WO2006093047A1

WO2006093047A1 - Route search device, route search method, route search program, and recording medium

Info

Publication number: WO2006093047A1
Application number: PCT/JP2006/303427
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ippei Nambata
Original assignee: Pioneer Corporation
Priority date: 2005-03-04
Filing date: 2006-02-24
Publication date: 2006-09-08

Abstract

A designation section (101) designates a genre of facilities. A genre information acquisition section (102) acquires positional information on facilities that belong to the genre designated by the designation section (101). A facility information acquisition section (104) acquires positional information on heavily populated facilities. A route search section (103) searches for a route leading up to a destination point while avoiding the facilities belonging to the genre that is designated based on the positional information of the facilities of the genre that is designated by the designation section (101) and acquired by the genre information acquisition section (102) and on the positional information of the densely populated facilities that is acquired by the facility information acquisition section (104).

Description

Route search device, route search method, route search program, and recording medium

The present invention relates to a route search device, a route search method, a route search program, and a recording medium that search for a route to a destination point. However, use of the present invention is not limited to the above-described route search device, route search method, route search program, and recording medium. Background art

[0002] Conventionally, in a route search performed by a navigation device mounted on a vehicle, if there is a point (hereinafter referred to as an avoidance point) or an area (hereinafter referred to as an avoidance area) that the user does not want to pass, Technology has been devised to search for routes that do not pass through the area (hereinafter referred to as avoidance routes).

[0003] In such a route search, when searching for a route to a destination point, an avoidance point or an avoidance area is set by the user. Links that pass through avoidance points and avoidance areas set by the user have higher costs than other links. This prevents links that pass through avoidance points or avoidance areas from being included in the route to the destination point (for example, see Patent Document 1 below).

[0004] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 09-089580

Disclosure of the invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

[0005] However, according to the above-described conventional technology, the user must designate avoidance points and avoidance areas one by one. For example, when a railway station is specified as an avoidance point, the user needs to search for a railway station from an area that may be included in the route, and specify all the searched railway stations as avoidance points. For this reason, there is a problem that the user's operation becomes complicated when specifying the avoidance point or the avoidance area.

[0006] When an avoidance route is searched by specifying an avoidance area, the avoidance area is specified on the map in a form that does not match the actual road shape such as a rectangle. Links within the specified avoidance area In this case, a uniformly high cost is set, and a route that does not include a link in the avoidance area is searched. For this reason, a problem that an unnatural avoidance route is searched around the avoidance area is an example.

Means for solving the problem

[0007] In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, a route search device according to the invention of claim 1 includes a specifying unit that specifies a genre of a facility, and a facility belonging to the genre specified by the specifying unit. Based on the location information of the genre information acquisition means for acquiring the location information and the facility belonging to the specified genre acquired by the genre information acquisition means, the destination belonging to the specified genre is avoided. And a search means for searching for a route leading to.

[0008] Further, the route search method according to the invention of claim 7 includes a designation step of designating a genre of facilities, and a genre information acquisition step of acquiring location information of facilities belonging to the genre designated in the designation step. And a search step of searching for a route to a destination by avoiding a facility belonging to the specified genre based on position information of the facility belonging to the specified genre acquired in the genre information acquisition step. It is characterized by including these.

[0009] A route search program according to the invention of claim 8 causes a computer to execute the route search method according to claim 7.

[0010] Further, a recording medium according to the invention of claim 9 is readable by a computer recording the route search program according to claim 8.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0011] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a route search apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a procedure of route search processing performed by the route search device.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a navigation device that is effective in the embodiment.

[FIG. 4] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a navigation processing procedure performed by the navigation device. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a genre designation screen for avoidance points.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen showing search results of genre search.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the size of the cost set in the avoidance area.

[FIG. 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of setting a cost value according to a genre of avoidance points.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of route search processing performed by the route search unit.

[FIG. 10] FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a procedure of avoidance area setting processing using communication.

Explanation of symbols

[0012] 100 route search device

101 Designated part

102 Genre information acquisition unit

103 Route search unit

104 Facility information acquisition department

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0013] Exemplary embodiments of a route search device, a route search method, a route search program, and a recording medium according to the present invention are explained in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0014] (Embodiment)

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a route search apparatus according to the embodiment. The route search apparatus 100 includes a designation unit 101, a genre information acquisition unit 102, a route search unit 103, and a facility information acquisition unit 104. The designation unit 101 designates a facility genre. The genre of the facility specified by the specifying unit 101 is, for example, the genre of the facility that the user does not want to pass in the route search.

The genre information acquisition unit 102 acquires the location information of facilities belonging to the genre specified by the specification unit 101. For example, the location information is acquired by extracting the location information of the facility belonging to the specified genre from the map information.

The route search unit 103 belongs to the specified genre based on the location information of facilities belonging to the genre specified by the specification unit 101 acquired by the genre information acquisition unit 102. The route to the destination point is searched by avoiding the facility to do. To avoid facilities belonging to a specified genre is, for example, searching for a route to a destination without using a link within a predetermined range of facility power belonging to a specified genre.

[0017] Further, in order to avoid facilities belonging to a specified genre, for example, the facility power belonging to a specified genre is set so that the cost value of a link within a predetermined range is higher than the cost value of other links. Set. At this time, the cost value may be set according to the distance of the facility power belonging to the specified genre. Specifically, for example, the cost is set higher as the link is closer to the facility belonging to the specified genre.

[0018] The facility information acquisition unit 104 acquires location information of facilities where the population is concentrated. A facility where the population is concentrated is, for example, a facility where an event occurs within a predetermined time range from the current time. When the location information of the facility where the population is concentrated is acquired by the facility information acquisition unit 104, the search unit 103 is based on the location information of the facility where the population is acquired acquired by the facility information acquisition unit 104. Search for the route to the destination by avoiding facilities where the population is concentrated.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a procedure of route search processing performed by the route search device. First, it is determined whether the genre of the facility is designated by the designation unit 101 (step S2 01). When the genre of the facility is specified (step S201: Yes), the genre information acquisition unit 102 acquires the location information of the facility belonging to the specified genre (step S202). On the other hand, if the genre of the facility is not designated (step S201: No), the process proceeds to step S203.

Next, the facility information acquisition unit 104 acquires the location information of the facility where the population is concentrated (step S203). Then, the search unit 103 searches for a route that avoids the facility from which the position information is acquired (step S204), and ends the process according to this flowchart. The facility from which the location information has been acquired may be a facility belonging to the genre designated by the designation unit 101, a facility where the population is concentrated, or both.

[0021] As described above, according to the route search device 100, it is possible to obtain a route that avoids facilities belonging to a specified genre by simply specifying a genre without specifying individual facilities one by one. The operability of the search device 100 can be improved. Also facility By making a difference in the cost value of the link according to these distances, it is possible to obtain a route that avoids the facility in a natural way.

[0022] Further, the location information of the facility where the population is concentrated is obtained, and the route to the destination point is searched while avoiding the facility. As a result, it is possible to obtain a route that avoids traffic congestion and traffic restrictions caused by population concentration.

Example

[0023] (Hardware configuration of navigation device 300)

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a navigation apparatus that is effective in the embodiment. First, the hardware configuration of the navigation apparatus 300 that is useful in the embodiment will be described. The navigation device 300 searches for a route from the departure point to the destination point using the route search device 100 according to the embodiment, and guides the user's vehicle along the searched route.

In FIG. 3, a navigation device 300 is mounted on a vehicle, and includes a navigation control unit 301, a user operation unit 302, a display unit 303, a position acquisition unit 304, a recording medium 300, The recording medium decoding unit 306, the guidance sound output unit 307, the communication unit 308, the route search unit 309, the route guidance unit 310, the guidance sound generation unit 311, and the speaker 312 are configured.

[0025] The navigation control unit 301 controls the entire navigation device 300. The navigation control unit 301 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that executes predetermined arithmetic processing, a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores various control programs, and a RAM (Random) that functions as a work area for the CPU. It can be realized by a microcomputer constituted by an Access Memory).

The navigation control unit 301 is based on information on the current position acquired by the position acquisition unit 304 and map information obtained from the recording medium 305 via the recording medium decoding unit 306 when guiding a route. Then, it calculates the driving force at which position on the map and outputs the calculation result to the display unit 303. In addition, the navigation control unit 301 inputs / outputs information related to route guidance between the route search unit 309, the route guidance unit 310, and the guidance sound generation unit 311 during route guidance, and is obtained as a result. Information display section 303 and guidance sound output Output to force section 307.

The user operation unit 302 outputs information input by the user such as characters, numerical values, and various instructions to the navigation control unit 301. As the configuration of the user operation unit 302, various known forms such as a push button switch, a touch panel, a keyboard, and a joystick that detect physical pressing Z non-pressing can be employed. The user operation unit 302 may be configured to perform an input operation by sound using a microphone that inputs sound from the outside.

[0028] The user operation unit 302 may be provided integrally with the navigation device 300, and may be configured to be operated separately from the navigation device 300, such as a remote controller. The user operation unit 302 may be configured in any one of the various forms described above, or may be configured in a plurality of forms. The user inputs information by appropriately performing an input operation according to the form of the user operation unit 302. The information input by the operation of the user operation unit 302 includes, for example, a destination point or a departure point of the route to be searched.

[0029] The destination or departure point can be entered by entering the latitude / longitude and address of each point, as well as specifying the phone number, genre, keyword, etc. of the facility that will be the destination or departure point. The facility is searched and its location can be determined. More specifically, these pieces of information are specified as one point on the map based on background type data included in map information recorded on the recording medium 305 described later. Also, display map information on the display unit 303 described later, and specify a point on the displayed map.

[0030] As other information input by the operation of the user operation unit 302, an avoidance point is listed. The avoidance point is set by designating the genre or keyword of the facility that the user wants to avoid by the user operation unit 302. In addition, if the user designates one facility shown on the map, other facilities belonging to the same genre as the designated facility may be set as avoidance points as well.

In addition, a touch panel can be adopted as a form of the user operation unit 302. When a touch panel is used, this touch panel is stacked on the display surface side of the display unit 303. Is done. The input information is recognized by managing the display timing on the display unit 303, the operation timing on the touch panel (user operation unit 302), and the position coordinates thereof. By adopting a touch panel stacked on the display unit 303 as a form of the user operation unit 302, it is possible to input a large amount of information without increasing the size of the form of the user operation unit 302. As the touch panel, various known touch panels such as a resistance film type and a pressure sensitive type can be used.

Display unit 303 includes, for example, a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), a TFT liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, a plasma display, and the like. Specifically, the display unit 303 can be configured by, for example, a video IZF or a video display device connected to the video IZF. Specifically, the video IZF includes, for example, a graphic controller that controls the entire display device, a buffer memory such as VRAM (Video RAM) that temporarily stores image information that can be displayed immediately, and the power of the graphic controller. Based on the output image information, it is configured by a control IC that controls the display of the display device. The display unit 303 displays icons, cursors, menus, windows, or various information such as characters and images. The display unit 303 displays map information stored in the recording medium 305 and information related to route guidance.

[0033] The position acquisition unit 304 acquires the current position of the device itself. Here, the current position of the device itself is obtained by receiving the radio wave of the GPS satellite force and determining the geometric position with the GPS satellite, and can be measured anywhere on the earth. GPS is an abbreviation for Global Positioning System, and is a system that accurately determines the position on the ground by receiving radio waves from four or more satellites. The position acquisition unit 304 can be configured by, for example, an antenna for receiving radio waves from a GPS satellite, a tuner that demodulates the received radio waves, and an arithmetic circuit that calculates the current position based on the demodulated information. .

[0034] Radio waves from GPS satellites are: 1. 57542 GHz carrier, CZA (Coarse and

(Access) code and navigation message are carried on L1 radio waves. This detects the current position (latitude and longitude) of the device itself. When detecting the current position of the device itself, information collected by various sensors such as a vehicle speed sensor and a gyro sensor may be taken into account. The vehicle speed sensor is equipped with the navigation device 300 Detect from the output shaft of the vehicle transmission.

[0035] In addition, when acquiring the current position of the device itself, information collected by various sensors such as an angular velocity sensor, a travel distance sensor, and an inclination sensor may be taken into consideration. The angular velocity sensor detects the angular velocity when the host vehicle is rotating, and outputs angular velocity information and relative orientation information. The mileage sensor calculates the number of pulses per rotation of the wheel by counting the number of pulses of a pulse signal with a predetermined period that is output as the wheel rotates, and the number of pulses per rotation is calculated. Based on mileage information is output. The inclination sensor detects the inclination angle of the road surface and outputs inclination angle information.

The recording medium 305 records various control programs and various information in a state that can be read by a computer. The recording medium 305 accepts writing of information by the recording medium decoding unit 306 and records the written information in a nonvolatile manner. The recording medium 305 can be realized by, for example, an HD (Hard Disk). The recording medium 305 is not limited to HD. Instead of HD or in addition to HD, DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) and CD (Compact Disk) can be attached to and removed from the recording medium decoding unit 306. Use portable media as the recording medium 305. The recording medium 305 is not limited to DVD and CD. It can be attached to and detached from the recording medium decoding unit 306 such as CD-ROM (CD-R, CD-RW), MO (Magneto-Optical disk), and memory card. It is also possible to use a portable medium.

[0037] In the recording medium 305 in the present embodiment, map information used in the navigation device 300 is recorded. The map information includes background data representing features such as buildings, rivers, and the surface of the earth, and road shape data representing the shape of the road. Drawn in a dimension.

[0038] The background data includes background shape data representing the shape of the background and background type data representing the type of the background. The background shape data includes, for example, the representative point of the feature 'polyline • polygon' and the coordinates of the feature. The background type data includes, for example, text data representing the name, address and telephone number of the feature, and type data of the feature such as the building “river” ground surface.

[0039] For major facilities on the map, information such as business hours and the presence of parking is provided. It has as configuration information. Furthermore, among the features, facilities provided for a specific purpose, such as “gas station” and “convenience store”, are classified by genre. Then, the representative point and coordinate data of the feature and the facility information 'genre information' are associated with each other. The genre in which the facilities are classified at this time includes, for example, a parking lot and a station in addition to the above-mentioned gasoline stand and convenience store.

[0040] Next, the road shape data is a road network having a plurality of nodes and links connecting the nodes. The node indicates an intersection where a plurality of roads such as a three-way crossing such as a T-junction, a crossroad, and a five-way crossing. The link indicates a road. Some links have shape interpolation points, and curved roads can be expressed by these shape interpolation points.

[0041] Each link is associated with facility information of a facility facing or around the link, and the number and genre of facilities facing the link can be known. In addition, it is possible to search for facilities in the vicinity from the link position (coordinates) without associating the link with the facility information in advance.

[0042] The road shape data further includes traffic condition data. The traffic condition data includes, for example, the presence or absence of traffic lights or pedestrian crossings for each node, the presence or absence of highway entrances and junctions, the length (distance) for each link, vehicle width, direction of travel, road type ( Information on expressways, toll roads, general roads, etc.). In the traffic condition data, past traffic information is stored by statistically processing past traffic information based on seasons, days of the week, large holidays, and time. The navigation device 300 obtains information on the currently occurring traffic jam from the road traffic information received by the communication unit 308, but it is possible to predict the traffic jam situation at the specified time using the past traffic jam information. Become.

In this embodiment, the map information is recorded on the recording medium 305. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The map information may be provided outside the navigation device 300, not the information recorded only in the one integrated with the hardware of the navigation device 300. In this case, the navigation device 300 acquires map information via the network via the communication unit 308, for example. The acquired map information is stored in RAM, etc.

SC fed.

[0044] The recording medium decoding unit 306 reads information from the recording medium 305, writes Z Take control. For example, when HD is used as the recording medium 305, the recording medium decoding unit 306 is an HDD (Hard Disk Drive). Similarly, when DVD or CD (including CD-R, CD-RW) is used as the recording medium 305, the recording medium decoding unit 306 is a DVD drive or a CD drive. When a CD-ROM (CD-R, CD-RW), MO, memory card, etc. is used as the writable and removable recording medium 305, information can be written to various recording media and various recording media can be used. A dedicated drive device capable of reading the recorded information is appropriately used as the recording medium decoding unit 306.

[0045] The guide sound output unit 307 reproduces the guide sound by controlling the output to the connected speaker 312. There may be one speaker 312 or a plurality of speakers. Specifically, the guidance sound output unit 307 can be realized by an audio IZF connected to an audio output speaker 312. More specifically, the audio IZF is, for example, a DZA converter that performs DZA conversion of audio digital information, an amplifier that amplifies an audio analog signal output from the DZA converter, and an AZD conversion of audio analog information. A converter and force can be configured.

[0046] The communication unit 308 is connected to a network, and acquires congestion point information from Sanoku connected to the network. Here, the congestion point information is position information of a point where congestion is expected in the vicinity, such as a facility where an event takes place. A route search unit 309, which will be described later, searches for a route that avoids a facility from which congestion point information has been acquired.

[0047] In addition, the communication unit 308 acquires road traffic information such as traffic jams and traffic regulations regularly (or irregularly). The reception of road traffic information by the communication unit 308 may be performed at the timing when VICS (Vehicle Information and Communication System) Center Power Road Traffic † Blue Bulletin is received, or periodically to the VICS Center. It may be done by requesting road traffic information. In addition, road traffic information in a desired region may be acquired via a network from nationwide VICS information collected on the server. The communication unit 308 can be realized by, for example, an FM tuner, a VICSZ beacon resino, a wireless communication device, and other communication devices.

[0048] The power to omit detailed explanation because it is a well-known technology "VICS" means VICS Center It is an information communication system that transmits road traffic information such as traffic jams and traffic regulations that have been edited and processed in real time, and displays them in characters and figures on an in-vehicle device such as a powerful navigation device. As a method of transmitting road traffic information (VICS information) edited and processed at the VICS center to the navigation device 300, there is a method of using “beacon” and “FM multiplex transmission” installed on each road. . “Beacons” include “radio wave beacons” used mainly on expressways and “optical beacons” used on major general roads. When “FM multiplex broadcasting” is used, road traffic information in a wide area can be received. When using a “beacon”, it is possible to receive necessary road traffic information at the location where the vehicle is located, such as detailed information on the most recent road based on the location of the vehicle.

[0049] The route search unit 309 searches for an optimal route from the departure point to the destination point using map information stored in the recording medium 305, VICS information acquired via the communication unit 308, and the like. To do. Here, the optimum route is a route that best meets the conditions specified by the user. In general, there are an infinite number of routes from a departure point to a destination point. For this reason, items to be considered in route search are set, and routes that match the conditions are searched. Items to be considered at this time (hereinafter referred to as search conditions) include, for example, the required time to the destination, the type of road (highway priority, general road priority, etc.), distance, and charge.

[0050] The route search unit 309 calculates the cost for each link, which is the minimum road unit on the map information, and presents the route with the lowest accumulated cost to the user as the recommended route. Here, the cost is an index for evaluating each route by numerically adding the elements provided in the route that is generally determined as the “optimum route”. For example, the degree of congestion, straightness, charge, number of right (left) turns, width, etc. of the link are evaluated numerically. Then, the integrated cost is calculated by weighting each element with a coefficient and adding them together.

[0051] Further, as described above, when searching for a route, search conditions such as road type, distance, and fee can be set by the user. The route search unit 309 changes the value of the weighting coefficient of each element according to the search condition set by the user, varies the accumulated cost even for the same route, and performs route search according to the setting of the search condition.

[0052] In particular, when an avoidance point is specified by the user operation unit 302, the vicinity of the point The cost of the link is set high so that it is not included in the route to the destination point. The cost of the link around the avoidance point is set lower as the avoidance point force increases as the distance from the avoidance point increases. This makes it possible to search for a route that avoids the avoidance point in a natural manner. Further, the cost to be set may be varied depending on the attribute of the facility set as the avoidance point.

As the departure point of the route searched by the route search unit 309, the current position acquired by the position acquisition unit 304 or the departure point designated by the user from the user operation unit 302 is set. In addition to the destination point input by the user, a facility that has been searched for map data by means of a Jean search may be set as the destination point.

The route guidance unit 310 records information on the guidance route searched by the route search unit 309, or route information received by the communication unit 308, information on the current position acquired by the position acquisition unit 304, and recording Based on the map information obtained from the medium 305 via the recording medium decoding unit 306, real-time route guidance information is generated. The route guidance information generated by the route guidance unit 310 is output to the display unit 303 via the navigation control unit 301.

[0055] The guide sound generator 311 generates tone and voice information corresponding to the pattern. That is, based on the route guidance information generated by the route guidance unit 310, the virtual sound source corresponding to the guidance point is set and the voice guidance information is generated, and guidance is provided via the navigation control unit 301. Output to sound output unit 307.

[0056] The functional configuration of the route searching apparatus 100 according to the embodiment is, for example, that the designation unit 101 is the user operation unit 302, the genre information acquisition unit 102 and the facility information acquisition unit 104 are the navigation control unit 301. However, the search unit 103 and the route search unit 309 realize their functions, respectively.

[0057] (Navigation processing procedure of the navigation device 300)

Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing the navigation processing procedure performed by the navigation device. The navigation device 300 searches for a route from the departure point to the destination point, and guides the user's vehicle along the searched route. The processing procedure at this time will be described below. [0058] First, the departure point and the destination point are set by the user via the user operation unit 302 (step S401). At this time, the departure point may be the current position acquired by the position acquisition unit 304. Next, the genre of the avoidance point is specified by the user via the user operation unit 302 (step S402). The evasion point genre is point attribute information that the user has avoided.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a genre designation screen for avoidance points. The display 303 displays a message display 501 for requesting specification of the genre of the avoidance point. And, as a genre of avoidance points, transportation, retail stores, and schools are displayed. Each genre is further subdivided and “station”, “ferry terminal” and “airport” are displayed as transportation. In addition, “Department Store”, “Convenience Store” and “Home Center” are displayed as retail stores, and “University”, “Elementary School” and “Kindergarten” are displayed as schools.

Each genre display is provided with check boxes 511 to 522, and the user designates the genre of the avoidance point by checking the check box corresponding to the genre of the avoidance point. In the illustrated example, a “station” check box 512 and a “combination store” check box 517 are checked. When the specification of the genre of the avoidance point is completed, the user presses the setting button 530. As a result, the designation of the avoidance point is valid.

[0061] If the genre of the avoidance point is specified in step S402, the navigation control unit 301 searches the genre around the departure point and the destination point (step S403). ). The genre search is to search for facilities of a specific genre from the map information. In step S403, the facility of the genre specified in step S402 is searched.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen showing search results of genre search. A plurality of stations 601 to 605 are displayed in the map information displayed on the display unit 3 03. If “Station” is specified as an evasion point by the genre specification performed in step S402, the departure point S indicated by the triangle and the destination stations G around the destination point G indicated by the flag are searched for evasion points. Is set. The user can obtain a route that avoids the stations 601 to 605 without designating the stations 601 to 605 one by one. Returning to the description of FIG. 4, the route search unit 309 sets an avoidance area around the searched facility (step S404). The avoidance area is set by acquiring link information around the facility searched in step S402 and setting the cost of the link around the facility high (acquisition of link information'setting of cost). The cost set at this time is set to be lower and inclined as the distance from the facility increases.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of the size of the cost set in the avoidance area. On the map information MP, a station 701 set as an avoidance point is displayed. The links L1 to L6 indicated by the thick lines around the station 701 are set at a higher cost than other links. Links L7 to L19 indicated by broken lines are set at a higher cost than links L1 to L6 but higher than other links. The links L20 to L40 indicated by the dotted lines are set with lower power than links L7 to L19 and higher costs than other links. Thus, by making the cost set in the avoidance area different according to the distance from the avoidance point, it is possible to search for a route that avoids the avoidance point in a natural manner.

[0065] The cost value to be set may be varied according to the genre and scale of the designated facility. For example, among department stores, department stores and convenience stores differ in store size and customer attraction. Even in facilities of the same genre, the degree of congestion around the site varies depending on the size of the capacity. For this reason, it is possible to perform a route search that is more realistic by changing the cost value according to the genre and scale of each facility.

[0066] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of setting a cost value according to the genre of the avoidance point. Table 801 shows the cost values of facilities belonging to retail stores as the large genre 811. The cost value shown in the figure indicates the cost value of the link with the closest facility power. Retail stores that have a large genre 811 are further divided into genres 812, which are “Department Stores,” “Home Centers,” “Supermarkets,” and “Convenience Stores.” Each cost value 813 depends on the store size of each facility. 300 department stores, 250 home centers, 200 supermarkets, and 150 convenience stores.

[0067] Table 802 shows the cost value of a facility whose genre 821 is a stadium 'theatre'. Stadium • The theater has a cost value of 823 depending on the capacity of 822 in each facility. In the example shown, in the case of a stadium 'theater with a capacity of 822 or more, the cost value 823 is 350. Is set. Similarly, if the capacity 822 is 10000 or more and less than 30000, it is 2 50, if it is 5000 or more and less than 10,000, 200, if it is 1000 or more and less than 5000, 150, if it is 100 or more and less than 1000 If the number is less than 120 and 100, 100 is set as the cost value 823.

[0068] In addition, when the business information of the facility designated as the avoidance point is included in the map information, the cost value may be varied for each time zone. For example, a high cost is set during business hours or when events are held, and the same cost as normal links is set during non-business hours or when events are not held. Also, for example, you may be able to make a decision for each time period, such as making the area around the school an avoidance area only in the morning and evening school hours.

Returning to the description of FIG. 4, when an avoidance area is set in step S404, the route search unit 309 performs a route search that avoids the avoidance area (step S405). Then, the route guidance unit 310 presents the route searched in step S405 to the user to guide the route (step S406), and the processing according to this flowchart ends.

[0070] As described above, the navigation apparatus 300 searches for facilities of a genre for which user power is also specified from map information, and sets a link around the facility as an avoidance area. The user can obtain a route that avoids a facility of the specified genre without specifying each facility that may be included in the route as an avoidance point.

(Route search processing by route search unit 309)

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of route search processing performed by the route search unit. Next, details of the route search processing performed by the route search unit 309 in step S405 in FIG. 4 will be described. The processing shown below is a route search method generally called the Dijkstra method. When the user starts a route search by specifying a departure point and a destination point, the route search process shown in FIG. 9 is started. In the following explanation, only the route search from the departure point is shown for the convenience of the description, but the same processing is performed from the destination point in parallel to shorten the time required for the route search processing. I am trying.

[0072] First, a link (road) closest to the departure point is selected as a candidate (step S901). Here, the candidate indicates a link candidate that becomes a part of the route to be finally searched. Also closest In other words, if there is a link that is within a certain range centered on the specified departure point, in addition to the link that the departure point faces, the link is added to the candidate.

[0073] Next, it is determined whether or not there is one or more candidate links (step S902). If there are one or more candidates (step S902: Yes), that is, if there is a link around the departure point, select the link with the lowest accumulated cost (hereinafter referred to as link L). (Step S903). The accumulated cost is an accumulated value of the cost of each link calculated in step S908 described later.

[0074] On the other hand, if there is no candidate in step S902 (step S902: No), that is, if there is no road in the vicinity (for example, when the ocean is designated as the departure point), the search is performed. As a failure (step S904), the processing according to this flowchart is terminated.

[0075] Next, in step S903, link L is selected, and when the link reaches the destination point (step S905: Yes), the search is terminated (step S906), and the processing according to this flowchart is terminated. On the other hand, if link L does not reach the destination point (step S905: No), one of the other links connected to link L (hereinafter referred to as link Cn (n = l, 2, 3, ···) )) Is added to the candidates (step S907). The ability to add link Cn to a candidate is determined by whether the link Cn meets road traffic conditions such as closed roads and time restrictions, and search conditions such as road type and toll.

[0076] If no candidate is found (step S907: No), the process proceeds to step S909.

On the other hand, when adding to the candidate (step S907: Yes), the cost of the link Cn is calculated and added to the candidate (step S908). When calculating link costs, in addition to factors such as link congestion and straightness, fees, right (left) number of turns, width, etc., which are general cost calculation factors, the power that links are included in the avoidance area Whether or not is considered. That is, in the case where the link Cn is included in the avoidance area, the cost set in step S404 in FIG. 4 is added.

Next, it is determined whether there is another link Cn + 1 connected to the link L (step S909).

If there is another link Cn + 1 (step S909: Yes), link Cn + 1 is read as link Cn (step S910), the process returns to step S905, and the subsequent processing is repeated. On the other hand, if there is no other link Cn + 1 (step S909: No), the candidate link Cn is read as link L (step S911), the process returns to step S902, and the subsequent processing is repeated. [0078] The above process is repeated to search for a route from the departure point to the destination point. In addition, the above processing is performed in parallel from the starting point and the destination point, preventing the candidate links from spreading indefinitely and shortening the time required for route search.

[0079] As described above, the navigation device 300 searches for the facility of the genre designated by the user and sets the surrounding area as an avoidance area. The user can obtain the avoidance route without specifying the avoidance point one by one, and the operability of the navigation device 300 can be improved.

[0080] In addition, a cost value is set for a link in the avoidance area around the avoidance point according to the distance of the avoidance point force. Specifically, a higher cost value is set for a link closer to the avoidance point power, and a value closer to the cost value of the normal link is set as the distance from the avoidance point increases. This makes it possible to search for a route that avoids the avoidance point in a natural manner without setting an avoidance area having an unnatural shape.

[0081] (Avoidance area setting using communication)

Next, the setting of the avoidance area using communication will be described. Congestion conditions around the facility may vary greatly depending on whether events are held. Therefore, the communication unit 308 acquires congestion point information from Sano, and sets an avoidance area based on the congestion point information. Congestion point information is the location information of points where congestion is expected in the vicinity, such as facilities where events take place. As a result, the user can search for a route that avoids the congested point without specifying the genre of the avoidance point by obtaining the congested point information from the server.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a procedure of avoidance area setting processing using communication. First, the navigation device 300 sends a avoidance area information transmission request to the server via the communication unit 308 (step S1001). The server receives the avoidance area information transmission request from the navigation device 300 and acquires the current date and time information (step S1002). Then, information on the facility where the event is held (event holding facility information) is acquired at the current date and time or around the current date and time (step S 1003), and the navigation device 300 stores the information about the facility where the event is held. The location information (congestion point information) is transmitted (step S 1004).

[0083] The navigation apparatus 300 is based on the location information of the facility transmitted from the server. An avoidance area is set around the facility where the event is held (step S1005). The avoidance area is set by acquiring the link information around the facility where the location information was sent from the server in step S 1004 and setting the cost of the link around the facility high (acquisition of link information 'cost setting). ). At this time, the cost of the link may be determined according to the distance from the facility as in the case of avoiding the facility by specifying the genre. Then, the route search unit 309 searches for a route from the departure point to the destination point (step S 1006), presents the searched route to the user to guide the route (step S 1007), and performs the processing according to this flowchart. Exit.

[0084] As described above, by setting an avoidance area using communication, the user can search for a route avoiding a congested facility without specifying the genre of the facility. The operability of the apparatus 300 can be improved. In addition, when the event holding facility information is updated in real time, it is possible to search for a route that more closely matches the actual road condition.

[0085] Further, if the cost of the link is determined according to the distance from the facility, the cost is set closer to the facility and is likely to be avoided. This makes it possible to avoid the facility in a natural way according to the shape of the link.

Note that the route search method described in the present embodiment can be realized by executing a program prepared in advance on a computer such as a personal computer or a workstation. This program is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a hard disk, a flexible disk, a CD-ROM, an MO, or a DVD, and is executed by being read by the computer. The program may be a transmission medium that can be distributed via a network such as the Internet.

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] A designation means to designate the genre of the facility,

A genre information obtaining unit for obtaining position information of a facility belonging to the genre designated by the designation unit;

Search means for searching for a route to a destination point while avoiding facilities belonging to the specified genre based on position information of facilities belonging to the specified genre acquired by the genre information acquisition means;

A route search apparatus comprising:

[2] The route according to claim 1, wherein the search means searches for a route from the facility belonging to the specified genre to the destination point without using a link within a predetermined range. Search device.

[3] The search means, wherein the cost value of a link within a predetermined range from the facility belonging to the specified genre is set higher than the cost value of another link. 2. The route search device according to 2.

4. The route search device according to claim 3, wherein the search means sets the cost value according to a distance from a facility belonging to the specified genre.

[5] Provide facility information acquisition means for acquiring location information of facilities where the population is concentrated,

The searching means searches for a route to a destination point while avoiding the facility where the population is concentrated based on the positional information of the facility where the population is concentrated acquired by the facility information acquisition means. The route search device according to claim 1, wherein:

[6] The facility information acquisition means according to claim 5, wherein the facility information acquisition means acquires location information of a facility where an event occurs within a predetermined time range from a current time as location information of a facility where the population is concentrated. The described route search device.

[7] A designation process for designating the genre of the facility,

A genre information acquisition step of acquiring location information of facilities belonging to the genre specified in the specification step;

Based on the location information of the facility belonging to the specified genre acquired in the genre information acquisition step, the facility belonging to the specified genre is avoided and set as a destination point. A search process for searching for a route to reach,

A route search method comprising:

[8] A route search program causing a computer to execute the route search method according to claim 7.

[9] A computer-readable recording medium in which the route search program according to claim 8 is recorded.