JPH11325922A - Navigator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a navigator capable of adequately grasping whether each facility can be used. SOLUTION: From a peripheral facility list plotted by an operation image generating part 64, facilities turning to passing spots or a destination are selected by a user. A route search processing part 36 searches a route reaching a facility in a destination via facilities of passing spots, and calculates arrival dates to facilities in the passing spots and the destination. A part 66 judging whether a facility can be used judges whether the facilities can be used at the arrival dates, on the basis of the calculated arrival data of the facilities in the passing spots and the destination and detailed facility data read from a map buffer 16. In the case that the facility can not be used, an alarm message plotted by a facility information drawing part 70 is displayed on a display unit 9.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a navigation apparatus for displaying map information around a vehicle position and setting an optimum route connecting a departure place and a destination by searching for a route.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an on-vehicle navigation device detects a current position of a vehicle, reads map data near the current position from a CD-ROM, and displays the map data on a screen. Also,
In the center of the screen, a vehicle position mark indicating the vehicle position is displayed, and the map data in the vicinity is scrolled according to the progress of the vehicle around the vehicle position mark so that the map information around the vehicle position can be always understood. Has become.

[0003] Usually, a navigation device mounted on a vehicle is equipped with a route guidance function that enables a driver to travel to a desired destination without making a mistake on a road. According to this route guidance function, the lowest cost route connecting the departure point and the destination is automatically searched by performing a simulation calculation such as the horizontal search (BFS) method or the Dijkstra method using the map data, and the search is performed. The route should be stored as a guidance route, and while driving, the guidance route should be drawn thicker with a different color from other roads on the map image and displayed on the screen, or the vehicle should change the course on the guidance route When approaching the intersection within a certain distance, the intersection is enlarged and displayed to display an arrow indicating the traveling direction, thereby guiding the driver to the destination.

The cost is a value obtained by multiplying a road width, a road type (such as a general road or an expressway), a right turn, a left turn, and other predetermined constants based on the distance. The degree of appropriateness is quantified. Even if there are two routes having the same distance, the cost differs depending on whether the driver specifies whether to use the expressway, whether to give priority to time or distance, and the like.

[0005] By the way, there is a case where a user wants to know information such as a location of a restaurant or a public facility, business hours, etc. during driving in order to have a meal or a break. As a conventional technology that meets such a demand, an “in-vehicle navigation device” disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-47980 is known. According to this navigation device, a desired facility is superimposed on a map image around the own vehicle position and displayed,
Whether the facility is currently available from the current date and time or day of the week is indicated by changing the color of the mark corresponding to the facility, and the user can select the desired facility located around the road on which the vehicle is traveling. Business situation can be properly grasped.

[0006]

However, the above-described conventional navigation device determines whether or not the surrounding facilities are open based on the current date and time of the running vehicle. Accurate information can be obtained when the business situation of the facility around the own vehicle position is known, but inconvenience arises when the business situation of the facility located at a remote place is to be known. For example, a normal navigation device has a function of scrolling a map and displaying a map image around a desired point, but whether or not a peripheral facility at a point apart from the current location is open at that time. Even if it is known, it takes a predetermined time for the vehicle to actually travel and reach the facility, so when the vehicle arrives around the facility, the business has been closed,
In some cases the facility was not available. Therefore, even if it is displayed whether or not the facility located at a location separated from the vehicle position is open for business, it cannot be said that the information is desired by the user.

[0007] A similar problem also occurs when a route search function provided in a normal navigation device is used. For example, even if you know which facilities are open at the time of performing a route search, it takes a certain amount of time to actually reach those transit points and destinations, so that the facilities are closed. In some cases, the facility could not be used.

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and an object of the present invention is to provide a navigation device which can appropriately grasp whether or not each facility can be used.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a navigation device of the present invention calculates the arrival date and time of a predetermined facility by performing a route search, and calculates the arrival date and time of the calculated arrival date and time and the sales of the facility. By comparing the information with the information, it is determined whether the facility is available upon arrival, and the result of the determination is output. Therefore, the user can accurately determine whether or not the facility is available before actually going to the facility, based on the output determination result. It is possible to eliminate waste such as the inability to use.

[0010] In particular, it is preferable to apply a facility at a transit point or a destination used for route search as a facility for which availability is determined. At the time of route search, if it is known in advance that the facilities at the waypoints and destinations are not available, it is possible to change the waypoints and the like as appropriate and redo the route search again. A route can be set.

It is preferable that the above-described process of calculating the arrival date and time and the process of determining whether the facility can be used are repeatedly performed at predetermined intervals. Since the date and time of actually arriving at the facility varies depending on the congestion of the road and the like, it is possible to make a more realistic decision by repeatedly determining whether or not the facility can be used as the vehicle travels.

Further, it is preferable to determine whether or not each facility included in the display screen can be used, and to display the determination result on the display screen. In particular, when a map is displayed at a location separated from the position of the own vehicle, it takes time to arrive at each facility included in the map, and the availability of use based on the displayed time is displayed. Although it is often not very useful, if it is possible to calculate the arrival time when traveling to each facility and display the availability of each facility, it is possible to display according to the actual situation, and it is possible to plan an itinerary etc. It will be easier.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A navigation device according to an embodiment of the present invention determines whether or not a facility is available based on the arrival of the facility, and notifies the user of the determination result. Alternatively, it is characterized in that various processes such as a route search are performed using the determination result. Hereinafter, a navigation device according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

(1) Overall Configuration of Navigation Apparatus FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of an on-vehicle navigation apparatus according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied. The navigation apparatus shown in FIG. 1 includes a navigation controller 1 for controlling the whole, a CD-ROM 2 on which various map data necessary for map display and route search are recorded, and a CD-RO
A disk reader 3 for reading map data recorded in M2, and a remote control (remote control) unit 4 as an operation unit for inputting various instructions by a driver or a passenger
A GPS receiver 5 and an autonomous navigation sensor 6 for detecting the position and direction of the vehicle, and a road traffic information center (VIC
S center), a beacon transceiver 7 and an FM multiplex broadcast receiver 8 for receiving VICS information transmitted by various communication systems, a display device 9 for displaying a map image and a guidance route superimposed on the map image, a route guidance And an audio unit 10 that outputs a predetermined guidance voice when performing the operation.

The above-mentioned disk reading device 3 can be loaded with one or a plurality of CD-ROMs 2 and any one of the CD-ROMs 2 is controlled by the navigation controller 1.
-Read map data from the ROM 2. The remote control unit 4 includes a search key for giving a route search instruction,
Route guidance mode key used to set the route guidance mode,
There are various operation keys such as left / right / up / down cursor keys, map reduction / enlargement key, setting key for fixing the item at the cursor position on the display screen, and facility list display key for displaying a list of surrounding facilities. An infrared signal corresponding to the operation state of is transmitted to the navigation controller 1.

The GPS receiver 5 receives radio waves transmitted from a plurality of GPS satellites, performs three-dimensional positioning processing or two-dimensional positioning processing, and calculates the absolute position and direction of the vehicle (vehicle direction is the current Is calculated based on the own vehicle position and the own vehicle position one sampling time ΔT before), and these are output together with the positioning time. The autonomous navigation sensor 6 includes an angle sensor such as a vibrating gyroscope that detects the vehicle rotation angle as a relative direction, and a distance sensor that outputs one pulse every predetermined traveling distance. Detect orientation.

The beacon transceiver 7 performs two-way communication with radio wave beacon transceivers mainly installed on expressways via radio waves, and mainly uses optical beacon transceivers installed on general roads. The two-way communication is carried out via light between the VICS center and the VI sent from the VICS center.
Receive CS information. The FM multiplex broadcast receiver 8 includes a VICS included in multiplexed data superimposed on general FM broadcast.
Receive information. When comparing the above-mentioned radio beacon, optical beacon and FM multiplex broadcasting, there is no fundamental difference in the point that both can receive VICS information and the content thereof,
In the case of FM multiplex broadcasting, V
ICS information can be obtained.

The display device 9 displays map information around the own vehicle along with a vehicle position mark, a departure point mark, a destination mark, etc., based on image data output from the navigation controller 1, and guides the user on this map. Or show directions. The display device 9 displays a list of nearby facilities.

(2) Detailed Contents of Map Data Next, details of the map data recorded on the CD-ROM 2 will be described. The map data recorded on the CD-ROM 2 is in units of figures separated by a predetermined longitude and latitude, and the map data of each figure can be specified and read by specifying a figure number. Becomes In addition, the map data for each map includes a drawing unit including various data necessary for map display, a road unit including data necessary for various processes such as map matching, route search, and route guidance, and an intersection. An intersection unit consisting of detailed data of the intersection is included. In addition, the drawing unit described above has a V required to identify the corresponding road based on the traffic congestion information sent from the VICS center.
The data includes the data of the ICS conversion layer, the data of the background layer required to display buildings or rivers, and the data of the character layer required to display names of cities, towns and villages, names of roads, and the like. The data of the background layer includes detailed facility data such as the type of business and the business hours of the surrounding facilities.

(3) Detailed Configuration and Operation of Navigation Controller Next, a detailed configuration of the navigation controller 1 shown in FIG. 1 will be described. The navigation controller 1 includes a map buffer 16 for displaying a predetermined map on the display device 9 based on the map data read from the CD-ROM 2, a map reading control unit 18, a map drawing unit 20, a VRAM 22, a reading control unit 24, Image synthesis unit 26
A data storage unit 30, a vehicle position / azimuth calculation unit 32 for performing calculation of the vehicle position, map matching processing, route search processing, and route guidance processing and displaying the results.
A map matching processing unit 34, a route search processing unit 36, a guidance route memory 38, a route search memory 40, a guidance route drawing unit 42, a mark image generation unit 44, and an intersection guidance unit 46 are provided.

Further, the navigation controller 1
A received data buffer 50 for displaying VICS information received by the beacon transceiver 7 and the like, a VICS information drawing unit 52, and various operation screens for the user and an operation instruction from the remote control unit 4 are transmitted to each unit. Remote controller control section 60, cursor position calculation section 62,
An operation screen generating unit 64, a facility availability determining unit 66 for determining whether or not the facility is available based on the arrival time of the facility and notifying the user, and a facility information drawing unit 70 are provided. ing.

The map buffer 16 includes the disk reader 3
Is for temporarily storing the map data read from the CD-ROM 2 by the above method. Map reading control unit 1
When the center position of the screen is calculated by the control unit 8, a command to read map data in a predetermined range including the center position of the screen is sent from the map reading control unit 18 to the disk reading device 3, and the map data necessary for displaying the map is stored on the CD. Read out from the ROM 2 and stored in the map buffer 16; For example, map data corresponding to four sheets including the screen center position is read out and stored in the map buffer 16.

The map drawing section 20 creates a map image required for display based on the drawing units included in the map data of the four figures stored in the map buffer 16. The created map image data is stored in the VRAM 22, and the read control unit 24 reads one screen of map image data. The image synthesizing unit 26 adds, to the read map image data, image data output from a mark image generating unit 44, an intersection guidance unit 46, an operation screen generating unit 64, and a facility information drawing unit 70, which will be described later. The images are superimposed and synthesized, and the synthesized image is displayed on the screen of the display device 9.

The data storage unit 30 sequentially stores positioning position (own vehicle position) data output from the GPS receiver 5. Further, the vehicle position / direction calculation unit 32 calculates the absolute position and direction of the vehicle from the relative position and direction of the vehicle output from the autonomous navigation sensor 6. The map matching processing unit 34 uses the GP stored in the data storage unit 30
It is determined whether or not the own vehicle position by the S receiver 5 or the own vehicle position calculated by the vehicle position / azimuth calculation unit 32 exists on the road in the map data. The process of correcting the own vehicle position is performed. As typical methods of map matching, pattern matching and projection are known.

When any facility name is selected by operating the cursor key of the remote control unit 4 and pressing the setting key while the facility name list is displayed, the route search processing section 36 causes the facility to be routed. Set as a search destination and stopover. Data (facility detailed data) relating to the longitude / latitude, business hours, and the like of the facilities at the set destination / transit point is stored in the guidance route memory 38. This facility detailed data will be described later. The route search processing unit 36
When the search key of the remote control unit 4 is pressed, the own vehicle position corrected by the map matching processing unit 34 is set as a departure place, stored in the guidance route memory 38, and stored in the guidance route memory 38. A search is made for a traveling route connecting the stored facilities of the departure point and the waypoint / destination under predetermined conditions. For example, a guidance route that minimizes the cost under various conditions such as the shortest time, the shortest distance, and the priority on general roads is set. As a typical method of the route search, the Dijkstra method and the horizontal search method are known. The guidance route set by the route search processing unit 36 in this way is stored in the guidance route memory 38. In addition, the route search processing unit 36 calculates the date and time of arrival at the facilities at the waypoints and destinations by adding the required time of the set route from the departure place, and transmits the calculation result to the facility use availability determination unit 66.

The route search memory 40 is for storing data of an intersection network list necessary for the route search, and the stored data is read out by the above-described route search processing unit 36 and a predetermined route search process is performed. Done.

The guidance route drawing section 42 is provided with the guidance route memory 3.
8 from the guidance route data stored in
Those included in the map area drawn on the RAM 22 are selected, and a guidance route which is superimposed on a map image with a predetermined color and emphasized thickly is drawn. The mark image generating unit 44 generates a vehicle position mark at the position of the own vehicle after the map matching processing, or generates a cursor mark having a predetermined shape.

The intersection guide section 46 provides guidance at the intersection where the vehicle is approaching by means of a display image and voice. When the vehicle actually navigates the route, the own vehicle approaches within a predetermined distance from the intersection ahead of the guidance route. At this time, the guide map (the enlarged view of the intersection, the destination, the traveling direction arrow) of the approaching intersection is displayed on the screen of the display device 9, and the traveling direction is guided by audio through the audio unit 10.

When the facility list display key of the remote control unit 4 is depressed, the operation screen generating section 64 operates the map buffer 1.
The facility name list is drawn based on the facility detail data stored in the sixth facility.

Based on the arrival date and time of the transit point / destination calculated by the route search processing unit 36 and the facility detailed data stored in the map buffer 16, the facility use availability determination unit 66 determines When arriving at a facility, it is determined whether the facility is available. Facility information drawing unit 7
0 indicates to the user the availability of the facility at the transit point / destination determined by the facility availability determination unit 66, for example, "XX restaurant is not open on the arrival date and time." Draw character information.

The map buffer 16 described above serves as a sales information storage unit, the route search processing unit 36 serves as an arrival date / time calculation unit, the facility use availability determination unit 66 serves as a facility availability determination unit, a facility information drawing unit 70, and an image synthesis unit. 26, display device 9
Correspond to the determination result output means. Further, the facility detailed data described above corresponds to the sales information.

(4) Operation of Navigation Apparatus The entire navigation apparatus and the navigation controller 1 have the above-described configuration. Next, the operation of the navigation apparatus including the operation of judging availability at the time of arrival at each facility is described. explain.

First, facility detailed data on various facilities included in the map data will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the contents of the facility detail data. As shown in the figure, the facility detail data corresponding to each facility includes “facility type” indicating the category of the facility (restaurant, public facility, etc.),
The information includes "facility name character string", "longitude / latitude" where the facility is located, "business start time", "business end time", "closed day", "use time", and the like. The “use time” indicates an average time required to use each facility, such as one hour for a restaurant and 10 minutes for a gas station.

As described above, this facility detailed data is C
The facility availability judging unit 66 extracts the facility detail data included in the map data stored in the map buffer 16 and includes the facility detail data included in the background layer of the map data read from the D-ROM 2. Make a decision.

(4-1) Route Searching Operation FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation procedure of the route searching process performed by the navigation device of the present embodiment. An operation procedure for issuing a predetermined warning to the user when the destination facility is unavailable is shown.

When the user operates the cursor keys on the remote control unit 4 to scroll the map image being displayed and then presses the facility list display key, the operation screen generating unit 64
From the facility detail data included in the map data stored in the map data buffer 16, a facility corresponding to the nearest facility around the current cursor position is extracted, and a peripheral facility list image is drawn. The drawn peripheral facility list image is sent to and displayed on the display device 9 via the image synthesizing unit 26 (step 100).

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a display of a list of peripheral facilities, for example, a case where "restaurant" is designated as the facility type. Each facility name shown in the figure is
It is drawn based on the “facility name character string” of the facility detailed data. The “Destination” button shown at the bottom of the figure is a button for designating the selected facility as a destination, and the “Transit point” button is a button for designating the selected facility as a transit point. is there.

Next, the route search processing section 36 determines whether or not any facility name has been selected from the peripheral facility list shown in FIG. 4 (step 101). If any facility name is selected, the route search processing unit 36
It is determined whether the “transit point” button or the “destination” button shown in FIG.
03). When the user operates the remote control unit 4 to select the “transit point” button, the route search processing unit 36 sets the facility selected in step 101 as the transit point, and sets the corresponding facility detailed data Is stored in the guidance route memory 38 (step 104). Thereafter, the process returns to step 101 (determination of whether or not the facility name has been selected) and the process is repeated.

When the "destination" button is selected by the user operating the remote control unit 4, the route search processing unit 36 sets the facility selected in step 101 as the destination, The corresponding facility detailed data is stored in the guidance route memory 38 (step 10).
5).

Thereafter, when the search key of the remote control unit 4 is pressed by the user, the route search processing unit 36
Using the own vehicle position as the departure point, the vehicle goes through the facilities at each transit point set in step 104, and
The route to the destination facility set in 05 is searched (step 106), and the date and time of arrival at each transit point and destination facility are calculated (step 107). The arrival date and time calculated in this way is sent to the facility availability determination unit 66.

Next, the facility availability judging unit 66 determines the arrival date and time of the facilities at each transit point and destination sent from the route search processing unit 36 and the “departure date” of the facility detailed data stored in the map buffer 16. Based on the “business start time”, “business end time”, “holiday”, and “use time”, whether there are facilities that are unavailable or difficult to use at the arrival date and time among the facilities at the transit point and destination (Step 1
08). More specifically, the facility availability determination unit 66 determines that the facility cannot be used when the arrival date and time of each facility at the transit point and the destination is outside the business hours of the facility. In addition, the facility use availability determination unit 66 arrives at a restaurant where the use time is one hour, for example, 30 minutes before the business end time, in consideration of the use time according to the type of the facility at the waypoint / destination. In this case, it is determined that "use is difficult". If there are no facilities that are unavailable or difficult to use among the facilities at the waypoints and destinations, the route search processing unit 36 ends the route search.

When there are facilities that cannot be used or are difficult to use among the facilities at the transit point and the destination, the facility information drawing unit 70 draws a predetermined warning message image. The drawn warning message image is sent to the display device 9 via the image synthesizing unit 26 and displayed as shown in FIG. 5 (step 109).

As described above, the navigation device of this embodiment calculates the date and time of arrival at each of the facilities at the waypoint and the destination, and determines whether or not each of the facilities is available at the arrival date and time. . In other words, rather than determining whether each facility at the stopover and destination is currently available,
Since the system determines whether or not it can be used at the date and time of arrival at the facility, the user can appropriately determine whether or not the facility at a distant place can be used. It is possible to avoid situations such as being out of time and unavailable.

In addition, if there is a facility at a transit point or a destination that is unusable or difficult to use, a warning is issued in advance. Therefore, the user sets the facility at the transit point and the destination again and searches for a route. And other appropriate measures can be taken. In addition, because the facility usage time is considered instead of simply determining the facility availability based on the arrival date and time, business hours, and holidays, the facility arrives during business hours, It is possible to avoid the inconvenience of not being able to substantially use the service.

In the operation procedure described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 3, a list of all candidate facilities is displayed in step 100 regardless of whether or not each facility is available. By judging facilities that are unusable or difficult to use and excluding those facilities and displaying a list of facilities, it is possible to prevent users from selecting facilities that are unusable or difficult to use as transit points and destinations. Is also good.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the navigation apparatus for setting a stopover and a destination by excluding facilities that cannot be used from the facility list in advance. The route search processing unit 36 reads the facility detailed data stored in the map buffer 16 by background processing in parallel with a normal navigation operation, and searches for a route from the departure place (own vehicle position) to each facility. The date and time of arrival at each facility is calculated (step 200). The calculated arrival date and time of each facility is sent to the facility availability determination unit 66.

Next, the facility availability determining unit 66 determines the arrival date and time of each facility calculated by the route search processing unit 36,
“Business start time”, “business end time”, “closed day”,
Based on the “use time”, it is determined whether there is a facility that is unavailable or difficult to use upon arrival (step 20).
1). This determination result is sent to the operation screen generation unit 64.

Next, when the user operates the cursor keys of the remote control unit 4 to scroll the displayed map image and then presses the facility list display key, the operation screen generator 6
4 extracts, from the facility detailed data of each facility included in the map data stored in the map data buffer 16, the one corresponding to the nearest facility around the current cursor position,
Draw the peripheral facility list image. The drawing of the peripheral facility list image is performed excluding the facilities that cannot be used if the facilities to be drawn include those that cannot be used.
When the facilities that cannot be used are not included, the processing is performed for all the facilities, and the respective drawing results are sent to the display device 9 via the image combining unit 26 and displayed (steps 202 and 203).

When the facility list is displayed, the route search processing section 36 sets a stopover and a destination according to the user's instruction (steps 204 to 208). Step 204 ~
Each operation of step 208 corresponds to steps 101 to 10 shown in FIG.
5 is the same as the operation of FIG. Next, the route search processing unit 36
A route to the destination via each transit point is searched (step 209).

As described above, a facility list is displayed in advance by excluding facilities that are unavailable or difficult to use, so that the user cannot select facilities that are unavailable or difficult to use as transit points or destinations. As a result, all the facilities set as the transit point and the destination become available at the arrival date and time. Therefore, it is not necessary to perform the route search again because an unavailable facility is set at the waypoint or the destination. Further, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the user cannot actually use the facility because it is outside the business hours of the facility.

When the actual arrival date and time is later than the arrival date and time calculated by the route search because the road is congested or the like, or when the actual arrival date and time is different because the road is empty or the like. If it is earlier than the arrival date and time calculated by the route search, the facility determined to be available may be unavailable or difficult to use, or the facility determined to be unavailable or difficult to use may become available. . Therefore, it is preferable to determine again available facilities and unusable or difficult facilities during traveling.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing an operation procedure of the navigation device which periodically determines whether or not each facility at the waypoint and the destination can be used during traveling. For example, after issuing a predetermined warning to facilities that are unavailable or difficult to use according to the operation procedure shown in FIG. 3, only available transit points and destinations are set and a route search is performed. It is assumed that the vehicle is traveling along the route set by the operation.

The route search processing unit 36 determines whether a predetermined time (for example, 30 minutes) has elapsed from the time of the previous route search (step 300). If the predetermined time has elapsed, the route search processing unit 36 determines the route from the own vehicle position to each of the facilities at the destination and the destination (excluding the facilities at the destination that have already passed), and the step 108 in FIG. Facilities that are determined to be unusable or difficult to use at
A route to the “unusable facility” is searched (step 301), and the date and time of arrival at each facility is calculated (step 302). The calculated arrival date and time is sent to the facility availability determination unit 66.

Next, the facility availability judging section 66 calculates the arrival date and time of each facility at the transit point and the destination calculated by the route search processing section 36, and the facility details related to these facilities stored in the map buffer 16. Based on the “business start time”, “business end time”, “holiday”, and “use time” included in the data, facilities that are unavailable or difficult to use among the facilities at transit points and destinations It is determined whether or not there is (Step 303). If the arrival time of each facility is delayed due to traffic congestion, or if you arrive earlier than expected because the road is more empty than expected,
If there is a facility that arrives outside business hours due to a shift in the arrival date and time, an affirmative determination is made in step 303.

If there is no corresponding facility, the facility availability determining unit 66 next determines the arrival date and time of the unavailable facility calculated by the route search processing unit 36 and the facility stored in the map buffer 16. Based on the “business start time”, “business end time”, “holiday”, and “use time” included in the detailed facility data on whether or not there are any facilities that are no longer available Is determined (step 304). When the arrival time at each facility is delayed due to traffic congestion, or when the vehicle arrives earlier than expected due to a more open road than expected and arrives outside business hours according to the previous route search If there is a facility that was scheduled to arrive but arrived within business hours due to a shift in the arrival date and time, a positive determination is made in step 304.

If there is a facility that is unavailable or difficult to use among the facilities at the waypoint and destination, or if there is a facility that is newly available among the facilities that cannot be used, the facility information The drawing unit 70 draws a predetermined warning message image. The drawn warning message image is
It is sent to the display device 9 via the image synthesizing unit 26 and displayed (step 305).

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen for a warning message. If the facilities at the waypoint / destination are unavailable or difficult to use, a warning message is displayed to notify the user of this (Fig. 8), and the facilities that were unavailable or difficult to use are available. Is displayed, a warning message notifying the fact is displayed (FIG. 8).
of).

Also, steps 303 and 30 described above are performed.
If a negative determination is made in any of the cases (if there is no facility whose use has been changed), step 3
Returning to 00 (determining whether a predetermined time has elapsed since the previous route search), the process is repeated.

As described above, by calculating the arrival date and time of each facility at the transit point and the destination periodically during traveling, it is possible to accurately determine whether or not each facility can be used in consideration of road conditions such as traffic congestion. It is possible to take measures such as changing the route as needed.

By the way, in the above description of various operations,
It is determined whether or not each facility at the transit point or destination used for route search can be used.However, this map is included in the case where a map display of a place separated from the vehicle position is performed separately from the route search operation. It may be determined whether or not each facility can be used.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the navigation apparatus which determines whether or not each facility included in the map being displayed can be used based on the date and time of arrival at each facility. When the cursor key of the remote control unit 4 is pressed by the user and the displayed map image is scrolled (step 400), the route search processing unit 36 responds to each facility included in the scrolled map on the screen. The facility detailed data to be read is read from the map buffer 16, and a route from the own vehicle position to each facility is searched by background processing in parallel with a normal map display operation to calculate the date and time of arrival at each facility (step 401). ). The calculated arrival date and time of each facility is sent to the facility availability determination unit 66.

Next, the facility availability determining unit 66 determines the arrival date and time of each facility calculated by the route search processing unit 36,
“Business start time”, “business end time”, “closed day”,
Based on the "usage time", facilities available at the time of arrival and facilities unavailable or difficult to use are classified (step 402).

Next, the facility availability judging section 66 creates a mark image indicating the availability of each of the available facilities and the facilities that are unavailable or difficult to use, and generates a VR image.
By superimposing and drawing at the position corresponding to each facility in the map image drawn on the AM 22, a mark image indicating whether each facility can be used is displayed on the screen (step 40).
3). As this mark image, for example, a circle is displayed corresponding to available facilities, and a cross is displayed corresponding to facilities that are unavailable or difficult to use. Further, each facility may be colored differently depending on whether the facility can be used.

As described above, since the predetermined mark image is displayed according to the availability of the facility displayed on the map image, the user can easily confirm whether or not the facility can be used. be able to. Also, instead of determining whether a facility is available at the current time, it is determined whether it is available at the date and time when it will arrive at that facility. Can also obtain useful information, making it easier to plan trips and the like.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the facility detailed data including the business hours and the like is stored in advance in a CD-R.
Although the data recorded in the OM2 is read out and used, the navigation device may be provided with a communication device and always acquire the latest facility detailed data from an external database. Further, in the navigation device of the above-described embodiment, since it is necessary to accurately predict the arrival time of each facility, the cost at the time of route search based on the VICS information received by the beacon transceiver 7 or the FM multiplex broadcast receiver 8 is required. It is preferable to make modifications.

In the above-described embodiment, a warning message indicating whether or not each facility can be used is displayed on the display device 9.
May be output.

In the operation procedure shown in FIG. 9, different mark images are made to correspond to the cases where each facility included in the display screen is available and the facilities are not available. The predetermined mark image may be attached only to the facility corresponding to.

[0068]

As described above, according to the present invention, the arrival date and time of a predetermined facility is calculated by performing a route search.
By comparing the calculated arrival date and time with the business information of the facility, it is determined whether or not the facility is available at the time of arrival.Because this determination result is output, before actually going to the facility, It is possible to accurately grasp whether or not the facility is available, and it is possible to eliminate waste such as not being able to use the facility on a holiday or the like when actually going.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a vehicle-mounted navigation device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the contents of facility detailed data.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure of a route search process performed by the navigation device of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a display of a facility information list.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a display of a warning message.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of a navigation device for setting a stopover and a destination by excluding facilities that cannot be used from a facility list in advance.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the navigation device which periodically determines whether or not each facility at a transit point and a destination can be used during traveling.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display of a warning message.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the navigation device that determines whether or not each facility included in the map being displayed is available based on the date and time of arrival at each facility.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 navigation controller 2 CD-ROM 4 remote control unit 7 beacon transceiver 8 FM multiplex broadcast receiver 9 display device 16 map buffer 22 VRAM 36 route search processing unit 38 guidance route memory 64 operation screen generation unit 66 facility availability determination unit 70 facility Information drawing unit

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An arrival date and time calculating means for calculating an arrival date and time of a predetermined facility by performing a route search; a business information storing means in which business information of the facility is stored; and an arrival date and time calculating means. Facility availability determining means for determining whether or not the facility is available upon arrival based on the arrival date and time of the facility and the business information of the facility stored in the business information storage means; A navigation device, comprising: a determination result output unit that outputs a determination result by the availability determination unit. 2. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined facility is at least one of a transit point and a destination used for a route search. 3. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the calculation process by the arrival date and time calculation unit and the determination process by the facility availability determination unit are repeated at predetermined intervals. 4. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined facility is a facility included in a display screen, and a result of the determination by the facility availability determination unit is displayed on the display screen. .