JP4592639B2 - Navigation system, route search method, and terminal device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable report a different most suitable route when the most suitable route is further extracted from among sections that have not been searched. <P>SOLUTION: The system comprises a route history storing means 58 for storing each migration route between a start point and an arrival point when moving from an arbitrary point to an arrival point without searching routes, and a point extracting means 59 for extracting a start point and an arrival point from among migration routes stored in the route history storing means 58. When the indication for searching comparison routes is provided from a comparison route search indicating means 62, the extracting means 59 extracts a start point and an arrival point from the route history stored in the storing means 58; a route searching means 52 a most suitable route between a start point and an arrival point extracted by referring to map data, as a guide route; a route comparing means 60 report the guide route when the guide route is compared with a corresponding route history and then the guide route is more advantageous than the route history. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a navigation system having a function of displaying a map on a display means and storing a route traveled as a route history, and in particular, automatically extracting a departure place and an arrival place from the route history and corresponding points. The present invention relates to a navigation system that searches for an optimum route between the route history and, when compared with the route history, finds the optimum route based on the route history.

  Conventionally, there are known navigation devices and navigation systems that guide a user by searching for a route from a desired departure point to a destination using map data and road data. Such navigation devices and navigation systems are known. As a car navigation device that is installed in a car and guides the route to the driver, a mobile phone is used as a navigation terminal to send a route search request to the route search server, receive the result, and receive route guidance Navigation systems have been put into practical use.

  The car navigation device uses a GPS (Global Positioning System), receives GPS signals transmitted from a plurality of GPS satellites orbiting the earth with a GPS antenna, The position is specified by analyzing the satellite position and clock information included in the signal. At least four GPS satellites are required. The single positioning accuracy of GPS is generally over 10 m, but it is improved to 5 m or less by adopting DGPS (Differential GPS). In particular, mobile phones called third generation equipped with positioning units, for example, GPS receivers for positioning by receiving signals from GPS (Global Positioning System) satellites, have become mainstream.

  In recent years, the performance of mobile communication terminal devices such as mobile phones and PHS has been dramatically improved, and multi-functionalization has been progressing. In particular, the data communication function is strengthened in addition to the call function, and various data communication services are provided to users via the Internet. Mobile phones with a positioning function have also been realized, and as a technology for use, the in-vehicle navigation device (car navigation system) has been developed, and the communication type for pedestrians that delivers map / route information from the route search server using the mobile phone as a terminal Navigation systems have also been put into practical use.

  A general navigation device, a route search device and a route search method used in a communication navigation system are disclosed in, for example, the following Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-165681). This navigation system is configured to send information of departure and destination from a portable navigation terminal to a route search server, and search and guide a route that matches a search condition from road network and traffic network data by the route search server. Has been. As the search condition, there are means for moving from the departure place to the destination, for example, walking, automobile, combined use of railroad and walking, and the route is searched as one of the search conditions.

  The navigation device is a device for presenting a route to a destination and performing route guidance during movement. However, taking a vehicle-mounted navigation device as an example, it is not used in such a way that the destination is set every time the vehicle is boarded and the route guidance is executed. If the driver travels on a daily basis and knows the route (for example, the commute route when commuting by car between home and work), the destination is not set and the route guidance is not used. Is common.

  Even when the route guidance is not performed, the in-vehicle navigation device displays the current location on a map and leaves a route history such as the road section and the travel time of the traveled road. Since the navigation device measures the current position using GPS and displays the current position on the map, if this is recorded, the history of the travel route can be left, and this travel history is reflected in the route search. It is because it can do.

  A navigation device that stores the history of the route traveled in this way is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-17504 below. The navigation device disclosed in Patent Literature 2 can reduce the data size stored in the storage means by limiting the area for storing the travel history information, and efficiently use the travel history information. It is made to be able to. That is, this navigation device is a navigation device that searches and guides a route to a set destination, and travels in an area that includes storage means for storing map data including search data and a registration point having a high priority. A travel history acquisition unit that acquires history information and stores the history information in the storage unit, and a route search unit that searches for a route using the stored travel history information are provided.

  Further, in the following Patent Document 3 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-279077), a travel route history is stored in a database, and a travel history, that is, a road link obtained by actually traveling in the next route search. A navigation device that reflects costs is disclosed. In the navigation device disclosed in Patent Document 3, when a vehicle travels between two points designated on an electronic road map, the vehicle includes travel time, travel route, and travel time zone between the two points of the vehicle. When history information is generated and converted into a database, and the above two points are included in the route for which the route calculation is performed, the database is referred to and the optimum information is obtained according to the date and time when the vehicle is scheduled to travel. It is configured to perform route calculation.

  Furthermore, the following Patent Document 4 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-82527) discloses a navigation device that stores a history of travel routes and can display past routes and recommended routes. The navigation device disclosed in Patent Document 4 stores travel data relating to a route traveled by the vehicle in the past in travel data storage means, and sets the current location and destination detected by the current location detection means by the recommended route display means. The route to the destination set by the means is searched and displayed, and the route to the destination is searched from the travel data stored in the travel data storage means and displayed on the travel data display means. It is a thing.

JP 2001-165681 A (FIGS. 1 and 2) JP 2006-17504 A JP 2004-279077 A JP-A-8-82527

  In general, a navigation device is used in order to guide a route that can reach a place that does not know geography well in the shortest time and distance. For example, when going out to a sightseeing spot or the like, or going to a non-geographic destination, it is used to guide and receive an optimal route that can reach those places in the shortest time and distance. For this purpose, it is necessary to set predetermined route search conditions such as a departure place and destination, departure time and arrival time, and whether or not a highway is used.

  On the other hand, when moving from home to a routine route such as a work place or a place that knows the road well, do not move while searching for a route using a navigation device and receiving guidance. It is common. This is because such a route is known from the user's own knowledge and past experience, and it is not necessary to set a route search condition each time and perform a route search. In such a case, even if the navigation device is operated, it is common to display a map including the current position on the display device without making a route search request and move while only confirming the position.

  By the way, even if the history of the travel route is made into a database as in the navigation devices disclosed in Patent Documents 2 to 4, the database is used unless a route search including the route in which the history is recorded is requested. Not. Therefore, as described above, the route history is only saved for a route that is only displayed on a map without making a route search request on a daily basis. There is a problem that even if there is a more optimal route that can be moved by the user, the user will not be aware of the existence of such an optimal route unless a route search is requested.

  That is, in the navigation device as disclosed in the above Patent Documents 2 to 3, as long as the vehicle is repeatedly moved without using any navigation, such as a car commute route or a train commute transfer route, the other There is a problem of not realizing that there is an optimal route. In the case of train commuting, it is common to purchase a commuter pass. Therefore, once a commuter pass is purchased, there is an environment in which it is difficult for motivation to review the route during the validity period. In particular, since the automobile route history database stores only the data of the route actually traveled, it may be measured with a value different from the standard road network data. Even if they are compared, there is a problem that the comparison itself is impossible.

  As a result of various studies to solve the above problems, the inventor has memorized a route history so that the departure point and the arrival point can be identified, and when the navigation system is in a predetermined state, Automatically search for the optimal route between the points by automatically extracting the departure point and the arrival point, and when the optimal route is searched from the route history, the presence of the optimal route is notified. As a result, the present invention has been completed by conceiving that the above problems can be solved.

  That is, the present invention has an object to solve the above-mentioned problems, and when there is a more optimal route for a route section that has not been searched for a route, that fact can be presented so that an optimum different route can be presented. It is an object of the present invention to provide a navigation system capable of notifying the existence or providing a motivation to execute a route search in the subsequent movement.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 of the present application is
Map data for route search, route search means, and starting point when moving from any starting point to arrival point without searching for a route between when the vehicle ignition switch is turned on and when it is turned off Route history storage means for storing arrival points and movement routes between them, point extraction means for extracting departure points and arrival points from the movement routes stored in the route history storage means, route comparison means, and route information providing means And a comparison route search instructing means for instructing a comparison route search when the ignition switch of the vehicle is turned on ,
When there is a comparison route search instruction from the comparison route search instruction means, the point extraction means extracts a departure point and an arrival point of the movement route stored in the route history storage means, and the route search means detects the route Searching for the optimum route between the extracted starting point and arrival point as a guide route with reference to the map data for search, the route comparison means calculates the cost of the corresponding travel route , the cost of the guide route , If the cost of the guide route is smaller than the cost of the travel route, the route information providing means notifies the presence of the guide route.

The invention according to claim 2 of the present application is the navigation system according to claim 1,
The route history storage means stores a route traveled without using route guidance between when the vehicle ignition switch is turned on and the navigation system is started and then stopped , and the comparison route search instruction means includes : When a vehicle ignition switch is turned on and a navigation system is activated , a comparison route search is instructed.

The invention according to claim 3 of the present application is the navigation system according to claim 1,
The route information providing unit performs the notification using an e-mail transmission unit to the outside of the navigation system.

The invention according to claim 4 of the present application is
Map data for route search, route search means, and when the terminal device moves from any starting point to an arrival point without searching for a route between when the vehicle ignition switch is turned on and then turned off Route history storage means for storing a departure point and an arrival point and a movement route between them, a point extraction means for extracting a departure point and an arrival point from the movement route stored in the route history storage means, a route comparison means, a route A navigation system comprising a route search server and a terminal device comprising information providing means, and comparison route search instruction means for instructing comparison route search when an ignition switch of a vehicle is turned on ,
The terminal device includes position information transmission means, and when the vehicle travels from an arbitrary starting point to an arriving point without using route search and route guidance between when the vehicle ignition switch is turned on and when it is turned off. , Sending position information indicating the current position at a predetermined time interval to the route search server,
When there is a comparison route search instruction from the comparison route search instruction unit, the route search server extracts a starting point and an arrival point of the movement route stored in the route history storage unit, and The route search means searches the optimum route between the extracted starting point and arrival point as a guide route with reference to the map data for route search, and the route comparison means calculates the cost of the corresponding moving route and comparing the cost of the guide route, if the cost of the guide path is smaller path than the cost of the travel route, the route information providing unit, wherein the notifying the presence of the guidance route to the terminal device And

The invention according to claim 5 of the present application is the navigation system according to claim 4 , wherein the route history storage means provides route guidance from when the ignition switch of the vehicle is turned on to when the navigation system is started until it is stopped. The route traveled without being used is stored, and the comparison route search instructing means instructs the comparison route search when the ignition switch of the vehicle is turned on and the navigation system is activated .

The invention according to claim 6 of the present application is characterized in that, in the navigation system according to claim 4 , the route information providing means performs the notification using an e-mail transmission means to the outside of the navigation system.

The invention according to claim 7 of the present application is
Map data for route search, route search means, and starting point when moving from any starting point to arrival point without searching for a route between when the vehicle ignition switch is turned on and when it is turned off Route history storage means for storing arrival points and movement routes between them, point extraction means for extracting departure points and arrival points from the movement routes stored in the route history storage means, route comparison means, and route information providing means A route search method in a navigation system comprising: a comparison route search instruction means for instructing a comparison route search when an ignition switch of a vehicle is turned on ,
When there is a comparison route search instruction from the comparison route search instruction means, the point extraction means extracts a starting point and an arrival point of the movement route stored in the route history storage means; and the route search means Searching for an optimum route between the extracted departure point and arrival point as a guide route with reference to the map data for route search, and the cost of the travel route to which the route comparison means falls and the guidance comparing the cost of the route, if the cost of the guide path is smaller path than the cost of the travel route, the route information providing means is characterized by a step of notifying the presence of the guide route.

The invention according to claim 8 of the present application is the route search method according to claim 7 , wherein the route history storage means guides the route between when the ignition switch of the vehicle is turned on and the navigation system is started until it is stopped. Storing the route traveled without using the vehicle, and the comparison route search instructing means instructing the comparison route search when the ignition switch of the vehicle is turned on and the navigation system is activated. It is characterized by.

The invention according to claim 9 of the present application is characterized in that, in the route search method according to claim 7 , the route information providing means includes a step of performing the notification using an e-mail transmission means to the outside of the navigation system. To do.

The invention according to claim 10 of the present application is
Map data for route search, route search means, and when the terminal device moves from any starting point to an arrival point without searching for a route between when the vehicle ignition switch is turned on and then turned off Route history storage means for storing a departure point and an arrival point and a movement route between them, a point extraction means for extracting a departure point and an arrival point from the movement route stored in the route history storage means, a route comparison means, a route An information providing means; and a comparison route search instruction means for instructing a comparison route search when an ignition switch of a vehicle is turned on and the terminal device starts to access a route search server. If there is a comparison route search instruction from the point extraction unit extracts the destination point and the starting point of the stored moving path in the path history memory means, probe the path Means searches an optimal route between the arrival point and the starting point is the extracted by referring to the map data for the route search as a guide route, the route comparing means cost and the guiding of the moving path of the relevant comparing the cost of the route, if the cost of the guide path is smaller path than the cost of the travel route, the route information providing unit, connected to the route search server for notifying the presence of the guidance route to the terminal device A terminal device,
The terminal device includes position information transmission means, and when the vehicle travels from an arbitrary starting point to an arriving point without using route search and route guidance between when the vehicle ignition switch is turned on and when it is turned off. The position information indicating the current position is transmitted to the route search server at predetermined time intervals.

In the invention according to claim 1, the navigation system performs any route search without turning the map data for route search, the route search means, and the vehicle ignition switch from being turned on to being turned off . A route history storage means for storing the departure point and arrival point when moving from the departure point to the arrival point, and a movement route therebetween, and a point for extracting the departure point and the arrival point from the movement route stored in the route history storage means Extraction means, route comparison means, route information providing means, and comparison route search instruction means for instructing comparison route search when a vehicle ignition switch is turned on , from the comparison route search instruction means If there is a comparison route search instruction, the point extracting means extracts a destination point and the starting point of the stored moving path in the path history memory means, said path Search means searches an optimal route between the arrival point and the starting point is the extracted by referring to the map data for the route search as a guide route, the route comparing means the cost of the travel route appropriate comparing the cost of the guide route, if the cost of the guide path is smaller path than the cost of the travel route, the route information providing unit, notifying the presence of the guide route.

  According to such a configuration, the navigation system stores the route history for the route section that the user has moved without searching for the route in the past, and automatically starts and arrives at the departure point and the arrival point from the route history. To search for the optimal route between them, search for the optimal route between the starting point and arrival point of the route section, and if the route is more advantageous than the route history, the presence of the advantageous route is notified, The user of the navigation system can know the existence of other advantageous routes.

In the invention according to claim 2, in the navigation system according to claim 1, the route history storage means uses the route guidance from when the ignition switch of the vehicle is turned on to when the navigation system is started until it is stopped. The route traveled without being stored is stored, and the comparison route search instruction means instructs the comparison route search when the ignition switch of the vehicle is turned on and the navigation system is activated .

  According to such a configuration, when the navigation system is turned on, the starting point and the arriving point are automatically extracted from the route history and the optimum route between them is searched, and the searched route is more advantageous than the route history. If there is, the user of the navigation system can know the existence of another advantageous route without operating the system.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the navigation system according to the first aspect, the route information providing means performs the notification using an e-mail transmission means to the outside of the navigation system.

  According to such a configuration, the presence of a new route is transmitted to the outside of the navigation system using e-mail or the like, for example, to the user's e-mail address, so that the user will be notified later. You can refer to the contents.

In the invention according to claims 4 to 6 , the navigation system according to claims 1 to 3 can be provided as a system including a terminal device and a route search server, respectively. Moreover, in the invention concerning Claim 7 -Claim 9 , the route search method in the navigation system concerning Claim 1-Claim 3 or Claim 4 -Claim 6 can be provided, respectively. In the invention according to item 10 , it is possible to provide a terminal device constituting the navigation system according to claims 1 and 4 , respectively.

  Hereinafter, specific examples of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples and drawings. However, the embodiments shown below illustrate a navigation system for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and are not intended to specify the present invention for this navigation system. The present invention can be equally applied to navigation systems of other embodiments included in the scope.

Note that navigation systems include in-vehicle navigation systems and pedestrian navigation systems depending on the application. In a navigation system for pedestrians, route search using transportation means or walk route search is performed. The present invention can be applied to any of them.
In addition, the configuration of the navigation apparatus is roughly classified into a vehicle-mounted or portable stand-alone navigation system and a communication navigation system, and the present invention can be applied to any of them.

  The navigation system 50 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is a stand-alone type navigation device installed in an automobile or the like. The navigation system 50 can acquire necessary information such as map data and traffic information by communicating with an information distribution server (not shown) such as a map server via the transmission / reception means 51. The navigation system 50 includes map data 63 for route search, and the route search means 52 searches for an optimum route connecting the two points by designating two desired points.

  The control unit 501 is a microprocessor having a RAM, a ROM, and a processor (not shown), and controls the operation of each unit by a control program stored in the ROM. The position of the navigation system 50 is calculated by receiving GPS satellite signals by the GPS processing means 55. When the navigation system 50 is for in-vehicle use, the navigation system 50 includes autonomous navigation means (not shown) including a vehicle speed sensor, a rudder angle sensor, and the like, and is configured to use position calculation based on this.

  Conventionally, this type of navigation system 50 has a function of storing a travel route between routes as a route history when the user moves from an arbitrary starting point to an arrival point such as a commuting route without searching for a route. . However, the user usually does not notice that there is another optimal route as long as such a route is repeatedly moved without any doubt and without using navigation.

  In a state where route guidance has already been performed, the route is a route that meets the route search condition, and is the best route at that time. Therefore, it is not necessary to store the history of the route that is moving based on the route guidance. Therefore, in the present invention, the route history of the moving route is stored mainly for the section where the route search is not performed. If there is a route that is more advantageous than the route history by searching for the route in the section stored in the route history, the route is presented. In this way, the present invention makes it possible to notify the existence of another optimum other route, and to motivate the user to perform a route search during the subsequent movement.

  That is, in the present invention, when the navigation system 50 is activated, the starting point and the arriving point are extracted from the respective route histories, and the optimum route between the two points is searched. Then, the route obtained by the route search is compared with the route in the route history, and the route obtained by the search result is better than the route in the route history, for example, the searched route takes longer than the route history. In the case of a route with a small distance (link cost), the output means such as a display means is notified that another advantageous route exists.

  If the user can know the existence of another advantageous route, the user of the navigation system searches for the route and moves using the advantageous route in the next movement from the same starting point to the arriving point. Alternatively, if notification including information on the advantageous route is performed, the user can perform the next movement with reference to the information on the advantageous route.

  For this reason, in the navigation system 50, the route history storage means 58 for storing the starting point and the arrival point when moving from an arbitrary starting point to the arriving point without searching for the route, and the moving route therebetween, for each route; A point extraction unit 59 that extracts a departure point and an arrival point from the route history of the travel route stored in the route history storage unit 58, a route comparison unit 60, a route information provision unit 61, and a search for a comparison route under predetermined conditions And a comparison route search instruction means 62 for performing.

  In addition, the navigation system 50 includes a moving state detecting unit 56 that detects a moving state without performing a route search, and the moving state detecting unit 56 is moving without performing a route search. Is detected, the route history is stored in the route history storage unit 58 based on the position information measured by the GPS processing unit 55.

  The starting point of the route is a point specified by the position information first detected by the GPS processing unit 55 after the moving state detecting unit 56 detects the moving state without searching the route, and the arrival point is the last The route history is stored for each route section between any two points in this way.

  Further, the navigation system 50 includes an excluded route section specifying unit 57, and the user of the navigation system 50 automatically searches for and notifies the optimum route out of the route history stored in the route history storage unit 58. You can specify a route that you do not want. For the route history for which exclusion is specified by the excluded route section specifying unit 57, the point extracting unit 59 does not extract the starting point and the arriving point.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of the route history stored in the route history storage unit 58. The route history is stored as route numbers RT1 to RTX for each route section. The route history of each route section includes the starting point (start position) and arrival point (end position) obtained as described above, and data such as the node number and link number as the route.

  In addition, when it is comprised so that all the route histories may be memorize | stored regardless of whether route search was carried out as a basic composition of navigation system 50, it can identify later whether it was the route section which performed route search. In this way, a marker (identifier) indicating a result of route search such as a flag may be left in the route history. The route data stored as the history may be the latitude / longitude information of the node, the map matching link number, and the passage date / time and time.

  For example, since an in-vehicle navigation system is supplied with accessory power from a vehicle, the power is cut off every time the vehicle arrives at the destination and the ignition is turned off. Then, at the next ignition ON, movement to a new destination is started. Therefore, even if the route history is recorded serially, for example, when the power is turned on when the ignition is turned on and the car navigation system is activated, a start marker (start position) such as a flag at the beginning of the travel section is added to the route history of the route. leave. The position immediately before the next start marker is the end position of the previous route section. As a result, when the route history is read later, it becomes possible to identify each section (if the section is not identified separately, for example, when data is accumulated for one day, the first of the route history is stored. You may end up searching for a route from point to point) Even when the navigation device is not operated at all, the route history is automatically recorded for each section in conjunction with the power source.

  In the navigation system 50, when the ignition switch is turned on, the power is turned on, and the system is activated, the comparison route search instruction means 62 issues a comparison route search instruction. When the search for the comparison route is instructed, the point extraction unit 59 extracts the departure point and the arrival point for each route section from the route history stored in the route history storage unit 58 so far, and the route search unit 52 Searches for the optimum route connecting the two points. This search is the same as the optimum route search from the normal departure point to the destination.

  In this way, the route history is stored in the route history storage means 58 at a timing such as when the in-vehicle navigation system or portable navigation device is activated, and the optimum route search by the comparison route search instruction means 62 is also performed. It starts at the same timing. When the optimum route search is started, the point extraction unit 59 reads the route history stored in the route history storage unit 58, and is processed in the following procedure.

  That is, first, the point extraction means 59 separates the route history based on the start marker of the travel zone. Next, the route section is separated from the charging information of the transportation facility, the acceleration / deceleration information, the recorded position information (GPS, base station), and the recording time thereof (the time continuous route is one route). Then, the starting point and arrival point of the separated route section are specified. When the starting point and the arriving point are specified, the route searching means 52 searches for the optimum route connecting the two points.

  When the route search means 52 searches for the optimum route, the route comparison means 60 compares the newly searched optimum route with the route history between the corresponding points stored in the route history storage means 58. The comparison is performed using the cumulative value of the link cost. When the link cost of the newly searched optimum route is smaller than the link cost of the route history, it is determined that the newly searched optimum route is more advantageous than the route history. The route information providing unit 61 notifies the output unit such as a display unit of the existence of the advantageous route.

  In this route search, the route search means 52 automatically performs search under various route search conditions, and the route comparison means 60 compares the route history with the newly searched optimum route for each route search condition. May be. For example, as route search conditions to be added to route history information to be stored, typical conditions such as general road priority and toll road priority are typical conditions for car routes, but also fuel consumption (= exhaust gas), tolls, etc. It can be compared with the route obtained under conditions such as the number of turns.

  For travel routes that use transportation, which will be described later, the required time, fares, number of transfers, etc., are typical conditions for route search. In addition, comparison with other means of transportation (such as trains and buses) (Time, fare, CO2 emission) may be performed. When the newly searched optimum route is more suitable (advantageous) according to the comparison result compared under a certain route search condition, a notification that the advantageous route exists is given.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a concept for comparing a route history with a newly searched optimum route. In FIG. 3, a route RTm is a route history when moving from the departure point S to the arrival point G without searching for a route, and is a route history stored in the route history storage unit 58. The navigation system 50 is activated, the point extraction means 59 extracts the departure point S and the arrival point G from the route history, and the route search means 52 searches for the optimum route from the departure point S to the arrival point G. Assume that the route is route RTn shown in FIG. In the following description, the case where the shortest route is requested as the route search condition is taken as a specific example.

  The route comparison means 60 compares the link cost (cumulative link cost from the starting point S to the arrival point G) of the route RTm (route history) and the link cost (cumulative link cost) of the route RTn (new route). In the case of FIG. 3, since the link cost of the new route RTn is smaller than the link cost of the route RTm, it is determined that the route RTn is more advantageous, and the route information providing unit 61 sends another advantageous route to the operation / display unit 53. Announce the presence of

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display image that notifies the existence of a new optimum route that is more advantageous than the route history. The screen displays the route RTm (route history) and route RTn (advantageous route) between the departure point S and the arrival point G, and the message “A route shorter than the previous travel route was found” is displayed. The

  Further, a selection item SL for the next operation is displayed on the screen, and a next process of the navigation system 50 can be designated by checking a check box for a desired process. As selection items, there are items such as “search for reverse route”, “do not automatically search for this route afterwards”, “other optimal route”, and “return to menu”.

  When “search for reverse route” is selected, a route search from the arrival point G to the departure point S is performed. This is a selection item that leads to a search for a return trip. For example, if there is a notice of an advantageous route that has been newly searched when the navigation system 50 is started on the return road after parking at the arrival point G and the navigation system 50 is activated, the return route is searched using the route search. This is when the user is guided.

  When “Do not automatically search for this route thereafter” is selected, the excluded route section specifying unit 57 specifies exclusion in the corresponding route history stored in the route history storage unit 58. That is, this selection item is a process of canceling the next notification and ending this screen when the new route notified is confirmed but not used. The positions of the starting point S and the arriving point G are stored so that the comparison route search of this combination is not automatically performed.

  “Other optimal route” is a selection item that serves as an entrance for sequentially displaying the routes when other optimal routes are searched. When this item is selected, the navigation system 50 displays a new optimal route. Are displayed sequentially. If “return to menu” is selected, the navigation system 50 does not move on to the next process, but shifts to the initial menu screen of the navigation system 50. In FIG. 4, SK is a scroll key, and FK is a function key in which various functions of the navigation system 50 are set. The map image displayed on the screen can be scrolled by operating the scroll key SK.

  The notification by the route information providing unit 61 can be configured not only to notify using the operation / display unit 53 but also to notify the external notification unit by transmitting the result. For example, even if the screen shown in Fig. 4 is displayed, it will be forgotten immediately because it is a temporary one. Therefore, in a configuration with an email transmission function, the content is sent by email to the user's email address. You may make it leave. Further, when the route information providing unit 61 determines that the newly searched optimum route is more optimal, the route information providing unit 61 emphasizes and notifies the cause. For example, as described above, the fact that a route with a short distance has been found may be emphasized by increasing the font size, emphasized with a bold character, or highlighted with a color change.

  In the present invention, when the navigation system 50 is activated, the departure point and the arrival point are automatically extracted from the route history stored in the route history storage means 58 so far, and the optimum route between them is searched. If the route is more advantageous than the route history, the presence of the advantageous route is notified, so that the user of the navigation system can know the existence of another advantageous route.

  In addition, although the above description demonstrated the schematic structure of the part relevant to this invention in the navigation system 50, and the main point of the effect | action, the other structure and effect | action of the navigation system 50 are as having demonstrated below. . That is, the navigation system 50 includes an operation / display unit 53, a route search request unit 54, map data 63, and a guide route storage unit 64.

  The operation / display unit 53 includes an input unit having keys and buttons for operating the navigation system 50, and a liquid crystal display unit for displaying a map, a route, a current position, and the like. When route search conditions such as a departure point and a destination are set from the operation / display unit 53, the route search request unit 54 sends the route search condition to the route search unit 52 and requests a route search.

  An optimum route obtained as a result of route search and route guidance being designated and route search means 52 searching for a route is temporarily stored in guide route storage means 64 as a guide route. This guide route is read from the guide route storage means 64 as necessary and displayed on the operation / display means 53 together with map data, a current position mark, and the like. As a result, the user can move between desired points on the optimum route while receiving guidance.

  The map data 63 for route search includes road network data for route search for automobiles, network data for pedestrians including pedestrian roads and walking paths in parks, and map data for display. ing. When searching for a route for a pedestrian, the route search is performed by adding network data for a pedestrian to the road network data.

  For example, road network data for route search for automobiles is configured as follows. That is, for example, when the road is composed of roads A, B, and C as shown in FIG. 5, the end points, intersections, and inflection points of the roads A, B, and C are used as nodes, and the roads connecting the nodes are directed. Link cost data that is represented by the link of, and is node data (node latitude / longitude), link data (link number) and link cost of each link (link distance or time required to travel the link). It consists of.

  In FIG. 5, Nn (◯ mark) and Nm (◎ mark) indicate nodes, and Nm (◎ mark) indicates a road intersection. Directional links connecting the nodes are indicated by arrow lines (solid line, dotted line, two-dot chain line). As for the links, there are links facing in the upward and downward directions of the road, but in FIG. 5, only the links in the direction of the arrows are shown for the sake of simplicity.

  When route search is performed using such road network data as a route search database, links linked from the starting node to the destination node are traced to accumulate the link cost, thereby minimizing the accumulated link cost. Search and guide the route. That is, in FIG. 5, when a route search is performed with the departure point as the node AX and the destination as the node CY, the road travels from the node AX to the road A, turns right at the second intersection, enters the road C, and reaches the node CY. The link cost is accumulated sequentially, and a route that minimizes the accumulated link cost is searched for and guided.

  Although other routes from the node AX to the node CY are not shown in FIG. 5, there are actually other such routes, so a plurality of routes that can be reached from the node AX to the node CY are displayed. A search is performed in the same manner, and a route with the lowest link cost is determined as the optimum route. This method is performed by, for example, a known method called the Dijkstra method.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the navigation system 10 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. A navigation system 10 according to the second embodiment is a communication type navigation system 10 as shown in FIG. 6, and includes a terminal device 30 including a mobile phone, a PDA, a music player, and the like connected via a network 12 and a route search server. 20. In the second embodiment of FIG. 6, the same components as those of the first embodiment of FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  When the terminal device 30 is a mobile phone, a call is made with a desired partner (a fixed phone, a mobile phone, a PHS, etc.) via a mobile communication base station or a telephone line network via a network 12 such as a mobile communication network. It is also possible to connect to the route search server 20 via a data communication network and receive a route search and route guidance navigation service as described later. In addition, the terminal device 30 is, for example, a mobile phone having a GPS processing means equipped with a car navigation application or a pedestrian navigation application.

  In the navigation system 10, the route search server 20 stores a departure point and an arrival point when the terminal device 30 moves from an arbitrary departure point to an arrival point without searching for a route, and a movement route between them for each route. A history storage unit 58; a point extraction unit 59 that extracts a departure point and an arrival point from the route history of the travel route stored in the route history storage unit 58; a route comparison unit 60; a route information provision unit 61; And a comparison route search instruction means 62 for searching for a comparison route under the conditions. The control means 21 is a microprocessor having a RAM, a ROM, and a processor (not shown), and controls the operation of each unit by a control program stored in the ROM.

  On the other hand, the terminal device 30 transmits position information to the route search server 20 at a predetermined time interval when accessing the route search server 20 by transmitting a route search request or a map request to the route search server 20. Position information transmission means 37 and movement state detection means 56 for detecting a movement state without searching for a route are provided. When the moving state detecting unit 56 detects a moving state without searching for a route, the terminal device 30 transmits position information to the route searching server 20 at a predetermined time interval by the position information transmitting unit 37. Although not shown, the control unit 31 is a microprocessor having a RAM, a ROM, and a processor, and controls the operation of each unit by a control program stored in the ROM.

  The route search server 20 stores the route history data of the moving route in the route history storage unit 58 based on the position information transmitted from the terminal device 30. The data structure of the route history is the same as that described in FIG. The starting point is a point specified by the position information first transmitted while the terminal device 30 is accessing the route search server 20, and the arrival point is the position information last transmitted while the terminal device 30 is accessing the route search server 20. It is a point specified by. The route history between the two points is thus stored for each route section between any two points.

  In the route search server 20, when access from the terminal device 30 is started, the comparison route search instruction unit 62 issues a comparison route search instruction. When the search for the comparison route is instructed, the point extraction unit 59 extracts the departure point and the arrival point for each route section from the route history stored in the route history storage unit 58 so far, and the route search unit 52 Searches for the optimum route connecting the two points. The route search processing method is the same as the route search method in the case of searching for the optimum route from the normal departure point to the destination.

  When the route search means 52 searches for the optimum route, the route comparison means 60 compares the newly searched optimum route with the route history between the corresponding points stored in the route history storage means 58. The comparison is performed using the cumulative value of the link cost. If the link cost of the newly searched optimum route is smaller than the link cost of the route history, it is determined that the newly searched optimum route is more advantageous than the route history. Then, the route information providing unit 61 notifies the output unit such as a display unit of the existence of the advantageous route.

In Example 2, since the server performs route extraction, route search, and comparison, the result is transmitted from the server to the user. For example, the result may be sent to the terminal by e-mail or displayed on a web page dedicated to the user using the terminal account. In this way, the user can access the web page with a mobile phone as a terminal or a PC and know that there is a better route than the conventional route in the form of “notice”, for example. Become.
Further, as in the case of the first embodiment, the notifying means emphasizes and notifies the factor that the route search result is determined to be optimal.

  Thus, when the terminal device 30 starts to access the route search server 20 by a map request or the like, the route search server 20 automatically determines the starting point from the route history stored in the route history storage means 58 so far. The arrival point is extracted and the optimum route between them is searched, and if the route is more advantageous than the route history, the presence of the advantageous route is notified. Therefore, the user of the terminal device 30 detects the presence of another advantageous route. You will be able to know.

  Further, the terminal device 30 includes an excluded route section specifying unit 57, and the user of the terminal device 30 automatically searches for and notifies the optimum route out of the route history stored in the route history storage unit 58. You can specify a route that you do not want. For the route history for which exclusion is specified by the excluded route section specifying unit 57, the point extracting unit 59 does not extract the starting point and the arriving point.

  The storage of the route history and the comparison route search are triggered by the start of access from the terminal device 30 to the route search server 20 and set as the position of the arrival point of the position information immediately before the end of the access. In a communication-type navigation system, when a viewpoint is placed on a specific terminal device 30, when the terminal device 30 starts accessing the route search server 20, the power is turned on in the stand-alone navigation system. This is because it can be seen that the access end point is substantially the same as the state where the power is turned off in the stand-alone type navigation system.

  In addition, when the terminal device 30 is a mobile phone and is a device equipped with a navigation application, the navigation application operates in the background even when route guidance is not performed, and information on the position at predetermined time intervals. May not be sent to the server. If the position information is transmitted sequentially every predetermined time, the server also responds frequently. Therefore, it is preferable to transmit the data after a certain amount of data is collected. For example, a method of transferring data up to that time to the server when the navigation application is started, that is, a method of transferring data to the server after a period of one day, for example, may be used. The day break is set at 3 am when most public transportation stops. In this case, the route history may be temporarily stored in the terminal device 30 and transmitted to the route search server 20 at the timing described above.

In the first embodiment and the second embodiment described above, the navigation system that performs route search and route guidance when moving on a road by car or on foot has been described. The present invention can also be applied to a navigation system that performs route search and route guidance. Hereinafter, a navigation system that performs route search and route guidance when traveling using a transportation facility will be described as a third embodiment of the present invention.
In addition, not only the in-vehicle navigation system but also various portable type navigation devices have been proposed, and it is assumed that the portable type navigation device is also used when using various transportation facilities for human movement. In the third embodiment, the following description will be given by taking a case where the present invention is applied to the communication type navigation system 10 as a specific example. Therefore, the navigation system 10 of Example 3 is the same as the configuration of the navigation system 10 of Example 2 shown in FIG.

  In the navigation system 10 according to the third embodiment, the difference from the second embodiment is a method for specifying a starting point and an arriving point when a route history is recorded. That is, since Example 3 is a route when traveling using transportation, the station or stop where the transportation is started is specified as the departure point, and the station or stop where the transportation is alighted is specified as the arrival point. It will be. The boarding station and the getting-off station can be specified by the terminal device 30 by various methods described below.

  The first method is to provide an acceleration sensor in the terminal device 30 to detect the departure of a transportation facility such as a train, identify the starting point (station) of the terminal device 30 from the position information at that time, and decelerate upon arrival at the station. This is a method of detecting and identifying the arrival point of the terminal device 30 from the position information at that time. If the record of this detection and the position information when the position information by GPS can be acquired and the base station position information of the mobile phone or the PHS are left, the section using the transportation facility can be identified later. If there is a transfer route, the route may be divided into a transfer point as an arrival point and a departure point. For this method, for example, the technology of the portable guide device already filed by the present applicant and disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-321841 can be applied.

  The second method is that if the terminal device 30 is a terminal device such as a mobile phone that has a non-contact IC in the device and performs billing processing for transportation, the terminal device 30 starts without communicating with the route search server. It is possible to specify a point and an arrival point, specify a boarding station and a stop station, and leave a route history. For this method, for example, the technology of the portable navigation device already filed by the present applicant and disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-44328 can be applied.

The third method is a method that uses information on a base station position when communicating with a base station when the terminal device 30 is a mobile phone or a PHS terminal as the terminal device 30 moves. In other words, this method leaves a history of the movement route using the base station position information transmitted from the base station to the terminal device. Especially when using the subway, the base station radio waves on the ground are blocked and the base station for each station can be specified, so the location is easy to understand. By interweaving the above various records and leaving a history, it becomes possible to grasp a more accurate route.
In addition, when there is an operation failure in the transportation system, it is considered that the route has been unnecessarily taken, so in the communication type navigation system, particularly when the operation failure information can be recorded in the route search server 20, If the optimum route is related to the operation trouble section, it may not be notified.

  In order to search for a route using a transportation facility, the map data 63 of the route search server 20 includes traffic network data similar to the road network data described above with reference to FIG. For example, when the traffic network data includes traffic routes A, B, and C as shown in FIG. 7, each station (each airport on an aircraft route) provided on each traffic route A, B, and C is a node. The section connecting each node is represented by a directional link, and node data (latitude / longitude) and link data (link number) are network data. In FIG. 7, Nn (◯ mark) and Nm (◎ mark) indicate nodes, Nm (◎ mark) indicates a transit point (such as a transfer station) on a traffic route, and a directional link connecting each node. It is indicated by an arrow line (solid line, dotted line, two-dot chain line). As links, there are links facing in the upward and downward directions of the traffic route. In FIG. 7, only the links in the direction of the arrows are shown for the sake of simplicity.

  However, the traffic network basically has a different link cost compared to the road network. In other words, in the road network, the link cost is fixed and static, but in the traffic network, as shown in FIG. 7, trains and airplanes (hereinafter referred to as individual trains and airplanes) that operate the traffic route. A plurality of means of transportation). The time of departure from one node and the time of arrival at the next node are determined for each means of transportation (specified by timetable data and operation data), and individual routes do not necessarily link to adjacent nodes. There is a case. This is the case, for example, with express trains and trains that stop at each station. In such a case, a plurality of different links exist on the same traffic route, and the required time between nodes may differ depending on the transportation means.

  In the transportation network illustrated in FIG. 7, a plurality of transportation means (routes) Aa to Ac... Exist on the same link of the transportation route A, and a plurality of transportation means (routes) Ca to Cc. Will do. Therefore, unlike a simple road network, the transportation network of a transportation facility has a data amount proportional to the total number of transportation means (routes such as individual aircraft and trains). For this reason, the data of the traffic network becomes a huge amount of data compared to the data amount of the road network. Accordingly, much time is required for route search accordingly.

In order to search for a route from a certain departure point to a certain destination using such traffic network data, all the means of transportation that can be used (ride) when arriving from the departure point to the destination are searched. It is necessary to specify the means of transportation that matches the search conditions.
For example, in FIG. 7, when performing a route search with the departure point as a node AX of the traffic route A and specifying a certain departure time and using the node CY of the traffic route C as the destination, the route operates on the traffic route A. Of the transportation means Aa to Ac..., All transportation means after the departure time are sequentially selected as the departure route. And, based on the arrival time at the transit node on the transit route C, among all the transit means Ca-Cc... The total time required for each route, the number of transfers, and the like are guided.

  In the above description, Example 1 is a stand-alone navigation system for vehicles, Example 2 is a communication-type navigation system, and Example 3 is a navigation system that provides route guidance using transportation. As described above, the present invention can also be applied to the case where the movement by the transportation facility is targeted in the first embodiment, and can also be applied to the case where the movement by the transportation facility is targeted in the second embodiment.

  In this way, a system capable of notifying a route that is more optimal than a route traveled without route search or route guidance of the navigation system is prepared, and the following navigation service development can be performed. In other words, from the collection of route history to route search and comparison, it is provided to the user free of charge, only informing whether there is a better route, and when displaying detailed information on the route, An advertisement for joining a navigation service may be displayed, or a route may be displayed on condition of joining.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the navigation system concerning Example 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a data structure of the path | route history memorize | stored in a path | route history memory | storage means. It is a schematic diagram which shows the concept of a comparison with the path | route history memorize | stored in the path | route log | history memory | storage means, and the newly searched optimal path | route. It is a figure which shows an example of the display image which alert | reports presence of the new optimal path | route advantageous from a path | route history. It is a schematic diagram explaining the data of the road network for a route search. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the navigation system concerning Example 2 of this invention. It is a schematic diagram explaining the data of the traffic network for the route search using a transportation system.

Explanation of symbols

50 ... Navigation system 501 ... Control means 51 ... Transmission / reception means 52 ... Route search means 53 ... Operation / display means 54 ... Route search request means 55 ... GPS processing means 56... Moving state detection means 57... Excluded route section designation means 58... Route history storage means 59. ... Route information providing means 62 ... Comparison route search instruction means 63 ... Map data 64 ... Guide route storage means

Claims (10)

Map data for route search, route search means, and starting point when moving from any starting point to arrival point without searching for a route between when the vehicle ignition switch is turned on and when it is turned off Route history storage means for storing arrival points and movement routes between them, point extraction means for extracting departure points and arrival points from the movement routes stored in the route history storage means, route comparison means, and route information providing means And a comparison route search instructing means for instructing a comparison route search when the ignition switch of the vehicle is turned on ,
When there is a comparison route search instruction from the comparison route search instruction means, the point extraction means extracts a departure point and an arrival point of the movement route stored in the route history storage means, and the route search means detects the route Searching for the optimum route between the extracted starting point and arrival point as a guide route with reference to the map data for search, the route comparison means calculates the cost of the corresponding travel route , the cost of the guide route , When the cost of the guide route is a route smaller than the cost of the travel route, the route information providing means notifies the presence of the guide route. The route history storage means stores a route traveled without using route guidance between when the vehicle ignition switch is turned on and the navigation system is started and then stopped , and the comparison route search instruction means includes : The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein a comparison route search is instructed when an ignition switch of the vehicle is turned on and the navigation system is activated . The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the route information providing unit performs the notification using an electronic mail transmission unit to the outside of the navigation system. Map data for route search, route search means, and when the terminal device moves from any starting point to an arrival point without searching for a route between when the vehicle ignition switch is turned on and then turned off Route history storage means for storing a departure point and an arrival point and a movement route between them, a point extraction means for extracting a departure point and an arrival point from the movement route stored in the route history storage means, a route comparison means, a route A navigation system comprising a route search server and a terminal device comprising information providing means, and comparison route search instruction means for instructing comparison route search when an ignition switch of a vehicle is turned on ,
The terminal device includes position information transmission means, and when the vehicle travels from an arbitrary starting point to an arriving point without using route search and route guidance between when the vehicle ignition switch is turned on and when it is turned off. , Sending position information indicating the current position at a predetermined time interval to the route search server,
When there is a comparison route search instruction from the comparison route search instruction unit, the route search server extracts a starting point and an arrival point of the movement route stored in the route history storage unit, and The route search means searches the optimum route between the extracted starting point and arrival point as a guide route with reference to the map data for route search, and the route comparison means calculates the cost of the corresponding moving route and comparing the cost of the guide route, if the cost of the guide path is smaller path than the cost of the travel route, the route information providing unit, wherein the notifying the presence of the guidance route to the terminal device And navigation system. The route history storage means stores a route traveled without using route guidance between when the vehicle ignition switch is turned on and the navigation system is started and then stopped , and the comparison route search instruction means includes : The navigation system according to claim 4 , wherein a comparison route search is instructed when an ignition switch of the vehicle is turned on and the navigation system is activated . The navigation system according to claim 4 , wherein the route information providing unit performs the notification using an electronic mail transmission unit to the outside of the navigation system. Map data for route search, route search means, and starting point when moving from any starting point to arrival point without searching for a route between when the vehicle ignition switch is turned on and when it is turned off a path history memory means for storing a destination point and during movement path, and the point extracting means for extracting a destination point and a starting point of the movement paths stored in the path history memory means, a path comparison means, the route information providing unit A route search method in a navigation system comprising: a comparison route search instruction means for instructing a comparison route search when an ignition switch of a vehicle is turned on ,
When there is a comparison route search instruction from the comparison route search instruction means, the point extraction means extracts a starting point and an arrival point of the movement route stored in the route history storage means; and the route search means Searching for an optimum route between the extracted departure point and arrival point as a guide route with reference to the map data for route search, and the cost of the travel route to which the route comparison means falls and the guidance comparing the cost of the route, if the cost of the guide path is smaller path than the cost of the travel path, and having the steps of: the route information providing means for notifying the presence of the guide route Route search method. The route history storage means storing a route traveled without using route guidance between when the vehicle ignition switch is turned on and the navigation system is started and stopped; and the comparison route search instruction means The route search method according to claim 7 , further comprising a step of instructing a comparative route search when the ignition switch of the vehicle is turned on and the navigation system is activated . The route search method according to claim 7 , wherein the route information providing unit includes a step of performing the notification using an e-mail transmission unit to the outside of the navigation system. Map data for route search, route search means, and when the terminal device moves from any starting point to an arrival point without searching for a route between when the vehicle ignition switch is turned on and then turned off Route history storage means for storing a departure point and an arrival point and a movement route between them, a point extraction means for extracting a departure point and an arrival point from the movement route stored in the route history storage means, a route comparison means, a route An information providing means; and a comparison route search instruction means for instructing a comparison route search when an ignition switch of a vehicle is turned on and the terminal device starts to access a route search server. If there is a comparison route search instruction from the point extraction unit extracts the destination point and the starting point of the stored moving path in the path history memory means, probe the path Means searches an optimal route between the arrival point and the starting point is the extracted by referring to the map data for the route search as a guide route, the route comparing means cost and the guiding of the moving path of the relevant comparing the cost of the route, if the cost of the guide path is smaller path than the cost of the travel route, the route information providing unit, connected to the route search server for notifying the presence of the guidance route to the terminal device A terminal device,
The terminal device includes position information transmission means, and when the vehicle travels from an arbitrary starting point to an arriving point without using route search and route guidance between when the vehicle ignition switch is turned on and when it is turned off. A terminal device that transmits position information indicating a current position at a predetermined time interval to the route search server.

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