to step S13H. If not selected, step S13G is denied and the process proceeds to step S14.

In step S13H, a recommended route from the present location to the destination through the sightseeing spot selected is searched.
In step S14, a recommended route from the current location to the destination is searched as described above.

If a recommended route is searched by inputting a tourist spot, the flow advances to step S13I to calculate the travel time required for the recommended route, add the travel time at the tourist spot to the travel time, and calculate the estimated arrival time. Ask. If the tourist destination is not input, in step S15, the required time is calculated and the expected arrival time is calculated in the same manner as in the first and second embodiments. Then, in step S16, only one recommended route of the estimated arrival time closest to the estimated arrival time is displayed on the monitor 8. It is assumed that the required time of the sightseeing spot is stored in the map storage memory 2 in advance.

In the above-described fourth embodiment, the search area is determined by calculating the distance that can be traveled within the required time from the current time to the estimated arrival time, and the occupant can arbitrarily select a sightseeing spot in the search area. A route search is performed after inputting, and the estimated time of arrival is calculated taking into account the time required for the input sightseeing spot, so the search area is narrowed, the search time is shortened, and the occupants stop by It is possible to perform a route search by specifying the sightseeing spots, etc., and the estimated arrival time taking into account the required time at the sightseeing spots is calculated, so that it is easy to determine a daily sightseeing schedule using the navigation device. Become.

In the first to fourth embodiments, the recommended route at the estimated arrival time closest to the estimated arrival time is automatically selected and only one recommended route is displayed.
The estimated arrival times of all the searched recommended routes may be displayed, and the operator may select a desired recommended route from the displayed estimated arrival times. Alternatively, an arbitrary time such as the scheduled departure time may be input as the reference time, and the required time from that time to the scheduled arrival time may be calculated.

Furthermore, unlike the fourth embodiment, a search area is not determined, but a sightseeing spot to be visited before arrival at a destination is input to search for a recommended route. Similarly, the estimated arrival time may be calculated in consideration of the required time of the recommended route and the required time at the sightseeing spot. Furthermore, although the required time at the sightseeing spot is set in advance, the operator may be able to arbitrarily input the required time.

Furthermore, the sightseeing spots include sightseeing spots such as Hakone and Nikko, famous spots including temples and shrines, amusement parks such as Tokyo Disneyland, amusement facilities, museums, department stores and the like. Instead of a sightseeing spot, an arbitrary local place that requires a predetermined time, such as a relative or a friend's house, may be input. In this case, the required time can be arbitrarily input by the operator.

In the correspondence between the above embodiments and the components of the claims, the control circuit 3 corresponds to the search means.

[0039]

【The invention's effect】

(1) According to the present invention, the recommended route from the start point to the destination is searched based on the estimated time of arrival at the destination input by the operator. Can be provided. (2) By calculating the estimated arrival time based on the required time between nodes of the link stored in advance as the map data and the required time between nodes of the link wirelessly received as the congestion information, according to the congestion situation The required time with high accuracy can be calculated. (3) A travelable distance is calculated from the required time from the current time to the expected arrival time and the average speed to determine a search area, and a route search is performed within the search area, thereby shortening the search time. Is done. (4) By searching for a recommended route to a destination through a transit point in the search area, it is possible to search for a route arriving at the destination through a point where the occupant wants to drop in. (5) If the transit point is a local place that requires a certain time, such as a sightseeing spot, add the required time at that local place and calculate the estimated time of arrival, so that the travel schedule will be taken into account. You can make a plan. (6) According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, a recommended route is searched based on a required time between nodes of a link stored in advance as map data and a required time between nodes of a link wirelessly received as congestion information. , A highly accurate route search can be performed. (7) According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, a recommended route is searched based on search data stored in advance as map data and various types of traffic information data received wirelessly. Can be.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing main processing.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a recommended route calculation subroutine according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a recommended route calculation subroutine according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a search area according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a recommended route calculation subroutine according to the third embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a recommended route calculation subroutine according to the fourth embodiment;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Current location detection device 2 Map storage memory 3 Control circuit 4 Input device 5 Map data memory 7 Image memory 8 Display monitor 9 FM multiplex broadcast receiving device 10 Optical beacon receiving device 11 Radio beacon receiving device

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A navigation device which displays a road map on a monitor based on map data stored in a map storage device and displays a searched recommended route on the road map. A navigation device comprising a search means for searching for a recommended route from a starting point to a destination based on a scheduled time of arrival at the ground. 2. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the search means searches for the recommended route based on a required time from a current time to the expected arrival time. 3. The navigation device according to claim 2, wherein the search means includes a time required between the nodes of the link stored in advance as the map data and a required time between the nodes of the link wirelessly received as the congestion information. Based on time and
A navigation device that searches for a route that has an estimated arrival time closest to the set estimated arrival time. 4. The navigation device according to claim 2, wherein a travelable distance is calculated from the required time and the average speed to determine a search area, and a route search is performed in the search area. Navigation device. 5. The navigation device according to claim 4, wherein the transit point in the search area is displayed on the display device, and when the transit point is input, the transit means searches the transit point from a starting point. A navigation device for searching for a recommended route to a destination through. 6. The navigation device according to claim 5, wherein when the stopover is a local place requiring a predetermined time, the estimated time of arrival is calculated by adding the required time at the local place. A navigation device characterized by the above-mentioned. 7. A navigation device for displaying a road map on a monitor based on map data stored in a map storage device and displaying a searched recommended route on the road map, wherein an operator inputs from a starting point. Search for a plurality of recommended routes to the destination through the waypoints, and calculate the estimated arrival time of the destination based on the required time for traveling on the plurality of recommended routes and the time required for the waypoints for each recommended route. A navigation device comprising a search means for calculating each time. 8. The navigation device according to claim 7, wherein said search means selects a recommended route of said expected arrival time closest to said expected arrival time as a recommended route. 9. A road map is displayed based on the map data stored in the map storage device, the searched recommended route is displayed on the road map, and various traffic information including information related to traffic congestion is received. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a search unit configured to search for a recommended route based on a required time between nodes of the link stored in advance as the map data and a required time between nodes of the link wirelessly received as the congestion information. A navigation device characterized by the above-mentioned. 10. A road map is displayed based on map data stored in a map storage device, a recommended route searched for is displayed on the road map, and various types of traffic information including information related to traffic congestion are received. A navigation apparatus comprising: a search unit that searches for a recommended route based on search data stored in advance as the map data and various types of traffic information data received wirelessly.