JP2003269978A - Navigation system, navigation device and server device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a navigation device capable of reducing the cost by receiving only necessary information without increasing the storage capacity of a storage part. <P>SOLUTION: The navigation system is constituted so that the navigation device 10 transmits a present position, a destination and an area of the map information stored in the navigation device 10 to a server device 11, the server device 11 calculates one or more route candidates from the present position received on the basis of the map information 13 of the database 12 to the destination, determines the candidate of a going-through point for every route candidate in the area of the map information stored in the navigation device 10, transmits the going-through point candidate to the navigation device 10, and the navigation device 10 calculates a travel plan route from the present position to the going-through point candidate, and selects the optimum going-through point candidate. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a navigation device for guiding a route from a starting point to a destination and a server device for reading map information from a database and transmitting the map information to the navigation device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, navigation devices are GPS
(Global Positioning System) Information on the current position is acquired by the current position detection unit such as a receiver, and the map information recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM is read to obtain a map around the current position. In addition to displaying it on the display unit, the current position is displayed and voiced. Further, by inputting the destination, it was possible to calculate a planned travel route from the current position to the destination and provide route guidance.

By the way, a navigation device for receiving map information, planned travel route, etc. from a server device via a network has been developed for use in vehicles, mobile phones and the like.
According to this navigation device, a recording medium for recording map information and the like is not required, and the necessary information may be received from the server device in a timely manner, so that a low-cost navigation device can be provided. Further, it is only necessary to update the information of the server device to deal with the map information and the like which change in a short cycle.

As described above, in the navigation system including the navigation device and the server device, the following system can be considered. Here, it is assumed that the navigation device has a certain amount of map information in advance. The first system is a system that performs both a route search on a server device and a route search when the server device deviates from the route,
The second system is a system that performs both route search by the navigation device and route search when the route is deviated, and the third system performs route search by the server device and route when the navigation device deviates from the route. This is a search system.

[0005]

However, in the above first system, the navigation device does not always have the map information corresponding to the route searched by the server device. In that case, the navigation device has to newly acquire the map information, and the map information currently held is wasted. In addition, the navigation device must communicate with the server device to obtain the search result even when the route is searched when the vehicle deviates from the route. As a result, communication charges are high.

Further, in the second system, the navigation device must acquire a wide range of map information from the current position to the destination in order to search for a route to the destination by the navigation device. A storage device is required, which is a practical problem.

Further, in the third system, since the server device searches for a route, the navigation device does not always have the map information corresponding to the searched route, as in the first system. Further, it is considered that the route search when the user deviates from the route must be performed within the range of the map information currently held by the navigation device, and the search result is often returned to the original route.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a navigation device which can reduce the cost by receiving only necessary information without increasing the storage capacity of the storage section. Also,
It is an object to provide a server device that transmits information to the navigation device.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises, in the above navigation system, at least one navigation device and at least one server device, the navigation device communicating with the server device. A communication control unit that controls the current position, a current position detection unit that detects the current position, a map information storage unit that stores map information, a display unit that displays the map information and the current position, and a planned travel route, The communication device includes the communication control unit, the current position detection unit, the map information storage unit, and a control unit that controls the display unit, and the server device reads map information from a database and transmits the map information to the navigation device. The communication control unit of the navigation device stores the current position, the destination, and the map information storage unit. Send a region of the map information to the server apparatus, the server apparatus receives this,
Calculating one or more route candidates from the current position to the destination, setting a waypoint candidate for each of the route candidates within the area of the map information stored by the navigation device,
Transmitting the waypoint candidates to the navigation device,
The communication control unit of the navigation device receives this, the control unit calculates a planned travel route from the current position to the waypoint candidate, and any one of the waypoint candidates is selected. And

In this way, by determining the waypoints as temporary destinations within the map information area of the navigation device, route guidance can be performed without increasing the storage capacity of the map information storage unit of the navigation device. Since only necessary information such as map information and waypoints is transmitted and received, communication charges can be suppressed.

In the above navigation device,
When approaching the selected waypoint by a predetermined distance, the communication control unit receives map information of a predetermined range not stored in the map information storage unit from the server device and stores the map information in the map information storage unit, The waypoint approached by a predetermined distance and the area of the map information stored in the map information storage unit are transmitted to the server device, and the server device proceeds from the waypoint approached by the predetermined distance calculated by the server device. Based on one or more next route candidates to the destination,
In the area of the map information stored in the map information storage unit, the next waypoint candidate set for each of the next route candidates is received, and the control unit selects the next waypoint from the waypoint approaching the predetermined distance. The next scheduled travel route to each of the waypoint candidates is calculated, and one of the next waypoint candidates is selected.

As described above, the storage capacity of the map information storage unit of the navigation device is increased by repeatedly updating the map information, the waypoints, and the planned travel route along with the movement of the current position to guide the route. There is no need for route guidance, and only necessary information such as map information and waypoints is sent and received, so communication charges can be reduced.

In the above navigation device,
The navigation device can determine an optimal planned travel route in consideration of the priority order by assigning a priority order to each of the waypoint candidates by the server device.

In the above navigation device,
If the vehicle deviates from the planned traveling route during route guidance, one of the waypoint candidates is selected again, and the control unit calculates the planned traveling route again, so that the user returns to the original planned traveling route. It is possible to provide a navigation device which is not necessary and is easy to use.

In the above server device, when any of the waypoints of the waypoint candidates and the area of the map information stored in the navigation device are received from the navigation device, the received waypoint is used to One or more route candidates to the destination are calculated, the next waypoint candidate is set for each of the route candidates in the area of the map information stored in the navigation device, and the next waypoint is set to the navigation device. It is characterized by transmitting candidates.

As described above, the navigation apparatus can guide the route to the destination by using the waypoint candidates by repeating the transmission of the waypoint candidates as the current position of the navigation apparatus moves.

Further, in the above server device, by prioritizing each of the waypoint candidates, the navigation device can determine an optimal planned route in consideration of the priority.

[0018]

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a navigation system using a navigation device and a server device according to the present invention. 10 is a navigation device, 1
1 is a server device that communicates with the navigation device 10, 1
Reference numeral 2 is a database connected to the server device 11.
The database 12 has map information 13 of each scale.

The server device 11 is a navigation device 1.
Map information 1 from database 12 upon request from 0
3 is read out and transmitted to the navigation device 10. Communication between the navigation device 10 and the server device 11 is not particularly limited as long as wireless communication is possible. For example, when communication is performed via the Internet, a telephone network such as a car phone or a mobile phone can be used.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the navigation device 10. Reference numeral 20 is a current position detection unit that obtains information such as the current position, traveling direction, speed, and altitude using a GPS receiver, speed sensor, gyro, and the like, and 21 is communication control that controls communication with the server device 11. Reference numeral 22 denotes an antenna connected to the communication controller 21 for wireless communication.

Reference numeral 23 is a display unit composed of a liquid crystal display or the like for displaying map information and the current position, 24 is an input unit for the user to input destination settings, and 25 is map information for storing map information. A storage unit, a RAM 26 for temporarily storing a destination, a planned travel route, and the like, and a RO 27 for storing a program necessary for the operation of the navigation device 10.
M and 28 are control units composed of a microcomputer or the like for controlling the navigation device 10 based on the program of the ROM 27.

Next, the operation of the navigation system during route guidance will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the navigation device 10 and the server device 11. First, the user operates the input unit 24 of the navigation device 10 to input a destination and presses a route search execution key (not shown). Accordingly, the navigation device 10 stores the destination in the RAM 25 in step S30, proceeds to step S31, and includes a route including the current position and the position information of the destination and the area of the map information stored in the map information storage unit 25. The search condition is transmitted to the server device 11. Here, it is assumed that the navigation device 10 previously stores map information near the current position in the map information storage unit 25 at the time of route guidance. The map information may be stored since the navigation device 10 was used last time, or automatically when the navigation device 10 is powered on (for example, an area within a radius of 5 km around the current position). ) Map information may be received. Further, the area to be transmitted to the server device 11 may be an area of a map (detailed map) of a predetermined scale or more, and an area of a national map that is not used while traveling on a route may be excluded.

Upon completion of step S31, the server device 11 determines the navigation device 1 in step S50.
Upon receiving the route search condition from 0, the process proceeds to step S51, and the server device 11 accesses the database 12 to calculate one or more route candidates from the current position to the destination. FIG. 5 shows an example of the route candidates. In the figure, the arrow indicates the current position of the navigation device 10, and X indicates the destination. In FIG. 5, three types of route candidates 70, 71, 72 are shown.

From step S51 to step S52, the server device 11 sets a waypoint candidate on the route within the area of the map information stored in the map information storage unit 25 for each calculated route candidate. Here, it is preferable that the waypoint candidate is farther from the current position in the area of the stored map information. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing waypoint candidates on the route candidates of FIG. In the figure, a circle C indicates a region (the map information storage unit 2 which the server device 11 has received from the navigation device 10).
5 shows the area of the map information stored in the area 5), and points 70a,
71a and 72a show waypoint candidates on the route candidates 70, 71 and 72, respectively. Although the region has a circular shape here, the shape is not limited to this.

From step S52 to step S53, the server device 11 prioritizes the route candidates from the viewpoint of road congestion, distance, etc., as shown in FIG. 5, and as shown in FIG.
According to the priority, the waypoint candidates are also prioritized. In addition, the road congestion is VICS (Vehicle Inform).
ation and Communication System).

From step S53 to step S54, the server device 11 transmits the position information of the waypoint candidates 70a, 71a, 72a to the navigation device 10.
When step S54 is completed, the navigation device 10
Receives the position information of the waypoint candidates 70a, 71a, 72a from the server device 11 in step S32.
Proceeding to step S33, the navigation device 10 determines each waypoint candidate 70a, 71a, 7 from the current position based on the map information stored in the map information storage unit 25.
Calculate the route to 2a. At this time, the route candidate candidate calculated by the server device 11 and the route calculated by the navigation device 10 do not necessarily have to match.

From step S33 to step S34, the navigation device 10 displays each route candidate and its priority (not shown), and the user of the navigation device 10 attaches the calculated route and the server device 11. Select the best waypoint based on priority. For example,
When the waypoint candidate 71a is selected, the process proceeds to step S35, and the current position and the planned travel route leading to the waypoint 71a are displayed on the display unit 23 in a superimposed manner. And
Scroll the screen as the current position moves. It should be noted that the selection of waypoint candidates is not selected by the user, but the navigation device 1 having the highest priority among those that match the map information stored in the navigation device 10.
0 may be automatically selected.

The navigation device 10 proceeds from step S35 to step S36 and the current position of the navigation device 10 is the via point 71.
It is determined whether or not a has approached a by a predetermined distance (for example, 2 km). If the predetermined distance is not yet approached in step S36, the route guidance is continued until the predetermined distance is approached. On the other hand, when the predetermined distance is approached in step S36,
Since the map information stored in the map information storage unit 25 is scarce and the planned travel route needs to be updated, step S in FIG.
Proceed to 37 to request new map information from the server device 11. The map information requested here is map information in the vicinity of the waypoint 71a (for example, an area within a radius of 5 km centering on the waypoint 71a) and is map information of an area not stored in the map information storage unit 25. can do.
Note that A and B in FIG. 3 are connectors, which are connected to A and B in FIG. 4, respectively.

Upon completion of step S37, the server device 11 determines the navigation device 1 in step S55.
The map information request from 0 is received, the process proceeds to step S56, where appropriate map information is read from the database 12,
In step S57, the read map information is transmitted to the navigation device 10.

When step S57 is completed, the navigation device 10 determines the server device 1 in step S38.
The map information from No. 1 is received, the map information of the unnecessary portion in the map information storage unit 25 is deleted, and the newly received map information is additionally stored. FIG. 7 shows the range of map information that the map information storage unit 25 has when the map information is updated. A circle C shown by a broken line is a range of map information stored in the map information storage unit 25 before update, and a solid line circle C ′ is a range of map information stored in the map information storage unit 25 after update. The shaded area 80 in FIG. 7 is the map information additionally received by the navigation device 10.

From step S38 to step S39, it is determined whether or not the destination X is in the updated map information. If the destination exists in step S39,
In step S40, the planned travel route from the waypoint 71a to the destination is calculated based on the updated map information.
Then, the process proceeds from step S40 to step S41, and the planned travel route to the destination is displayed while scrolling the screen in accordance with the movement of the current position.

On the other hand, if the destination is not included in the map information in step S39, the process proceeds to step S42 and the next information including the position information of the waypoint 71a and the map information area stored in the map information storage unit 25 is displayed. The conditions for route search are transmitted to the server device 11.

Upon completion of step S42, the server device 11 determines the navigation device 1 in step S58.
The condition of the next route search from 0 is received, and step S59 is performed.
Then, the server device 11 accesses the database 12 and calculates one or more route candidates from the waypoint 71a to the destination. FIG. 8 shows an example of the route candidates. In FIG. 8, two types of route candidates 90 and 91 are shown.

From step S59 to step S60, the server device 11 sets the next waypoint candidate on the route within the map information area stored in the map information storage unit 25 for each calculated next route candidate. To do. FIG. 9 is a diagram in which the next waypoint candidate is superimposed on the next route candidate in FIG. In the figure,
Points 90a and 91a indicate the next waypoint candidates on the next route candidates 90 and 91, respectively.

From step S60 to step S61, the server device 11 prioritizes route candidates from the viewpoints of road congestion, distance, etc., as in step S53, and selects the next waypoint candidate according to the priority. Also prioritize.

From step S61 to step S62, the server device 11 transmits the position information of the next waypoint candidates 90a, 91a to the navigation device 10. When step S62 is completed, the navigation device 10
In step S43, the position information of the next waypoint candidates 90a and 91a from the server device 11 is received, and the process proceeds to step S44, in which the navigation device 10 uses the map information stored in the map information storage unit 25 as the route information. Point 7
The route from 1a to each of the next waypoint candidates 90a and 91a is calculated. At this time, the server device 1 is not always
The route candidate calculated by 1 does not have to match the route calculated by the navigation device 10.

From step S44 to step S45, the navigation device 10 displays each route candidate and its priority (not shown), and the user of the navigation device 10 attaches the calculated route and the server device 11. The most suitable next waypoint candidate is selected based on the priority order.
For example, when the waypoint candidate 91a is selected, the process proceeds to step S46, and the planned travel route to the waypoint 91a is displayed while scrolling the screen in accordance with the movement of the current position.

After that, steps S46 to S3
6, the navigation device 10 repeatedly updates the planned travel route until the navigation device 10 receives the map information having the destination,
Continue to guide you to your destination.

In this way, the waypoint as a temporary destination is determined within the map information area of the navigation device 10, the planned travel route to the waypoint is displayed, and the map information and waypoint are moved along with the movement of the current position. , And by repeatedly updating the planned travel route to guide the route to the destination, the route can be guided without increasing the storage capacity of the map information storage unit 25 of the navigation device 10, and the map information and the waypoints are required. Communication charges can be reduced because only information is sent and received.

In the above embodiment, when the vehicle deviates from the planned traveling route during route guidance, the navigation device 1
In the case of 0, in consideration of the direction of the current position, the distance to the waypoint, etc. in addition to the priority given to the waypoint candidates by the server device 11, the waypoint candidates are reselected and the planned travel route is calculated again. Can be

In addition, in the above embodiment, when the destination is set within the range of the map information currently held by the navigation device 10, the navigation device 10 is set based on the map information currently held. It is only necessary to calculate the planned travel route from the current position to the destination.

The navigation device of the present invention can be mounted on a portable telephone, a PDA (personal digital assistant), a personal computer, etc. in addition to being portable and mounted on a vehicle.

[0043]

According to the present invention, the navigation device determines a waypoint based on one or more waypoint candidates calculated by the server device in the area of the map information, and calculates a planned travel route to the waypoint. -Display and repeatedly update map information, waypoints, and planned travel routes as the current position moves to guide the route to the destination, without increasing the storage capacity of the map information storage unit of the navigation device. In addition, the communication fee can be suppressed because only the map information to be used and the waypoints having a small amount of information are transmitted / received without transmitting / receiving the unused map information or the planned traveling route having a large amount of information.

Further, according to the present invention, the server device prioritizes the respective waypoint candidates, so that the navigation device can determine the optimum planned travel route in consideration of the priority.

Further, according to the present invention, when the navigation device deviates from the planned traveling route during route guidance, any of the waypoint candidates is selected again, and the navigation device calculates the planned traveling route again. The user does not need to return to the original planned route, and a user-friendly navigation device can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a navigation system using a navigation device and a server device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a navigation device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the navigation device and the server device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart following FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of route candidates from a current position to a destination.

6 is a diagram showing waypoint candidates on the route candidates of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a range of map information stored in a map information storage unit when the map information is updated.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of route candidates from a waypoint to a destination.

9 is a diagram in which a next waypoint candidate is overlaid on the next route candidate in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Navigation device 11 Server device 12 Database 13 Map information 20 Current position detector 21 Communication control unit 23 Display 25 Map information storage 28 Control unit 70 Route candidates 71 Route candidates 72 Route candidates 90 route candidates 91 Route candidates 70a Waypoint candidate 71a Waypoint candidates 72a Waypoint candidate 90a Waypoint candidates 91a Waypoint candidate

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F-term (reference) 2C032 HB03 HB05 HB11 HB22 HB23                       HB24 HC08 HD13 HD16                 2F029 AA02 AB01 AB07 AB13 AC02                       AC06 AC09 AC14 AC16                 5H180 AA01 BB05 BB13 CC12 FF04                       FF05 FF13 FF22 FF27 FF33                       FF40

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A navigation control device comprising at least one navigation device and at least one server device, wherein the navigation device controls a communication with the server device, a current position detection unit for detecting a current position, and a map. A map information storage unit that stores information, a display unit that displays map information and the current position, a planned travel route, and the communication control unit and the current position detection unit,
The map information storage unit, and a control unit for controlling the display unit, wherein the server device reads the map information from the database and transmits it to the navigation device, wherein the communication control unit of the navigation device is , The current position, the destination, and the area of the map information stored in the map information storage unit are transmitted to the server device, and the server device receives the information, and the server detects the current position to the destination. Calculating one or more route candidates, setting a waypoint candidate for each of the route candidates within an area of map information stored in the navigation device, and transmitting the waypoint candidates to the navigation device; The communication control unit receives the information, and the control unit calculates a planned travel route from the current position to the waypoint candidate, and A navigation system characterized in that any one of the candidate points is selected. 2. A communication control unit that controls communication with a server device, a current position detection unit that detects the current position, a map information storage unit that stores map information, and a display unit that displays the map information and the current position. And a navigation device including the communication control unit, the current position detection unit, the map information storage unit, and a control unit that controls the display unit while calculating the planned travel route, wherein the communication control unit is: The current position, the destination, and the area of the map information stored in the map information storage unit are transmitted to the server device, and from the server device to the destination from the current position calculated in the server device. Based on one or more route candidates, a waypoint candidate set for each of the route candidates is received in the map information area stored in the map information storage unit, Navigation system planned travel route to put al the transit point candidates calculated respectively, characterized in that one of said waypoints candidate is selected. 3. When approaching the selected waypoint by a predetermined distance, the communication control unit receives map information of a predetermined range which is not stored in the map information storage unit from the server device and receives the map information storage unit. Stored in, and transmits to the server device a waypoint approaching the predetermined distance and the area of the map information stored in the map information storage unit, and approaching the predetermined distance calculated by the server device from the server device. The next waypoint set for each of the next route candidates in the area of the map information stored in the map information storage unit based on the one or more next route candidates from the waypoint to the destination. Upon receiving a candidate, the control unit respectively calculates a next planned traveling route from the waypoint approaching the predetermined distance to the next waypoint candidate, and one of the next waypoint candidates is selected. The navigation device according to claim 2, wherein: 4. The navigation device according to claim 2, wherein the waypoint candidates are prioritized by the server device. 5. When the vehicle deviates from the planned traveling route during route guidance, one of the waypoint candidates is selected again, and the control unit again calculates the planned traveling route. The navigation device according to any one of 2 to 4. 6. A server device for reading map information from a database and transmitting the map information to a navigation device, wherein the navigation device receives a current position, a destination, and a map information area stored in the navigation device, One or more route candidates from the current position to the destination are calculated, a waypoint candidate is set for each of the route candidates in the area of the map information stored in the navigation device, and the waypoint is set to the navigation device. A server device characterized by transmitting a candidate. 7. When one of the waypoint candidates of the waypoints and an area of the map information stored in the navigation apparatus is received from the navigation device, 1 from the received waypoint to the destination is received. Calculating the above route candidates, setting the next waypoint candidate for each of the route candidates within the area of the map information stored by the navigation device, and transmitting the next waypoint candidate to the navigation device. 7. The server device according to claim 6, wherein: 8. The server device according to claim 6, wherein each of the waypoint candidates is prioritized.