JPH11257985A - Navigation system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a navigation system for guiding a course appropriately. SOLUTION: The navigation system comprises means 12 for measuring the current position, means 14, 15 for reading out a road map data from a memory medium, means 18 for storing a travel record data, means 11 for searching a course from a specified position to a goal using a road data used for course search in a map data read out by the read out means 14, 15 and a past travel road data represented by a travel record data stored in the memory means, and means 19 for displaying the road map of the road map data read out from the means 14, 15 and generating a signal for indicating a course searched by the means 11 on the road map.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a navigation device suitable for application to a navigation device such as an automobile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various navigation devices have been developed which measure the current position of a moving body such as an automobile and display a map near the current position. This navigation device is, for example, mounted on a car and includes a position detecting means for measuring the current position of the own car, a large-capacity storage means such as a CD-ROM for storing road map information in advance, and a liquid crystal display. It comprises a display means and a search means for performing a route search having an operation unit for inputting information.
In this case, GPS (Global Pos
The system calculates the absolute position (latitude and longitude) of the vehicle by a positioning system using an artificial satellite called the “itioning System”, and travels from the departure position based on information on the traveling speed and traveling direction of the vehicle. A device that tracks a route and calculates a relative position is used.

In this navigation device, the position detecting means measures the current position, a road map near the current position is displayed on the display means, and the position of the own vehicle is displayed on the road map with a mark or the like. . In addition to such a function of displaying the position of the vehicle, a navigation device having a function of guiding a route to a destination has been developed. That is, when the destination information is input from the operation unit, the search means selects and selects the planned travel route from the current position to the destination, and the planned travel route is identified as another road and displayed on the display means. In general, an arterial road which is relatively easy to travel, even if it has no driving experience, is preferentially selected as the route for the route search. Then, the display of the vehicle position is performed continuously with the movement of the vehicle position, and an instruction is given by voice or the like when approaching an intersection, for example, when the vehicle approaches an intersection, so that the route guidance is performed. Will be

[0004] With this configuration, a scheduled travel route from the current position where the main road is selected preferentially to the destination is searched and selected, identified and displayed, and the route is set so as not to deviate from the scheduled travel route. By performing the guidance, it is possible to travel to a destination by traveling on an arterial road that is relatively easy to travel, even on a road that has no traveling experience.

[0005]

The route searched by this type of navigation device is not always the best route because it mainly uses the main road preferentially. That is, depending on the actual road conditions, it is often the case that selecting a route avoiding a place where traffic congestion occurs on a daily basis or an intersection where there is a long traffic light can reach the destination in a short time. However, conventional navigation devices do not store detailed information such as road conditions in road map information such as a prepared map disk, and perform an optimal route search after making such a determination. It was difficult to do.

[0006] In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a navigation device capable of performing appropriate route guidance.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve this problem, the present invention provides a storage means for storing travel history data, and a road map used for route search among road map data prepared in advance. Route searching means for searching for a route from a predetermined position to a destination using data and data of a previously traveled road indicated by the running history data stored in the storage means; Is performed to display the route found by the search.

According to the present invention, it is possible to perform a process of displaying a route searched for using the travel history data on a road map.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the navigation device of this embodiment. Here, a case where the navigation device 10 of the present example is mounted on a car will be described. The navigation device 10 of this example is a GPS
It is assumed that only satellite positioning by is performed. The system controller 11 included in the navigation device 10 performs processes such as route search and image data creation, and also controls the entire device. The GPS signal processing unit 12 included in the navigation device 10 analyzes a received signal obtained by receiving positioning signals from a plurality of satellites with the GPS antenna 13 connected to the navigation device 10 at a fixed period based on the control of the system controller 11. And the absolute location (latitude,
Longitude, etc.) is calculated, and a signal of the calculated positioning data is output to the system controller 11.

C connected to the system controller 11
The D-ROM control unit 14 is, for example, a CD-ROM which is a mass storage medium mounted on the CD-ROM drive 15.
The control for retrieving and reading the road map data stored in 16 is performed. The CD-ROM 16
Stores, for example, a position such as an intersection on a road as a coordinate position, and stores each point of this coordinate position as data connecting with vector data conforming to the shape of the road.
In addition, a predetermined accessory display and the like used for road display are stored. Each of the stored roads is added with road type data such as a main road.

An operation unit 17 is connected to the system controller 11 here, and performs setting for reading out a desired road map, setting of a destination, and the like. Note that the operation by the operation unit 17 may be performed by a remote control as being performed by a remote controller. Further, a writable, for example, non-volatile memory 18 is connected to the system controller 11. Here, the memory 18 stores travel trajectory data of an automobile equipped with a navigation device, and also stores data relating to the number of times of road use, elapsed travel time, and the like. Data). In this case, for example, it is conceivable that the information is differentiated and stored according to the time zone (for example, morning and afternoon) or the day of the week (for example, weekday and holiday). As the storage of the traveling locus data in the memory 18, for example, a code assigned to each road in the road map data may be stored together with the traveling section, or may be stored as vector data between coordinate positions.

An image processing section 19 connected to the system controller 11 creates a predetermined image signal for display (for example, an RGB signal) based on image data created and output by drawing by the system controller 11. And output. As the display device 20 connected to the navigation device 10, for example, a display device such as a liquid crystal display is used, and according to the received video signal, for example, a road map near the current position, a mark of the own vehicle position, an operation menu, or the like. Is displayed on the screen.

The operation of displaying the current position of the navigation device 10 according to the present embodiment will be described.
2 outputs to the system controller 11 positioning data of the current position obtained by analyzing the positioning signal received by the GPS antenna 13. And the system controller 11
Is the CD-ROM drive 1
5 to read road map data near the current position from the CD-ROM 16 mounted on the CD-ROM drive 15. And the system controller 10
Draws an image near the current position to create image data. Further, the video processing unit 19 creates a predetermined video signal for display based on the image data, and
Output to

Next, the operation of the navigation device 10 relating to the search for a scheduled route will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5 in accordance with the flowchart of FIG. Here, when destination information is input from the operation unit 17 provided in the navigation device 10, a route search for searching and selecting a route from the current position to the destination is performed in step S31. In this route search, here, road map data necessary for the route search stored in the CD-ROM 16 is read out, and for example, like a normal route search, for example, a main road is preferentially selected as a route. To select a route (hereinafter referred to as a normal route). In this step S31, as shown in FIG. 3, for example, when the destination equipped with the navigation device 10 is presently located at the current position 41 and the operation unit 17 is used to set the destination 42, the main road 43 is preferentially selected. , The normal route 44 (hatched portion) is searched and selected.

Next, in step S32, it is determined whether or not there is a road which has traveled in the past (hereinafter referred to as a user road) near the normal route. In this example,
This is performed by searching the traveling locus data stored in the memory 18 for a road near a normal route.
It should be noted that the search target is not limited to the case where all the travel locus data stored in the memory 18 is targeted as in the present example, but may be, for example, a specific time in the travel locus data stored in the memory 18. It is conceivable that only the trajectory data of the belt or the specific day of the week is searched, and in this case, step S3
In 2, it is determined whether there is a user road in a specific time zone or a user road on a specific day.

If it is determined in step S32 that there is a user road in the vicinity of the normal route, for example, in step S33, the user traveling on the user road will not travel if the user road is selected. For example, it is determined whether it is advantageous in terms of time, that is, whether or not the vehicle reaches the destination earlier than traveling on a road on the route (hereinafter, referred to as a normal road). In this case, for example, the distance of the road, the elapsed time when the user traveled on the user road in the past is stored in the memory 18, and the actual elapsed time (for example, the average elapsed time) when the user traveled in the past is temporally stored. Is determined as an object to be determined whether or not it is advantageous. This step S32
In step S33, as shown in FIG. 4, for example, as a result of searching for data stored in the memory 18,
If there is a user road 45 passing from the point A near the normal route 44 to the point B in the data of the above, it is determined which of the user road 45 and the normal road 46 is advantageous in terms of time, for example.

If it is determined in step S33 that traveling on the user's road is advantageous in terms of time, in step S34, the user's road is selected as part or all of the planned traveling route instead of the normal road. . In this step S34, for example, as shown in FIG.
5 is selected. In this example, in step S35, the number of times the user road has been used is counted and stored in the memory 18.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S32 that there is no user road near the ordinary road, or
If it is determined that traveling on the ordinary road is advantageous in terms of time, the ordinary route is selected as it is as the scheduled traveling route in step S36, and the number of times the ordinary route is used is counted in step S37. To memorize. In addition, the count of the number of times of use is not limited to immediately after the selection of the planned traveling route. For example, after actually driving, it is also conceivable to count the number of times of use of the actually traveled road irrespective of the planned traveling route.

Then, the selected planned travel route is displayed on the display device 20 by distinguishing it from other roads, and the position of the vehicle is displayed continuously as the vehicle moves.
For example, when the vehicle approaches an intersection, an instruction is given by voice or the like so as to travel along the scheduled traveling route, and route guidance is performed.

With this configuration, not only the main road is preferentially selected and the route is searched and searched, but also the road to be traveled is selected based on the correction based on the past traveling experience. A road that can reach the destination in time can be preferentially searched for and selected. This search and selection makes it possible to set a planned traveling route suitable for the use situation and to follow the planned traveling road suitable for the use situation. In addition, appropriate route guidance can be provided. In addition, since the travel history data can be stored in the memory 18 by identifying the time zone and the day of the week, for example, the route can be corrected based on the traveling locus data of the past specific day of the week or time zone, For example, when the driver is different depending on the day of the week or time zone, it is possible to set a scheduled traveling route suitable for each use situation. Furthermore, a person (for example, a family) who is not a normal driver can enjoy a route that can reach the destination in the shortest time based on the driving experience of the normal driver.
Moreover, since the above-described effects increase as the driver gains driving experience, the navigation device 10 of the present embodiment
It has a so-called learning function.

In the above-described embodiment, whether to select a normal road or a user road is temporally advantageous or not, but the traveling frequency may be used. In this case, for example, a road having a high use frequency is selected by comparing the road use frequency data of the normal road and the user road stored in the memory 18, for example. With this configuration, the best road on which the driver feels easy to drive even if the distance is somewhat long because the driver has the best route without congestion or long signal waiting due to his own experience. Therefore, it is possible to preferentially select a frequently used road to be used for route search when searching for a route, to search and select a planned route, and to provide appropriate route guidance adapted to individual drivers. It can be carried out. In addition, these effects described above have a learning function that increases as the driving experience increases.

In the above-described embodiment, the memory 1
Although the determination is made based on the data stored in No. 8, the determination may be made using only the data stored within a predetermined period in the past (for example, within one year).

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the GPS
However, the positioning may be performed by autonomous navigation based on information on the traveling speed and traveling direction of the vehicle.

[0025]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a route search can be performed using the road map data and the travel history data stored in the storage medium. The user can take a route that has selected the road on which the vehicle has traveled, and can provide appropriate route guidance in consideration of the traveling route of the user of the navigation device in the past.

According to the invention described in claim 2, in the invention described in claim 1, it is determined whether or not to use the road data indicated by the driving history data based on the driving frequency data. For example, it is possible to perform a route search using only roads that have passed a large number of times in the past as travel history data, and to perform more appropriate route guidance.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a route search is performed using only the travel history data when the current time zone, month, day, or day of the week substantially coincides. Thus, for example, even when a specific road that has passed in the past becomes a shortcut only during a specific time zone, appropriate route guidance can be performed in consideration of this point.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a normal route search according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a user road search in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a planned traveling route in one embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 navigation device, 11 system controller, 12 GPS signal processing unit, 13 GPS antenna,
14: CD-ROM control unit, 15: CD-ROM drive, 16: CD-ROM, 17: operation unit, 18: memory, 19: video processing unit, 20: display device

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A positioning means for measuring a current position, a reading means for reading from a storage medium storing road map data, a storage means for storing traveling history data, and a road read by the reading means. From the map data, the data of the road used for the route search and the data of the previously traveled road indicated by the travel history data stored in the storage means are used to move from the predetermined position to the destination. And a display signal for displaying a road map based on the road map data read by the reading means and displaying the route searched by the route searching means on the road map. And a display processing means for causing the navigation device to perform the processing. 2. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the storage means stores travel frequency data together with travel history data, and when the route search means searches for a route, the travel frequency data is stored based on the travel frequency data. A navigation device that determines whether or not to use data of a road that has traveled in the past, which is indicated by travel history data. 3. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the storage means stores at least one of a time zone, a month, a day, and a day of the week along with the travel history data, the current time zone, the month, the day, or the day. A navigation device that uses only the travel history data when it substantially coincides with the day of the week as travel history data used for route search.