JP2006047123A - Navigation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve an operator's confidence in a retrieved route by displaying information used for route retrieval for every road section. <P>SOLUTION: This navigation apparatus for retrieving a route to a set destination and performing guidance comprises an information processing part for acquiring information to be used for retrieval; a display part for displaying the retrieved route; and a display control part for displaying information used for retrieval for every road section of the retrieved route. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a navigation device.

  Conventionally, in a navigation device mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile, an optimum route from a set departure point to a destination is searched based on road map data and displayed on a display means. . In this case, the route is searched so that the distance from the starting point to the destination is the shortest, or the route is searched so that the required time is the shortest.

In addition, the current traffic information distributed by the traffic information center and travel history data when the vehicle travels are stored in the storage means so that an appropriate route can be searched in consideration of actual traffic volume and traffic jam information. There has been proposed a technique for correcting a required time based on the past traffic information or the like and searching for a route having the shortest required time to the destination (for example, see Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-19593

  However, in the conventional navigation device, there is no indication as to which section was searched based on which traffic information in the searched route. For example, even if a route is searched based on a plurality of traffic information such as current traffic information, past traffic information, etc., any section of the route is searched based on current traffic information, Information that the section of the throat has been searched based on the past traffic information is not provided to the operator of the navigation device. For this reason, the operator cannot always trust the set route sufficiently.

  The present invention solves the problems of the conventional navigation device, displays information used for route search for each road section, and improves the reliability of the operator for the searched route. An object of the present invention is to provide a navigation device that can be used.

  Therefore, in the navigation device of the present invention, a navigation device that searches and guides a route to a set destination, and displays an information processing unit that acquires information used for the search, and the searched route And a display control unit that displays information used for the search for each road section of the searched route.

  According to the present invention, information used for route search is displayed for each road section. Therefore, the reliability of the operator for the searched route can be improved.

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

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a display screen of the navigation device in the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the priority order of use data in the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a display screen of a display unit of a navigation device (not shown) in the present embodiment. The navigation device is a vehicle navigation device mounted on a vehicle such as a passenger car, a truck, a bus, or a motorcycle, and includes a calculation means such as a CPU and an MPU, a storage means such as a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, and an optical disk, and a communication interface. It is a kind of computer provided. The navigation device includes a GPS (Global Positioning System), a geomagnetic sensor, a distance sensor, a steering sensor, a beacon sensor, a gyro sensor, a current position detection processing unit that detects a current position, map data including road data, search data, and the like A data recording unit as a storage means for storing a route, a route search process for searching for a route to a set destination based on inputted information, a route guidance process, a POI (Point for searching a point or facility) of Interest) A navigation processing unit that performs various arithmetic processes such as a navigation process such as a search process, an input unit, a display unit, a voice input unit, a voice output unit, and a communication unit, and has a route to a set destination. Search and give guidance.

  The data recording unit stores map data as information used for searching. That is, the data recording unit includes a database including various data files, and displays a guide map along the searched route on the display screen 10 of the display unit in addition to search data for searching for a route. Or various data such as facility data is recorded in order to display other guidance information. Note that the data recording unit also includes information on links, which are units constituting a road. The data recording unit also records various data for outputting predetermined information by the audio output unit.

  The input unit is for correcting a position at the start of traveling or inputting a destination, such as an operation key, a push button, a jog dial, a cross key, etc. arranged in the navigation device body. However, it may be a remote controller. When the display unit is a touch panel, it is desirable that the display unit includes operation switches such as operation keys and operation menus displayed on the display screen 10 of the display unit. In this case, an input can be performed by pressing, that is, touching, the operation switch like a normal touch panel.

  The display screen 10 of the display unit displays operation guidance, operation menus, operation key guidance, a route from the current position to the destination, guidance information along the route, and the like. As the display unit, a CRT, a liquid crystal display, an LED (Light Emitting Diode) display, a plasma display, a hologram device that projects a hologram on a windshield, or the like can be used.

  In the present embodiment, from the viewpoint of the function, the navigation device is a route search unit that searches for a route from the input departure point to the destination, and information processing that acquires and processes traffic information as information used for the search. A traffic information storage unit for storing traffic information, and a display control unit for controlling the operation of the display unit to display a map screen.

  Here, the route search unit searches for a route from the departure point to the destination as in a normal navigation device. Normally, the current location of the vehicle is automatically input as the departure location, but the operator can input an arbitrary location as the departure location. Then, the route search unit accesses a database stored in the data recording unit to search for a route so that the distance from the departure point to the destination is the shortest, or a route so that the required time is the shortest However, the route may be searched with reference to the traffic information acquired by the information processing unit. When the route is set as a guidance target, that is, as a guidance route, the guidance route and guidance information along the guidance route are displayed on the display screen 10 of the display unit, or a voice output unit. The route guidance is performed by outputting the guidance information by voice.

  The information processing unit obtains map data from the data recording unit, and also includes congestion information such as the position of the congestion section, the length of the congestion section, the vehicle speed of the congestion section, the congestion degree of the congestion section, and the congestion tendency of the congestion section. Is acquired, and the traffic information is processed. For example, VICS (R) information, which is traffic information provided by VICS (R) (Vehicle Information & Communication System), traffic information provided by other traffic information providing centers, acquired by the vehicle Traffic information such as the actual travel data of the own vehicle that is the travel history and the actual travel data of the other vehicle that is the travel history information provided by another vehicle such as a probe car can be acquired. Note that the traffic information is preferably acquired in association with a VICS (R) link or a road link. Here, the road link is a unit constituting a road, and is usually divided with an intersection of three or more roads as a boundary. And in a normal navigation apparatus, road link ID as an identification number which identifies a road link is provided.

  Further, the traffic information storage unit stores statistical traffic information statistically processed by accumulating past traffic information, and traffic information such as travel history information of the own vehicle and other vehicles as actual travel data. The statistical traffic information is created by collecting VICS (R) information created in the past, information on traffic control systems such as the police and the Japan Highway Public Corporation, and includes VICS (R) links and road links. It is desirable that they are associated. The traffic information storage unit stores the actual traveling data of the own vehicle and the actual traveling data of other vehicles as a part of past traffic information. Further, the traffic information storage unit may store national road / street traffic situation surveys conducted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, that is, data of road traffic census as part of past traffic information. The actual travel data and road traffic census data are also preferably associated with the VICS (R) link and the road link.

  The statistical traffic information, the actual travel data, and the road traffic census data are the time after the present and the time when the vehicle will pass the corresponding road link, that is, the predicted traffic information at the predicted passage time. used. For example, based on the link travel time of each road link stored for each day of the week and the date and time, the link travel time of the corresponding road link at the day of the week and the date and time corresponding to the desired time after the present is calculated, and as predicted traffic information Can be used.

  In addition, the display control unit displays a route from the searched origin to the destination on the display unit, and when the route search unit refers to traffic information to search for a route, The used traffic information is displayed for each section of the route. In the present embodiment, the display control unit displays the route information screen 11 on the display screen 10 of the display unit, as shown in FIGS. On the route information screen 11, the searched route from the starting point to the destination is displayed as an arrow 12 extending in the vertical direction schematically. 1A is a route information screen 11 when the traffic information used for the route search is not displayed, and FIG. 1B is a route information screen when the traffic information used for the route search is displayed. 11.

  1 (a) and 1 (b), an arrow 12 schematically shows a route from the current position of the vehicle to the destination (Toyota Stadium in the example shown in FIG. 1), and roads constituting the route In the example shown in FIG. 1, names representing sections are given in order from the top as general road, national highway 301, national highway 153, and general highway. The arrow 12 may extend in the horizontal direction, and in this case, names representing road sections are given in order from the right or the left, respectively. Reference numeral 13 denotes a distance display indicating each length of the road section, that is, a distance, which is displayed in association with the road section. In the example shown in FIG. 1, 0.1 [km], 0.8 [km], and 11 [km] in order from the top corresponding to the road sections of general road, national road 301, national road 153, and general road. ] And 1.6 [km]. Reference numeral 14 denotes a predicted arrival time display indicating a time at which arrival at the destination is predicted, and is displayed in association with the destination.

  And 15 shown in FIG.1 (b) is the traffic information display which shows the traffic information used for the route search, and is displayed corresponding to the said road area. In the example shown in the figure, the statistics VICS (R), the probe, and the current status VICS (R) are provided in order from the top corresponding to the road sections of the general road, the national road 153, and the general road. Here, the statistical VICS (R) is statistical traffic information obtained by accumulating VICS (R) information created in the past and performing statistical processing. The probe is the actual running data of the own vehicle and the actual vehicle data of other vehicles. It is driving | running | working data, and present condition VICS (R) is VICS (R) information as the present traffic information provided by VICS (R).

  In addition, no traffic information used for route search is displayed at the location corresponding to the national highway 301. This indicates that the route search was performed without using the traffic information for the national highway 301 because no traffic information exists. In addition, as shown in FIG. 1B, nothing may be displayed for a road section in which no traffic information exists, and a word, code, or the like indicating that no traffic information exists, for example, “None "," None ","-", etc. may be displayed.

  In the present embodiment, the navigation device selects traffic information used for route search according to the priority order as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the priority is the highest in the current traffic information, the actual travel data of the own vehicle and the actual travel data of the other vehicle is the second highest, and the statistical traffic information is the third highest. ing. The priority order can be changed as needed.

  Further, all traffic information existing for each road section may be displayed. In this case, the traffic information used for the route search is displayed in such a display form that it can be identified, for example, by highlighting the traffic information. Moreover, you may enable it for an operator to select desired traffic information from all the traffic information displayed about each road area. In this case, a route search is performed using the traffic information selected for each road section.

  Next, the operation of the navigation device having the above configuration will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the navigation device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  First, the operator operates the input unit of the navigation device to set a destination. For example, a search condition for searching for a route such as highway priority can be set as necessary. Subsequently, the route search unit of the navigation device searches for a route from the current position to the destination based on the current position of the vehicle, the set destination, the search condition, and the like. In this case, for road sections where traffic information can be used, a route is searched using the traffic information. That is, a search cost is calculated using traffic information, and a route is searched for such a search cost as low as possible. When a plurality of traffic information can be used for one road section, the traffic information is selected according to the priority order as shown in FIG. 2, and the route is searched using the selected traffic information. To do.

  Subsequently, the display control unit of the navigation apparatus acquires each section for display on the route information screen 11. That is, information on each road section constituting the route searched by the route search unit is acquired. Further, the display control unit acquires traffic information used for searching for a route for each section, that is, for each road section constituting the searched route. If there is a plurality of traffic information used for searching the route for each road section, all the traffic information may be acquired, or only the most frequently used traffic information may be acquired. Good.

  Subsequently, the display control unit displays the acquired section and traffic information on the display unit. In this case, the traffic information used for searching the route for each road section is displayed in association with each road section constituting the searched route. Thereby, the route information screen 11 as shown in FIG. 1B is displayed on the display unit. Therefore, the operator can grasp the traffic information used for the route search for each road section, and can place high reliability on the searched route. In addition, the contents of the predicted arrival time display 14, that is, the predicted arrival time at the destination can be trusted.

  The display control unit displays the route information screen 11 for a predetermined time, and then displays a normal route guidance screen showing the searched route on the map screen.

Next, a flowchart will be described.
Step S1: A route from the current position to the destination is searched.
Step S2 Each section is acquired for display on the route information screen 11.
Step S3: For each road section, obtain traffic information used to search for a route.
Step S4 The acquired section and traffic information are displayed on the display unit, and the process is terminated.

  Thus, in the present embodiment, the route information screen 11 is displayed on the display unit of the navigation device so that the traffic information used for searching for the route is displayed for each road section constituting the route. It has become. Therefore, since the operator can grasp the traffic information used for the route search for each road section, the operator can have high confidence in the searched route.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In addition, about the thing which has the same structure as 1st Embodiment, the description is abbreviate | omitted by providing the same code | symbol. The description of the same operation and the same effect as those of the first embodiment is also omitted.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a first display screen of the navigation device according to the second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a second display screen of the navigation device according to the second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a third display screen of the navigation device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the entire route screen 21 showing all the searched routes is displayed on the display screen 10 of the display unit. Yes. In this case, a current position mark 23 indicating the current position of the vehicle on the map screen, a destination mark 24 indicating the destination set by the operator, and a route from the current position searched by the route search unit to the destination A route display 22 is displayed. FIG. 4A shows an all route screen 21 when there is no traffic information that can be used for route search.

  On the other hand, when there is traffic information that can be used for the route search, as shown in FIG. 4B, the route display 22 corresponds to the road section searched for the route using the traffic information. A traffic information presence display 22 a having a display form different from the other parts of the route display 22 is applied to the part. In the example shown in FIG. 4B, the traffic information presence display 22a is a bold line. Thereby, the operator can grasp | ascertain that the route was searched using traffic information about the road area corresponding to a thick line. The traffic information presence display 22a changes the display form of the route display 22 as long as the operator can grasp that the route has been searched using the traffic information for the corresponding road section. The line thickness may be changed, the line type (for example, solid line, dotted line, alternate long and short dash line, etc.) may be changed, The color may be changed, or the line saturation, brightness, or the like may be changed.

  Furthermore, you may make it change the display form of the traffic information presence display 22a according to the kind of traffic information used in order to search a path | route. For example, for a road section in which current traffic information such as VICS (R) information is used, the traffic information presence display 22a is set to a red line, and predictions such as actual travel data of the own vehicle and actual travel data of other vehicles are made. For road sections in which traffic information is used, the traffic information presence display 22a may be a blue line.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5 (a), in the map screen 25 of a predetermined range corresponding to the current position of the vehicle and its surroundings, the traffic information is included in the portion corresponding to the road section searched for the route using the traffic information. The presence mark 26 may be indicated. The all-route screen 21 is usually a screen that is displayed only for a predetermined period after the route search unit searches for a route, whereas the map screen 25 is displayed as a route guidance screen that guides the searched route. The In the example shown in FIG. 5A, the traffic information presence mark 26 is an arrow, but may be a mark of any shape.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5B, the range included in the map screen 25 can be divided into a number of areas corresponding to the type of traffic information used for searching for a route and displayed. . In the example shown in FIG. 5B, the current traffic area 27a, which is the area where the current traffic information is used, the predicted traffic information in the relatively near future, that is, the predicted transit time relatively close to the current time. Are divided into a short-term estimation area 27b, which is an area where the predicted traffic information is used in a relatively distant future, that is, a predicted passage time when a relatively long time has elapsed from the current time. Yes. The number of the areas is three in the example shown in FIG. 5B, but may be two, four or more, and may be set arbitrarily. it can. In addition, the shape of the area is rectangular in the example shown in FIG. 5B, but may be circular, semicircular, or indefinite. It may be any shape.

  Each area is displayed in a different display form. The display form is changed, for example, by changing the color, saturation, brightness, and the like. Thereby, the operator can grasp | ascertain that the route was searched using the traffic information which is different about the road area corresponding to each area. Moreover, you may make it show the traffic information presence mark 26 in the part corresponding to the road area which searched the path | route using traffic information. The traffic information presence mark 26 may be a mark having a different shape or display mode for each area. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the traffic information presence mark 26 corresponding to the current area 27a is a thick black arrow, and the traffic information presence mark 26 corresponding to the short-term estimation area 27b is a thick white arrow. The traffic information presence mark 26 corresponding to the long-term estimated area 27c is a thick white arrow surrounded by a dotted line. Therefore, the operator can grasp that the route has been searched using the different traffic information due to the difference in the display mode of the arrow.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the range included in the all route screen 21 is set to a number of areas corresponding to the type of traffic information used for the route search, for example, the current state area 27a, the short-term estimation area 27b, and the long-term estimation. It can also be displayed divided into areas 27c. That is, the example shown in FIG. 4B and the example shown in FIG. 5B can be combined.

  Next, the operation of the navigation device in the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the navigation device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  First, the information processing unit of the navigation apparatus acquires traffic information that can be used to search for a route. Subsequently, the display control unit determines whether to display the traffic information area. That is, it is determined whether or not the range included in the display screen 10 of the display unit is divided into a number of areas corresponding to the type of traffic information used for route search. Note that whether or not to divide and display the number of areas according to the type of traffic information is set in advance in the navigation device, and thus is determined based on the setting contents. The contents of the setting can be changed as appropriate by the operator operating the input unit.

  And only when dividing | segmenting and displaying in the area of the number according to the kind of traffic information, the said display control part displays the area of traffic information. That is, the display screen 10 of the display unit is divided into a number of areas corresponding to the type of traffic information, for example, a current status area 27a, a short-term estimation area 27b, and a long-term estimation area 27c. Subsequently, the display control unit determines whether there is a route, that is, whether the route search unit has searched for a route to the destination. If the route has not been searched, the processing is terminated as it is, and the map screen 25 is displayed on the display screen 10 of the display unit.

  In addition, when a route is searched, the display control unit acquires traffic information used for searching the route. In this case, whether or not there is traffic information used for each road section of the route, and sometimes, the type of the traffic information, for example, the current traffic information, the predicted traffic at the predicted passage time relatively close to the current time It is identified whether the information is predicted traffic information at a predicted passage time when a relatively long time has elapsed from the current time. Subsequently, the display control unit displays a route with traffic information and ends the process. In other words, the display screen 10 of the display unit displays a mark such as the traffic information presence mark 26 that can grasp the presence or absence of traffic information used together with the route or the type of traffic information.

Next, a flowchart will be described.
Step S11: Obtain traffic information that can be used to search for a route.
Step S12: It is determined whether to display the traffic information area. If the traffic information area is displayed, the process proceeds to step S13. If the traffic information area is not displayed, the process proceeds to step S14.
Step S13: Display traffic information area.
Step S14: It is determined whether or not there is a route. If there is a route, the process proceeds to step S15. If there is no route, the process ends.
Step S15: The traffic information used for searching the route is acquired.
Step S16: The route with traffic information is displayed and the process is terminated.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the route to the destination is displayed by distinguishing the road section searched for the route using the traffic information and the other road sections. Yes. Therefore, the operator can use the traffic information to search for a route and grasp whether or not it is a road section. Therefore, the operator can have high confidence in the searched route.

  In addition, the display screen 10 of the display unit of the navigation device is divided and displayed in a number of areas corresponding to the type of traffic information. Therefore, the operator can grasp what kind of traffic information is used to search for the route for each area.

  Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In addition, about the thing which has the same structure as 1st and 2nd embodiment, the description is abbreviate | omitted by providing the same code | symbol. Also, the description of the same operations and effects as those of the first and second embodiments is omitted.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a first display screen of the navigation device according to the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a second display screen of the navigation device according to the third embodiment of the present invention. is there.

  In the present embodiment, the type of map data as information used for route search is displayed. In the example shown in FIG. 8, a map data display 16 indicating the type of map data used for the route search is displayed on the route information screen 11 in place of the traffic information display 15 described in the first embodiment. It is displayed. In the example shown in FIG. 8, corresponding to the road sections of the general road, the national highway 301, the national highway 153, and the general road, in order from the top are spring 2003, spring 2001, spring 2003 and spring 2001. ing. This indicates that the version (version) of the map data used for the route search is the spring version of 2003 or the spring version of 2001.

  Thereby, when the version of the map data stored in the data recording unit of the navigation device is different for each region, for example, when it is different for each prefecture, or for each road, for example, the metropolitan expressway When only such a city expressway is a new version, the operator can grasp which version of the map data is used for the route search for each road section.

  In the example shown in FIG. 9, instead of the current area 27a, the short-term estimated area 27b, and the long-term estimated area 27c described with reference to FIG. 6 of the second embodiment, the old version area 29a is displayed on the entire route screen 21. And the new version area 29b is displayed. The old version area 29a is an area where map data of a relatively old version, for example, the spring version of 2001 is used for route search, and the new version area 29b is a relatively new version, for example, of 2003 This is the area where the spring map data is used for route search.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the version information of the map data is displayed as the type of map data used for the route search. Therefore, even if a part of the map data stored in the data recording unit of the navigation device is upgraded, the operator can determine which version of the map data was used for route search. It can be grasped for each road section, and high reliability can be set for the searched route.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, It can change variously based on the meaning of this invention, and does not exclude them from the scope of the present invention.

It is a figure which shows the display screen of the navigation apparatus in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the priority of the use data in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the navigation apparatus in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the 1st display screen of the navigation apparatus in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the 2nd display screen of the navigation apparatus in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the 3rd display screen of the navigation apparatus in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the navigation apparatus in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the 1st display screen of the navigation apparatus in the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the 2nd display screen of the navigation apparatus in the 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

11 Route information screen 21 All route screen

Claims (5)

A navigation device that searches and guides a route to a set destination,
(A) an information processing unit for acquiring information used for search;
(B) a display unit for displaying the searched route;
(C) A navigation device comprising a display control unit for displaying information used for the search for each road section of the searched route. (A) Information used for the search is traffic information;
(B) The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit displays the type of traffic information used for the search. The navigation device according to claim 2, wherein the traffic information is current traffic information or predicted traffic information. (A) The information used for the search is map data;
(B) The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit displays the type of map data used for the search. The navigation device according to claim 4, wherein the type of the map data is version information.

Images