JP3952288B2 - Navigation device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a navigation device that guides a vehicle or the like from a current location to a destination, and in particular, can easily know whether or not the current traveling state is appropriate for a preset destination arrival time. The present invention relates to a navigation device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In the current vehicle navigation apparatus, a map / information storage medium such as a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, or a hard disk that records map data for drawing a map and facility information data for searching a facility, A player that reads data from the map / information storage medium, a display device that displays a map, and the like, a self-contained navigation device such as a distance sensor and a gyro, and a GPS receiver detect the current position of the vehicle and the direction of travel. It has a vehicle position detection device, reads out map data including the current position of the vehicle from the map / information storage medium, draws a map image around the vehicle position based on this map data, and displays the vehicle position The mark is superimposed on the display screen and the map image is scrolled as the vehicle moves. And or moving the vehicle position mark is fixed a map image on a screen, so that seen whether the vehicle is traveling where the current at a glance.
[0003]
Map data stored in a map / information storage device such as a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM is divided into longitude and latitude widths of appropriate sizes according to various scale levels. And a coordinate set of nodes expressed in latitude. A road is composed of a combination of two or more nodes, and map data displays a road layer consisting of a road list, a node table, an intersection configuration node list, etc., and roads, buildings, facilities, parks, rivers, etc. on the map screen. Map data such as a background layer, and information data for displaying characters, map symbols, etc., such as administrative division names such as municipalities, road names, intersection names, and facility names.
[0004]
In addition, this navigation device has a route guidance function that allows the user to easily travel to a desired destination without making a mistake on the road. According to this route guidance function, if you specify a route from the departure point to the destination using map information, and if necessary, a route point is taken into account, conditions such as time, distance, and fee are included in the route connecting these points. Automatically search for the most appropriate route, store the searched route as a guidance route, and draw the guidance route on the map image with a different color from other routes and display it on the screen while driving. Or when the vehicle approaches an intersection where the course on the guidance route should be changed within a certain distance, the intersection is enlarged and an arrow indicating the direction in which the course should be changed is drawn and displayed on the screen. In this way, the user can be guided to the destination by guiding left and right turn.
[0005]
Furthermore, in the navigation device, VICS information is received from the VICS information center by radio beacons, optical beacons, and FM broadcasts, and information such as traffic jams, traffic regulations, etc. is taken in, and a detour is searched according to the situation and new guidance It is also possible to present a route.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The navigation device as described above is used to calculate the guidance route from the current location to the destination, and when traveling along the guidance route, by displaying the remaining travel distance on the monitor screen, the user can There is also a device that makes it possible to grasp sensuously how much it is necessary to travel to the destination or how long it will take. Also, it has been attempted to calculate an approximate required time from the current location to the destination based on road data along the guidance route from the current location, and display it on the monitor screen.
[0007]
However, with only the display as described above, for example, when a person who is out of the office by car must return in time for an in-house meeting starting from the scheduled time, the guidance route from the current location to the company Although it is possible to know the approximate required time from the current location to the destination by setting, if the complicated operation that causes the navigation device to calculate the predetermined time is not performed after traveling, the destination from the current traveling location You cannot know how long it takes to reach the ground.
[0008]
In particular, when the vehicle is involved in a traffic jam while traveling, the required time from the current location to the destination is completely different from the map data. In order to obtain the required time taking into account such traffic conditions, for example, it is possible to import VICS data and obtain the approximate required time taking into account the congestion situation. Every time you want to know, you can not know this unless you perform the same complicated operation as above.
[0009]
As described above, even if the required time to the destination is often displayed on the monitor screen during driving, the determination as to whether or not it is in time for a meeting that is actually held at a predetermined time is based on the current time. The arrival time is calculated by adding the required time displayed as above, and if the arrival time is before the meeting start time, after the sled, or after that, how long it will be late for the meeting is calculated. It must be troublesome. In particular, when driving a car, attention must be concentrated on safe driving, and it is not preferable to pay attention to such calculations.
[0010]
Furthermore, when it is found that it is impossible to arrive at the destination at a predetermined time during traveling as described above, when the guidance route that is currently traveling is a route that does not use the expressway, many users , Whether there is a route using the expressway to the destination, if it can be reached earlier than the current driving route, how early can it be when it can arrive earlier In particular, I want to know if it is in time for the meeting.
[0011]
At that time, the user operates the navigation device to display a screen for searching for a new guidance route from the current traveling point to the destination, and performs setting to use the expressway at that time, Display the required time from the current driving point to the destination for the determined guidance route, find the time to arrive at the destination at this required time based on the current time, and that time will be the meeting start time An operation and work for determining whether or not it is in time will be performed. However, it is not preferable to perform such complicated operations and operations during operation.
[0012]
Therefore, according to the present invention, when traveling along the guide route so as to arrive at the destination by a predetermined time, at each traveling time point, which point is traveling to arrive by the predetermined time. So that the user can see at a glance whether or not he / she has to travel, and can know in advance how much he / she is behind the predetermined time when driving in the current state. If there is no route that can arrive at the destination earlier, such as by using an expressway in addition to the current driving route, it is automatically determined whether it is in time for the predetermined time. The main purpose is to provide a navigation device that can inform the user.
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, the navigation device according to the present invention calculates a guide route calculating means for calculating a guide route from the current position to the destination, and a destination arrival desired time taking in data relating to a desired time to arrive at the destination. Calculation means, required travel position calculation means for calculating a position on the guide route that is currently required to travel to arrive at the desired destination arrival time, and calculated by the required travel position calculation means Display means for displaying the position as a mark together with the current position.
[0014]
In another navigation apparatus according to the present invention, in the navigation apparatus, data relating to a desired time of arrival at the destination is set as a desired arrival time or a desired required time to the destination.
[0015]
Another navigation apparatus according to the present invention is such that, in the navigation apparatus, the predetermined interval for the calculation by the necessary travel position calculation means is a predetermined time or a predetermined travel distance.
[0016]
The navigation device according to the present invention further includes an estimated arrival time calculating means for calculating an estimated time of arrival at the destination from the currently traveling point in the navigation device, and the display means calculates the calculated time. The estimated arrival time is displayed.
[0017]
Further, another navigation device according to the present invention comprises a calculation means for calculating a distance from the current traveling point to the mark display position or a required traveling time in the navigation device, and the display means The calculated distance or travel time is displayed.
[0018]
Another navigation apparatus according to the present invention includes a determination means for determining whether or not the destination can be reached at the desired time in the navigation apparatus, and from the current position on the guidance route to the destination. A new guidance route search means for searching for a new guidance route using the expressway by the guidance route calculation means, and when the judgment means judges that it cannot arrive at the desired time, the new guidance route Travel guidance is performed along a new guidance route searched by the search means.
[0019]
In addition, another navigation device according to the present invention is the above-mentioned navigation device, in which when the search for a new guidance route using the expressway, the user is asked whether to use the expressway or not, whether to use the expressway. It is provided with a matching means.
[0020]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram mainly showing various functional units used by the present invention to solve the above-described problems and the relationship between these functional units in an embodiment of a navigation apparatus according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, a system control unit 1 including a CPU, a ROM storing a predetermined program, a RAM, and the like can operate various functional units connected thereto according to the program. Each functional unit in FIG. 1 can also be referred to as a functional unit that performs a predetermined function.
[0021]
In this example of the navigation apparatus, a vehicle position detection unit 3 that captures data from the GPS receiver 2 is provided. The vehicle position detection unit 3 further includes a vehicle using a self-contained navigation method such as a vehicle speed sensor or a gyro as necessary. The position detection data is taken in to enable more precise vehicle position detection. This vehicle position data is used as current position data in the calculation of a guidance route, which will be described later.
[0022]
The destination input unit 4 is a part for inputting destination position data when calculating a guidance route, which will be described later. When setting the destination, scrolling the map screen, searching by address, searching by phone number, Input can be performed by various means such as a search based on the mark.
[0023]
The instruction signal input unit 5 inputs various signals instructed by the user to the navigation device, and is used for setting the destination. Further, various settings for displaying dummy marks, which will be described later, and scheduled time arrival guidance are provided. Input various instruction signals for processing. When the instruction signal is input, a voice recognition device can be used in which a user speaks into a microphone and performs recognition processing.
[0024]
The image output unit 6 outputs various data to the monitor screen in order to present various information to the user by the navigation device, synthesizes various screens as appropriate, and divides the monitor screen into a plurality of screens. And display. The voice output unit 7 can output information by voice when it is not preferable that the user gazes at the monitor screen, such as guidance for a right / left turn intersection.
[0025]
The map data capturing unit 8 captures predetermined data instructed by the system control unit 1 among various map data recorded on the map data recording medium 9 such as a DVD-ROM, CD-ROM, or hard disk, It can be output. In this map data, in addition to road data, the standard time required when traveling on each road is recorded corresponding to the type of road, road width, etc. for each link constituting the road, By reading this data, it is possible to easily obtain a standard time required for traveling on each road composed of a large number of links. In the map data recording medium 9, various facility information related to the map data is also recorded.
[0026]
Each functional block arranged on the right side of the system control unit 1 in FIG. 1 is mainly used for carrying out the present invention, and a dummy mark display processing unit 10 for displaying a dummy mark as described later. It has. In this embodiment, the dummy mark display processing unit 10 includes a predetermined position display processing unit 12 for displaying a dummy mark at a predetermined position such as a departure point or a first point when traveling on a new guide route, and a dummy. And a movement display processing unit 13 that sequentially moves and displays the marks on the guidance route.
[0027]
The display data processed by the dummy mark display processing unit 10 is output to the image output unit 6 via the system control unit 1, and the dummy mark is displayed in a predetermined position on the map. Further, data after being switched by the dummy mark display position switching unit 11 is output to a delay detection unit 27 from a dummy, which will be described later.
[0028]
The destination arrival time capture unit 14 may use this time when the user wants to arrive at the company by 12:55, for example, in time for a meeting held from 13:00. When the desired time is input from the instruction signal input unit 5 according to a predetermined screen, this signal is taken in via the system control unit 1. In this desired destination arrival time capturing unit 14, the user inputs the time 12:55 directly from the instruction signal input unit 5 as described above, and from the current time such as one hour after the current time, for example. Is input, the desired arrival time is calculated based on the time data of the current time reading unit 15 described later.
[0029]
The current time reading unit 15 takes in the time data of the system control unit and determines the desired travel arrival required travel position calculation unit 18 for obtaining a dummy mark display point to be described later. Output for use as basic time data in order to calculate whether the vehicle must be traveling in position. In addition, as described above, the desired destination arrival time capturing unit 14 uses the desired time to arrive at the destination as the basic data for calculation when the required time from the current time is input. Further, when the vehicle continues to travel from the current point at the current time as will be described later, it is also output to the predicted arrival time calculation unit 24 that calculates the predicted time of arrival at the destination.
[0030]
The predetermined time / distance progress detection unit 16 outputs data of timing for performing calculation for dummy mark display processing and the like after the vehicle starts to travel. As timing data, for example, every 3 minutes or every 5 km, every time a predetermined time elapses by inputting a clock signal and calculating, or a signal of the vehicle position detector 3 is inputted and the distance traveled A signal for each predetermined distance traveled by calculating the required travel position calculating unit 18 for arrival at a desired time is output. It is also output to an estimated arrival time calculation unit 24 as will be described later.
[0031]
In the map data reading unit 17, the road along the guidance route memory 22, which will be described later, used in the required travel position calculating unit 18 for arrival at a desired time out of the data captured from the map data recording medium 9 by the map data capturing unit 8. Read the data. In particular, distance data and standard required time data necessary for traveling on the road on the guidance route are taken in as this data. This data is output to the necessary travel position calculation unit 18 for arrival at a desired time and also to an expected arrival time calculation unit 24 as described later.
[0032]
The desired travel arrival required travel position calculation unit 18 performs the calculation at the signal timing of the predetermined time / distance elapsed detection unit 16 as described above, and the destination input from the destination arrival desired time capture unit 14. Reads from the map data reading unit 17 which point the vehicle must travel at the current time point read by the current time reading unit 15 on the guidance route input from the guidance route memory 22 with respect to the desired arrival time. The calculation is based on the time required for each road. The calculation result is output to a position comparison / determination unit 23, which will be described later, and it is determined whether or not the calculated position is closer to the destination side than the current position, and the calculation result is used together with the determination signal as a dummy mark display processing unit. The dummy mark can be displayed at a predetermined position on the map.
[0033]
The current position reading unit 20 inputs the data of the vehicle position detection unit 3 and outputs the data to the position comparison / determination unit 23 to calculate a necessary travel position for arrival at a desired time as basic data for displaying dummy marks as described above. The position data from the unit 18 can be compared. Further, the data is output to an expected arrival time calculation unit 24, which will be described later, and is used as data for calculating an estimated time of arrival at the destination when the vehicle continues to travel from the current point at the current time. Furthermore, it outputs to the delay detection part 27 from the dummy mentioned later, and makes it the position comparison data of a present position and a dummy mark display position.
[0034]
The guide route calculation unit 21 performs the same function as that conventionally used, and inputs a route from the input current location to the destination and, if necessary, a route, giving priority to the use of the expressway. The guidance route can be calculated in various manners such as the route that can be traveled at the lowest cost without using the expressway and the route that can travel in the shortest time. This calculation of the guidance route can obtain accurate data in a short time due to the recent increase in processing speed of the CPU. The obtained data is stored in the guide route memory 22. In addition, the guidance route calculation unit 21 performs a new guidance from the current traveling position to the destination using the highway according to an instruction from the new guidance route search unit 32 of the scheduled arrival time guidance processing unit 30 described later. The route is calculated, and the calculation result is stored in the guide route memory 22.
[0035]
The data in the guidance route memory 22 can be used in various functional units via the system control unit 1, and is output to the required travel position calculation unit 18 for arrival at a desired time and is also output to the expected arrival time calculation unit 24. Output and use as basic data for each operation. Further, it is output to the current guidance route high-speed usage determination unit 31 of the scheduled time arrival guidance processing unit 30 described later, and is used as data for determining whether the currently used guidance route is a highway usage priority route. .
[0036]
In the position comparison / determination unit 23, the position that must be currently traveled to arrive at the destination by the desired time calculated by the required travel position calculation unit 18 for arrival at the desired time as described above, and the current position reading unit The current position from 20 is compared, and particularly when the current position is the travel start point of the guidance route, it is determined whether or not the current position is at a position rearward from the current position toward the destination.
[0037]
The data is output to the dummy mark display position switching unit 11 in the dummy mark display processing unit 10, and when it is determined that the data exists at a position rearward from the current position toward the destination, the dummy mark display switching unit 11 is operated to operate the predetermined position. The display processing unit 12 is activated and the dummy mark is fixed and displayed at the starting point of the guidance route. When it is determined that the calculation position is located on the destination side from the current position, the movement display processing unit 13 is operated by the operation of the dummy mark display position switching unit 11, and the necessary travel position calculation unit 18 for arrival at the desired time is used. A process of displaying a dummy mark at the obtained position is performed. As a result, the dummy mark is moved and displayed on the guidance route for each calculation according to the timing of the predetermined time / distance progress detection unit 16.
[0038]
The estimated arrival time calculation unit 24 performs calculation based on the detection timing from the predetermined time / distance progress detection unit 16, and is the current time from the current time reading unit 15 and the current position from the current position reading unit 20. The estimated time of arrival at the destination when traveling in a normal state is calculated for the road along the guidance route memory 22 based on the data of the map data reading unit 17. The calculation result is output from the estimated arrival time output unit 25 to the image output unit 6 via the system control unit 1 and is displayed on the monitor screen as an expected time to arrive at the destination when traveling as it is. It is displayed while updating at the timing.
[0039]
The data of the expected arrival time calculation unit 24 is also output to the time comparison / determination unit 26, which compares this data with the data of the desired arrival time at the destination arrival time capturing unit 14. Then, it is determined whether or not the expected time of arrival at the destination when traveling in a normal state at the current position is later than the desired arrival time, and when it is delayed, the time is output. The determination result is output to the current guidance route high-speed usage determination unit 31 of the scheduled time arrival guidance processing unit 30, which will be described later, and is used as a start signal for highway usage guidance processing for arriving within the scheduled time. Further, it is also output to a scheduled time delay warning output determination unit 35, which will be described later, and data for determining whether or not to output a warning to the user that there is a possibility of not reaching the destination by the scheduled time. And
[0040]
The travel delay time obtained by the time comparison determination 26 is also output to the delay detection unit 27 from the dummy, and the delay detection unit 27 from the dummy outputs the delay time data to the image via the system control unit 1. The data is output to the output unit 6 and the delay time is displayed on the monitor screen. Further, the delay detection unit 27 from the dummy inputs the data after the switching of the dummy mark display switching unit 11 in the dummy mark display processing unit 10, and the actual dummy mark position data and the current position read from the current position reading unit 20. Compared with the position data, the distance that the current position is delayed from the position of the dummy mark is detected, and this is output to the image output unit 6 via the system control unit 1 in the same manner as described above, and the delay time is displayed on the monitor screen. Is displayed.
[0041]
In the scheduled time arrival guidance processing unit 30, the time comparison / determination unit 26 outputs a determination result signal indicating that it is impossible to arrive at the destination within the scheduled time when the vehicle travels normally from the current position. Is input to the current guide route high-speed use determination unit 31. When the signal is input to the current guide route high-speed use determination unit 31, the currently used guide route uses the highway from the guide route memory 22. It is determined whether or not it is obtained in the form, and the determination result is output to the new guidance route search unit 32. In addition, the signal from the current guidance route high-speed use determination unit 31 is output to a scheduled time delay warning output availability determination unit 35 described later.
[0042]
In the new guidance route search unit 32, when a signal is input from the current guidance route high-speed use determination unit 31 that the currently used guidance route is obtained in a manner not using the expressway, a guidance route calculation is performed. The unit 21 calculates the guidance route in a mode of using the highway from the current position to the destination. Further, as a result of the calculation, when it is detected that an appropriate guidance route exists, the signal is output to the expressway availability inquiry input / output unit 33, and the expressway availability inquiry input / output unit 33 The image output unit 6 is made to display via the control unit 1 an inquiry about whether to change the route from the current position to the route using the highway.
[0043]
The expressway availability inquiry input / output unit 33 further sends a signal indicating whether or not to use the expressway, which is input from the instruction signal input unit 5 by the user in response to the display for making the inquiry. 1, and when the signal is a signal indicating that the highway is used, an operation start signal is output to the new guidance route display instruction unit 34. In response to the signal, the new guidance route display instruction unit 34 instructs the system control unit 1 to set the new guidance route calculated by the current guidance route calculation unit 21 as the future guidance route.
[0044]
As a result, the system control unit 1 replaces the guide route data calculated by the guide route calculation unit 21 with the previous data in the guide route memory 22 and stores the data in the guide route memory 22 as a new guide route. Thereafter, each function unit that uses the data in the guidance route memory 22 performs various processes using data of a new guidance route that uses the expressway.
[0045]
In the scheduled time delay warning output determination unit 35, when a signal indicating that it is impossible to arrive at the destination at the desired arrival time when a normal travel is performed from the current position from the time comparison determination unit 26, When a signal indicating that the current guide route is a route using an expressway is input from the guide route high-speed use determination unit 31, and an appropriate guide route using the expressway is found from the new guide route search unit 32. When data that has been detected to be absent is input, an operation signal is output to the warning output unit 36. The warning output unit 36 is used from the image output unit 6 or the audio output unit 7 via the system control unit 1. The user is made to output that the destination cannot be reached within the scheduled time as it is now. As a result, the user knows that there is no means for arriving at the scheduled time at the destination as it is, and the user can make a telephone call to that effect.
[0046]
In the navigation device shown in FIG. 1 composed of the functional blocks as described above, the predetermined functions of the present invention can be performed by sequentially operating according to the operation flow shown in FIGS. Hereinafter, description will be made with reference to the functional block diagram of FIG. 1 and monitor screen display examples of FIGS.
[0047]
In the destination arrival prediction guidance process shown in FIG. 2, position data input (step S1) and destination setting input (step S2) for the first guidance route calculation are performed, thereby calculating and displaying the guidance route. This is done (step S3). Thereafter, a desired arrival time or a desired required time to the destination is input (step S4). The input in each step is performed in the vehicle position detection unit 3, the destination input unit 4, and the instruction signal input unit 5 in FIG.
[0048]
Here, when the desired required time to the destination, for example, “1 hour after the current time” is input, the desired required time is added to the current time because of the uniformity of the subsequent data processing. The time is calculated as the desired arrival time. In that case, the user corresponds to the guidance displayed on the monitor screen or the like with the fact that it is the desired required time to the destination input by the user. In this case, a display indicating that the user has input the desired required time such as “after 1 hour” may be displayed on the monitor screen.
[0049]
Next, the dummy mark is displayed at the current position (step S5). As a result, for example, a screen display as shown in FIG. In this screen display example, a dummy mark D displayed as an illustration in the figure on the departure point S is displayed, and a smaller current position mark G is displayed at the same position in the figure. In this screen display example, the roads R1 to R4 up to the destination P are shown as guide routes.
[0050]
In addition, although the expressway H exists in parallel with the road R3, as a result of setting this guide route in a mode that does not use the expressway, a guide route that does not use the expressway is displayed as illustrated. This highway H shows two interchanges (ICs), an example where an interchange aIC exists near the intersection of roads R2 and R3, and an interchange bIC exists near the intersection of roads R3 and R4. ing. Further, in the screen display example shown in the figure, the desired arrival time at the destination input by the user as the dummy-chan guide is 12:55, so that it is set in time for the meeting to be held from 13:00. An example is shown. The monitor screen indicates that the current time is 11:45.
[0051]
Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the vehicle has started running (step S6), and when the vehicle does not start running, the vehicle stands by in this state until it starts. When it is determined that the vehicle has been started, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time or a predetermined distance has elapsed (step S7). This determination is performed in the predetermined time / distance passage detection unit 16 in FIG. Here, according to the setting screen separately displayed on the monitor, the user selects whether to perform processing such as dummy mark display at predetermined time intervals or every time the vehicle travels a predetermined distance, and for each Enter whether or not to do so at regular intervals.
[0052]
Based on the input result, the predetermined time / distance elapse detection unit 16 compares the detection of time and the detection result of the travel distance with the input data, and in this state until a predetermined time elapses or a predetermined distance travels. stand by. Thereafter, when it is determined that a predetermined time has elapsed or the vehicle has traveled a predetermined distance, a dummy mark movement display process as shown in FIG. 3 is performed (step S8).
[0053]
In the dummy mark movement process, as shown in FIG. 3, the destination arrival desired time or the desired required time to the destination is fetched (step S21). This is performed in the desired destination arrival time capturing unit 14 in FIG. In the desired destination arrival time capturing section 14, when the desired required time to the destination is input as described above, this is added to the current time to obtain destination arrival desired time data, and the subsequent processing Is performed in the same manner as inputting the desired arrival time.
[0054]
Next, the travel position on the guidance route necessary to arrive at the destination at the desired arrival time at the present time is calculated (step S22). This calculation is performed by the user of the desired arrival time acquisition unit 14 as described above in accordance with the detection timing of the predetermined time / distance passage detection unit 16 in the required travel position calculation unit 18 for arrival at the desired time in FIG. Desired time data arriving at the destination, current time data from the current time reading unit 15, data related to the guidance route from the guidance route memory 22, data of standard time required for each road on the guidance route from the map data reading unit 17 To calculate the travel position on the guidance route necessary to arrive at the destination at the desired arrival time at the present time.
[0055]
Next, it is determined whether or not the position of the calculation result is closer to the departure position (step S23). In this determination, when it is determined that the position of the calculation result is closer to the departure position, a dummy mark is displayed at the calculation position on the guidance route (step S24). On the other hand, as a result of the determination, when it is determined that the position of the calculation result is not close to the starting position, that is, when the position of the calculation result is displayed as it is on the map, it is displayed at the point opposite to the destination centering on the current location. Therefore, in order to avoid such an unnatural display, the display is fixed to the starting position as the predetermined position. This processing can be performed as described above in the dummy mark display processing unit 10 in FIG.
[0056]
As a result, for example, as shown in FIG. 5 (a), while the desired arrival time is 12:55, the user departs earlier at 11:45 for safety, and thereafter the figure (b) ), The vehicle traveled to the current location G at 11:55, but the dummy D is displayed as fixed at the previous departure location S as it is not necessary to leave until this time. In the example shown in the figure, according to the map data, it is possible to travel from the departure point S to the destination P in 60 minutes if a normal travel is performed. Until 11:55, the dummy D is fixedly displayed at the departure position S by the process of step S25, and after this time, the movement display is started by the process of step S24.
[0057]
After the dummy mark moving display process is performed in step S24 in FIG. 3 and the dummy mark starting display process in step S25 is performed, the process proceeds to step S9 shown in FIG. Thereafter, in step S9 of FIG. 2, the difference between the current travel point and the dummy position is calculated and displayed. In addition, even if it is calculated that the current travel position is closer to the destination than the dummy mark position as a result of calculating the difference between the current travel point and the dummy position, the distance or time as the calculation result is monitored. It may be displayed on the screen.
[0058]
However, since this state is when the vehicle is running smoothly, for example, in order to prevent the screen from becoming difficult to see by displaying too much data on the monitor screen, for example, FIGS. ), As shown in the screen example of FIG. 6A, it may be possible to simply display “smooth” in the lower right part of the monitor screen. Further, when the dummy mark precedes the current position on the guidance route, it is in a state where it cannot reach the destination by the desired time, and therefore, to show how much is delayed, for example, as shown in FIG. , “Delay from Dummy” is displayed as “3Km, 5 minutes”, driving 3Km away from the position to reach the destination until the desired time, and normal driving condition to that point It is a position that takes 5 minutes. FIG. 6C further shows that the current position is delayed from the dummy.
[0059]
FIG. 5C shows that the current time is running smoothly at 12:05, and that the vehicle can arrive at 12:50 if it is running as it is. However, as shown in FIG. 5B, at 11:55, the vehicle was traveling on the road R1 and should have arrived at 12:45, which is 10 minutes earlier than the desired arrival time. It is shown that the vehicle enters the busy road R2 and is only 5 minutes earlier than the desired arrival time.
[0060]
Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 6 (a), the dummy D becomes almost the same location as the current location G of the vehicle, so that when the current time is 12:15, the expected arrival time coincides with the desired arrival time. Has been. Furthermore, by continuing to travel on the crowded road R2, as shown in FIG. 6B, the dummy D precedes the current location G of the vehicle, and the user can go to the destination only by looking at this screen. You can know that you are unable to arrive within the desired arrival time. Also, even if you can run smoothly from here, the estimated arrival time is 13:00, and there is 3 km to the point necessary to arrive at the destination by the desired time at the current time , It shows that it takes 5 minutes even for normal driving to that point.
[0061]
As described above, after the dummy mark movement display process is performed in step S8, the difference between the current travel point and the dummy position is calculated and displayed as described above (step S9), and the estimated arrival time at the present time is calculated. Display is performed (step S10), and then it is determined whether or not arrival is possible by the scheduled time (step S11). Note that the calculation of the difference between the current travel point and the dummy position in step S9 is performed in the delay detection unit 27 from the dummy in FIG. 1, and the predicted arrival time calculation process in step S10 is the predicted arrival time calculation. This is done in section 24 as described above. Further, it is possible to determine whether or not arrival is possible by the scheduled time in step S11 as described above in the time comparison and determination unit 26 in FIG.
[0062]
If it is determined in step S11 that the arrival is not possible by the scheduled time, the arrival guidance process within the scheduled time shown in FIG. 4 is performed (step S12). This process can be performed by the arrival guidance processing unit 30 within the scheduled time in FIG. If it is determined in step S11 that the vehicle can arrive by the scheduled time, the process proceeds to step S13 without performing such processing, and it is determined whether or not the vehicle has arrived at the destination (step S13). When it has not arrived at the ground, the process returns to step S7 again, and the processing, calculation, etc. are performed every predetermined time or every predetermined distance. Such an operation is continued, and it is continuously determined in step S11 that the vehicle can arrive by the scheduled time. When the vehicle arrives at the destination, the operation flow of the destination arrival prediction guidance process without performing step S12 Is terminated (step S14).
[0063]
As shown in FIG. 4, the scheduled arrival time arrival guidance process of step S12 determines whether or not the current guidance route is a highway use priority. In other words, when it is impossible to arrive by the desired arrival time, a higher fee is required, but a highway is used as a means for arriving at the destination earlier. However, in the case of a route calculated in a manner that uses a highway as the guidance route that is currently running, the use of the highway has already been taken into consideration, so the subsequent guidance using the highway is not performed, and the step Proceeding to S38, it is determined whether or not a warning delayed from the scheduled time is output.
[0064]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S31 that the current guidance route is not a highway usage priority, it is determined whether or not there is a new highway usage guidance route to the destination (step S31). S32). As a result of the determination, when it is determined that it does not exist, the process proceeds to step S38 as in step S31. If it is determined that the new guide route exists, it is determined whether or not the new guide route can arrive earlier than the current guide route (step S33). These determinations are made in the new guidance route search unit 32 of FIG.
[0065]
If it is determined in step S33 that there is a new highway route that can arrive earlier than the current route, the highway is used because it is unlikely that the route will arrive at the scheduled time, or is expensive. A signal for selecting whether or not to use the expressway is output to the user because it is not preferable to pay the expressway charge (step S34). This processing is performed in the expressway availability inquiry input / output unit 33 in FIG. 1, and for the user, for example, as shown in FIG. 6 (c), “The running pace is delayed. Use the expressway. Is displayed, and the user can select the “YES” and “NO” displayed there by selecting with a cursor or the like.
[0066]
Thereafter, it is determined whether or not there is an input to use the expressway (step S35), and if there is an input to use, then a new guide route using the expressway is displayed (step S36). Next, the dummy mark is displayed at the current position (step S37). That is, since the new guide route can arrive within the desired arrival time at the current position within the desired arrival time, the dummy mark is displayed on the opposite side of the destination centering on the current point. Shows an example in which a dummy mark is fixed and displayed at the current location in the same manner as the dummy mark display of the departure place. Here, the dummy mark can be displayed at a corresponding position behind the current location, including the guidance route from the previous departure location.
[0067]
The display state as described above is shown in FIG. 7A. A dummy D is superimposed on the current position G. From this point to the destination P, the interchange aIC enters the highway H, and the interchange bIC. A new guide route for getting off the highway H is shown. In the example of Fig. 7 (a), a new guidance route using the expressway is set and the guidance along the route will be shown. Is displayed.
[0068]
Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S13 in FIG. 2, and the above process is repeated until the destination is reached. Further, in the determination of whether or not to output a warning to delay the scheduled time in step S38, for example, when the user has previously set whether or not to output such a warning In addition, a predetermined time delay such as 10 minutes after the desired time of arrival at the destination is set in advance, and a warning is issued when the occurrence of the time delay is detected. Perform the operation. If it is determined that a warning is output as a result of the determination, a warning is output to that effect (step S39).
[0069]
When it is determined in step S38 that the warning is not output, the process proceeds to step S40, and the processing from step S13 in FIG. 2 is performed. Further, when there is an input indicating that the expressway is not used in step S35, the process proceeds to step S40 and the above operation is repeated. In the determination in step S35, since it is already displayed in step S34 that the user is unlikely to arrive by the scheduled time, the warning output in step S39 is not performed. .
[0070]
In the present invention, in addition to the above-described embodiments, for example, VICS data is input to calculate the estimated arrival time at the destination more accurately, or a new guidance route is calculated using the VICS data. It can be implemented in various modes such as setting.
[0071]
【The invention's effect】
A navigation device according to the present invention includes a guidance route calculation unit that calculates a guidance route from a current position to a destination, a destination arrival time capture unit that captures data related to a desired time of arrival at the destination, and the destination Required travel position calculation means for calculating the position on the guide route that is currently required to travel at the desired arrival time at predetermined intervals, and the position calculated by the required travel position calculation means is marked together with the current position This means that when traveling along the guidance route, it is necessary to mark which point you are currently traveling in order to arrive at the destination by the desired time. Is it possible to display the current driving state due to the positional relationship on the guidance route with the current position mark display, or is it difficult to arrive by the desired time? It is possible to easily identify.
[0072]
In the navigation device according to the present invention, in the navigation device, the data related to the desired time to arrive at the destination is the desired arrival time or the desired required time to the destination. When inputting the desired time, the data can be input in various modes according to the user's request.
[0073]
In the navigation device according to the present invention, the predetermined interval for performing the calculation by the necessary travel position calculation means is set to a predetermined time or a predetermined travel distance in the navigation device. The required travel position calculation data can be updated in this manner.
[0074]
The navigation device according to the present invention further includes an estimated arrival time calculating means for calculating an estimated time of arrival at the destination from the currently traveling point in the navigation device, and the display means calculates the calculated time. Since the estimated arrival time is displayed, it is possible to easily know when to arrive at the destination at the current traveling point.
[0075]
Further, another navigation device according to the present invention comprises a calculation means for calculating a distance from the current traveling point to the mark display position or a required traveling time in the navigation device, and the display means Since the calculated distance or travel time is displayed, the distance from the current travel point to the point necessary for arriving at the desired time at the current point in time or travel time is displayed. It is easy to know.
[0076]
Another navigation apparatus according to the present invention includes a determination means for determining whether or not the destination can be reached at the desired time in the navigation apparatus, and from the current position on the guidance route to the destination. A new guidance route search means for searching for a new guidance route using the expressway by the guidance route calculation means, and when the judgment means judges that it cannot arrive at the desired time, the new guidance route Since the driving guidance is performed along the new guide route searched by the search means, when the destination cannot be reached by the desired time, the guide route using the expressway is automatically searched and the user The appropriate guidance route is automatically presented without any special operation.
[0077]
In addition, another navigation device according to the present invention is the above-mentioned navigation device, in which when the search for a new guidance route using the expressway, the user is asked whether to use the expressway or not, whether to use the expressway. Since the matching means is provided, use or non-use of the expressway can be selected according to the user's request.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an operation flow diagram for performing destination arrival prediction guidance processing in the embodiment;
FIG. 3 is an operation flowchart of a portion for performing a dummy mark movement display process in the operation flow;
FIG. 4 is an operation flow diagram of a part that performs arrival guidance processing within a scheduled time in the same operation flow.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a display example of a monitor screen in the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another display example of the monitor screen in the same embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing still another display example of the monitor screen in the same embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 System controller
3 Vehicle position detector
4 Destination input section
5 Instruction signal input section
6 Image output section
8 Map data import section
10 Dummy mark display processing section
11 Dummy mark display position switching part
12 Predetermined position display processing unit
13 Moving display processing unit
14 Destination arrival time capture section
15 Current time reading part
16 Predetermined time / distance progress detector
17 Map data reading part
18 Necessary travel position calculator for arrival at desired time
20 Current position reading part
21 Guide route calculator
22 Guide route memory
23 Position comparison discriminator
24 Expected arrival time calculator
25 Expected arrival time output section
26 Time comparison discriminator
27 Delay detection section from dummy
30 Arrival guidance processing section within the scheduled time
31 Current guide route high-speed use discriminator
32 New guidance route search section
33 Expressway availability inquiry input / output section
34 New guidance route display instruction section
35 Scheduled time delay warning output enable / disable discriminator
36 Warning output section

Claims (7)

A guide route calculating means for calculating the guide route from the current position to the destination;
Destination arrival time capture means for capturing data relating to the desired arrival time at the destination;
A required travel position calculating means for calculating a position on the guide route that is currently required to travel in order to arrive at the desired destination arrival time at predetermined intervals;
A navigation device, comprising: a display means for displaying the position calculated by the necessary travel position calculation means with a mark together with the current position. 2. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data regarding the desired time of arrival at the destination is a desired arrival time or a desired required time to the destination. 2. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined interval for performing the calculation by the necessary travel position calculation means is a predetermined time or a predetermined travel distance. Provided with an estimated arrival time calculating means for calculating an estimated time to arrive at the destination from the current traveling point,
The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the display unit displays the calculated estimated arrival time. Computation means for computing the distance from the current traveling point to the mark display position, or the traveling time required,
The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the display unit displays the calculated distance or the required travel time. Discriminating means for discriminating whether or not the destination can be reached at the desired time;
A new guide route search means for searching for a new guide route using the expressway from the current position to the destination during the guide route traveling by the guide route calculation means,
2. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the determination unit determines that the vehicle cannot arrive at the desired time, the travel guidance is performed along the new guidance route searched by the new guidance route search unit. . 7. The navigation apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a highway availability inquiry means for inquiring a user whether or not to use the highway when searching for a new guidance route using the highway. .

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