JP2003279369A - Vehicle navigation system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] To estimate a realistic recommended departure time in consideration of congestion information to a destination even when a drive plan for one week ahead is made by a vehicle navigation device. Kind Code: A1 An input device is configured to record, on the optical disc in advance, average passing speed information corresponding to a statistical congestion degree for each day and time zone for each road in map information pre-recorded on the optical disc. When a departure point, a destination, and a target arrival time according to the drive plan are input by the user 16, each of the input target arrival time of the drive and each road read from the departure point to the destination is read from the optical disk 13. Based on the distance information for each road and the average passing speed information of the corresponding day of the week and time zone read from the table in the same optical disk 13, the time required to pass from the destination to the departure point is calculated. At the same time, the required transit time is subtracted from the target arrival time and displayed on the display device 14 as a recommended departure time.

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle navigation system. 2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a car navigation system is a C
The map information is stored in advance in storage means such as a D-ROM, and the current position of the vehicle is determined by GPS (Global Positioning System).
The position of the vehicle is displayed on a display together with a map of the surrounding area where the vehicle travels, while being detected by position detection means such as tem). In this car navigation device,
The driver can set the route to the destination by himself / herself, or the device automatically sets the route to the set destination according to the position of the vehicle. Some have. Further, recently, ATIS (Advanced
Traffic Information Service) or VICS
Some systems that provide real-time traffic information, such as (Vehicle Information and Communication System), have been realized. [0005] These traffic information providing systems respond to real-time traffic information such as traffic congestion information, accident information, and road closure information collected by a traffic information center using communication means such as a mobile phone, FM multiplexing, and radio beacon. This is a system for sending to a car navigation device having a receiving device. The car navigation device processes the received data and displays on a map roads in traffic jams, road closure information, accident information, and the like. [0006] However, the above-mentioned V
The congestion information provided by ICS or ATIS is information on the current congestion based on the current traffic conditions. That is, this V
With ICS and ATIS, it is possible to obtain the current congestion situation, but it is not possible to obtain, for example, congestion information one week ahead. That is, for a set route to a destination,
It is conceivable to predict the time required to pass the traffic by taking into account the congestion information. However, since the VICS and ATIS can only obtain the current congestion information,
For example, when planning a drive one week ahead, it is not possible to predict the transit time taking into account congestion information corresponding to the set route to the destination at that time, which is inconvenient in determining departure time etc. Occurs. [0008] Further, VICS and ATIS may have a limited reception area, and congestion information cannot be obtained outside the reception area. Furthermore, traffic congestion information provided by these systems is expected to be limited to highways and highways due to restrictions on the information transfer speed of communication means. For this reason, even when estimating the transit time corresponding to the set route to the destination at the present time, if the set route includes an area (road) outside the information provision range, the estimating calculation of the transit time is performed. You cannot do it. In order to use information obtained by VICS or ATIS in a car navigation device,
Since a dedicated receiver is required, there is a problem that the in-vehicle device becomes complicated and cost increases. Note that the legal speed for each road is stored in advance in the storage device of the car navigation device without using the VICS or ATIS, thereby obtaining the section distance for each road corresponding to the set route to the destination. It is possible to estimate the transit time based on the traffic speed and its legal speed, but this method cannot reflect the congestion situation in the calculation at all, so the transit time and arrival There is a problem that the time and recommended departure time cannot be predicted. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems. For example, even when making a drive plan one week ahead, a realistic recommended departure time taking into account congestion information to a destination is predicted. It is an object of the present invention to provide a navigation device for a vehicle, which enables the vehicle. That is, in the vehicle navigation apparatus according to the present invention, the map information including the road information and the congestion status for each road in the map information are stored in the storage means in advance. When a departure point and a destination according to the drive plan and at least a target arrival time at the destination are input by the input means, the control means corresponds to each road between the departure point and the destination in the input drive plan information. Based on the road information read from the storage means and the corresponding congestion information for each road, a recommended departure time for the vehicle to arrive at the destination at the target arrival time is obtained. It is displayed on the display means. Therefore, it is possible to predict a recommended departure time for the vehicle to arrive at the destination at the target arrival time at the planning stage of the drive. Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a vehicle navigation device according to one embodiment of the present invention. This vehicular navigation device comprises a microcomputer 11 as a main part.
The information recorded on the optical disk 13 is read into the microcomputer 11 via the optical disk drive 12. The microcomputer 11 includes, in addition to the optical disk drive 12, a display device 14, a GPS
The receiving device 15 and the input device 16 are connected. On the optical disk 13, for example, nationwide map information and road information having distance information between both ends of each road or latitude and longitude information of both ends of each road included in the map information are recorded in advance. A congestion degree prediction table (see FIG. 2) in which a statistical congestion degree for each day of the week / time for each road in the map information is previously recorded on the optical disc 13, and a vehicle corresponding to the congestion degree is recorded. The congestion degree conversion table (see FIG. 3) for obtaining the average speed is recorded in advance. The GPS receiver 15 detects the current position of the vehicle, and the microcomputer 11 is notified of the current position information detected by the GPS receiver 15. The input device 16 inputs, for example, an intermediate route from the departure place to the destination by designating each road included in the route for each section, and inputs a departure date and an arrival target date and time. , Drive plan information, and the microcomputer 11 is notified of drive plan information and the like input by the input device 16. That is, in the vehicle navigation device, a map of an arbitrary place is displayed on the screen of the display device 14 based on the map information read from the optical disk 13 in accordance with a program stored in the ROM of the microcomputer 11 in advance. Display, and also calculates the current position of the vehicle based on the satellite signal information received by the GPS receiver 15,
The current position is displayed on the map on the display screen. Further, taking into account the congestion degree prediction data read from the congestion degree prediction table (see FIG. 2) and the congestion degree conversion table (see FIG. 3) recorded on the optical disk 13,
Based on the road information corresponding to the input route to the destination, the time required to pass to the destination, the arrival time, and the like are calculated and displayed on the screen of the display device 14. The congestion degree prediction table (see FIG. 2) recorded on the optical disk 13 is created in accordance with, for example, the statistical congestion degree for each season, day of the week, and hour for which information was collected on roads nationwide in the previous year. You. FIG. 2 is a view showing an example of a congestion degree prediction table corresponding to a certain road section recorded on the optical disk 13 of the vehicle navigation apparatus. This congestion degree prediction table is a table format of numerical values (congestion degree) indicating the degree of congestion in the corresponding road section for each day of the week and time zone. The congestion degree is a numerical value obtained by dividing the speed at which a car flows into different stages. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a congestion degree conversion table corresponding to a certain road section recorded together with the congestion degree prediction table on the optical disk 13 of the vehicular navigation apparatus. This congestion degree conversion table is a table format showing the relationship between the congestion degree of a certain road section and the vehicle speed in the road section indicated by the congestion degree prediction table, and corresponds to five stages of congestion degrees. Speed range and its average speed are given. That is, the congestion degree estimation table and the congestion degree conversion table are recorded on the optical disc 13 for a map in a certain range, for example, all road sections in "Kanto whole area". The congestion degree prediction table and congestion degree conversion table recorded on the optical disk 13 are recorded in advance by a congestion degree prediction data acquisition system prepared separately from the vehicle navigation apparatus. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a congestion degree prediction data obtaining system for recording a congestion degree prediction table and a congestion degree conversion table on the optical disk 13 of the vehicle navigation apparatus. This congestion degree prediction data obtaining system is, for example, an information storage device 1 which stores congestion degree prediction data for each road section in the whole country in the form of a congestion degree prediction table.
7. an optical disk drive 18 for recording the congestion degree prediction data stored in the information storage device 17 on the optical disk 13; an information selection device 19 for selecting data (region, road level, etc.) necessary for recording; And an information processing device 20 for performing information search / read / write control. The congestion degree prediction data stored in the information storage device 17 is classified into certain areas such as "Kanto" and "East Japan", and is classified into "April", "July to August", "Golden Week period". ”And the like are stored for each period. That is, the user selects the required congestion degree prediction data for the required area and the required period, and records the information on the optical disk 13. The congestion degree prediction data is, for example, ATIS
And information of a real-time traffic information management system such as VICS and accumulates the statistics for each day of the week or for each time. Specifically, the average speed at which vehicles on the road are flowing is measured. The congestion degree is converted into a congestion degree in the speed range in the congestion degree conversion table corresponding to the average speed to obtain congestion degree prediction data in five stages. Next, the operation of the vehicular navigation device having the above configuration will be described. FIG. 5 is a view showing a screen display state of the display device 14 during the required time calculation processing of the vehicular navigation device. FIG. 5A shows the input of a departure place / destination / scheduled departure time. FIG. 7B is a diagram showing a display state, and FIG. 7B is a diagram showing a display state of required passage time / expected arrival time / intermediate expected passage time. FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the required time calculation processing of the vehicle navigation device. That is, when the operation mode of the vehicle navigation device is set to the required time calculation mode by operating the input device 16, the display device 14 is displayed on the display device 14 as shown in FIG. A screen for requesting input of drive plan information such as ground / scheduled departure time / route setting is displayed. According to the screen display for requesting input of drive plan information, for example, the departure place "Yokohama", the destination "Izukogen", the scheduled departure day "Sunday", and the scheduled departure time "5: 0"
When "0" is input and the route from the departure point to the destination is set, the required time calculation processing in FIG. 6 is started. First, from the end on the departure side included in the set route to the destination, the congestion degree data corresponding to the scheduled departure day “Sunday” and the time “5:00” in the one road section (in this case, “ 3) is read from the congestion degree prediction table (see FIG. 2) of the corresponding road section recorded on the optical disc 13 (step S1). Then, according to the congestion degree conversion table (see FIG. 3) recorded on the optical disk 13, the congestion degree data “3” in the one road section is calculated based on the average passing speed in the corresponding road section (in this case, “50 km / 50 km / h ”) (step S2). Further, the section distance in the one road section is read from the road information recorded on the optical disc 13 (step S3). Then, based on the average passage speed according to the degree of congestion in the one road section read in the step S2 and the section distance in the same road section read in the step S3, the required time for the passage is calculated. (Step S4). Then, the required transit time in one road section calculated in step S4 is added to the total required transit time up to one road section before the departure point calculated based on the previous section calculation. The total required transit time to the end on the destination side in the current calculation section is obtained (step S5). Thereafter, the required time calculation processing for each road section in the above steps S1 to S5 is repeated, and the total required travel time at the end on the destination side is sequentially updated and obtained. As shown in (B), the required transit time “4h” from the departure point “Yokohama” to the destination “Izukogen” is calculated and displayed, and the required transit time “4h” is calculated as the scheduled departure time “5: 00 ”
It is displayed as the expected arrival time “9:00”. In this case, at the lower end of the display screen, the passing time at a typical midway passing point is displayed together. Therefore, for example, even when making a drive plan one week ahead, it is possible to calculate the required transit time in consideration of the congestion information to the destination, and to estimate the arrival at the destination that is realistic at the drive planning stage. Time and the like can be obtained. The congestion degree of each road section may use data of the estimated time of passage on the road. In the above-described calculation processing of the required transit time from the departure point to the destination, the departure point is input by a user operation, but the current position detected by the GPS receiver 15 is set as the departure point. May be. That is, during actual driving, the vehicle position information obtained from the GPS receiving device 15 is automatically set as a starting point, and a calendar and a clock are built in the vehicle navigation device. By automatically setting the day and time data obtained from the calendar and the clock as the departure date and the departure time, the user only needs to set the route from the current location to the destination,
The time required to pass to the destination and the estimated arrival time are calculated according to the same required time calculation algorithm as described above. For example, as shown in FIG.
4 will be displayed. In this case, the same calculation processing as described above is performed at regular time intervals, for example, at intervals of 10 minutes.
The estimated arrival time to the destination may be updated and displayed one by one. When calculating the required time to the destination during the drive, the ATIS or VI
A receiving device corresponding to CS may be provided, and the estimated arrival time may be calculated by preferentially using congestion degree data based on real-time congestion information obtained thereby. That is, it is conceivable that the set route to the destination is included in an area where the real-time traffic information cannot be obtained in a certain road section. In this case, the real-time information is obtained in the road section where the real-time information is obtained. A more accurate calculation of the required transit time is performed according to the congestion degree data based on the traffic congestion information, and a statistical congestion read from a congestion degree prediction table recorded on the optical disc 13 in a road section where the real-time information cannot be obtained. It is sufficient to calculate the required transit time according to the degree data. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a required time calculation process using real-time traffic information during driving by the vehicle navigation device. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a required time calculation state for each road section using real-time traffic information during driving by the vehicle navigation device. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a display state of an estimated arrival time associated with a required time calculation process using real-time traffic information during driving by the vehicle navigation device. In other words, if the start of calculation of the required transit time is instructed while the route to the destination is set during driving, the current position of the vehicle is detected by the GPS receiver 15, and the setting to the destination is performed. One road section including the current position of the vehicle is selected from the route (steps A1 and A2). Then, it is determined whether or not real-time congestion information corresponding to the selected road section is obtained in a receiving device (not shown) such as ATIS or VICS (step A3). If it is determined in step A3 that the real-time congestion information corresponding to the one road section has not been obtained, the section distance corresponding to the one road section read out as road information from the optical disc 13; Based on the congestion degree data corresponding to the current day of the week / time in the one road section read from the congestion degree prediction table, the time required for passing through the one road section is calculated (step A3 → A4a). On the other hand, in step A3,
When it is determined that the real-time congestion information corresponding to the road section is obtained, the section distance corresponding to the one road section read as road information from the optical disc 13 and the receiving device such as the ATIS or VICS (FIG. Based on the real-time congestion information corresponding to the one road section received at step (not shown), the time required for passing through the one road section is calculated (step A3 → A4b). Then, the required transit time corresponding to one road section calculated in step A4a or step A4b is the total required transit time up to one road section before the current position calculated based on the previous section calculation. And the total required transit time to the end on the destination side in the current calculation section is obtained (step A5). Then, it is determined whether or not the destination is included in one road section targeted for the current required time calculation processing, that is, whether or not the total required travel time from the current position to the destination has been calculated. (Step A6). Here, if it is determined that the destination is not included in the one road section targeted for the current required time calculation process and the total required travel time to the destination is not obtained, the destination is determined. The next one road section is selected from among the set routes up to, and in the same manner as described above, the calculation processing of the required transit time corresponding to the one road section and the total required transit time to the destination side end of the one road section Is repeated (steps A6 → A7, A3). As described above, the required time calculation processing for each road section corresponding to the set route from the current position of the vehicle detected by the GPS receiver 15 to the destination is performed by real-time congestion information and statistical congestion degree information. In the state where the calculation is repeatedly performed by the combination, in step A6, it is determined that the destination is included in one road section targeted for the current required time calculation processing, and that the total required travel time to the destination is obtained. Then, the series of required time calculation processing ends (step A6 → END). Then, the calculated total required time to pass to the destination is added to the current time to calculate the estimated arrival time, and for example, as shown in FIG. Will be done. Therefore, when a route is set along with departure to the destination, the latest congestion information is actively used even if the set route is partially outside the area where the real-time congestion information can be obtained. As a result, it is possible to calculate a more accurate required transit time in real time during driving, and to display the estimated arrival time and the like. In the above embodiment, the required transit time corresponding to the set route to the destination is calculated, and the calculated required transit time is added to the input departure time to obtain an estimated arrival time. For example, it is displayed as shown in FIG. 5B or FIG. 9, for example, as shown in FIG.
The required time calculation process is started by inputting the target arrival time for the destination in advance, and the calculation process for each road section is performed from the destination side to the departure side, and the required time obtained thereby is calculated from the target arrival time. It may be configured to subtract and display as the recommended departure time. In the above embodiment, the congestion degree prediction table is recorded on the optical disk 13 for all road sections included in a certain range of map information. However, for example, the congestion degree changes with time. The data format may be recorded differently between a road section and a road section that does not change. That is, for a road where the congestion degree does not change depending on the season or time, the legal speed of the road is recorded, and the congestion degree prediction table is recorded only for the road where the congestion degree changes, so that the optical disc 1 can be used as congestion information.
3, the total amount of data to be recorded can be reduced. In the above-described embodiment, the numerical data indicating the congestion degree recorded as the congestion degree prediction table has five levels from 1 to 5, but may be classified in more detail. It may be divided into stages. In this case, the calculation process of the required transit time and the arrival time can be performed more accurately. The congestion degree prediction table includes:
For each road section, the passing average speed itself for each day of the week and for each hour may be recorded. In this case, the required transit time can be calculated based on the distance of the corresponding one road section and the average transit speed without the need for the congestion degree conversion table (see FIG. 3), so that the calculation time can be reduced. Further, in the above embodiment, the required travel time is calculated based on the distance of the target road and the passing speed according to the degree of congestion. May be stored, and sequentially added along the set route to obtain the total required time. In the above embodiment, the arrival time calculation or the recommended departure time calculation is performed after the number of routes is reduced to one. Can be calculated, and this can be displayed on one screen. That is, as shown in FIG. 11, a number of intermediate route candidates are provisionally set by automatic search or manual input from the departure place and the destination, and the arrival time or the recommended departure time is calculated for each route candidate. And present it to the user. Thus, the user can select a route with reference to the arrival time or the recommended departure time displayed on the display. As described above, according to the vehicular navigation apparatus according to the present invention, the map information including the road information and the congestion status for each road in the map information are stored in the storage means in advance. When the input means inputs a departure point and a destination according to the drive plan and at least a target arrival time at the destination, the control means responds to each road between the departure point and the destination in the input drive plan information. A recommended departure time for the vehicle to arrive at the destination at the target arrival time is determined based on the road information read from the storage unit and the corresponding congestion information for each road,
This recommended departure time is displayed on the display means. Therefore, for example, even when making a drive plan one week ahead, it is possible to predict a realistic recommended departure time in consideration of the congestion information to the destination.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a vehicle navigation device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a congestion degree prediction table corresponding to a certain road section recorded on an optical disc of the vehicular navigation device. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a congestion degree conversion table corresponding to a certain road section recorded together with a congestion degree prediction table on the optical disc of the vehicular navigation device. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a congestion degree prediction data obtaining system for recording a congestion degree prediction table and a congestion degree conversion table on an optical disc of the vehicular navigation device. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a screen display state of the display device during the required time calculation processing of the vehicle navigation device, and FIG. 5A shows an input display state of a departure place / destination / scheduled departure time. FIG. 3B is a diagram showing a display state of required passage time / expected arrival time / intermediate passing expected time. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a required time calculation process of the vehicle navigation device. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a required time calculation process using real-time traffic information during driving by the vehicle navigation device. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a required time calculation state for each road section using real-time traffic information during driving by the vehicle navigation device. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a display state of an estimated arrival time associated with a required time calculation process using real-time traffic information during driving by the vehicle navigation device. FIG. 10 is a graph showing a required time required for the vehicle navigation device to calculate a required time based on a target arrival time.
The figure which shows the display state of recommended departure time / recommended halfway time. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a display state of each expected arrival time corresponding to a plurality of routes associated with a required time calculation process of the vehicle navigation device. [Description of References] 11 ... microcomputer, 12 ... optical disk drive, 13 ... optical disk, 14 ... display device, 15 ...
GPS receiver, 16 input device, 17 information storage device, 18 optical disk drive device, 19 information selection device, 20 information processing device.

   ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page    (72) Inventor Akiko Wachi             No. 1 Komukai Toshiba-cho, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa             Toshiba R & D Center (72) Inventor Kazuo Watanabe             8 Shinsugita-cho, Isogo-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa             Toshiba Yokohama Office (72) Inventor Hiroshi Kashiwara             8 Shinsugita-cho, Isogo-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa             Toshiba Yokohama Office (72) Inventor Maho Kuwahara             No. 1 Komukai Toshiba-cho, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa             Toshiba Microelectronics             Inside F term (reference) 2C032 HB22 HB23 HB24 HC08 HC27                       HD03 HD04 HD16 HD23                 2F029 AA02 AB07 AB13 AC02 AC06                       AC08 AC09 AC14 AC16 AC20                 5H180 AA01 BB13 BB15 EE02 FF01                       FF05 FF12 FF22 FF27 FF40

Claims (1)

Claims: 1. A map based on at least the map information can be displayed by using storage means in which map information including road information and congestion status for each road in the map information are stored in advance. Input means for inputting drive plan information including a departure point, a destination, and at least a target arrival time at a destination; and a drive plan information input by the input means. A method for the vehicle to reach the destination at the target arrival time based on the road information read from the storage means and the corresponding congestion information for each road, corresponding to each road between the departure point and the destination. Control means for obtaining a recommended departure time and displaying the recommended departure time on the display means.