KR20130104576A - Path guide apparatus and method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A route guide device and a method thereof are provided to confirm the state of lanes on the route and the number of times of changing the lanes and to reflect traffic information, thereby guiding a vehicle to a lane in which the traffic is light. CONSTITUTION: A route guide device (100) includes a memory unit (120), a communication unit (110), a location information generating unit (130), a route setting unit (140), a lane setting unit (150), and an output unit (160). The memory unit stores map information. The communication unit receives traffic information. The location information generating unit generates location information. The route setting unit sets a driving route to a destination by using the map information and location information or the traffic information. The lane setting unit sets a driving recommended lane on the driving route based on the map information and location information or the traffic information, thereby generating driving lane guide information. The output unit outputs the driving lane guide information. [Reference numerals] (110) Communication unit; (120) Memory unit; (130) Location information generating unit; (140) Route setting unit; (150) Lane setting unit; (160) Output unit

Description

PATH GUIDE APPARATUS AND METHOD THEREOF}

The present invention relates to a route guidance device and method.

The navigation terminal provides a user with a wide variety of information such as current location information of a vehicle, route information to a destination, and map matching performance information using location information and route information.

The previous navigation terminal only performed a route search to the destination and a searched route guidance function. In addition, the navigation terminal apparatus does not provide the user with the road situation after passing a specific point on the searched route in advance, causing inconvenience to the user not to cope with the road situation quickly.

In addition, the previous navigation terminal device has a problem in that it provides only unneeded information to the user by providing uniform information at a predetermined guide point regardless of lane conditions or traffic conditions even when providing information on lanes.

Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2011-0057345

In order to solve the above problems of the prior art, the present invention provides a route guidance apparatus and method for guiding a smooth traffic flow lane by analyzing the change section of the lane.

The present invention also provides a route guidance apparatus and method for guiding a smooth traffic lane using traffic information.

The objects of the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned objects, and other objects not mentioned can be clearly understood from the following description.

In order to achieve the above object, the route guide device according to an aspect of the present invention is a storage unit for storing map information, a communication unit for receiving traffic information, a location information generation unit for generating location information, map information, location information or traffic A route setting unit for setting a driving route to a destination using information, a lane setting unit for generating driving lane guidance information by setting a driving recommendation lane on a driving route using map information, location information, or traffic information, and a driving lane And an output unit for outputting guide information.

In order to achieve the above object, the route guidance method according to another aspect of the present invention comprises the steps of generating location information, setting the driving route to the destination using the map information and location information, receiving traffic information, Identifying lane branches, lane confluences, lane expansions or lane reductions of the forward nodes on the driving path using the map information, and setting driving lanes by reflecting traffic information; and driving recommendation lanes And outputting driving lane guide information.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG.

The present invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. It is provided to fully inform the owner of the scope of the invention.

According to one of the above-described problem solving means of the present invention, the route guidance apparatus and method according to an embodiment of the present invention confirms the lane state and lane change on the route and reflects the traffic information to guide the smooth traffic flow lane can do.

In addition, the route guidance apparatus and method according to an embodiment of the present invention can guide the lane change at a predetermined distance from the lane change point, the user can effectively change the lane.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a route guidance apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 and 3 are diagrams for explaining a lane setting function of a lane setting unit according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a flowchart illustrating a route guidance method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a flowchart illustrating a step of setting a driving recommendation lane according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a flowchart illustrating a step of setting a driving recommendation lane according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

While the present invention has been described in connection with certain exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and similarities.

It should be understood, however, that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments, but includes all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, parts irrelevant to the description are omitted in order to clearly describe the present invention, and like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the specification.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a route guidance apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the route guide device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a communication unit 110, a storage unit 120, a location information generation unit 130, a route setting unit 140, and a lane setting unit. 150 and an output unit 160.

When describing each component, the communication unit 110 receives the traffic information. Here, the communication unit 110 may receive traffic information provided from a traffic information providing apparatus (not shown) through a communication network. In this case, the communication unit 110 may receive traffic information through wireless communication.

Meanwhile, the traffic information providing apparatus may collect traffic information for each lane or traffic information for each point by using an image camera or a speed meter. The traffic information providing apparatus may provide the communication unit 110 with the collected traffic information for each lane and the traffic information for each point or the traffic information for each section. For example, the traffic information for each lane may include traffic volume information for each lane or vehicle average speed information for each lane measured using a video camera or a speed meter installed in the link. In addition, the traffic information for each point may include traffic volume information for each point or vehicle average speed information for each point measured by using an image camera or a speed meter installed in the node.

The storage unit 120 stores map information. Here, the map information may include lane information of the road. In addition, the map information may include node information including information on general, lane branch, and lane joining. Here, the node may be defined as the minimum unit section when the road is divided into at least one section. And general can represent road conditions without lane branches or lane mergers.

The location information generation unit 130 receives the radio wave from the satellite and generates location information. Alternatively, the location information generation unit 130 may generate location information by receiving radio waves from a radio wave transmission apparatus such as mobile communication radio waves. For example, the location information generation unit 130 may use satellite radio waves, mobile communication radio waves, information provided from the vehicle (movement information using the steering wheel angle and current speed, lane information through a camera mounted on the vehicle, etc.). Location information can be generated. The location information generator 130 may provide the generated location information to the path setting unit 140 or the lane setting unit 150.

The route setting unit 140 sets a driving route to the destination. Here, the route setting unit 140 may set the driving route to the set destination using the location information of the vehicle. Alternatively, the route setting unit 140 may receive the route data received from the communication unit 110 and set the driving route.

In this case, the destination may be set through user input or input from an external device. The route setting unit 140 may generate driving route setting information by using the set driving route.

The lane setting unit 150 sets a driving recommendation lane on the driving route. The lane setting unit 150 may receive traffic information, map information, location information, or driving route setting information from each of the communication unit 110, the storage unit 120, the location information generation unit 130, or the route setting unit 140. Can be. The lane setting unit 150 may set a driving recommendation lane using traffic information, map information, location information, or driving route setting information.

Here, the lane setting unit 150 may check lane joining, lane branching, lane expansion, or lane reduction of the forward node on the set driving route using the map information and the location information. The lane setting unit 150 may check the vehicle average speed on the set driving route using the location information and the traffic information. The lane setting unit 150 may generate lane change guide information including a distance to a driving recommendation lane, a lane change point, or a lane change point.

In detail, the lane setting unit 150 may check the position of the vehicle through the location information and may check the lane state of the front node on the driving path through the map information. The lane state may be divided into lane joining, lane branching, lane increase, or lane decrease. The node may indicate a point at which the lane change occurs.

In addition, the lane setting unit 150 may set the driving recommendation lane by reflecting traffic information on the driving route.

As one embodiment, when the traffic information for each lane is received through the communication unit 110, the lane setting unit 150 may set the driving recommendation lane by checking the traffic information for each lane on the driving route. Here, the traffic information for each lane may include information such as traffic volume for each lane or vehicle average speed for each lane for each node or link. In this case, the link may represent a road section connecting the node to the node.

Here, the lane setting unit 150 may check the traffic information for each lane and set a lane having less traffic as the driving recommendation lane. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, when the lane branch of the forward node on the driving path is confirmed, the lane setting unit 150 may set the three lanes having fewer vehicles as the driving recommendation lanes. Alternatively, the lane setting unit 150 may determine a vehicle average speed for each lane through traffic information for each lane and set a lane having a high vehicle average speed as a driving recommendation lane.

In another embodiment, when the traffic information for each point is received through the communication unit 110, the lane setting unit 150 may use the traffic information for each point on the driving route based on the front node and the rear link based on the front node on the driving route. It is possible to set a driving recommendation lane by comparing the average speed between vehicles. In this case, the front link may mean a link that is going to travel through the front node, and the rear link may mean a link that is currently driving.

Here, the lane setting unit 150 may determine the traffic situation of the forward node by comparing the vehicle average speed between the front link and the rear link. At this time, the lane setting unit 150 may determine that the traffic situation of the front node is smooth when the vehicle average speed of the front link is more than the vehicle average speed of the rear link. Alternatively, the lane setting unit 150 may determine that the traffic situation of the front node is congested when the vehicle average speed of the front link is less than the vehicle average speed of the rear link.

When the front node is smooth, the lane setting unit 150 may set the driving recommendation lane by checking the lane state of the front node. For example, when the lane expansion of the front node is confirmed, the lane setting unit 150 may set the extended lane as the driving recommendation lane.

When the front node is congested, the lane setting unit 150 may check the lane state of the front node to set the driving recommendation lane. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, when the lane joining of the front node is confirmed, the lane setting unit 150 may set the inner lane that is the lane opposite to the joining lane as the driving recommendation lane. Alternatively, when the lane reduction of the front node is confirmed, the lane setting unit 150 may set the inner lane that is the lane opposite to the reduced lane as the driving recommendation lane.

In addition, the lane setting unit 150 may calculate the moving speed and the distance to the front node by using the location information and the map information. The lane setting unit 150 may set the lane change guide distance using the moving speed and the distance to the front node. Here, the lane change guide distance may be set to determine the output position of the driving lane guide information to guide the lane change at a predetermined distance before reaching the front node on the driving route. The lane setting unit 150 may further include lane change guide distances to generate driving lane guide information.

On the other hand, the lane setting unit 150 may reflect traffic information when the vehicle average speed before the lane joining section and the vehicle average speed in the section after the lane joining differ by a predetermined speed. For example, the lane setting unit 150 may reflect traffic information when the vehicle average speed before the lane joining section and the vehicle average speed in the section after the lane joining differ by about 15 km or more. The reason that the traffic information can be reflected when a difference of about 15 km or more occurs is that an error within about 15 km is recognized as a confidence interval of traffic information.

The output unit 160 outputs a route to the destination. In addition, the output unit 160 outputs lane change guide information. Here, the output unit 160 may output lane change guide information provided from the lane setting unit 150 as video or audio. The output unit 160 may output a video or audio distance to a driving recommendation lane, a lane change point, or a lane change point of the lane change guide information. For example, the output unit 160 may output a video or audio guide of a lane change to a first lane, which is a driving recommendation lane, about 1 km ahead.

The route guide device according to an embodiment of the present invention may identify a lane state and a lane change on a route and guide traffic lanes with smooth traffic flow by reflecting traffic information. In addition, the route guidance apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention can guide the lane change at a predetermined distance from the lane change point, the user can effectively change the lane.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a route guidance method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, the route guidance method according to an embodiment of the present invention may include generating location information of the vehicle (S110), receiving traffic information (S120), and setting a route to a destination (S130). ), Checking the state of the lane in front of the driving path and the change of the lane, and setting the driving recommendation lane by reflecting the traffic information (S140) and outputting driving lane guidance information including the driving recommendation lane (S150). Include.

In step S110, the location information generator of the route guidance device generates location information of the vehicle. Here, the location information generation unit may generate a location information of the vehicle by receiving a radio wave from the satellite or mobile communication wave transmission apparatus. For example, the location information generation unit generates location information by using satellite radio waves, mobile communication radio waves, information provided from a vehicle (movement information using a steering angle and current speed, lane information through a camera mounted on a vehicle, etc.). can do.

In step S120, the communication unit of the route guidance device receives the traffic information. Here, the communication unit may receive traffic information provided from an external traffic information providing apparatus. The traffic information may include traffic information for each lane and traffic information for each section or traffic information for each section collected by using an image camera or a speed meter.

In step S130, the route setting unit of the route guide device sets a route to a destination using map information, location information, or traffic information.

In step S140, the lane setting unit of the route guide device checks the lane state of the forward node on the driving route using the map information, and sets the driving lane according to the traffic information.

Here, step S140 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 5.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a step of setting a driving recommendation lane according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, step S140 is a step of checking lane conditions of a forward node on a driving route using map information (S210), checking traffic information for each lane on a driving route (S220), and traffic information for each lane. And setting the driving recommendation lane (S230) and generating driving lane guide information including the driving recommendation lane (S240).

In step S210, the lane setting unit checks the lane state of the front node on the driving route. In this case, the lane setting unit may check at least one lane state among lane branching, lane joining, lane expansion, and lane reduction from the map information.

In step S220, the lane setting unit checks traffic information for each lane on the driving route. At this time, the lane setting unit may check traffic information for each lane such as traffic volume for each lane or vehicle average speed for each lane for each node or link.

In operation S230, the lane setting unit sets a driving recommendation lane by using traffic information for each lane. Here, the lane setting unit may set a lane having a small traffic volume as a driving recommendation lane by checking traffic information for each lane. Alternatively, the lane setting unit may set a lane having a high average speed as a driving recommendation lane by checking traffic information for each lane.

In step S240, the lane setting unit generates lane change guide information. The lane setting unit may generate lane change guide information including a set driving recommendation lane, a lane change point, a distance to a lane change point, or a lane change guide distance.

The lane setting unit may set a lane change point using location information and map information. In addition, the lane setting unit may set a lane change guide distance to inform the user of the lane change in advance. The lane setting unit may set the lane change guide distance by calculating the moving speed and the distance to the front node. At this time, the lane setting unit may set the lane change guide distance to determine the output position of the driving lane guide information to guide the lane change at a predetermined distance before reaching the front node on the driving route.

6 is a flowchart illustrating a step of setting a driving recommendation lane according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Step S140 is a step of checking the lane state of the forward node on the driving route using the map information (S310), checking the traffic information for each point on the driving route (S320), the front on the driving route using the traffic information for each point Comparing the vehicle average speed between the front link and the rear link on the basis of the node (S330), determining the traffic situation of the front node as a result of the comparison of the vehicle average speed (S340), the driving recommendation as a result of the traffic situation And setting the lane (S350) and generating driving lane guidance information including the driving recommendation lane (S360).

In step S310, the lane setting unit checks the lane state of the front node on the driving route. In this case, the lane setting unit may check at least one lane state among lane branching, lane joining, lane expansion, and lane reduction from the map information.

In operation S320, the lane setting unit checks traffic information for each point on the driving route.

In operation S330, the lane setting unit compares vehicle average speeds between the front link and the rear link based on the front node on the driving route using the traffic information for each point on the driving route.

In operation S340, the lane setting unit determines a traffic situation of the forward node based on a comparison result of the vehicle average speed. If the vehicle average speed of the front link is more than the vehicle average speed of the rear link, the lane setting unit determines that the traffic conditions of the front node are smooth. Alternatively, when the vehicle average speed of the front link is less than the vehicle average speed of the rear link, the lane setting unit determines that the traffic situation of the front node is congested.

In step S350, the lane setting unit sets the driving recommendation lane as a result of the determination of the traffic situation. If the front node is smooth, the lane setting unit may set the driving recommendation lane according to the lane state of the front node. For example, when the lane state of the front node is lane extension, the lane setting unit may set the extended lane as the driving recommendation lane.

When the front node is congested and the lane state of the front node is lane merge or lane decrease, the lane setting unit may set the inner lane that is the lane opposite to the merged lane as the driving recommendation lane.

In step S360, the lane setting unit generates lane change guide information. The lane setting unit may generate lane change guide information including a set driving recommendation lane, a lane change point, a distance to a lane change point, or a lane change guide distance.

In step S150, the output unit outputs route information and lane change guide information to the destination. The output unit may receive lane change guide information generated by the lane setting unit. The output unit may output the route information and the lane change guide information to the destination as video or audio.

The route guidance method according to an embodiment of the present invention may identify a lane state and a lane change on a route and guide traffic lanes smoothly by reflecting traffic information. In addition, the route guidance method according to an embodiment of the present invention can guide the lane change at a predetermined distance from the lane change point, the user can effectively change the lane.

The foregoing description is merely illustrative of the technical idea of the present invention, and various changes and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention.

Therefore, the embodiments disclosed in the present invention are intended to illustrate rather than limit the scope of the present invention, and the scope of the technical idea of the present invention is not limited by these embodiments.

The scope of protection of the present invention should be construed according to the following claims, and all technical ideas falling within the scope of the same shall be construed as falling within the scope of the present invention.

100: route guidance device
110:
120:
130: location information generation unit
140: path setting unit
150: lane setting unit
160: Output section

Claims (24)

In the route guidance device,
A storage unit for storing map information;
Communication unit for receiving traffic information;
A location information generator for generating location information;
A route setting unit configured to set a driving route to a destination using the map information, the location information, or the traffic information;
A lane setting unit configured to generate driving lane guide information by setting a driving recommendation lane on the driving route using the map information, the location information, or the traffic information; And
Route guidance device including an output unit for outputting the driving lane guidance information.
The method according to claim 1,
The lane setting unit
And using the map information, to identify a lane branch, a lane merge, a lane extension, or a lane decrease of a forward node on the driving route.
The method of claim 2,
The lane setting unit
And the traffic recommendation lane is set by checking the traffic information for each lane on the driving route from the traffic information.
The method of claim 3,
The lane setting unit
And checking the traffic information for each lane to set the driving recommendation lane to a lane having a relatively high vehicle average speed.
The method of claim 2,
The route guidance device, characterized in that for setting the driving recommended lane by confirming the traffic information for each point on the driving route from the traffic information.
6. The method of claim 5,
The lane setting unit
And comparing the vehicle average speed between the front link and the rear link based on the front node on the driving route by using the traffic information for each point.
The method of claim 6,
The lane setting unit
And comparing a vehicle average speed between the front link and the rear link to determine a traffic situation of the front node.
The method of claim 7, wherein
The lane setting unit
And when the average vehicle speed of the front link is greater than or equal to the vehicle average speed of the rear link, determining that the traffic situation of the front node is smooth.
The method of claim 8,
The lane setting unit
Confirming the lane expansion of the front node and setting the extended lane as the driving recommendation lane; The method of claim 7, wherein
The lane setting unit
And when the vehicle average speed of the front link is less than the vehicle average speed of the rear link, determining that the traffic situation of the front node is congested.
The method of claim 10,
The lane setting unit
The lane guidance apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lanes of the forward node are checked to set lanes opposite to the lanes to be the driving recommended lanes.
The method of claim 10,
The lane setting unit
And checking the lane reduction of the front node to set the lane on the opposite side of the reduced lane as the driving recommendation lane.
The method according to claim 1,
The output
And outputting the driving lane guidance information to guide the lane change at a predetermined distance before reaching the front node on the driving route.
The method of claim 13,
The lane setting unit
And a lane change guide distance for outputting the driving lane guide information by calculating a moving speed and a distance to the front node.
In the route guidance method,
Generating location information;
Receiving traffic information;
Setting a driving route to a destination using map information, the location information, or the traffic information;
Identifying lane branches, lane confluences, lane expansions, or lane reductions of the forward nodes on the driving route using the map information, and setting driving lanes by reflecting traffic information; And
And outputting driving lane guide information including the driving recommendation lane.
The method of claim 15,
The setting of the driving heading lane
Identifying lane branches, lane confluences, lane expansions or lane reductions of the forward nodes on the driving route using the map information;
Checking traffic information for each lane on the driving route;
Setting the driving recommendation lane by using the traffic information for each lane; And
And generating driving lane guide information including the driving recommendation lane.
The method of claim 15,
The setting of the driving heading lane
Identifying lane branches, lane confluences, lane expansions or lane reductions of the forward nodes on the driving route using the map information;
Confirming traffic information for each point on the driving route;
Comparing vehicle average speeds between the front link and the rear link based on the front node on the driving route using the traffic information for each point;
Determining a traffic situation of the front node as a result of comparing the vehicle average speed;
Setting the driving recommendation lane as a result of the determination of the traffic situation; And
And generating driving lane guide information including the driving recommendation lane.
The method of claim 17,
In the step of determining the traffic situation of the front node
And when the vehicle average speed of the front link is equal to or greater than the vehicle average speed of the rear link, determining that the traffic situation of the front node is smooth.
19. The method of claim 18,
In the step of setting the driving recommendation lane
And if the lane expansion of the front node is confirmed, setting the expanded lane as the driving recommendation lane.
The method of claim 17,
In the step of determining the traffic situation of the front node
And when the vehicle average speed of the front link is less than the vehicle average speed of the rear link, determining that the traffic situation of the front node is congested.
21. The method of claim 20,
In the step of setting the driving recommendation lane
And when the lane joining of the front node is confirmed, setting a lane opposite to the joining lane as the driving recommendation lane.
21. The method of claim 20,
In the step of setting the driving recommendation lane
And determining the lane on the opposite side of the reduced lane as the driving recommendation lane when the lane reduction of the front node is confirmed. The method of claim 15,
In the step of outputting driving lane guide information,
And outputting the driving lane guidance information to guide the lane change at a predetermined distance before reaching the front node on the driving route.
24. The method of claim 23,
In the step of setting the driving recommendation lane
Calculating a moving speed and a distance to the front node and setting a lane change guide distance for outputting the driving lane guide information.

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