JPH1096644A - Moving course guiding system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To avoid re-input of destination in the case of departure of a moving station having no map data base and efficiently make it reach the destination by sending a route in departure in addition to optimum route guided by a fixed station to the moving station. SOLUTION: A moving station MV loads a route survey device 1 and sends the self car position recognized with a GPS satellite and the destination to an aiding center 100. The aiding center 100 sends the route in departure to the moving station MV in addition to optimum route guiding to the destination calculated based on this information. The moving station MV compares the link presently running and the link of the guided route from the present position judged with the GPS satellite data for the guided route. When the optimum route is indicating C→D, for example, and MV departs in A-direction in a route other than the guided route, a route in departure in A-direction is selected among the route in deparature in the support center 100. That is, by selecting node 1 → node 4 → node 5 → node 2 is selected to return to the optimum route and so MV can reach the destination efficiently.

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 confirming a current position or guiding a route to a destination. More particularly, the present invention relates to a moving route guidance system in a navigation system having no database of map information or the like. Get involved.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a navigation device mounted on a vehicle calculates the position of the vehicle based on information from a GPS satellite using a gyro sensor and a vehicle speed sensor mounted on the vehicle to calculate the position of the vehicle. It is known to confirm the position of the vehicle by displaying it on a display. In recent years, however, this navigation device has been provided with an additional function so that a user (for example, a driver) can move to a place where he or she wants to move, 2. Description of the Related Art There is known a navigation device that inputs a desired destination, displays in which direction a preset destination position is away from the current position and how much distance, and provides voice guidance.

[0003] When the position information of the destination is given to the navigation apparatus, a vehicle navigation apparatus having a map memory is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 62-151712 for inputting the destination. In this publication, a user reads a required map from a map memory on a display, and inputs a position of the vehicle on a display map. The navigation device updates a map display as the vehicle moves.

However, a device having a map memory on the navigation device side like the above-mentioned device requires an extremely large amount of map memory to store accurate map information.
The result is expensive. In other words, storing a large amount of information requires a correspondingly large storage capacity and is expensive.

The applicant of the present invention has disclosed a moving route guidance system in which map information is not transmitted to the navigation apparatus but is transmitted to, for example, an external base station so as to reduce the load on the mobile station. No. 228586.
This device includes an input means for inputting a destination, a ground position detecting means for detecting a ground position of the own vehicle, a first transmitting means for transmitting the current position and the destination to a communication line, and a destination from the current position by the communication line. A mobile station comprising first receiving means for receiving route information leading to a vehicle, guide information generating means for generating guide information for moving along a route indicated by the route information, and a node for specifying many positions A database storing information and link information representing a route connecting the vicinity thereof, a second receiving means for receiving the current location and the destination transmitted by the first transmitting means from a communication line, and transmitting the received current location and the destination to the communication line. Route information generating means for determining a route based on information of the data database; and a second means for transmitting the route determined by the route information information generating means to the first receiving means via a communication line. A mobile route guidance system having a fixed station and a signal means, in which the mobile station does not have the map information.

[0006]

As described above, in a system having no map data on the mobile station side, a destination is input from the mobile station, and the destination is transmitted to the base station via a communication line. The target sent from the mobile station is searched from a map database having the base station, a route from the current position to the destination is created, and the route is transmitted to the mobile station via a communication line. Travel along the route generated by the station. However, if the vehicle deviates during the route guidance to the destination (during departure), a new route to the destination is searched in a short time because the mobile station does not have a map database. You will not be able to do it.

That is, at the time of departure, the destination is re-input in the same manner as when a new route to the destination is first input, but this input of the destination stops the vehicle from the viewpoint of safety. Then, the user must press the input key to re-enter the data, which is not practical in terms of operability. In addition, since the destination is input and then transmitted to the base station, a route is searched at the base station, and the searched route is sent to the mobile station, so that it cannot be repaired in a short time, resulting in inefficient operation.

In view of the above, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and when a map database is not provided on the mobile station side, re-input of the destination is required even if the user departs from the guidance route to the destination. A technical problem is to provide a system that can efficiently reach a destination without need.

[0009]

The technical measures taken to solve the above-mentioned problems are as follows.
The route at the time of departure from the route is also transmitted to the first receiving means via the communication line by the second transmitting means.

With the above configuration, it is necessary to re-enter a destination even if the user leaves the route while being guided by the optimal route, even if the mobile station does not have a map database because of the route at the time of leaving. A system for efficiently reaching a destination without having to do so is provided.

More preferably, the departure route is set together with the minimum route when the departure route is generated by the route information generating means and transmitted together with the optimal route. The route is transmitted to the mobile station, eliminating the need for time to re-enter the destination, making it more efficient.

In the departure route, a departure route at a point that changes direction on the optimal route or a point within a predetermined range from a point that changes direction on the optimal route is generated by the route information generating means. By doing so, a route at the time of departure from a point that is likely to be mistaken is added, so even if the route is mistaken, it is safe for the user.

[0013]

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

FIG. 1 shows a system configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.

A route search device 1 is provided for a vehicle serving as a mobile station MV.
The route search device 1 is provided with a route guidance support center (hereinafter, referred to as a support center) 100 via a telephone line 8 and a telephone antenna ANTt via a relay station 400 and an exchange 300 via a communication line. Interact. In addition, although the telephone is used here as the above communication line, it is not limited to this.

The route search device 1 receives a radio wave from a GPS satellite by a GPS antenna ANTg, and recognizes the position of the own vehicle by a GPS unit 5. When the number of receivable satellites is insufficient or when radio waves cannot be received from satellites, dead reckoning is performed by the gyro sensor 12 and a vehicle speed sensor (not shown) to calculate the position of the own vehicle.

The destination transmits the position of the vehicle and the input data of the destination to the support center 100 through a communication line in a method intended by the user. The support center 100 searches the database or calculates a route to the destination based on the information, and transmits the route to the mobile station MV.

The support center 100 has a map data database DBm and a yellow page data database DB described later.
y, a data database unit UD including a POI data database DBp and a traffic information data database DBT are provided. The route search device 1 of the mobile station MV searches or calculates data requested by the route search device 1 through a communication line.
Send to Further, it receives information sent from the traffic control center 200 and updates the traffic information data database DBT of the base station FX. This traffic information database DBT
Are used for data search and calculation requested by the route search device 1. Terminal PC is control unit UC
And communication with the route search device 1 via the modem UM.

(Mobile Station) FIG. 2 shows the appearance of the route search device 1 and the state of external connection, and FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the route search device 1.

Referring to FIG. 2, a display LCD, a power switch SWp, and an input switch SWe are provided in front of the route search device 1. Display L
The CD uses a character display. The power switch SWp of the route search device 1 supplies power, and the route search device 1 has an operation keyboard SW.
1. GPS antenna ANTg, speaker SP, microphone M
An IC, a car phone TEL, and a phone antenna ANTt for a car phone are connected. The input switch SWe is a switch that is input by the operation keyboard SW1 and instructs reading of data or a command displayed on the display LCD. Here, the car telephone TEL is externally mounted, but may be built in the route search device 1.

The display LCD of the route search device 1
FIG. 15A shows a display example, and FIG. 15B shows an operation surface of the operation keyboard SW1. The display on the display LCD is displayed in upper and lower two lines, and is indicated by characters (characters, numbers, symbols, etc.). The user selects the upper row or the lower row with the up and down arrow keys of the arrow keys SWa of the operation keyboard SW1, and the cursor of the selected row blinks. The upper or lower cursor selected by the left and right arrow keys is moved to the left and right, the upper cursor LCD is moved to the rightmost or leftmost end, and the right or left arrow key is kept depressed to 0 to 1, A. Numbers, characters, and symbols such as .about.Z are scrolled to the right or left in the upper row.

The user moves the upper cursor by pressing the left and right arrow keys of the arrow keys SWa on the operation keyboard SW1 under the above-mentioned character displayed in the upper row, and presses the SET key SWs of the operation keyboard SW1 ( Decision). Then, the determined character is displayed in the lower cursor portion, and the lower cursor moves one position to the right. Here, if the down arrow key is pressed, the lower cursor can be moved right and left by the left and right arrow keys. If you want to correct or delete the character once determined, move the cursor there and delete it with the clear key SWc, or move the lower cursor to the character you want to correct and press the up arrow key to select the upper cursor again, Correction is possible by overwriting the correct character re-selected with the upper cursor at the position of the lower cursor. When the user completes an input command or data in the lower row by such an operation, the display L
Press the input switch SWe next to the CD. When the input switch SWe is turned on, the CPU 2 of the route search device 1 shown in FIG. 3 reads the display information in the lower part of the display LCD as an input from the operation keyboard SW1.

This device can also perform theft detection as shown in FIG. 3, and the theft detection signal is detected by a theft circuit (not shown) and input to the CPU 2. Upon detecting the theft detection signal, the CPU 2 recognizes the current position of the vehicle by the GPS unit 5 and transmits the current position to the support center 100 through a communication line. The control unit UC of the support center 100 outputs the information to the terminal PC. Thereby, when the terminal operator of the support center 100 reports to a security organization (for example, a security company), the security organization transmits an illumination command and a horn command to the route guidance search device 1 via the communication line, and as a result, the headlight Flashes or the horn sounds intermittently.

When power is supplied to the route search device 1, the CPU
Numeral 2 recognizes the current position (latitude and longitude information) of the vehicle via a GPS antenna ANTg, a GPS unit (receiving circuit) 4 and an extended serial input / output port 6 as a connection interface. Information such as the GPS satellite altitude, azimuth, the time at which radio waves were transmitted, and the number of receivable satellites is input to the CPU 2 from the extended serial input / output port 6.
Performs a process of recognizing the current position of the own vehicle based on information received from the GPS unit 5, and a complementing process by the GPS unit 5 based on the gyro sensor 12 and a vehicle speed sensor (not shown). The process of complementing the current position when the position recognition is incomplete or impossible is known, and a description thereof will be omitted.

The CPU 2 is connected to a communication line via the telephone antenna ANTt, the telephone unit 8 and the modem 7, and can transmit and receive various information via the telephone antenna ANTt. The extended serial input / output port 6 performs data serial input / output and serial / parallel conversion input / output.

The voice input by the microphone MIC is converted into digital data representing the characters of a word via the voice recognition unit 9 and input to the CPU 2. The CPU 2 issues a message (voice output) with the speaker SP as needed via the voice synthesis unit 10 and the switch SW11. When audio data is output from the CPU 2, the switch SW 11 switches the connection between the audio and the speaker SP to the connection between the audio synthesis unit 10 and the speaker SP. The CPU 2 simultaneously displays a message transmitted by voice from the speaker SP in characters on the display LCD, so that the user can visually and audibly check the message (see FIG. 16 for display).

FIG. 4 shows the contents of main processing in the mobile station MV, and FIGS. 5 to 12 show the details of the processing. Less than,
In the program processing, the notation of a step is omitted and is represented by S.

The main routine of FIG. 4 will be described first. When the power is turned on to the CPU 2, initialization is performed to clear the internal memory and to set the initial value of the necessary memory, and set the input / output port to the wait state (S1). still,
This initialization is performed by the route search device 1 when the power supply line (+ B, GN
D, Acc) or when a theft detection signal is generated, regardless of the operation of the power switch SWp.

Next, the CPU 2 operates the power switch SWp, reads a key input by the operation keyboard SW1, and reads a voice input by the car telephone TEL or a microphone (S2, S3). Here, the power switch SWp
Changes from off to on, or when a theft signal is generated, the CPU 2 turns on the power of the entire route search device 1. When the power switch SWp changes from on to off, the standby monitoring system (CPU2, RA
Turn off the power supply circuits of the other elements except M3 and ROM4).

The CPU 2 analyzes the input from the operation keyboard SW1 (S4). Then, according to the result, S5
The process proceeds to any one of steps S9 to S9. After execution of S5 to S9, the process proceeds to S10. In S10, the state of the flag F1 and the state of the guidance flag F0 that have received the result data to be described later are checked, and both the states of the flags F0 and F1 are set. In step S11, the route guidance in S11 is executed, and if one of the flags F0 and F1 is not set, the flow returns to the key input reading in S2.

The processing content when an input is made will be described below.

FIG. 5 shows a detailed flowchart of the keyword setting in S5. The keyword setting is to register a destination as an index of a route search in advance in association with a fixed keyword. If the input indicates the keyword setting in S4, the process proceeds to S5. Then, in S5a, an output is made to the display LCD to designate an input method.

There are the following three methods for inputting keyword settings. That is, a. Phone number input, b.
GPS current position input, c. When there is an address / name input and the user specifies the input method by voice or operation of the operation keyboard SW1, S5g, S5b,
Proceed to one of S5k.

A. Phone number input In S5a, if the designation of the input method is phone number input,
Support center 10 for car phone TEL through communication line
0 (S5g). Next, the user is requested to input a keyword (address name) and a telephone number corresponding to the keyword in the destination table, and the keyword (address name) and the telephone number input by voice or operation of the operation keyboard SW1 are transmitted to the support center 100. (S5h). The information of the above destination table is as follows.

Destination table Address No Keyword Position designation information 1 HOME phone number / ground location / address / POI 2 OFFICE phone number / ground location / address / POI 3 POINT1 phone number / ground location / address / POI 4 POINT2 phone number / Ground position / address / POI 5 POINT3 telephone number / ground position / address / POI 6 POINT4 telephone number / ground position / address / POI 7 POINT5 telephone number / ground position / address / POI When the above-mentioned telephone number is input, position designation information is used. Is entered. The support center 100 writes the received telephone number to the address of the received keyword in the destination table assigned to the number of the car telephone TEL, and connects the written data (telephone number) and the keyword (address name) through a communication line. It transmits to the route search apparatus 1 via the car telephone TEL which was done. Upon receiving this, the CPU 2 of the route search device 1 displays the keyword and the telephone number on the display LCD (S5i). The user checks the data displayed on the display LCD and inputs a retry instruction as a command if an error is detected. When the retry instruction is input, the CPU 2 returns to S5h, and requests the input of the destination keyword and the telephone number again (S5j). If the display on the display LCD is what the user intends, then the storage (the display of the display LCD automatically indicates whether or not it is OK, so that the display is confirmed by pressing the input switch SWe). The data is input to the CPU 2 and the connection with the communication line of the mobile phone TEL is disconnected (S5e). Then, the display LCD of the destination table in the internal memory or the RAM 3
In step S5f, the data (telephone number) being displayed is written in the address of the keyword displayed in step S5f, and the process proceeds to step S10.

B. GPS Current Position Input In S5a, if the command input is the GPS current position input, the CPU 2 connects the mobile phone TEL to the support center 100 via a communication line (S5b). Next, the current position of the own vehicle is read from the GPS unit 5 through the extended serial input / output port 6, a request for input of a keyword for storing the current position in the destination table is made, and input is made by voice or operation of the operation keyboard SW1. The position corresponding to the keyword is written in the destination table, and the position is transmitted to the support center 100 (S5c). The support center 100 searches for the address information of the position corresponding to the ground position with reference to the map database DBm, and transmits the address information to the route search device 1 via the car telephone TEL connected through the communication line. CP of route search device 1
When U2 receives this, it displays it on the display LCD (S5d). Thereafter, the process proceeds to S5e described above.

C. Address / POI input In S5a, the command input is an address / name (POI)
If it is an input, the CPU 2 first connects the car telephone TEL to the support center 100 through a communication line (S5).
k). Here, POI (Point Of Inter)
est) is the name of a target place (destination) or a passing place. The CPU 2 requests the input of the keyword in the destination table and the address or POI to be associated with the keyword, writes the keyword and the address or name input by the user by voice or the operation of the operation keyboard SW1 into the destination table, and furthermore, the support center. 100 (S5m). The support center 100 refers to the map database DBm or the POI data table DBp to search for position information (link No., node No., distance) of the position corresponding to the received address or POI, and retrieves the searched position information. The information is transmitted to the route search device 1 through the communication line. Upon receiving this, the route search device 1 displays it on the display LCD, and displays the current position on the displayed link. The user checks the data displayed on the display LCD, and inputs a retry instruction as a command if the checked data is an error. When the retry instruction is input, the CPU 2 returns to S5m and requests the destination keyword and the address or POI again (S5o). If the display on the display LCD is intended by the user, then the memory is entered into the CPU 2 in the same manner as described above.
After that, the procedure advances to S5e, where the same processing as described above is performed.

FIG. 6 shows the processing of a route request. This route request requests the support center 100 for a route from the current location to the destination. The CPU 2 sets a search condition (S6a). FIG. 7 shows the contents of the search condition setting shown in S6a of FIG. The search conditions include road priority, time priority (highway use), straight line priority, and congestion avoidance, and can be selected and set in a method intended by the user. CP
U2 displays these search condition items on the display LCD and requests the user to select the relevant items by voice (S6a1), and the CPU 2 reads and reads the input command by voice or the input switch SWe of the operation key SW1. The searched condition is stored in the internal memory (S
6a2).

The CPU 2 having set the search condition reads the current position of the vehicle from the GPS unit 5 via the extended serial input / output port 6 (S6b), and
To the mobile phone TEL through the communication line (S6)
c), the current position is transmitted to the support center 100 (S6).
d). Next, the CPU 2 requests the user to input a destination (S6e).

Here, the setting of the destination (see FIG. 8) will be described. TEL (telephone number) No input, b. Keyword input, c. There is an address or name (POI) input, and the process proceeds to S6e2, 6e5, and 6e8 according to the input method (S6e1).

A. TEL No. input In S6e1, if the designation indicates a TEL No. input, the process proceeds to S6e2. At S6e2, the operation reads the operation of the operation keyboard SW1 or the input of the telephone number of the destination by voice. Then, the read telephone number of the destination is transmitted to the support center 100, and the process stands by until the search result is returned from the support center 100 (S6e3). The support center 100 searches the yellow page DBy in which the contents of the yellow page are registered, searches for information corresponding to the telephone number transmitted from the route search device 1 therefrom, and transmits the information to the route search device. After that, Support Center 1
When the search result from 00 is received, it is displayed on the display LCD and notified by voice (S6e4).

B. Keyword input In S6e1, when the keyword input is indicated,
The CPU 2 proceeds to S6e5. In S6e5, a keyword is read by operating the operation keyboard SW1 or by voice (S6e5). The CPU 2 reads the position designation information corresponding to the read keyword from the destination table, instructs the support center 100 to search, and waits until a result from the support center 100 is obtained (S6e6). The support center 100 stores the position information corresponding to the position designation information in the yellow page database DBy and the map database DB.
m, search and output from POI database DBp (S
6e6), the searched position information is transmitted to the route search device 1. Upon receiving the search result from the support center 100, the CPU 2 displays the search result on the display LCD and notifies the user by voice (S6e7).

C. Address / Name Input In S6e1, in the case of address / name input, the process proceeds to S6e8. In S6e8, the operation of the operation key SW1 or the address / name input by voice is read (S6e8). And
The read address / name is transmitted to the support center 100 together with the address / name search instruction, and the process stands by until a result from the support center 100 is obtained (S6e9). The support center 100 searches the map database DBm or the POI database DBp in which the contents of the address / name are registered, and stores the position information (FIG. 21) corresponding to the address / name transmitted from the route search device 1 in the map database. DB
m or from the POI database DBp and sends it to the route search device 1. CPU2 is the support center 100
When the position information is received from, it is displayed on the display LCD and notified by voice (S6e10).

If the destination displayed on the display LCD is not the designated place, the user inputs a retry instruction command. When the CPU 2 receives the retry instruction,
The process returns to S6e1 (S6e11). If the retry instruction is not input, the process returns to the main routine and transmits the determined destination position information to the support center 100 again (S6).
f).

As described above, the mobile station MV is connected to the support center 1
At 00, a route search instruction from the current position to the destination is transmitted together with the search conditions in a manner intended by the user, and the process waits until a route search result is transmitted (S6g). When the route search result is transmitted from the support center 100, the route search result is received, displayed on the display LCD, and notified by voice (S6i). If the user confirms and acknowledges it, he or she inputs an OK command by voice or the input switch SWe of the operation key SW1. But,
If the information is not what is intended, the process returns to S6e, and the same processing from S6e to S6j is repeated. If the retry judgment is OK, the flag F1 indicating that the result data has been received is set in S6k, and the car telephone TEL is turned off. If the retry judgment is to be canceled, the result data is received. The flag F1 is cleared, the car telephone TEL is turned off, and the process returns to the main routine.

In the main routine of FIG. 4, the guidance start in S7 and the guidance stop in S8 are performed when the content of the command input by the user using the operation keyboard SW1 or voice indicates the guidance start, and the CPU 2 proceeds to S7. Sets the guidance flag F0. On the other hand, if the content of the command indicates guidance stop, the process proceeds to S8, and the guidance flag F0
Is cleared, and then the process proceeds to S10.

In step S4, in step S4, the CPU 2 proceeds to step S9 using the operation keyboard SW1 or voice. This current position confirmation process is shown in FIG. In FIG. 9, the CPU 2 reads the current position of the vehicle via the GPS unit 5 and the extended serial input / output port 6 (S9a). Then, the telephone unit 8 is connected to the support center 100 by a car telephone (S9b). When the connection to the support center 100 is completed, the CPU 2 transmits the ground position of the own vehicle obtained from the GPS satellite to the support center 100 (S9c). The support center 100 searches the received ground position in the map database DBm to generate position information and transmits the generated position information to the route search device 1. CPU 2 is a telephone unit 8
(S9d). Then, the received address information is notified by voice or display LCD (S9e), the communication line of the car telephone is cut off, and the process returns to the main routine.

FIG. 10 shows route guidance, and FIG. 11 shows the content of the matching process with the guidance route data. FIG.
Shows the contents of the guidance information output process. In FIG. 10, the CPU 2 reads the current position via the GPS unit 5 and the extended serial input / output port 6 (S11a),
In step b, matching processing with the guidance route data is performed.

Here, the matching process with the guidance route data will be described with reference to FIG. 11, and the definition of the terms shown in this flowchart will be described. The route with the minimum cost is, for example, an optimal route, and is a route selected by a method intended by the user (selecting one of time priority, distance priority, congestion avoidance, etc. using the operation keyboard). is there.

In this flowchart, first, the current position of the guidance route on the route with the minimum cost is determined based on data from the GPS satellites (S11b1), and it is determined whether the route deviates from the route with the minimum cost (S11b2). This determination is made by comparing the currently traveling link with the link on the guidance route. If the vehicle is traveling along the guided route, the process proceeds to S11b5, but if the vehicle deviates from the guidance route (at the time of departure). To S11b3. S11
In b3, it is determined whether or not there is data of the link in the direction to proceed in the data for leaving the route. If there is no data for the link, the process proceeds to S11b5. If not, the process proceeds to S11b4. Then, the data (node No., link No.) of the departure route of the link is added to the route with the minimum cost, and the process proceeds to S11b5. Specifically, when the route with the minimum cost indicates C → D, the route departs from a route other than that route, or when the route departed from the support center 100 in the direction A, Selects the route when A leaves, and when leaving in the direction B, selects the route when B leaves. In other words, only the route in the direction in which the route has been departed is selected from the departure routes searched for a plurality of nodes for each node on the route of the minimum route. Here, the node 1 → node 4 → node 5 → node 2 of the departure route is selected as the minimum cost route so as to return to the minimum cost route quickly.

After that, the CPU 2 classifies the traveling state of the own vehicle into 〜 shown in FIG. 13, and determines in S11c1 which current traveling state corresponds to. Then, S11c2
The display data and the voice data are created and automatically output according to the running state determined in step (1). Then, S11a to S11c in FIGS. 10 to 12 are repeated until it is confirmed that the arrival guidance for notifying that the user has arrived at the destination is output. When the arrival guidance shown in FIG. 14 is output, the process returns to S1 of the main routine again (S11d).

(Base Station) FIG. 17 shows a system configuration of the support center 100. The support center 100 has a map database DBm, a yellow page database DB
y, a database unit UD consisting of a POI database DBp and a traffic information database DBT are provided. A search engine unit UE is searched from various databases for necessary data according to a command of the route search device 1, and a route search is performed through a communication line. Transmit to the device 1. Control of each search engine of the search engine unit UE and connection control with a communication line via each modem in the modem unit UM are performed by the controller C1 in the control unit UC, and the traffic information transmitted from the traffic control center 200 is transmitted. The reception and management of the traffic information database DBT are performed by the controller C2 in the control unit UC. The control operation of the control unit UC is output and displayed on the terminal PC via the controller C2. The terminal PC can communicate with the car telephone TEL of each vehicle through the controllers C1 and C2.

The database unit UD includes a map database DBm, a yellow page database DBy, P
It consists of an OI database DBp. Map database D
In Bm, intersections, junctions, turning points, and the like on roads are stored as nodes, and roads between nodes are stored as links. Each node is assigned a node number, and includes location information (latitude and longitude) and address information. Each link includes a link number, node numbers at both ends to which the link is connected, shape definition information, and road name information.

The route information to the destination transmitted from the support center 100 to the route search device 1 is all composed of a combination of the node No. and the link No. The current position can be represented by a link position between specific nodes. The support center 100 searches for a node No near the current position received from the route search device 1 and a link No connected thereto,
The link No. and node No. to which the current position belongs are determined.
Similarly, the link No. and the node No. to which the destination belongs are determined. Then, the link No., the node No. determined with respect to the current position, the current position on the link and the link No., the node No., the node No. determined with respect to the destination, and the destination position on the link are determined by referring to the data in the map database DBm. A route from the position to the destination is selected according to the search condition. That is, the route is determined according to the search condition according to the method intended by the user.

FIG. 19 shows an example of a link. This figure shows an example of a link from node 1 to node 3 stored in the map database DBm. For example, when the support center 100 performs a route search from the node 1 to the node 3, the shortest route is the node 1, the link 1, the node 2, the link 2, and the node 3. Therefore, in the normal route search, When the above route is selected, in the setting of the search condition of the route request of the route search device 1, when the avoidance of traffic congestion is specified as the search condition item and the data of the traffic information database DBT indicates the traffic congestion of the link 2, Alternatively, when a retry instruction is received, the support center 100 switches from node 1 → link 1 → node 2 → link 3 →
Select node 4 → link 4 → node 3.

Here, the database will be briefly described. The yellow page database DBm corresponds to a telephone number, and stores names and position information (link No., node No.) of individuals, organizations, facilities, etc. corresponding to the telephone number. Have been. Also, in the POI database DBp,
The location information (link No., node No.) of the address described in the yellow page corresponding to the address and name of an individual, an organization, a facility, etc. is stored.

The database U of the support center 100
In D, three databases DBm, DBy, DBp
Are set as m, and one search engine in the search engine unit UE is assigned to each.
The route search is performed based on data in the databases DBm, DBy, DBp to which the search engines e1 to en are connected.

The modems m1 to mn of the number N of lines connected to the modem unit UM output data from the connected communication lines to the controller C1 or transfer and output the data from the controller C1 in accordance with the instruction of the controller C1. Outputs data to the connected communication line.

The controller C2 is connected to the road traffic control center 200, reads traffic information at a predetermined cycle, and updates data in the traffic information database DBt. Further, it is also connected to the controller C1, outputs the operation status in the support center 100 to the terminal PC, communicates with the controller C1 according to the input from the terminal PC, stops the system, and communicates with each route search device 1. Perform communication.

Next, referring to FIG.
Will be described. After initialization, the controller C1 reads command data of the connected modems 1 to N (S1).
102), the contents are analyzed (S103). And
Each search engine e1 to e in the search engine unit UE
It is checked whether there is any search engine that is not currently used among the search engines (S104), and a request from each modem is allocated to a search engine that is not currently used (S105).

The search engine, based on the assigned request,
Data is retrieved from the database unit UD. For example, when converting the current position (ground position) given by the route search device 1 into position information, a node No. close to the current position
And the link No. connected to the map database DBm
To determine the link number to which the current position belongs and the node numbers at both ends thereof. In the case of the destination, the location information corresponding to the given telephone number, address or name is read from the map database DBm or the POI database DBp. In the case of a route search, the map database DBm searches for a route starting from the position information of the current position and ending with the position information of the destination. That is, a route is determined by searching for a path node and a link from the start point to the end point. The controller C1 fetches the route information (a set of node No. and link No.) determined by each of the search engines e1 to en (S106), and outputs the fetched data to the assigned modem (S107). Thereafter, each modem outputs data to each route search device 1 through the communication line.

The controller C1 further outputs an operation status to the controller C2. Conversely, controller C
If there is a communication output from the terminal to the specific modem through the terminal 2, the line between the corresponding modem and the terminal is connected through the controller C2 (S108).

Next, the processing of the search engine will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 20 shows a main routine of the search engine, and the search engine e1 in the search engine unit UE.
To em correspond. Based on GPS data and search conditions, a corresponding point search such as a current position or a destination is performed from databases DBm, DBy, and DBp of a corresponding search engine (for example, the corresponding search engine is e1) (S201). In S202, a route with the minimum cost is generated. The minimum cost route is a route for performing a route search for a given destination based on information of the map data database DBm. For example, Dijkst
According to a known algorithm such as the ra method, connected nodes on the map are tracked one after another so that the distance to the destination is minimized, and a route that minimizes the distance from the current position to the destination is searched. Things. In this case, the route is determined by the minimum cost that minimizes the cost of the line segment (for example, whether it is determined by the distance, the travel time, the road width, or the combination of the attributes intended by the user whether to use the expressway or the like). A route is generated by using a route search method.

In the next step S203, it is determined whether or not the extraction of the node on the route with the minimum cost has been completed. Here, when the extraction of the node ends, this processing ends.
If the extraction has not been performed yet, the process proceeds to S204. S2
At 04, it is determined whether the node is an intersection node to be guided. The intersection node to be guided is a node that changes course on a route with the least cost, and for example, a node that turns right or left on a route with the least cost or a Y-shaped road such as a rampway. If it is such an intersection node to be guided, the process proceeds to S206, but if it is not an intersection node to be guided, the process proceeds to S205. In S205, it is determined whether or not there is an intersection node (point to change direction) to be guided to the next position error range. Whether there is an intersection node to be guided within this position error range (distance range of the determination time) depends on whether the intersection (right / left turn) node that changes the course on the route with the least cost is the node in the node to be determined. This indicates whether the radius is within a range of, for example, about 100 m. If there is no intersection node to be guided within the position error range, the process returns to S203, but there is an intersection node to be guided within the position error range. S in case
Proceed to 206.

From the above, the condition for performing S206 is an intersection node to be guided (condition 1) or an intersection node to be guided within the position error range (condition 2). A node that satisfies 1 or condition 2 is defined as the node. In S206, it is determined whether all the links connected to the node have been checked. If all the links have been checked, the process is terminated. At the stage of checking the link (link to the node on the cost route), S207 is performed. In S207, it is determined whether or not the link is on the route with the minimum cost. If the link is on the route with the minimum cost (when the vehicle is proceeding along the route with the minimum cost), S2 is performed.
Returning to step S20, if the link is not a link on the route with the minimum cost (if the link has left the route with the minimum cost), step S20 is performed.
In step 8, a departure route (data for departure from the route) is generated.

By transmitting the thus-created departure route together with the minimum cost route from the support center 100 to the mobile station MV, the destination is re-entered when the user departs from the minimum cost route during guidance. This saves time, reduces communication time, and improves efficiency.

In this case, by setting the departure route as a straight line longer than the distance (predetermined distance) within the determination time, it is possible to prevent the departure route from passing through the intersection to be turned before determining that the departure has occurred. .

The above departure route will be briefly described with reference to FIG.

Here, the route with the minimum cost is given by a method (the distance priority, the time priority, the use of the expressway, etc.) intended by the user according to a known algorithm, and the route with the minimum cost (the route to be guided) is the current location. 207 → 204 → 203 → 303 → 403 → 401
Is generated.

In this case, the intersections satisfying the condition 1 are 203, 403, and 207, and the intersections satisfying the condition 2 are 204. Here, when performing the route guidance, it is easy to make a mistake in the route at the intersection of the condition 1 and the condition 2.

The departure route is a node on the route with the minimum cost (207 → 204 → 203 → 303 → 403 → 40).
1).

A specific example will be described.
207 → 306 → 305 → 204 is added as a route at the time of leaving as a route returning to the route with the minimum cost. This makes it possible to quickly return to the route with the minimum cost. Also, 203 in 203
203 → 103 → 101 → 2
01 → 301 → 401, and when leaving 201, the order is 203 → 201 → 301 → 401. on the other hand,
At 204 within the position error range at 203, the departure route is 204 → 305 → 303 or 204 → 105.
→ 103 → 203. Further, when the vehicle leaves at 406 in 403, 403 → 406 → 506 → 503 → 5
02 → 401. In this case, if the vehicle has left at 503 in 403, 403 → 503 → 603 → 602 → 5
In the case of 02 → 401, 502 moves straight without changing the course because the distance from 403 is within the position error range (distance between 502 and 403 <distance in position error range). By doing so, it is possible to prevent a bend before the determination.

[0074]

According to the present invention, in addition to the optimum route, the fixed station transmits the departure route when the route is departed from the route to the first receiving means via the communication line by the second transmitting means. Even if you leave the route while being guided by the optimal route, there is a route at the time of departure, so even if you do not have a map database on the mobile station side, you do not need to re-enter the destination, efficiently A system to reach the ground will be provided.

Also, if the leaving route is a route until the route returns to the optimal route, and if the route is transmitted together with the optimal route, the leaving route is transmitted to the mobile station together with the minimum route, The time for re-entering the destination is not required, which makes it more efficient.

In addition, the departure route is generated by the route information generation means generating a departure route at a point where the direction changes on the optimal route or at a point where the current position is within a predetermined range from the optimal route. In addition, since a route at the time of departure from a point that is likely to be mistaken is added, even if the route is mistaken, it is safe for the user.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an outline of a system configuration diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a connection diagram with a route search device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a route search device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a main routine of the route search device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of keyword setting shown in FIG. 4;

6 is a flowchart of the route request shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of search condition setting shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of destination input shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a current position check shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the route guidance shown in FIG.

11 is a flowchart of a matching process with the guidance route data shown in FIG.

12 is a flowchart showing an information output process shown in FIG.

FIG. 13 is a plan view showing a position of a vehicle on a road when guidance is performed by the route guidance shown in FIG. 10;

14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a pattern of guidance information of the route guidance illustrated in FIG. 10;

FIG. 15 is a plan view of a display and an operation keyboard of the display of the route search device shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 16 is a plan view showing a display example of a display when the guidance notification shown in FIG. 10 is made.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of the support center shown in FIG.

18 is a flowchart of a main routine of the controller 1 shown in FIG.

FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram showing combinations of nodes and links stored in the map database shown in FIG. 17 in a planar distribution.

20 is a flowchart of a main routine of the search engine shown in FIG.

FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram when guidance is performed based on information from the search engine shown in FIG. 17;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Route search apparatus 2 CPU 7 Modem 8 Telephone unit 10 Voice synthesis unit 12 Gyro sensor 100 Support center 200 Traffic control center 300 Switching center 400 Relay station

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Keiji Kazutani 2-1-1 Asahi-cho, Kariya-shi, Aichi Prefecture Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A travel route guidance device mounted on a moving body, comprising: input means for inputting a destination and a search condition to the device; ground position detection means for detecting a ground position of the device;
First transmitting means for transmitting the current position and the destination detected by the ground position detecting means to a communication line, first receiving means for receiving path information from the current position to the destination by the communication line, and A mobile station having guide information generating means for generating guide information for moving along a route indicated by information, node information specifying many positions, and link information and map information indicating a route connecting the vicinity thereof And a second receiving means for receiving the current location and the destination transmitted by the first transmitting means from a communication line; information on the received current location and the destination as information of the data database and the search condition. Route information generating means for determining an optimal route from the current position to the destination based on the route information, and the route information generating means In a moving route guidance system having a fixed station comprising: a second transmitting means for transmitting the route to the first receiving means via a communication line, wherein the fixed station is added to the optimum route, A moving route guidance system, wherein a route is also transmitted to the first receiving unit via the communication line by the second transmitting unit. 2. The method according to claim 2, wherein the route at the time of leaving is generated by a route information generating means at a node on the optimal route to the destination and transmitted together with the optimal route. Item 3. The moving route guidance system according to Item 1. 3. The moving route guidance system according to claim 2, wherein the route at the time of leaving is generated by the route information generating means until the route returns to the optimal route. 4. The departure route includes a departure route at a point that changes direction on the optimal route or a point within a predetermined range from a departure point on the optimal route. The travel route guidance system according to claim 3, wherein the travel route guidance system is generated by a generation unit.