JP2021028635A - Navigation device, navigation method, and navigation program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To display information as a guide for easily comparing and judging how high or low a price posted at an approaching gas station is before passing. When a vehicle V approaches a gas station G, the price information posted on the gas station G is acquired as individual price information, and each gas station existing around the current position of the vehicle V at that time is obtained. The average price posted by the company is acquired from the server 4 as the average price information, and the individual price information and the average price information are simultaneously displayed on the display 41 before passing through the approaching gas station G. As a result, it is possible to instantly determine whether the price of fuel posted by the approaching gas station G is higher or lower than the average price in the vicinity even while the vehicle V is running, and it is necessary to enter the approaching gas station G. It is easy to judge whether or not it is possible. [Selection diagram] Fig. 5

Description

The present invention relates to a navigation device, a navigation method, and a navigation program that display information about fuel supply facilities existing around the current position of the moving body.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for collecting and displaying gasoline price information of gas stations existing around the current position of the moving body.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2008-165652

In the above-mentioned prior art, price information of a plurality of gas stations existing around the moving body can be listed, but the price posted on the gas station approaching the moving body at that time is the above-mentioned plurality of price information. It was difficult to instantly judge how expensive or cheap it was while driving. Therefore, there is a desire to know information that can be used as a guide for easily comparing and judging how high or low the price posted at the nearest gas station is approaching, before passing through the gas station. there were.

The above-mentioned problems are given as an example of the problems to be solved by the present invention.

In order to solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 1 is a navigation device mounted on a moving body, which includes a display means for displaying various information and a position acquisition means for acquiring the current position of the moving body. When a facility capable of supplying fuel to the moving body exists within a predetermined distance from the current position, the first information acquisition means for acquiring the price information of the fuel posted at the facility as individual price information. The display means includes a second information acquisition means for acquiring average price information obtained based on price information posted on each of a plurality of facilities existing in a predetermined area including the current position. The individual price information and the average price information of the facilities existing within a predetermined distance are simultaneously displayed before the moving body passes through the facilities.

Further, in order to solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 7 is a navigation method executed by a navigation device mounted on a moving body, in which a procedure for displaying various information and a current position of the moving body are acquired. And the procedure for acquiring the price information of the fuel posted on the facility as individual price information when the facility capable of supplying the fuel to the moving body exists within a predetermined distance from the current position. The procedure for acquiring the average price information obtained based on the price information posted on each of the plurality of facilities existing in the predetermined area including the current position, the individual price information of the facilities existing within the predetermined distance, and the above. Perform the procedure of displaying the average price information at the same time before passing through the facility.

Further, in order to solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 8 is a navigation program to be executed by a calculation means provided in a navigation device mounted on a moving body, and is a procedure for displaying various information and the movement. The procedure for acquiring the current position of the body and the individual price information of the fuel price information posted on the facility when the facility capable of supplying fuel to the moving body exists within a predetermined distance from the current position. The procedure for acquiring the average price information obtained based on the price information posted on each of the plurality of facilities existing in the predetermined area including the current position, and the procedure for acquiring the average price information of the facilities existing within the predetermined distance. The procedure of displaying the individual price information and the average price information at the same time before passing through the facility is executed.

It is a figure which shows an example of the system configuration of the whole navigation system including the navigation device which is one Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which showed the configuration example of the vehicle which carries the navigation device. It is a block diagram of the hardware configuration example in a navigation device. It is a functional block diagram of the software configuration example executed by a server. It is a figure which shows the situation which the navigation system functions and the mode of information transmission / reception. It is a figure which shows an example of the latest price table for each gas station which a server stores and manages typically. It is a figure which shows an example of the average price table by area stored and managed by a server schematically. It is a figure which shows the display example of individual price information and average price information on a display. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure example of the process executed by the CPU in the navigation device of a vehicle. It is a flowchart which shows the detailed procedure of the individual price information acquisition process of step S200 in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the control content executed by the CPU of a server. It is a figure which shows the display example of the individual price information and the average price information on the display when the substantially semicircular shape range centering on the present position is set as an application area.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an example of the system configuration of the entire navigation system including the navigation device according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the navigation system S includes a navigation device 1, a communication network 2, a base station 3, and a server 4. Each of the plurality of vehicles V (corresponding to a moving body) is equipped with the navigation device 1. The navigation device 1 of each vehicle V can send and receive information to and from the base station 3 via wireless communication, and the base station 3 sends and receives information to and from a predetermined server 4 via a communication network 2 such as the Internet. It is possible to do. That is, the navigation device 1 of each vehicle V can send and receive information to and from the server 4 while moving.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of the vehicle V equipped with the navigation device 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the vehicle V is provided with a camera 21 and a communication antenna 31 together with the navigation device main body 11.

The camera 21 is provided, for example, on the back surface of the rear-view mirror (room mirror) 5 of the vehicle V, and is installed so as to be able to photograph the front diagonally to the left of the traveling direction of the vehicle V.

The communication antenna 31 is provided, for example, on the ceiling roof of the vehicle V, and is installed so as to enable wireless communication with the external base station 3.

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of a hardware configuration example in the navigation device 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the navigation device 1 includes a navigation device main body 11, a display 41, a camera 21, a GPS 51, a communication device 61, a speaker 71, and a touch panel 81.

The navigation device main body 11 includes a storage device 12, an arithmetic unit 13, a display control circuit 14, and an interface 15 connected via a bus 16. The display 41 is connected to the display control circuit 14. The camera 21, GPS 51, communication device 61, speaker 71, and touch panel 81 are connected to the interface 15. The display 41, the camera 21, the GPS 51, the communication device 61, the speaker 71, and the touch panel 81 may be configured as a part of the navigation device main body 11.

The storage device 12 has a ROM 12a, a RAM 12b, and a recording medium 12c. The ROM 12a is an information storage medium in which various processing programs described later and other necessary information are written in advance. The RAM 12b is an information storage medium in which information necessary for executing the various programs is written and read. The recording medium 12c is an information storage medium such as a flash memory or a hard disk. The recording medium 12c can non-volatilely store map data, information on various facilities (so-called POI: Point Of Interest), and the like. In particular, in the present embodiment, the installation position information (latitude, longitude) of all existing gas stations in Japan is stored in the recording medium 12c as the information of the above-mentioned various facilities.

The arithmetic unit 13 has a CPU 13a and a graphic controller 13b. The CPU 13a has a function of performing various calculations and controls according to the above-mentioned various programs. The graphic controller 13b has a function of acquiring image data from a video RAM (not shown) or the like under the control of the CPU 13a and displaying an image based on the image data on the display 41 by the display control circuit 14. The graphic controller 13b also displays, for example, an electronic map based on the map data on the display 41 under the control of the CPU 13a, or superimposes a mark indicating the position (current location) of its own vehicle V on the electronic map. It has a function to make it. The arithmetic unit 20 can exchange data with the storage device 12, the interface 15, and the display control circuit 14 by the operation of a predetermined program.

The display 41 is composed of, for example, an LCD panel, and displays various information images based on an image signal input from a display control circuit.

The camera 21 includes, for example, a CCD sensor and has a function of acquiring image data by optical photographing.

The GPS (Global Positioning System) 51 has a function of receiving radio waves from a plurality of GPS satellites, performing calculations, and performing positioning. The GPS 51 generates positioning data of, for example, latitude, longitude, altitude, traveling direction, or a combination thereof.

The communication device 61 includes the communication antenna 31 shown in FIG. 2 and has a function of controlling transmission / reception of information to / from the base station 3 via wireless communication.

The speaker 71 has a function of outputting sound under the control of the CPU 13a.

The touch panel 81 is, for example, a transparent switch provided along the surface of the display area of the display 41, and has a function of receiving various operation inputs from the operator.

FIG. 4 shows a functional block diagram of a software configuration example executed by the server 4. As shown in FIG. 4, the software executed by the server 4 includes functional blocks of a control unit 91, a calculation unit 92, a data storage unit 93, an average price storage unit 94, and a communication unit 95.

The control unit 91 has a function of controlling the entire server 4 including each other unit by executing various processing programs (not shown).

The calculation unit 92 has a function of calculating the average price information based on the individual price information corresponding to each of the plurality of gas stations existing in the application area as described later.

The data storage unit 93 has a function of storing the latest individual price information of each gas station received from the navigation device 1 of each vehicle V as described later, and specifically, the latest price table for each gas station (specifically, described later). (See FIG. 6 described later) is stored.

The average price storage unit 94 has a function of storing the average price information corresponding to each application area calculated by the calculation unit 92 as described later, and specifically, the area-specific average price table (the figure described later) described later. 7) is memorized.

The communication unit 95 has a function of transmitting and receiving information to and from the navigation device 1 of each vehicle V via the communication network 2 and wireless communication.

Hereinafter, the operation mode of the navigation system S of the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 5 shows a situation in which the navigation system S of the present embodiment functions and a mode of information transmission / reception. In FIG. 5, when the vehicle V equipped with the navigation device 1 approaches a gas station (corresponding to a facility) G capable of providing fuel (gasoline or light oil in this example) while traveling on a roadway, The navigation system S starts its function. At this time, the determination of approach to the gas station G is based on the comparison between the positioning information of the current position of the vehicle V by the GPS 51 and the installation position information of each gas station G recorded in advance on the recording medium 12c. Will be done. The criterion for determining the approach is that the vehicle V has arrived within a predetermined distance in which the camera 21 can clearly photograph the gas station G. In this example, the predetermined distance is set to 100 m, but it may be changed according to the shooting performance of the camera 21 and the difference in outside brightness depending on the time or weather. Further, in the example of the present embodiment, the gas station subject to the approach determination is limited to the gas station G located on the traveling lane side of the vehicle V as shown in the figure.

When the approach is determined, the camera 21 mounted on the vehicle V first photographs the appearance of the approaching gas station G. Normally, a signboard 100 is installed at a position easily visible from the road at the gas station G, and the signboard 100 corresponds to the type of fuel supplied by the gas station G (regular, high-octane, light oil in this example). Information on unit prices is posted. As described above, the shooting direction of the camera 21 is directed diagonally to the left front in the traveling direction of the vehicle V, and the signboard 100 on which the above price information is described can be shot. Then, the arithmetic unit of the navigation device 1 analyzes the image taken by the camera 21 and acquires the price information described on the signboard 100. This image analysis is performed by known so-called image recognition, recognizes character patterns such as "regular", "high-octane", and "light oil", and displays the number patterns described in the corresponding positions such as the horizontal positions of each. Recognize and get price information.

In this way, the prices of each type of fuel posted on the signboard 100 of the gas station G are set individually at each gas station, and are frequently set several times a day depending on the market price of crude oil on that day and the policy of the store. Information that can be changed. In addition, the market price may differ depending on the regional characteristics such as between urban areas and regional areas. The psychology of the driver and passengers of the vehicle V, who are consumers, naturally wants to refuel at a gas station at the lowest possible price. With the recent development and spread of the Internet and mobile communication technology, it is possible to acquire price information of nearby gas stations and display them in a list. However, whether the price of fuel posted by the approaching gas station G is higher or lower among the gas stations existing around the vehicle V at that time is used to determine the driving safety. It is difficult to visually check the above list display and make an instant comparison judgment while ensuring it.

Therefore, in the navigation system S of the present embodiment, the average value of the prices posted by each gas station existing around the current position of the vehicle V at that time is acquired from the server 4 as the average price information, and the approaching gas station G It is displayed on the display 41 together with the individual price information posted by (see FIG. 8 described later). As a result, it is possible to instantly determine whether the price of fuel posted by the approaching gas station G is higher or lower than the average price in the vicinity even while the vehicle V is running, and it is necessary to enter the approaching gas station G. It is easy to judge whether or not it is possible.

Therefore, the navigation device 1 transmits the price information of the approaching gas station G acquired by the camera 21 to the server 4 as individual price information. The individual price information includes information on the price itself corresponding to various fuels, information on the position of the approaching gas station G, and information on the time (date and time) when the individual price information was acquired. The individual price information is transmitted to the server 4 every time the vehicle V approaches any gas station. As a result, the server 4 can record and manage the latest price information of each gas station from each vehicle V.

Further, the navigation device 1 transmits a signal requesting the average price information to the server 4 after transmitting the individual price information described above. The average price information request signal is transmitted including the current position information of the vehicle V at that time. Upon receiving this average price information request signal, the server 4 returns the average price information of a plurality of gas stations existing in the predetermined area where the vehicle V is located at that time to the vehicle V based on the current position information. Regarding the transmission of the average price information request signal from the vehicle V, whether or not the transmission is possible can be arbitrarily set by the driver of the vehicle V. That is, only when the remaining amount of fuel is insufficient and refueling is required in the near future, it is possible to select and set to allow the transmission of the average price information request signal and acquire and display the average price information. This setting may be set automatically by detecting the remaining fuel amount.

FIG. 6 schematically shows an example of the latest price table for each gas station stored and managed by the server 4. The latest price table for each gas station is information stored in the data storage unit of the server 4, and is updated based on the individual price information received from each vehicle V. This latest price table for each gas station has items corresponding to the gas station position (abbreviated as GS position in the figure), price information for each fuel type, and acquisition time, and the information is recorded for each gas station. There is. Each gas station is individually identified by the position information (information consisting of latitude and longitude) included in the individual price information received from vehicle V, and the price information is recorded for each type of regular, high-octane, and light oil. .. In addition, when the individual price information is received, the corresponding acquisition time is also updated regardless of whether the price information is changed or updated. By recording and managing the latest price table for each gas station, the server 4 can grasp the fluctuation of the price information of each gas station in substantially real time.

FIG. 7 schematically shows an example of an area-specific average price table stored and managed by the server 4. This area-specific average price table is information stored in the average price storage unit of the server 4, and the calculation unit of the server 4 is based on the recorded contents of the latest price table for each gas station in FIG. 6 at intervals of, for example, 10 minutes. Calculate and update. This area-specific average price table has items corresponding to the average price information for each application area and fuel type, and the information is recorded for each application area. In the example of this embodiment, a so-called mesh region in which latitude and longitude are divided at predetermined intervals is set as an application region (corresponding to a predetermined region) (see FIG. 8 described later), and the price information of gas stations existing in each region is used as fuel. The average value is calculated for each type of fuel, and the average price information is updated for each type of regular, high-octane, and light oil corresponding to each application area. By recording and managing the average price table for each area, the server 4 can quickly return the average price information of the applicable area where the source of the average price information request signal is located. The time interval calculated and updated by the calculation unit is not limited to the above 10-minute interval, and may vary depending on, for example, the time zone of day and night.

FIG. 8 shows a display example of individual price information and average price information on the display 41. The display 41 displays the map data of the current position of the vehicle V and its surroundings, and further, the position of the gas station existing in this display range is also displayed so as to be watchable. In addition, the boundary line (see the broken line) representing the section corresponding to the above application area is also superimposed and displayed.

In the illustrated example, the average price information is also set to be acquired and displayed by the user, and the individual price information of the gas station approaching the lower right position of the display 41 (indicated as "nearest" in the figure). And the average price information (denoted as "average" in the figure) acquired from the server 4 are displayed side by side. In particular, for gas stations that are approaching, both are surrounded by the same double frame so that the correspondence between the relevant position on the map and the individual price information can be easily confirmed. The average price information is based on the fuel type of the individual price information of each of a plurality of gas stations (G1, G2, and G3 in the illustrated example) existing in the application area including the current position of the vehicle V. It is calculated by the average value of. By displaying the individual price information and the average price information in close proximity to each other in this way, the user can quickly compare with the movement of the viewpoint minimized.

It should be noted that the display of the individual price information and the average price information need only be displayed at the same time for a time during which the user can easily compare them, and the start and end timings of the respective displays may be different. However, it is necessary to start the simultaneous display of the individual price information and the average price information before the vehicle V reaches the position where it can enter the nearest gas station G. Further, when the user is set not to allow the acquisition and display of the average price information, only the individual price information is displayed, but the individual price information may be arbitrarily set so as not to be displayed. In this case, the navigation device 1 only transmits the individual price information to the server 4. In this way, the procedure and means for setting whether or not to display the individual price information and the average price information correspond to the setting means described in each claim. Further, when the navigation device 1 grasps the type of fuel used in the vehicle V, only the price information of the corresponding type may be automatically described.

Further, the setting of the applicable area may be changed according to the scale ratio of the map data displayed on the display 41. For example, when the map display is reduced, a large number of applicable areas in the vicinity may be applied accordingly, and the average of the average price information may be obtained. Further, when the map display is enlarged, the number of applicable areas may be reduced accordingly, and the average of the average price information thereof may be obtained. In any case, the applicable area to be applied is the peripheral area including the current position of the vehicle V, and is selected so as not to exceed the display range of the display 41.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the control contents executed by the CPU 13a of the navigation device 1 in order to realize the processing of the navigation system S described above. Note that this flow starts execution when the vehicle V starts traveling.

In FIG. 9, first, in step S105, the CPU 13a acquires the current position of the vehicle V based on the positioning of the GPS 51.

Next, the process proceeds to step S110, and the CPU 13a compares the current position acquired in step S105 with the position information of each gas station recorded on the recording medium 12c.

Next, the process proceeds to step S115, and the CPU 13a determines whether or not the distance from the nearest gas station G is within a predetermined distance (within 100 m in this example) by comparing the steps S110. If the current position of the vehicle V is 100 m or more away from the nearest gas station G, the determination is not satisfied, and the process returns to step S105 and the same procedure is repeated.

On the other hand, when the current position of the vehicle V is located within 100 m from the nearest gas station G, the determination is satisfied and the process proceeds to step S200.

Next, in step S200, the CPU 13a executes an individual price information acquisition process for acquiring the price information posted by the approaching gas station G by taking a picture of the camera 21 (see FIG. 10 described later).

Next, in step S120, the CPU 13a uses the individual price information acquired in step S200 as the position information of the gas station G calculated in step S200 (see step S220 in FIG. 10 to be described later) and the acquired time information. Is also transmitted to the server 4.

Next, the process proceeds to step S125, and the CPU 13a determines whether or not the average price information is set to be acquired and displayed. If the acquisition display of the average price information is set to be disallowed, the determination is not satisfied, and the process returns to step S105 and the same procedure is repeated.

On the other hand, if it is set to allow the acquisition and display of the average price information, the determination is satisfied and the process proceeds to step S130. Even if the acquisition of the individual price information fails in step S200 due to a malfunction of the camera 21, the process may proceed to step S130 if the acquisition and display of the average price information is permitted.

In step S130, the CPU 13a transmits an average price information request signal including the current position information acquired in step S105 to the server 4.

Next, the process proceeds to step S135, and the CPU 13a receives the average price information returned from the server 4 in response to the average price information request signal.

Next, the process proceeds to step S140, and the CPU 13a displays the individual price information acquired in step S200 and the average price information acquired in step S135 together on the display 41 (see FIG. 8).

Next, the process proceeds to step S145, and the CPU 13a determines whether or not a predetermined end operation has been input from the user via the touch panel 81 or the like. If the end operation is not input, the determination is not satisfied, and the process returns to step S105 to repeat the same procedure.

On the other hand, when the end operation is input, the determination is satisfied and this flow ends.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a detailed procedure of the individual price information acquisition process in step S200 in FIG.

In FIG. 10, first, in step S205, the CPU 13a activates the camera 21 mounted on the vehicle V.

Next, the process proceeds to step S210, and the CPU 13a uses the camera 21 to photograph the diagonally left front in the vehicle traveling direction. That is, the appearance of the approaching gas station G is photographed.

Next, the process proceeds to step S215, and the CPU 13a stores the image data captured in step S210 in the recording medium 12c.

Next, in step S220, the CPU 13a image-recognizes the signboard 100 on which the price is displayed from the character pattern and the number pattern recorded in the saved image data, estimates the installation position of the signboard 100, and responds. Calculate the location of the gas station.

Next, the process proceeds to step S225, and the CPU 13a acquires price information of each fuel type from the character pattern and the number pattern of the signboard 100 recognized in step S220 by image recognition.

Next, the process proceeds to step S230, and the CPU 13a determines whether or not the vehicle V has reached the vicinity of the accessible position of the nearest gas station G. If it has not yet reached the vicinity of the accessible position, the determination is not satisfied, and the process returns to step S210 and the same procedure is repeated. As a result, the shooting and image recognition of the camera 21 can be repeated as many times as possible to improve the recognition accuracy of the individual price information.

On the other hand, when it reaches the vicinity of the enterable position, the determination is satisfied and the process proceeds to step s235.

In step S235, the CPU 13a stops the operation of the camera 21 and ends this flow.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the control contents executed by the CPU (not particularly shown) of the server 4 in order to realize the processing of the navigation system S. Note that this flow starts execution when the power of the server 4 is turned on.

In FIG. 11, first, in step S305, the CPU determines whether or not individual price information has been received from any vehicle V. If the individual price information is received, the determination is satisfied, and the process proceeds to step S310.

In step S310, the CPU refers to the latest price table for each gas station, and is there a change in the price information corresponding to any fuel type at the gas station specified by the individual price information received in step S305? Whether or not, in other words, whether or not the corresponding price information is different from each other is determined. If any of the price information fluctuates, the determination is satisfied and the process proceeds to step S315.

In step S315, the CPU updates the price information in the latest price table for each gas station with the fuel type of the gas station in which fluctuation is recognized, and proceeds to step S320.

On the other hand, in the determination in step S310, if there is no change in any of the price information, the determination is not satisfied and the process proceeds to step S320.

In step S320, the CPU also updates the corresponding acquisition time in the latest price table for each gas station with the acquisition time information included in the individual price information acquired in step S305. Then, the process proceeds to step S340.

On the other hand, in the determination in step S305, if the individual price information is not received, the determination is not satisfied and the process proceeds to step S325.

In step S325, the CPU determines whether or not the average price information request signal has been received from any vehicle V. If the average price information request signal is not received, the determination is not satisfied, and the process returns to step S305 and the same procedure is repeated.

On the other hand, when the average price information request signal is received, the determination is satisfied and the process proceeds to step S330.

In step S330, the CPU refers to the area-specific average price table, and includes the current position of the source vehicle V based on the current position information included in the average price information request signal received in step S325. Obtain average price information for each fuel type corresponding to the applicable area.

Next, the process proceeds to step S335, and the CPU returns the average price information acquired in step S330 to the vehicle V of the transmission source. Then, the process proceeds to step S340.

In step S340, the CPU determines whether or not a predetermined time (10 minutes in this example) has elapsed since the previous update of the area-specific average price table. If the predetermined time has not passed yet, the determination is not satisfied, and the process returns to step S305 and the same procedure is repeated.

On the other hand, if the predetermined time has elapsed, the determination is satisfied and the process proceeds to step S345.

In step S345, the CPU calculates the average price for each application area as the minimum unit. At this time, the calculation unit refers to the latest price table for each gas station and the average price table for each area, extracts each gas station existing in each applicable area, and calculates the average value of each price information corresponding to each fuel type. Calculated for each.

Next, the process proceeds to step S350, and the CPU updates the average value calculated in step S345 as new average price information for each applicable area and each fuel type corresponding to each.

Next, the process proceeds to step S355, and the CPU determines whether or not a predetermined end operation has been input. If the end operation is not input, the determination is not satisfied, and the process returns to step S305 and the same procedure is repeated.

On the other hand, when the end operation is input, the determination is satisfied and this flow ends.

In the above, the procedure of step S140 in the flow of FIG. 9 corresponds to the display means described in each claim, the procedure for displaying various information, and the procedure for displaying individual price information and average price information at the same time. Further, the procedure in step S105 corresponds to the position acquisition means described in each claim and the procedure for acquiring the current position of the moving body. Further, the individual price information acquisition process in step S200 corresponds to the first information acquisition means described in each claim and the procedure for acquiring the individual price information. Further, the procedure in step S135 corresponds to the second information acquisition means described in each claim and the procedure for acquiring the average price information. Further, the procedure of step S120 corresponds to the transmission means described in each claim.

As described above, the navigation device 1 of the present embodiment is the navigation device 1 mounted on the vehicle V (corresponding to a moving body), and is the procedure (corresponding to the display means) of step S140 for displaying various information. , The procedure of step S105 (corresponding to the position acquisition means) for acquiring the current position of the vehicle V and the gas station G (corresponding to the facility) capable of supplying fuel to the vehicle V are 100 m (corresponding to the facility) of the example of the present embodiment from the current position. Individual price information acquisition process of step S200 (corresponding to the first information acquisition means) of acquiring the price information of the fuel posted on the gas station G as individual price information when the fuel is within a predetermined distance). And the procedure of step S135 (second information acquisition means) to acquire the average price information obtained based on the price information posted on each of the plurality of gas stations existing in the application area (corresponding to the predetermined area) including the current position. ), And in the procedure of step S140, the individual price information and the average price information of the gas station G existing within 100 m and approaching are displayed at the same time before the vehicle V passes through the gas station G. To do.

Further, the navigation method executed by the navigation device 1 includes a procedure of step S140 for displaying various information, a procedure of step S105 for acquiring the current position of the vehicle V, and a gas station G capable of supplying fuel to the vehicle V. When (corresponding to a facility) exists within 100 m (corresponding to a predetermined distance) of the example of this embodiment from the current position, the price information of the fuel posted at the gas station G is acquired as individual price information. Acquire the average price information obtained based on the procedure of the individual price information acquisition process in step S200 and the price information posted at each of a plurality of gas stations existing in the application area (corresponding to the predetermined area) including the current position. The procedure of step S135 and the procedure of step S140 for displaying the individual price information and the average price information of the gas station G existing within 100 m and approaching at the same time before passing through the gas station G are executed.

As a result, for the user on board the vehicle V, is the individual price information posted by the gas station G approaching within 100 m higher than the average price information at a plurality of gas stations around the vehicle V? Since it is possible to easily compare whether it is cheap or not, it is easy to determine whether or not to enter and refuel before passing through the approaching gas station G.

Further, in the navigation device 1, in the procedure of step S135, the average price information is acquired from the external server 4 via wireless communication.

As a result, the average price information can be acquired based on the individual price information centrally managed by the server 4, and the reliability of the average price information is improved. The individual price information managed by the server 4 is not limited to the information acquired by each vehicle V, and may be acquired by referring to another database, for example.

Further, in the navigation device 1, the navigation device 1 performs the procedure (corresponding to the transmission means) of step S120 of transmitting the individual price information acquired in the individual price information acquisition process of step S200 to the server 4 via wireless communication. Executed, the server 4 calculates the average price information based on the latest individual price information received corresponding to each of the plurality of gas stations existing in the application area including the current position of the vehicle V.

As a result, the latest individual price information acquired from the navigation devices 1 of the plurality of vehicle Vs can be centrally managed by the server 4 in almost real time, and the server 4 can centrally manage the average price information based on the latest individual price information. Since it can be calculated, the accuracy of the average price information is improved.

Further, the navigation device 1 may have a procedure (corresponding to a setting means) capable of setting whether or not to display individual price information and average price information in the procedure of step S140.

As a result, it is possible to select and set the individual price information and the average price information to be acquired and displayed only when the remaining amount of fuel is insufficient and refueling is required in the near future. In other words, when there is a margin in the remaining amount of fuel and refueling is not necessary for a while, unnecessary display on the display 41 can be avoided and map data or the like can be widely displayed accordingly. At least the passengers of the vehicle V can visually recognize the individual price information posted at the approaching gas station G, so that comparison and examination are possible as long as the average price information can be acquired and displayed.

Further, in the navigation device 1, the applicable area is a mesh area at regular intervals of latitude and longitude (corresponding to an area partitioned in a predetermined manner) including the current position of the vehicle V.

As a result, the gas station that is the target when the navigation device 1 or the server 4 acquires the average price information can be easily and functionally extracted. The setting unit of the applicable area is not limited to the mesh area divided at regular intervals of latitude and longitude as described above, but is predetermined such as an administrative section such as a municipality or a section according to the road layout such as a trunk road. It may be set in the area partitioned by the style.

Further, as shown in FIG. 12, the application area may be set in an area within a range of, for example, 1 km (corresponding to a certain distance) from the current position of the vehicle V. The reference distance of this range is not limited to 1 km, and may be increased or decreased to a distance that does not greatly exceed the display range according to the scale of the map display on the display 41. Further, the distance that can be safely reached may be automatically calculated and set according to the remaining amount of fuel at that time. In this case, the average price information request signal transmitted by the navigation device 1 includes the above distance and is transmitted.

In this case, the applicable area is a substantially semicircular area centered on the current position, although it depends on the arrangement of the current position of the vehicle V in the display area of the display 41. In addition, the target gas stations for acquiring the average price information are limited to those existing in the substantially semicircular region. Since the arrangement and size of the application area vary depending on the movement of the vehicle V and the setting of the radial distance, the gas station to be extracted also differs accordingly. Therefore, when the average price information is acquired in the application area centered on the current position, the average price information is acquired instead of recording the average price information in advance in the area-specific average price table shown in FIG. Each time, the gas stations existing in the applicable area at that time are extracted and the average price information is calculated from their individual price information.

Further, although not particularly shown, the application area may be set in a geographical section corresponding to the display range of the display 41. In this case, in the average price information request signal transmitted by the navigation device 1, instead of the current position information, the latitude and longitude point information corresponding to the two diagonal points of the display range are also transmitted. Also in this case, since the arrangement and size of the applicable area vary depending on the movement of the vehicle V and the setting of the display scale, each time the average price information is acquired, the gas stations existing in the applicable area at that time are extracted. The average price information is calculated from those individual price information.

Further, although not particularly shown, the application area may be set corresponding to the travel route separately searched by the navigation device 1. For example, the entire strip-shaped area having a constant width centered on the traveling route in the width direction may be used as the application area. In this case, the application area is fixed, so the server 4 or the like calculates the average price information in advance. be able to.

In the above embodiment, the case where the moving body is the vehicle V driven by an internal combustion engine using fuel such as gasoline or light oil as an energy source has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. In addition, it can be applied to the case where an electric vehicle using electric power as an energy source is used as a moving body. In this case, the electricity cost price posted by the power supply station instead of the gas station corresponds to the individual price information.

Further, in the above embodiment, when the average price information request signal is transmitted from the navigation device 1 to the server 4, the average price information is transmitted and received as a reply, but the present invention is not limited to this. Alternatively, the average price information may be broadcasted from the server 4 to each vehicle V at regular time intervals without sending and receiving the average price information request signal. In this case, for example, the wireless communication range of the base station 3 may be used as it is as the applicable area, and the average price information corresponding to each base station 3 may be transmitted.

The flowcharts shown in FIGS. 9 to 11 are not limited to the procedures for illustrating the present invention, and the procedures may be added / deleted or the order may be changed within a range that does not deviate from the purpose and technical idea. ..

In addition to the above, the methods according to the above-described embodiment and each modification may be appropriately combined and used.

In addition, although not illustrated one by one, the present invention is carried out with various modifications within a range not deviating from the gist thereof.

1 Navigation device 2 Communication network 3 Base station 4 Server 11 Navigation device main unit 12 Storage device 13 Arithmetic logic unit 14 Display control circuit 15 Interface 16 Bus 21 Camera 31 Communication antenna 41 Display 51 GPS
61 Communication device 71 Speaker 81 Touch panel 91 Control unit 92 Calculation unit 93 Data storage unit 94 Average price storage unit 95 Communication unit G Gas station (equivalent to a facility)
S Navigation system V vehicle (equivalent to a moving body)

Claims (1)

The first information acquisition means for acquiring the price information of the energy source posted on the facility that can provide the energy source to the moving body as individual price information, and
A second information acquisition means for acquiring average price information based on price information of a plurality of facilities existing in a predetermined area, and
A display means for displaying the individual price information and the average price information before the moving body passes through the facility, and
A navigation device characterized by having.

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