WO2008056879A1 - System and method for route searching - Google Patents

System and method for route searching Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2008056879A1
WO2008056879A1 PCT/KR2007/004605 KR2007004605W WO2008056879A1 WO 2008056879 A1 WO2008056879 A1 WO 2008056879A1 KR 2007004605 W KR2007004605 W KR 2007004605W WO 2008056879 A1 WO2008056879 A1 WO 2008056879A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
route
avoidance
user
preferred
flag
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/KR2007/004605
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Young Ku Cho
Yun Wook Jung
Original Assignee
Thinkware Systems Corporation
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Thinkware Systems Corporation filed Critical Thinkware Systems Corporation
Publication of WO2008056879A1 publication Critical patent/WO2008056879A1/en

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01C—MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY
    • G01C21/00—Navigation; Navigational instruments not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C19/00
    • G01C21/26—Navigation; Navigational instruments not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C19/00 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
    • G01C21/34—Route searching; Route guidance
    • G01C21/3453—Special cost functions, i.e. other than distance or default speed limit of road segments
    • G01C21/3492—Special cost functions, i.e. other than distance or default speed limit of road segments employing speed data or traffic data, e.g. real-time or historical
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01C—MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY
    • G01C21/00—Navigation; Navigational instruments not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C19/00
    • G01C21/26—Navigation; Navigational instruments not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C19/00 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01C—MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY
    • G01C21/00—Navigation; Navigational instruments not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C19/00
    • G01C21/26—Navigation; Navigational instruments not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C19/00 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
    • G01C21/34—Route searching; Route guidance
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01C—MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY
    • G01C21/00—Navigation; Navigational instruments not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C19/00
    • G01C21/26—Navigation; Navigational instruments not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C19/00 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
    • G01C21/34—Route searching; Route guidance
    • G01C21/3453—Special cost functions, i.e. other than distance or default speed limit of road segments
    • G01C21/3461—Preferred or disfavoured areas, e.g. dangerous zones, toll or emission zones, intersections, manoeuvre types, segments such as motorways, toll roads, ferries
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q10/00—Administration; Management
    • G06Q10/04—Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem"
    • G06Q10/047—Optimisation of routes or paths, e.g. travelling salesman problem
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08G—TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
    • G08G1/00—Traffic control systems for road vehicles
    • G08G1/09—Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions
    • G08G1/0962—Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
    • G08G1/0968—Systems involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08G—TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
    • G08G1/00—Traffic control systems for road vehicles
    • G08G1/09—Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions
    • G08G1/0962—Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
    • G08G1/0968—Systems involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle
    • G08G1/0969—Systems involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle having a display in the form of a map
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09B—EDUCATIONAL OR DEMONSTRATION APPLIANCES; APPLIANCES FOR TEACHING, OR COMMUNICATING WITH, THE BLIND, DEAF OR MUTE; MODELS; PLANETARIA; GLOBES; MAPS; DIAGRAMS
    • G09B29/00—Maps; Plans; Charts; Diagrams, e.g. route diagram
    • G09B29/10—Map spot or coordinate position indicators; Map reading aids
    • G09B29/106—Map spot or coordinate position indicators; Map reading aids using electronic means

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a system and method of searching for a route, more particularly, to a system and method of searching for a route which can provide an alternate route according to circumstances or preferences of a user.
  • navigation devices that search for a required route and provide a user with information about the required route and a present location by using a location based service (LBS), such as a global positioning system (GPS), are broadly used.
  • LBS location based service
  • GPS global positioning system
  • the navigation devices store map information inside the navigation devices, receive a satellite signal from a GPS satellite, a present location of a user is identified on the stored map, and a required service is provided to the user based on the present location.
  • a route searching service is a broadly used service provided to users.
  • the navigation device searches for possible routes from a map stored in the navigation device, and provides a route to the destination point.
  • various methods are provided to quickly reach the destination point.
  • the same route is retrieved regardless of circumstances when a route from the same location to the same destination is searched for since the route is retrieved based exclusively on a present location of a user or using map information stored in the navigation device.
  • a situation such as construction, a car accident, or traffic jam may occur in an optimal route, and in this instance, it may take a longer time to use the optimal route in comparison to using other routes.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a method of searching for a route according to a conventional technique.
  • a user performs searching for a route at a reference numeral 110, and a route of a reference numeral 120 is retrieved as a quickest route.
  • a traffic situation becomes adverse due to an accident or construction in a reference numeral 130, it may take longer to use the route 120 than a usual traffic situation.
  • there is no way to detour if the user sees the route situation ahead. Therefore, unless the user knows a detour route in that area, the user is required to break away from the area, go to another route, and wait for a new route to be searched by the navigation device.
  • a system and method of searching for a detour route and providing a user with the detour route when the user identifies information about circumstances of a route and needs to avoid the route whose circumstances are adverse.
  • the present invention provides a system and method of searching for a route which can provide a user with a route being capable of avoiding an avoidance route when a user needs to avoid the avoidance route.
  • the present invention also provides a system and method of easily selecting an avoidance route since a user can select the avoidance route using various methods.
  • the present invention also provides a system and method which can reach a destination point via preferred route of a user by giving a priority to the user's preferred route when a route is searched for.
  • a system of searching for a route including: an avoidance information input unit receiving information about an avoidance route to be avoided, from a user; an avoidance establishment unit establishing an avoidance flag, with respect to the avoidance route, in a predetermined memory; and a route searching unit searching for a route by calculating a priority of the avoidance route where the avoidance flag is established as being less than a predetermined number.
  • a system of searching for a route including: a preferred information input unit receiving information about a preferred route from a user; a preference establishment unit establishing a preferred flag, with respect to the preferred route, in a predetermined memory; and a route searching unit searching for a route by calculating a priority of the preferred route where the preferred flag is established as being greater than a predetermined number.
  • a method of searching of a route including: receiving information about an avoidance route to be avoided, from a user; establishing an avoidance flag, with respect to the avoidance route, in a predetermined memory; and searching for a route by calculating a priority of the avoidance route where the avoidance flag is established as being less than a predetermined number.
  • a method of searching of a route including: receiving information about a preferred route from a user; establishing a preferred flag, with respect to the preferred route, in a predetermined memory; and searching for the route by calculating a priority of the preferred route where the preferred flag is established as being less than a predetermined number.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a method of searching for a route according to a conventional method
  • FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an inner configuration of a system of searching for a route according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an inner configuration of a system of searching for a route according to another embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a display where an avoidance distance is selectively inputted in a system of searching for a route according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a display where an avoidance route is selectively inputted in a system of searching for a route according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating flows of a method of searching for a route according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating flows of a method of searching for a route according to another embodiment of the present invention.
  • the present invention relates to a system and method of searching for a route for a destination point and of providing a user with the route, the system is generally able to be applied to a navigation device using a global positioning system (GPS), and is able to be applied to various devices such as a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant
  • GPS global positioning system
  • the system is able to be applied to any systems that inform a user of a route.
  • the system of searching for the route according to an embodiment of the present invention may be configured to be embedded in a server and to provide a user terminal with a route, or to be embedded in the user terminal and to directly provide a user.
  • FIG. 1 Operations of another system of searching a route according to an embodiment of the present invention will be briefly described by referring to FIG. 1.
  • a general system of searching for a route provides a user with a quickest route being capable of reaching the destination point as fast as possible. If the quickest route is a reference numeral 120, and if proceeding is delayed in a zone of a reference numeral 130 due to construction, a car accident, and traffic jam, in a conventional system, the user is required to search for an alternative route to detour, or is required to proceed through the zone 130 without any choice.
  • a detour route is searched for to provide a user in order to avoid the zone 130 where the avoidance establishment is established, as shown in a reference numeral 140. Accordingly, the user is able to quickly reach the destination point by using the detour route according to information provided by the system of searching for the route of the present invention.
  • an avoidance route exists from an already retrieved route, it is possible to re-inform the user of a new route by avoiding the avoidance route, or it is possible to inform the user of a route by avoiding the avoidance route since user's avoidance route is previously established.
  • a user is able to establish an avoidance route using various methods.
  • the user inputs a distance from a location of the reference numeral 110 to a point to be avoided, thereby establishing a route from the location of the reference numeral 110 to the point to be avoided from the avoidance route.
  • a distance from a reference numeral 150 of a point where the zone 130 ends to the reference numeral 110 of a present location is 100 meters, the user inputs 100 meters, thereby avoiding from the zone 130.
  • the user is able to establish the zone 130 as an avoidance route by directly inputting/selecting a road name of the zone 130, or by selecting the zone 130 on the provided map.
  • a user's preferred route can be included in a most convenient route when the route is retrieved by previously registering the user's preferred route as a preferred route.
  • FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an inner configuration of a system 201 of searching for a route according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • the system 201 of searching for the route according to the embodiment of the present invention includes an avoidance information input unit 210, an avoidance establishment unit 220, a route searching unit 230, and a memory 240.
  • the above mentioned configuration elements may be embodied in a type of software, hardware, or combination of software and hardware, and may be connected with each other. Hereinafter, each configuration element will be described.
  • the avoidance input unit 210 receives information about an avoidance route to be avoided, from a user.
  • the user may input a route under construction or where an accident has occurred as the avoidance route when the user sees the accident or construction ahead, and may input the route under construction or where an accident has occurred as the avoidance route using information from a radio, or just may input a route not being preferred by the user as the avoidance route.
  • the information about the avoidance route received in the avoidance input unit 210 may be of various types depending on input methods of the user.
  • the information about the avoidance route may include an avoidance distance.
  • the user estimates a distance to avoid the route ahead, that is the user estimates a distance to a point where traffic is smooth by passing by the route under construction or having accidents occurred, and inputs the distance as an avoidance distance, thereby establishing a route having the same length as the avoidance distance as the avoidance route.
  • the information about the avoidance information received in the avoidance information input unit 210 may include a route name of the avoidance route.
  • the user directly inputs the route name of the avoidance route, thereby easily establishing the avoidance route.
  • the avoidance information input unit 210 receives the route name from the user, provides the user with a route list corresponding to the received route name, and the user may selectively input the route name of the avoidance route.
  • the route name which is received from the user may be a portion of route names.
  • route names beginning with 'Kang Nam' such as 'Kang Nam Dae Ro', 'Kang Nam Station 1 , and the like may be provided to the user, and a route list including complete route names can be provided by receiving only initial sounds such as 1 K N D R'.
  • the above input method is possible in the present invention, inputting a whole route name or merely a portion of a route name may be sufficient, and it is also possible to be able to provide a route list corresponding to a route name, thus, ideas of the present invention are not be limited to the input method described in the specification of the present invention.
  • the avoidance information input unit 210 provides the user with map information, and receives the avoidance route on the map.
  • a route is marked on a map and the map marked with the route is displayed to the user, the user selectively inputs an avoidance route to be avoided on a map, and the user is able to establish the avoidance route.
  • a touch-screen function is added in a display in a navigation device, a user is able to establish the avoidance route by clicking a route point to be avoided on the display.
  • the avoidance route is able to be selected using an additional input device.
  • the avoidance establishment unit 220 establishes an avoidance flag, with respect to the avoidance route, in the memory 240.
  • a system 201 of searching for a route searches for a route by excluding the avoidance route when searching for the route, and may provide a user with a detour route. If the user establishes an area without a detour route as an avoidance route, there is possibility that a route to a destination point can not be found since the avoidance route is excluded. Accordingly, an avoidance route is not completely excluded, but an avoidance flag is established with respect to a route being established as an avoidance route, and the route where the avoidance flag is established is avoided as much as possible when a route is searched for.
  • the avoidance flag established by the avoidance establishment unit 220 may be an indicator informing that a corresponding route is established as an avoidance route in correspondence to an identifier that identifies the avoidance route, and may be configured as any type.
  • the memory 240 is a type of a table in a database
  • a single field indicating whether an avoidance flag is established or not is added to the table, a prescribed value is inputted in the single field, thereby establishing an avoidance flag.
  • the above method of establishing the avoidance flag may be applied to the present invention if it is possible to verify whether an avoidance route inputted by a user is established as an avoidance route.
  • the avoidance establishment unit 220 may manage an avoidance route being inputted by a user as an additional list.
  • the user may establish a route as an avoidance route due to a temporary accident and the like, and the user may establish a route as an avoidance route since the user does not prefer to the route, in this instance, since it is inconvenient for the user to establish an avoidance route every time the user uses the system 201 of searching for the route, the user may manage an avoidance route being inputted by the user as an additional list.
  • the avoidance establishment unit 220 selects an avoidance route using information about the avoidance route being inputted by the avoidance information input unit 210, and establishes an avoidance flag with respect to the selected avoidance route.
  • the selecting of the avoidance route may differ depending on types of the information about the avoidance route.
  • the avoidance information input unit 210 may receive various types of the information about the avoidance route from the user, the avoidance establishment unit 220 is required to select an avoidance route based on the information about the avoidance route.
  • a route corresponding to a distance from a user's present location to the avoidance distance can be selected as an avoidance route.
  • a route corresponding to the avoidance distance can be selected as an avoidance route, from the provided route.
  • the avoidance establishment unit 220 may maintain a number of avoidance routes where the avoidance flag is established as being less than a predetermined number. If the number of the avoidance route is established as being infinite, execution load of the system may be great and a quite a number of routes can be excluded, accordingly the searching of the route can not be easy. Therefore, the number of the avoidance route where the avoidance flag is established can be limited as the predetermined number.
  • the avoidance establishment unit 220 When the avoidance establishment unit 220 receives information about an avoidance-released route from the avoidance information input unit 210, the memory 240 may release an avoidance flag with respect to the avoidance-released route. Therefore, after the user establishes an avoidance route, if a situation of the avoidance route improves and if the user wants to use the avoidance route again, the avoidance flag can be released by inputting the avoidance route as the avoidance-released route.
  • the route searching unit 230 searches for a route by calculating a priority of a route where the avoidance flag is established as being less than a predetermined number.
  • a general system of searching for a route stores information of each route to search for a route, and the information of each route may include priority information of each route.
  • a user When a user inputs a destination point to search for a route to the destination point, effective lengths of routes are stored in order to search for a shortest distance from a user's present location to the destination point.
  • the user may not reach the destination point the quickest even when actual distance is the shortest, but the user may reach the destination point the quickest even when a distance is not the shortest, depending on situations of a route.
  • an expressway exists on the route, it is possible to quickly reach the destination point when the expressway is used. Accordingly, a higher priority is given to a route having an expressway, and this is reflected when a route is searched for.
  • the route searching unit 230 may search for a route based on a priority of a route. In this instance, a lower priority is given to a route where an avoidance flag is established, therefore a detour route around the route where the avoidance flag is established can be selected before the route where the avoidance flag is established.
  • the route searching unit 230 may not give a lower priority to the route where the avoidance flag is established. Specifically, when an avoidance route is informed to a user after the user almost reaches the destination point, it is much more difficult for user to precisely reach the destination point. Also, when a detour route is an alley or when it is not very simple for a user to use a detour route since to use the detour route it is required to exit an off-ramp and to enter an on-ramp, same priorities are given regardless of the avoidance flag, which may be established according to a need of a user of the system or a provider of the system.
  • the memory 240 stores an avoidance flag, which is established by the avoidance establishment unit 220, by corresponding to an avoidance route.
  • the memory 240 may be a central memory device in a computer, and may be an external memory device such as a hard disk, a flash memory, and a compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM). Any type of memory device that can store an avoidance flag by corresponding to an avoidance route will suffice.
  • a table storing a priority with respect to each route is stored in the memory 240, whether an avoidance flag is established is stored as one item of the table, and the avoidance flag may be established as another item of the table.
  • the present invention is not limited by types and storage methods of the memory 240.
  • FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an inner configuration of a system 301 of searching for a route according to another embodiment of the present invention.
  • the system 301 of searching for the route according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a preferred information input unit 310, a preference establishment unit 320, a route searching unit 330, and a memory 340.
  • the above mentioned configuration elements may be embodied in a type of software, hardware, or combination of software and hardware, and may be connected with each other. Hereinafter, each configuration element will be described.
  • the preferred information input unit 310 corresponds to the avoidance information input unit 210 in the system 201 of searching for the route of FIG. 2, and similar to the avoidance information unit 210, receives information about a preferred route of a user, from the user.
  • the system 301 of searching for the route receives the information about the preferred route from the user, the preferred route is included in the route in the first place when the route is searched for, and preference of the user with respect to a route can be utilized when a route is searched for. Accordingly, the preferred information input unit 310 receives the information about the preferred route as the system 201 of searching for the route receives the information about the avoidance route from the avoidance information input unit 210.
  • the preference establishment unit 320 corresponds to the avoidance establishment unit 220 in the system 201 of searching for the route of FIG. 2, and establishes a preferred flag with respect to the preferred route in the memory 340.
  • the preferred flag corresponds to the avoidance flag in the system 301 of searching for the route, and is to identify whether a route is a preferred route.
  • the route searching unit 330 corresponds to the route searching unit 230 in the system 201 of searching for the route of FIG. 2, and searches for a route by calculating a priority of a preferred route where a preferred flag is established as being greater than a predetermined number.
  • the route is searched for by calculating the priority of the preferred route where the preferred flag is established as being greater than the predetermined number, a priority of the preferred route of the user is increased, and the preferred route can be initially included in the route when the route is searched for.
  • the memory 340 stores the preferred flag, which is established by the preference establishment unit 320, by corresponding to the preferred route. Any type of memory device that can store the preferred flag by corresponding to the preferred route will do, and the present invention will not be limited by types and storage methods of the memory 340.
  • FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a display where an avoidance distance is selectively inputted in a system of searching for a route according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • the system of searching for the route according to the embodiment of the present invention receives the avoidance distance from a user, and establishes an avoidance route.
  • the user sees that traffic conditions are adverse on a road 500 meters ahead while driving, the user immediately clicks a '500m' button on a menu to select avoidance distance, thereby establishing the road 500 meters ahead as an avoidance route.
  • the system of searching for the route according to the embodiment of the present invention provides the user with a detour route replacing the road 500 meters ahead.
  • a plurality of avoidance distances are provided to the user in a button type, the user may select an avoidance distance by selecting a button, and may directly input an avoidance distance. If a route has been already provided to the user, this denotes that a route passing through a route indicated by the avoidance distance can be selected as an avoidance route, from the provided route to the user.
  • FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a display where an avoidance route is selectively inputted in a system of searching for a route according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • the system of searching for the route according to the embodiment of the present invention receives a route name from a user, and establishes a route corresponding to the received route name as an avoidance route.
  • the system of searching for the route may provide the user with a route list 520 corresponding to the received route name.
  • route names including 'Olympic' such as Olympic bridge', 'Olympic main road', Olympic park 1 , and the like, are provided to the user, and the user may select a route.
  • a length of a route is very long such as the 'Olympic main road'
  • information about a route name is stored for each block, and a user can specifically input a block name to be avoided.
  • a user can establish a block of the Han Nam bridge of the Olympic main road as an avoidance route, and when the user inputs 'Olympic' in the input window, each block of the Olympic main road can be displayed as a list, and each block of the Olympic main road can be displayed as a list when the user selects the Olympic main road'.
  • FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating flows of a method of searching for a route according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • information about an avoidance route is received from a user.
  • the information about the avoidance route to be avoided may be of various types depending on input methods of the user.
  • the information about the avoidance route may include an avoidance distance.
  • the user estimates a distance to avoid the route ahead, that is the user estimates a distance to a point where traffic is smooth by passing by the route under construction or where an accident has occurred, and inputs the distance as an avoidance distance, thereby establishing a route having the same length as the avoidance distance as the avoidance route.
  • the information of the avoidance information received in operation S601 may include a route name of the avoidance route.
  • the user directly inputs the route name of the avoidance route, thereby easily establishing the avoidance route.
  • the user inputs a route name of the route with the accident or construction, thereby establishing the route as an avoidance route to avoid the avoidance route where circumstances are adverse.
  • map information is provided to a user, and an avoidance route on the map is selectively inputted by the user.
  • a route is marked on a map and the map marked with the route is displayed to the user, the user selectively inputs an avoidance route to be avoided on a map, and the user is able to establish the avoidance route.
  • a touch-screen function is added to a display in a navigation device, a user is able to establish the avoidance route by clicking a route point to be avoided on the display.
  • the avoidance route is able to be selected using an additional input device.
  • an avoidance flag with respect to the avoidance route, is established in a predetermined memory.
  • the avoidance flag established in operation 602 may be an indicator informing that a corresponding route is established as an avoidance route in correspondence to an identifier that identifies the avoidance route, and may be configured as any type.
  • the predetermined memory is a type of a table in a database
  • a single field indicating whether an avoidance flag is established or not is added to the table, a prescribed value is inputted in the single field, thereby establishing an avoidance flag.
  • the above method of establishing the avoidance flag may be applied to the present invention if it is possible to verify whether an avoidance route inputted by a user is established as an avoidance route.
  • the memory may release an avoidance flag with respect to the avoidance-released route in operation S602. Therefore, after the user establishes an avoidance route, if a situation of the avoidance route improves and if the user wants to use the avoidance route again, the avoidance flag can be released by inputting the avoidance route as the avoidance-released route.
  • a route is searched for by calculating a priority of a route where the avoidance flag is established as being less than a predetermined number.
  • a general system of searching for a route stores information of each route to search for a route, and the information of each route may include priority information of each route.
  • it is effective lengths of routes are stored in order to search for a shortest distance from a user's present location to the destination point. The user may not reach the destination point the quickest even when actual distance is the shortest, but the user may reach the destination point the quickest even when a distance is not the shortest depending on situations of a route.
  • an expressway exists on the route, it is possible to quickly reach the destination point when the expressway is used. Accordingly, a higher priority is given to a route having an expressway, and this is reflected when a route is searched for.
  • a route may be searched for based on a priority of a route.
  • FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating flows of a method of searching for a route according to another embodiment of the present invention.
  • operation S701 information about a preferred route is received from a user.
  • Operation S701 corresponds to operation S601 of FIG. 6, and descriptions of operation
  • 5601 may be applied to operation S701, except for inputting the information about the preferred route instead of inputting the information about the avoidance route.
  • operation S702 a preferred flag, with respect to the preferred route, is established in a predetermined memory. Operation S702 corresponds to operation
  • the preferred flag, with respect to the preferred route is established in the predetermined memory, instead of establishing the avoidance flag with respect to the avoidance route.
  • a route is searched for by calculating a priority of a preferred route where the preferred flag is established as being greater than a predetermined number, instead of calculating a priority of a route where the avoidance flag is established as being less than a predetermined number, thereby including the preferred route in the route in the first place.
  • Operation S 703 corresponds to operation S 603 of FIG. 6.
  • the method of searching for a route according to the above-described exemplary embodiments of the present invention may be recorded in computer-readable media including program instructions to implement various operations embodied by a computer.
  • the media may also include, alone or in combination with the program instructions, data files, data structures, and the like.
  • Examples of computer-readable media include magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks, and magnetic tape; optical media such as CD ROM disks and DVD; magneto-optical media such as optical disks; and hardware devices that are specially configured to store and perform program instructions, such as read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), flash memory, and the like
  • Examples of program instructions include both machine code, such as produced by a compiler, and files containing higher level code that may be executed by the computer using an interpreter.
  • the described hardware devices may be configured to act as one or more software modules in order to perform the operations of the above-described exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

Abstract

A system and method of searching for a route is provided. The system can provide a user with an optimal route since an avoidance route and a preferred route are inputted from the user, the avoidance route is avoided and the preferred route is included in a route when the route is searched for.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ROUTE SEARCHING
Technical Field
The present invention relates to a system and method of searching for a route, more particularly, to a system and method of searching for a route which can provide an alternate route according to circumstances or preferences of a user.
Background Art
Recently, navigation devices that search for a required route and provide a user with information about the required route and a present location by using a location based service (LBS), such as a global positioning system (GPS), are broadly used. Generally, the navigation devices store map information inside the navigation devices, receive a satellite signal from a GPS satellite, a present location of a user is identified on the stored map, and a required service is provided to the user based on the present location.
Among those services provided by the navigation devices, a route searching service is a broadly used service provided to users. When a user establishes a destination point in a navigation device, the navigation device searches for possible routes from a map stored in the navigation device, and provides a route to the destination point. Increasingly, various methods are provided to quickly reach the destination point.
In such a route searching method, the same route is retrieved regardless of circumstances when a route from the same location to the same destination is searched for since the route is retrieved based exclusively on a present location of a user or using map information stored in the navigation device. However, under real circumstances, a situation such as construction, a car accident, or traffic jam may occur in an optimal route, and in this instance, it may take a longer time to use the optimal route in comparison to using other routes.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a method of searching for a route according to a conventional technique.
Referring to FIG. 1 , a user performs searching for a route at a reference numeral 110, and a route of a reference numeral 120 is retrieved as a quickest route. In the case that a traffic situation becomes adverse due to an accident or construction in a reference numeral 130, it may take longer to use the route 120 than a usual traffic situation. According to the conventional art, there is no way to detour if the user sees the route situation ahead. Therefore, unless the user knows a detour route in that area, the user is required to break away from the area, go to another route, and wait for a new route to be searched by the navigation device. The user is required to break away from the area according to the conventional technique, and it is difficult to find the detour route when the retrieved route is blocked. Accordingly, in the specification of the present invention, a system and method of searching for a detour route and providing a user with the detour route when the user identifies information about circumstances of a route and needs to avoid the route whose circumstances are adverse.
Disclosure of Invention Technical Goals
The present invention provides a system and method of searching for a route which can provide a user with a route being capable of avoiding an avoidance route when a user needs to avoid the avoidance route. The present invention also provides a system and method of easily selecting an avoidance route since a user can select the avoidance route using various methods.
The present invention also provides a system and method which can reach a destination point via preferred route of a user by giving a priority to the user's preferred route when a route is searched for.
Technical solutions
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system of searching for a route including: an avoidance information input unit receiving information about an avoidance route to be avoided, from a user; an avoidance establishment unit establishing an avoidance flag, with respect to the avoidance route, in a predetermined memory; and a route searching unit searching for a route by calculating a priority of the avoidance route where the avoidance flag is established as being less than a predetermined number.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system of searching for a route including: a preferred information input unit receiving information about a preferred route from a user; a preference establishment unit establishing a preferred flag, with respect to the preferred route, in a predetermined memory; and a route searching unit searching for a route by calculating a priority of the preferred route where the preferred flag is established as being greater than a predetermined number. According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of searching of a route including: receiving information about an avoidance route to be avoided, from a user; establishing an avoidance flag, with respect to the avoidance route, in a predetermined memory; and searching for a route by calculating a priority of the avoidance route where the avoidance flag is established as being less than a predetermined number.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of searching of a route including: receiving information about a preferred route from a user; establishing a preferred flag, with respect to the preferred route, in a predetermined memory; and searching for the route by calculating a priority of the preferred route where the preferred flag is established as being less than a predetermined number.
Brief Description of Drawings
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a method of searching for a route according to a conventional method; FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an inner configuration of a system of searching for a route according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an inner configuration of a system of searching for a route according to another embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a display where an avoidance distance is selectively inputted in a system of searching for a route according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a display where an avoidance route is selectively inputted in a system of searching for a route according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating flows of a method of searching for a route according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating flows of a method of searching for a route according to another embodiment of the present invention.
Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
Hereinafter, although embodiments are described below in order to explain the present invention by referring to the figures, the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments. Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout.
The present invention relates to a system and method of searching for a route for a destination point and of providing a user with the route, the system is generally able to be applied to a navigation device using a global positioning system (GPS), and is able to be applied to various devices such as a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant
(PDA), and a notebook computer, and the like, also the system is able to be applied to any systems that inform a user of a route. Also, the system of searching for the route according to an embodiment of the present invention may be configured to be embedded in a server and to provide a user terminal with a route, or to be embedded in the user terminal and to directly provide a user.
Operations of another system of searching a route according to an embodiment of the present invention will be briefly described by referring to FIG. 1. When a destination point existing in a reference numeral 110 is inputted and a destination point is retrieved, a general system of searching for a route provides a user with a quickest route being capable of reaching the destination point as fast as possible. If the quickest route is a reference numeral 120, and if proceeding is delayed in a zone of a reference numeral 130 due to construction, a car accident, and traffic jam, in a conventional system, the user is required to search for an alternative route to detour, or is required to proceed through the zone 130 without any choice.
Conversely, in the system of searching for the route of the present invention, when a user establishes avoidance establishment with respect to the zone 130, a detour route is searched for to provide a user in order to avoid the zone 130 where the avoidance establishment is established, as shown in a reference numeral 140. Accordingly, the user is able to quickly reach the destination point by using the detour route according to information provided by the system of searching for the route of the present invention. In this instance, as described above, when an avoidance route exists from an already retrieved route, it is possible to re-inform the user of a new route by avoiding the avoidance route, or it is possible to inform the user of a route by avoiding the avoidance route since user's avoidance route is previously established.
Also, in the system of searching the route of the present invention, a user is able to establish an avoidance route using various methods. When the user needs to establish an avoidance route with respect to the zone 130, the user inputs a distance from a location of the reference numeral 110 to a point to be avoided, thereby establishing a route from the location of the reference numeral 110 to the point to be avoided from the avoidance route. In FIG. 1, if a distance from a reference numeral 150 of a point where the zone 130 ends to the reference numeral 110 of a present location is 100 meters, the user inputs 100 meters, thereby avoiding from the zone 130. In addition, the user is able to establish the zone 130 as an avoidance route by directly inputting/selecting a road name of the zone 130, or by selecting the zone 130 on the provided map. In the same way, a user's preferred route can be included in a most convenient route when the route is retrieved by previously registering the user's preferred route as a preferred route.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an inner configuration of a system 201 of searching for a route according to an embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the system 201 of searching for the route according to the embodiment of the present invention includes an avoidance information input unit 210, an avoidance establishment unit 220, a route searching unit 230, and a memory 240. The above mentioned configuration elements may be embodied in a type of software, hardware, or combination of software and hardware, and may be connected with each other. Hereinafter, each configuration element will be described.
The avoidance input unit 210 receives information about an avoidance route to be avoided, from a user. The user may input a route under construction or where an accident has occurred as the avoidance route when the user sees the accident or construction ahead, and may input the route under construction or where an accident has occurred as the avoidance route using information from a radio, or just may input a route not being preferred by the user as the avoidance route.
The information about the avoidance route received in the avoidance input unit 210 may be of various types depending on input methods of the user. As an example, the information about the avoidance route may include an avoidance distance. When a user sees a route under construction or sees an accident has occurred in front of the user, the user estimates a distance to avoid the route ahead, that is the user estimates a distance to a point where traffic is smooth by passing by the route under construction or having accidents occurred, and inputs the distance as an avoidance distance, thereby establishing a route having the same length as the avoidance distance as the avoidance route.
As another example, the information about the avoidance information received in the avoidance information input unit 210 may include a route name of the avoidance route. When a user knows a route name of the avoidance route to be avoided, the user directly inputs the route name of the avoidance route, thereby easily establishing the avoidance route. Particularly, when the user hears news of an accident or construction from a distance, the user inputs a route name of the route having the accident or construction, thereby establishing the route as an avoidance route, whose circumstances are adverse, to avoid. In this instance, the avoidance information input unit 210 receives the route name from the user, provides the user with a route list corresponding to the received route name, and the user may selectively input the route name of the avoidance route. Also, the route name which is received from the user may be a portion of route names. As an example, when 'Kang Nam' is inputted, route names beginning with 'Kang Nam' such as 'Kang Nam Dae Ro', 'Kang Nam Station1, and the like may be provided to the user, and a route list including complete route names can be provided by receiving only initial sounds such as 1K N D R'. The above input method is possible in the present invention, inputting a whole route name or merely a portion of a route name may be sufficient, and it is also possible to be able to provide a route list corresponding to a route name, thus, ideas of the present invention are not be limited to the input method described in the specification of the present invention. Also, the avoidance information input unit 210 provides the user with map information, and receives the avoidance route on the map. In a general system of searching for a route, a route is marked on a map and the map marked with the route is displayed to the user, the user selectively inputs an avoidance route to be avoided on a map, and the user is able to establish the avoidance route. In this instance, when a touch-screen function is added in a display in a navigation device, a user is able to establish the avoidance route by clicking a route point to be avoided on the display. In the case of a display without a touch-screen function, the avoidance route is able to be selected using an additional input device.
The avoidance establishment unit 220 establishes an avoidance flag, with respect to the avoidance route, in the memory 240. When a user inputs the information about the avoidance route, a system 201 of searching for a route searches for a route by excluding the avoidance route when searching for the route, and may provide a user with a detour route. If the user establishes an area without a detour route as an avoidance route, there is possibility that a route to a destination point can not be found since the avoidance route is excluded. Accordingly, an avoidance route is not completely excluded, but an avoidance flag is established with respect to a route being established as an avoidance route, and the route where the avoidance flag is established is avoided as much as possible when a route is searched for.
The avoidance flag established by the avoidance establishment unit 220 may be an indicator informing that a corresponding route is established as an avoidance route in correspondence to an identifier that identifies the avoidance route, and may be configured as any type. As an example, if the memory 240 is a type of a table in a database, a single field indicating whether an avoidance flag is established or not is added to the table, a prescribed value is inputted in the single field, thereby establishing an avoidance flag. The above method of establishing the avoidance flag may be applied to the present invention if it is possible to verify whether an avoidance route inputted by a user is established as an avoidance route.
Also, the avoidance establishment unit 220 may manage an avoidance route being inputted by a user as an additional list. The user may establish a route as an avoidance route due to a temporary accident and the like, and the user may establish a route as an avoidance route since the user does not prefer to the route, in this instance, since it is inconvenient for the user to establish an avoidance route every time the user uses the system 201 of searching for the route, the user may manage an avoidance route being inputted by the user as an additional list.
The avoidance establishment unit 220 selects an avoidance route using information about the avoidance route being inputted by the avoidance information input unit 210, and establishes an avoidance flag with respect to the selected avoidance route. In this instance, the selecting of the avoidance route may differ depending on types of the information about the avoidance route. As described above, since the avoidance information input unit 210 may receive various types of the information about the avoidance route from the user, the avoidance establishment unit 220 is required to select an avoidance route based on the information about the avoidance route.
Specifically, when the avoidance establishment unit 220 receives the information about the avoidance route, which includes an avoidance distance, from the avoidance information input unit 210, a route corresponding to a distance from a user's present location to the avoidance distance can be selected as an avoidance route. In this instance, if a route has already been provided to the user, a route corresponding to the avoidance distance can be selected as an avoidance route, from the provided route.
Also, the avoidance establishment unit 220 may maintain a number of avoidance routes where the avoidance flag is established as being less than a predetermined number. If the number of the avoidance route is established as being infinite, execution load of the system may be great and a quite a number of routes can be excluded, accordingly the searching of the route can not be easy. Therefore, the number of the avoidance route where the avoidance flag is established can be limited as the predetermined number.
When the avoidance establishment unit 220 receives information about an avoidance-released route from the avoidance information input unit 210, the memory 240 may release an avoidance flag with respect to the avoidance-released route. Therefore, after the user establishes an avoidance route, if a situation of the avoidance route improves and if the user wants to use the avoidance route again, the avoidance flag can be released by inputting the avoidance route as the avoidance-released route. The route searching unit 230 searches for a route by calculating a priority of a route where the avoidance flag is established as being less than a predetermined number. A general system of searching for a route stores information of each route to search for a route, and the information of each route may include priority information of each route. When a user inputs a destination point to search for a route to the destination point, effective lengths of routes are stored in order to search for a shortest distance from a user's present location to the destination point. The user may not reach the destination point the quickest even when actual distance is the shortest, but the user may reach the destination point the quickest even when a distance is not the shortest, depending on situations of a route. As an example, when an expressway exists on the route, it is possible to quickly reach the destination point when the expressway is used. Accordingly, a higher priority is given to a route having an expressway, and this is reflected when a route is searched for.
As described above, the route searching unit 230 may search for a route based on a priority of a route. In this instance, a lower priority is given to a route where an avoidance flag is established, therefore a detour route around the route where the avoidance flag is established can be selected before the route where the avoidance flag is established.
Depending on circumstances, the route searching unit 230 may not give a lower priority to the route where the avoidance flag is established. Specifically, when an avoidance route is informed to a user after the user almost reaches the destination point, it is much more difficult for user to precisely reach the destination point. Also, when a detour route is an alley or when it is not very simple for a user to use a detour route since to use the detour route it is required to exit an off-ramp and to enter an on-ramp, same priorities are given regardless of the avoidance flag, which may be established according to a need of a user of the system or a provider of the system.
The memory 240 stores an avoidance flag, which is established by the avoidance establishment unit 220, by corresponding to an avoidance route. The memory 240 may be a central memory device in a computer, and may be an external memory device such as a hard disk, a flash memory, and a compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM). Any type of memory device that can store an avoidance flag by corresponding to an avoidance route will suffice. Specifically, a table storing a priority with respect to each route is stored in the memory 240, whether an avoidance flag is established is stored as one item of the table, and the avoidance flag may be established as another item of the table. In this instance, it is possible to verify both a general search for a route and whether a route is an avoidance route, and to output a result of the verification, therefore a process can be quicker. The present invention is not limited by types and storage methods of the memory 240.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an inner configuration of a system 301 of searching for a route according to another embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the system 301 of searching for the route according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a preferred information input unit 310, a preference establishment unit 320, a route searching unit 330, and a memory 340. The above mentioned configuration elements may be embodied in a type of software, hardware, or combination of software and hardware, and may be connected with each other. Hereinafter, each configuration element will be described.
The preferred information input unit 310 corresponds to the avoidance information input unit 210 in the system 201 of searching for the route of FIG. 2, and similar to the avoidance information unit 210, receives information about a preferred route of a user, from the user. The system 301 of searching for the route according to another embodiment of the present invention receives the information about the preferred route from the user, the preferred route is included in the route in the first place when the route is searched for, and preference of the user with respect to a route can be utilized when a route is searched for. Accordingly, the preferred information input unit 310 receives the information about the preferred route as the system 201 of searching for the route receives the information about the avoidance route from the avoidance information input unit 210.
The preference establishment unit 320 corresponds to the avoidance establishment unit 220 in the system 201 of searching for the route of FIG. 2, and establishes a preferred flag with respect to the preferred route in the memory 340. The preferred flag corresponds to the avoidance flag in the system 301 of searching for the route, and is to identify whether a route is a preferred route.
The route searching unit 330 corresponds to the route searching unit 230 in the system 201 of searching for the route of FIG. 2, and searches for a route by calculating a priority of a preferred route where a preferred flag is established as being greater than a predetermined number. In this instance, unlike the route searching unit 230 in the system 201 of searching for the route of FIG. 2, the route is searched for by calculating the priority of the preferred route where the preferred flag is established as being greater than the predetermined number, a priority of the preferred route of the user is increased, and the preferred route can be initially included in the route when the route is searched for. The memory 340 stores the preferred flag, which is established by the preference establishment unit 320, by corresponding to the preferred route. Any type of memory device that can store the preferred flag by corresponding to the preferred route will do, and the present invention will not be limited by types and storage methods of the memory 340.
Since detailed descriptions and embodiments of the system 301 of searching for the route are similar to the descriptions and embodiments of the system 201 of searching for the route of FIG. 2, the detailed descriptions and embodiments of the system 301 of searching for the route will be omitted in the specification of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a display where an avoidance distance is selectively inputted in a system of searching for a route according to an embodiment of the present invention.
As illustrated in FIG. 4, the system of searching for the route according to the embodiment of the present invention receives the avoidance distance from a user, and establishes an avoidance route. When the user sees that traffic conditions are adverse on a road 500 meters ahead while driving, the user immediately clicks a '500m' button on a menu to select avoidance distance, thereby establishing the road 500 meters ahead as an avoidance route. In this instance, the system of searching for the route according to the embodiment of the present invention provides the user with a detour route replacing the road 500 meters ahead.
As illustrated in FIG. 4, a plurality of avoidance distances are provided to the user in a button type, the user may select an avoidance distance by selecting a button, and may directly input an avoidance distance. If a route has been already provided to the user, this denotes that a route passing through a route indicated by the avoidance distance can be selected as an avoidance route, from the provided route to the user.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a display where an avoidance route is selectively inputted in a system of searching for a route according to an embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the system of searching for the route according to the embodiment of the present invention receives a route name from a user, and establishes a route corresponding to the received route name as an avoidance route. When the user inputs the route name in an input window 510 in the system of searching for the route, the system of searching for the route may provide the user with a route list 520 corresponding to the received route name. Referring to FIG. 5, when the user inputs 'Olympic' in the input window 510, route names including 'Olympic', such as Olympic bridge', 'Olympic main road', Olympic park1, and the like, are provided to the user, and the user may select a route.
Also, when a length of a route is very long such as the 'Olympic main road', information about a route name is stored for each block, and a user can specifically input a block name to be avoided. As an example, when an accident occurs near the Han Nam bridge of the Olympic main road, a user can establish a block of the Han Nam bridge of the Olympic main road as an avoidance route, and when the user inputs 'Olympic' in the input window, each block of the Olympic main road can be displayed as a list, and each block of the Olympic main road can be displayed as a list when the user selects the Olympic main road'.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating flows of a method of searching for a route according to an embodiment of the present invention.
In operation S601, information about an avoidance route is received from a user. The information about the avoidance route to be avoided may be of various types depending on input methods of the user. As an example, the information about the avoidance route may include an avoidance distance. When a user sees a route under construction or sees an accident has occurred ahead, the user estimates a distance to avoid the route ahead, that is the user estimates a distance to a point where traffic is smooth by passing by the route under construction or where an accident has occurred, and inputs the distance as an avoidance distance, thereby establishing a route having the same length as the avoidance distance as the avoidance route.
As another example, the information of the avoidance information received in operation S601 may include a route name of the avoidance route. When a user knows a route name of the avoidance route to be avoided, the user directly inputs the route name of the avoidance route, thereby easily establishing the avoidance route. Particularly, when the user hears news of an accident or construction on a route from a distance, the user inputs a route name of the route with the accident or construction, thereby establishing the route as an avoidance route to avoid the avoidance route where circumstances are adverse.
Also, in operation S601, map information is provided to a user, and an avoidance route on the map is selectively inputted by the user. In a general system of searching for a route, a route is marked on a map and the map marked with the route is displayed to the user, the user selectively inputs an avoidance route to be avoided on a map, and the user is able to establish the avoidance route. In this instance, when a touch-screen function is added to a display in a navigation device, a user is able to establish the avoidance route by clicking a route point to be avoided on the display. In the case of a display without a touch-screen function, the avoidance route is able to be selected using an additional input device.
In operation S602, an avoidance flag, with respect to the avoidance route, is established in a predetermined memory. The avoidance flag established in operation 602 may be an indicator informing that a corresponding route is established as an avoidance route in correspondence to an identifier that identifies the avoidance route, and may be configured as any type. As an example, if the predetermined memory is a type of a table in a database, a single field indicating whether an avoidance flag is established or not is added to the table, a prescribed value is inputted in the single field, thereby establishing an avoidance flag. The above method of establishing the avoidance flag may be applied to the present invention if it is possible to verify whether an avoidance route inputted by a user is established as an avoidance route.
When the information about the avoidance route is received from operation
S601, the memory may release an avoidance flag with respect to the avoidance-released route in operation S602. Therefore, after the user establishes an avoidance route, if a situation of the avoidance route improves and if the user wants to use the avoidance route again, the avoidance flag can be released by inputting the avoidance route as the avoidance-released route.
In operation S603, a route is searched for by calculating a priority of a route where the avoidance flag is established as being less than a predetermined number. A general system of searching for a route stores information of each route to search for a route, and the information of each route may include priority information of each route. When a user inputs a destination point to search for a route to the destination point, it is effective lengths of routes are stored in order to search for a shortest distance from a user's present location to the destination point. The user may not reach the destination point the quickest even when actual distance is the shortest, but the user may reach the destination point the quickest even when a distance is not the shortest depending on situations of a route. As an example, when an expressway exists on the route, it is possible to quickly reach the destination point when the expressway is used. Accordingly, a higher priority is given to a route having an expressway, and this is reflected when a route is searched for.
In operation S 603, a route may be searched for based on a priority of a route.
In this instance, a lower priority is given to a route where an avoidance flag is established, therefore a detour route around the route where the avoidance flag is established can be selected before the route where the avoidance flag is established. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating flows of a method of searching for a route according to another embodiment of the present invention.
In operation S701, information about a preferred route is received from a user. Operation S701 corresponds to operation S601 of FIG. 6, and descriptions of operation
5601 may be applied to operation S701, except for inputting the information about the preferred route instead of inputting the information about the avoidance route.
In operation S702, a preferred flag, with respect to the preferred route, is established in a predetermined memory. Operation S702 corresponds to operation
5602 of FIG. 6, and, in operation S702, the preferred flag, with respect to the preferred route, is established in the predetermined memory, instead of establishing the avoidance flag with respect to the avoidance route.
In operation S703, a route is searched for by calculating a priority of a preferred route where the preferred flag is established as being greater than a predetermined number, instead of calculating a priority of a route where the avoidance flag is established as being less than a predetermined number, thereby including the preferred route in the route in the first place. Operation S 703 corresponds to operation S 603 of FIG. 6. The method of searching for a route according to the above-described exemplary embodiments of the present invention may be recorded in computer-readable media including program instructions to implement various operations embodied by a computer. The media may also include, alone or in combination with the program instructions, data files, data structures, and the like. Examples of computer-readable media include magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks, and magnetic tape; optical media such as CD ROM disks and DVD; magneto-optical media such as optical disks; and hardware devices that are specially configured to store and perform program instructions, such as read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), flash memory, and the like Examples of program instructions include both machine code, such as produced by a compiler, and files containing higher level code that may be executed by the computer using an interpreter. The described hardware devices may be configured to act as one or more software modules in order to perform the operations of the above-described exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Although a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments. Instead, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.
Industrial Applicability
According to the present invention, it is possible to inform a user of a route being capable of avoiding an avoidance route specified by the user.
Also, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily select an avoidance route since the avoidance route is selected using various methods.
Also, according to the present invention, it is possible to reach a destination point via a preferred route of a user by giving a priority to the user's preferred route when a route is searched for.

Claims

1. A system for searching for a route, comprising: an avoidance information input unit receiving information about an avoidance route to be avoided, from a user; an avoidance establishment unit establishing an avoidance flag, with respect to the avoidance route, in a predetermined memory; and a route searching unit searching for a route by calculating a priority of the avoidance route where the avoidance flag is established as being less than a predetermined number.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the avoidance information input unit further receives information about an avoidance-released route from the user, and the avoidance establishment unit releases the avoidance flag with respect to the avoidance-released route when the information about the avoidance-released route is received from the user.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the information about the avoidance route comprises an avoidance distance, and the avoidance establishment unit establishes the avoidance flag with respect to a route having the same length as the avoidance length.
4. The system of claim 3, wherein, when a provided route for the user exists, the avoidance establishment unit establishes the avoidance flag with respect to a route having the same distance as a distance from a present location of the user to the avoidance distance.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the information about the avoidance route comprises a route name of the avoidance route, and the avoidance establishment unit establishes the avoidance flag on a route corresponding to route name.
6. The system of claim 5, wherein the avoidance information input unit receives the route name of the avoidance route, provides the user with a route list corresponding to the received route name, and the user is able to selectively input the avoidance route.
7. The system of claim 5, wherein the avoidance information input unit receives a portion of the route name of the avoidance route from the user, provides the user with a route list corresponding to the received portion of the route name of the avoidance route, and the user is able to selectively input the avoidance route.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the avoidance establishment unit maintains a number of the avoidance route where the avoidance flag is established as being less than a predetermined number.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein the avoidance information input unit provides the user with map information, and receives the avoidance route on the map, the avoidance route being selected by the user.
10. A system o f searching for a route, comprising: a preferred information input unit receiving information about a preferred route from a user; a preference establishment unit establishing a preferred flag, with respect to the preferred route, in a predetermined memory; and a route searching unit searching for a route by calculating a priority of the preferred route where the preferred flag is established as being greater than a predetermined number.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the preferred information input unit further receives information about a preference-released route from the user, and the preference establishment unit releases the preferred flag with respect to the preferred route when the information about the preference-released route is received from the user.
12. The system of claim 10, wherein the preferred information input unit further receives information about a preferred route from the user, and the preference establishment unit releases the preferred flag with respect to the preferred route.
13. The system of claim 10, wherein the preferred information input unit provides the user with map information, and receives the preferred route on the map, the preferred route being selected by the user.
14. A method of searching for a route, comprising: receiving information about an avoidance route to be avoided, from a user; establishing an avoidance flag, with respect to the avoidance route, in a predetermined memory; and searching for a route by calculating a priority of the avoidance route where the avoidance flag is established as being less than a predetermined number.
15. A method of searching for a route, comprising: receiving information about a preferred route from a user; establishing a preferred flag, with respect to the preferred route, in a predetermined memory; and searching for the route by calculating a priority of the preferred route where the preferred flag is established as being less than a predetermined number.
16. At least one computer-readable storage medium storing instructions for implementing the method of claims 14 or 15.
PCT/KR2007/004605 2006-11-08 2007-09-20 System and method for route searching WO2008056879A1 (en)

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