JP2009092665A - Information processor, control method of information processor, computer program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the convenience of a route searching device for searching routes using an electronic map. <P>SOLUTION: Communication navigation devices and a server of a service center are connected through the Internet to constitute a communication navigation system. A plurality of communication navigation devices are group-registered in the server. The communication navigation devices and the server automatically set a meeting place using the present positional information of the plurality of communication navigation devices. A moving locus of a leading vehicle A is displayed on following vehicles B, C. A via-point is specified from the leading vehicle A to the following vehicles B, C. When predetermined release conditions are fulfilled, the group registration of the leading vehicle and following vehicles is released. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to information processing for route guidance using electronic map data.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, navigation devices that perform route search and route guidance from a current location or a departure location to a destination using electronic map data have become widespread. In recent years, with a communication function, it is possible to acquire various service information such as store guidance and sightseeing guidance from a predetermined server via the Internet, or to acquire road traffic information from a predetermined relay station, So-called communication navigation devices are also widespread. Also, with regard to communication navigation devices, when going out touring in a group, etc., a technology for communicating with each other directly or via a predetermined server to grasp each other's position and trend It has been proposed (for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).

JP 2000-35337 A JP 2002-62147 A

  However, for example, the meeting place before the touring departure is conventionally determined sensuously by consulting with each other of the touring members, and each user of the navigation apparatus individually sets the meeting place as the destination. Also, various functions during touring were not necessarily sufficient. In other words, there is room for further improvement regarding the convenience of the navigation device, particularly the communication navigation device that communicates with each other. Such a problem is not limited to the communication navigation device, but information such as a server that provides information to the communication navigation device and a personal computer that includes application software for performing various information processing for route guidance using electronic map data. The same applies to the processing apparatus.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique for improving the convenience of an information processing apparatus that performs predetermined information processing for route guidance using an electronic map. To do.

In order to solve at least a part of the above-described problems, the present invention employs the following configuration.
The first information processing apparatus of the present invention
An information processing apparatus that performs predetermined information processing for route guidance using electronic map data,
An electronic map data storage unit for storing the electronic map data;
A position information acquisition unit for acquiring departure position information indicating positions of a plurality of departure points;
A meeting place setting unit that refers to the electronic map data and sets a predetermined meeting place under a predetermined condition set in advance based on the plurality of departure position information;
It is a summary to provide.

  By doing this, it is possible to set an appropriate meeting place from a plurality of departure places without consulting with a plurality of people and sensibly determining a meeting place. As a result, the convenience of the information processing apparatus can be improved. The electronic map data only needs to be able to specify coordinate values such as a departure place and a meeting place. The setting of the meeting place can be performed, for example, by obtaining the midpoint, the center of gravity, and the like by geometric calculation using the coordinate value of each departure place. Further, when the electronic map data includes so-called route search data such as node data, link data, and link cost data, route search by a method such as Dijkstra method may be used.

  The meeting place may be set as a meeting place under predetermined conditions, but it is preferable to set a place other than the starting place. By doing this, it is possible to set the meeting place by effectively using the position information of the plurality of departure places.

In the information processing apparatus, various conditions can be set as the “predetermined condition”.
The predetermined condition may include a condition in which distances from the departure places to the meeting place are approximately the same. “The distances are about the same” may mean that the linear distances are about the same, or the distance when the route search is performed using the route search data may be about the same.

  Further, the predetermined condition may include a condition that the required time from each departure place to the meeting place is approximately the same. The required time can be obtained by route search using route search data.

  By doing so, it is possible to avoid unfairness in the distance and required time from each departure place to the meeting place regarding the setting of the meeting place.

In the first information processing apparatus of the present invention,
A destination position information acquisition unit for acquiring destination position information indicating the position of the destination;
The meeting place setting unit may further set the meeting place in consideration of the destination position information.

  "Considering target position information" can take various forms. For example, the destination may be handled in the same way as the departure place and the meeting place may be set. In addition, for example, the meeting place may be set by changing the weights of both, such as (distance from the departure place to the meeting place) :( distance from the meeting place to the destination) = 1: 2. Further, the meeting place may be set within a predetermined distance from the destination. Further, for each departure place, the meeting place may be set so that the angle formed by the direction from the starting place to the destination and the direction from the starting place to the meeting place is within 90 °. Further, the departure place closest to the destination may be set as the meeting place.

  In this way, the meeting place can be set so that the movement from the departure place to the meeting place and the movement from the meeting place to the destination can be performed efficiently.

In the first information processing apparatus of the present invention,
A meeting place data storage unit for storing meeting place data relating to a facility suitable for the meeting place;
The meeting place setting unit may further set the meeting place based on the meeting place data.

  When meeting with a plurality of people, for example, a public facility such as a station or a park, a coffee shop, or a restaurant is often selected as the meeting place. In addition, a parking space is required when gathering by car. In the present invention, the meeting place data storage unit stores the meeting place data related to the facility suitable for the meeting place as described above, so that a more appropriate meeting place can be set. In this case, for example, a method of selecting a meeting place close to a spot set under conditions such as “same distance” and “same time required” from the meeting place data can be employed.

  In the information processing apparatus, the meeting place setting unit extracts a plurality of candidate places for the meeting place from the meeting place data so that a user can select from the plurality of candidate places. Also good.

  By doing so, the user's intention can be reflected in the setting of the meeting place.

In the first information processing apparatus of the present invention, the plurality of departure position information may be manually input by a user, for example.
The position information acquisition unit may acquire current position information indicating the current position as the departure position information from a moving body including a position detection device that detects the current position via a predetermined network.

  In this specification, the “moving body” includes various things such as a vehicle, a ship, an aircraft, and a person. In addition, the “moving body including the position detection device” includes, for example, a navigation device, a mobile phone, a portable information terminal, and the like. These devices may or may not have a route search function. According to the present invention, current location information can be acquired through communication with each mobile unit, and a meeting place can be set based on the current location information.

In the above information processing apparatus,
A road traffic information acquisition unit that acquires the road traffic information from a predetermined transmitting station that transmits the road traffic information,
The meeting place setting unit may further set the meeting place in consideration of the road traffic information.

  Examples of “road traffic information” include travel time, traffic congestion, traffic regulation, and the like. The meeting place setting unit can set the meeting place by evaluating the required time and travel distance to the candidate place of the meeting place based on such information. According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress a difference in arrival time from each departure place to the meeting place.

In the first information processing apparatus of the present invention,
You may make it provide the transmission part which transmits the collection position information which shows the position of the said collection place to a predetermined mobile body via a predetermined network.

  Examples of the “predetermined moving body” include a moving body corresponding to each departure place and a moving body registered in advance as a group. In the case where the position information acquisition unit acquires the current position information from the moving body, the moving body that has acquired the current position information may be a “predetermined moving body”. According to the present invention, a meeting place can be notified to a predetermined moving body. When each mobile body includes a route search device, each route search device can display a meeting place or perform a route search from the departure place to the meeting place.

In the information processing apparatus,
The transmission unit may further transmit the plurality of departure position information acquired by the position information acquisition unit.

  By doing so, for example, it is possible to notify each moving body of the departure place of the fellow who is waiting.

The second information processing apparatus of the present invention
An information processing apparatus that performs predetermined information processing for route guidance using electronic map data,
An electronic map data storage unit for storing route search data for route search;
A position information acquisition unit that acquires the current position information indicating the current position of one moving body via a predetermined network, and acquires the current position information of another moving body registered in advance in a time series,
A destination setting unit for setting a destination in response to an instruction from the one moving body or the other moving body;
A route search unit that performs a route search from the current position of the one mobile unit to the destination with reference to the route search data;
Prior to the route search, based on the current position information acquired in time series, a transmission unit that transmits a movement locus of the other moving body to the one moving body;
It is a summary to provide.

  The route search result by the route search unit is not necessarily the most appropriate route. For example, when there is a leading vehicle (other moving body) driven by a person familiar with the so-called back road during group touring, the following vehicle (one moving body) is more likely to follow the route search result than to follow the route search result. The person who follows the car can often move smoothly. According to the present invention, a route that is more convenient than route search can be used in one mobile unit. As a result, the convenience of the information processing apparatus can be improved.

  Note that “prioritize over route search” includes the meanings of “prioritize the result after route search” and “do not perform route search”. That is, for example, the transmission unit may perform a route search, compare the result with the movement locus, and then preferentially transmit the movement locus, or transmit the movement locus without performing the route search. You may do it. Furthermore, when a route search is performed, the transmission unit may transmit both the route search result and the movement trajectory. In this case, it is only necessary to transmit data that can highlight the movement locus on the one moving body side, such as making the line thicker or changing the color.

In the above information processing apparatus,
A moving track storage unit that stores a moving track of at least one of the one moving body and the other moving body;
The transmission unit further transmits the movement trajectory of the one moving body or the other moving body stored in the movement trajectory storage unit in response to a request from the one moving body or the other moving body. You may do it.

  The movement locus storage unit sequentially stores the current position information of at least one of the one moving body and the other moving body acquired by the position information acquisition unit. The transmission unit may transmit the movement locus of one moving body to the one moving body according to the request content from one moving body, or may transmit the movement locus of another moving body. May be. The same applies to requests from other mobile units. In this way, each mobile unit can later use a route that cannot be obtained by a normal route search.

In the second information processing apparatus of the present invention,
After the trouble has occurred in the acquisition of the current position information of the other moving body by the position information acquisition unit, when the trouble is resolved, the route search data is referred to and the trouble before the trouble occurs. Based on the current position information of the other moving body and the current position information of the other moving body after the trouble is eliminated, the movement locus of the other moving body during the occurrence of the trouble You may make it provide the movement locus complement part which complements.

  In this way, even if the trend of the leading vehicle is temporarily unclear due to a communication failure, etc., it is possible to supplement and use the moving track of the leading vehicle during the unknown period after the trouble has been resolved. it can. Note that the “impediment” includes a mere communication impediment with other mobile objects and a down of the information processing apparatus itself.

In the second information processing apparatus of the present invention,
The transmitting unit may further transmit the current position information of the one moving body to a predetermined moving body.

  By doing so, it is possible to notify a predetermined moving body of the current position of one moving body. For example, in each car that goes out touring together, it is possible to easily grasp the movement status of each other car.

The third information processing apparatus of the present invention
An information processing apparatus that performs predetermined information processing for route guidance using electronic map data,
A registration unit that registers a plurality of mobile units to be communicated as a group in advance,
A communication unit for communicating with the plurality of mobile units;
In any one of the plurality of moving objects, when a predetermined release condition that is set in advance is satisfied, apart from a dedicated operation for releasing the moving object from the group, the moving object is A deregistration part to be removed from the group;
It is a summary to provide.

  Examples of the “dedicated operation for releasing from the group” include a button operation in a case where the mobile body includes a dedicated button for releasing the group registration. In addition, the “cancellation condition” includes, for example, that a mobile object has arrived at a common destination set in the group, that a preset time has been reached, or that one mobile object is another mobile object. For example, a new destination different from the above is input, or the distance from another moving body is more than a predetermined value. According to the present invention, when the release condition is satisfied, the group registration can be released regardless of the intention on the mobile body side.

In the above information processing apparatus,
You may make it provide the setting part for setting the said cancellation | release conditions according to the instruction | indication from the said mobile body.

  By doing so, it is possible to arbitrarily set conditions from each moving body.

In the third information processing apparatus of the present invention,
When the communication unit further has a function of transmitting current position information indicating the current position of each mobile unit,
It is preferable that the communication unit does not transmit the current position information of the moving body that satisfies the cancellation condition when the cancellation condition is satisfied.

  By doing so, privacy can be protected.

The fourth information processing apparatus of the present invention
An information processing apparatus that performs predetermined information processing for route guidance using electronic map data,
A position information acquisition unit that acquires current position information indicating a current position of a predetermined moving body via a predetermined network;
A waypoint setting unit for setting the current position as a waypoint at a timing designated from the mobile body;
A transmission unit that transmits route point information indicating the position of the route point to another mobile unit;
It is a summary to provide.

  For example, when a leading vehicle parks in a certain parking lot and then moves on foot during touring in a group, it may be desired to instruct the following vehicle to use the parking lot as a transit point. According to the present invention, a route point can be instructed from a predetermined moving body (for example, a leading vehicle) to another moving body (for example, a following vehicle). As a result, the convenience of the information processing apparatus can be improved. The present invention is particularly effective when the predetermined moving body is a detachable terminal such as a PDA.

  The present invention can also be configured as an invention of a route search device. That is, the route search device has the function of any one of the first to fourth information processing devices of the present invention described above.

  The route search device of the present invention may be a so-called in-vehicle type or a portable type. According to the present invention, the convenience of the route search apparatus can be improved as in the information processing apparatus described above. Further, in a configuration capable of communicating with other route search devices, the route search devices can directly communicate with each other without using a server or the like.

  The present invention can be configured as an invention of a control method for an information processing device and a route search device, in addition to the configuration as the information processing device and the route search device described above. Further, the present invention can be realized in various modes such as a computer program that realizes these, a recording medium that records the program, and a data signal that includes the program and is embodied in a carrier wave. In addition, in each aspect, it is possible to apply the various additional elements shown above.

  When the present invention is configured as a computer program or a recording medium on which the program is recorded, the program may be configured as an entire program for controlling operations of the information processing apparatus and the route search apparatus, and the functions of the present invention are achieved. It is good also as what comprises only a part. The recording medium includes a flexible disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a magneto-optical disk, an IC card, a ROM cartridge, a punch card, a printed matter on which a code such as a barcode is printed, a computer internal storage device (RAM or Various types of computer-readable media such as a memory such as a ROM and an external storage device can be used.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following order based on examples.
A. Communication navigation system configuration:
B. Communication navigation device:
C. server:
D. Communication navigation:
D1. Automatic location setting:
D2. Display of the trail of the leading vehicle:
D3. Complementing the movement trajectory of the lead vehicle:
D4. Directions to followers:
D5. Route guidance when returning home:
E. Variations:

A. Communication navigation system configuration:
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a communication navigation system 1000 as an embodiment of the present invention. The communication navigation system 1000 according to the present embodiment is a system that provides various services from the service center to the communication navigation apparatus via the Internet INT. In this embodiment, a case where vehicles A, B, and C equipped with communication navigation devices meet at a meeting place, and vehicle A is a leading vehicle and vehicles B and C are following vehicles, and they go out touring in a group. Explained.

  Vehicles A, B, and C are equipped with communication navigation devices 10A, 10B, and 10C, respectively. These are connected to the service center server 500 via the Internet INT. Each communication navigation device 10A, 10B, 10C can be attached to and detached from each vehicle A, B, C, and can be carried and used by a user when walking. Note that the communication navigation devices 10A, 10B, and 10C of the present embodiment are assumed to have the same function, and hereinafter, the reference numerals associated therewith are not referred to as alphabetic suffixes, and are simply referred to as the communication navigation device 10 or the like. And

  The communication navigation device 10 includes an antenna 120, a GPS antenna 130, a wireless communication device (not shown), a control unit, and the like. The communication navigation apparatus 10 detects the current position based on radio signals received from the three GPS satellites SAT1, SAT2, and SAT3 by the GPS antenna 130, and the current position information indicating the current position is transmitted from the antenna 120 via the Internet INT. To the server 500. The server 500 performs various processes to be described later using the current position information received from the communication navigation device 10 and transmits the processing result to the communication navigation device 10.

B. Communication navigation device:
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of the communication navigation device 10. The communication navigation device 10 includes a display panel 12, an operation panel 14, and a control unit 100. The communication navigation device 10 also stores a DVD-ROM drive that reads various data from a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) that holds route search data, route guidance data, and the like, route search data downloaded from the server 500, route guidance data, and the like. A hard disk 110 is provided. The route search data includes road network data such as node data, link data, and link cost data, traffic regulation data, and the like.

  The display panel 12 displays a map, character information, a user interface, a route search result, a route guidance status, and the like. The operation panel 14 inputs user instructions such as moving the cursor on the map displayed on the display panel 12, setting / changing the scale, scrolling the screen, various settings related to grouping for touring and gathering location to be described later. Is for. The operation panel 14 is provided with a button 15 that displays “return” (hereinafter referred to as “return” button). The function using the “return” button 15 will be described later. The user's instruction can be input using a remote controller (remote controller) 16. In addition, a voice input unit may be provided so that a user instruction can be input by voice.

  The configuration within the control unit 100 is also shown in the figure. The control unit 100 is configured as a microcomputer including a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like, and includes the illustrated functional blocks. Each of these functional blocks is configured by software.

  The control unit 101 controls each unit in the control unit 100. The communication unit 102 performs wireless communication with a relay station (not shown), and exchanges various data with the server 500 via the Internet INT.

  The current position detection unit 103 detects the current position based on radio signals from the GPS satellites SAT1, SAT2, and SAT3 received by the GPS antenna 130. The current position is detected by a method using DGPS (differential GPS), a method using radio waves from a radio base station such as a mobile phone or PHS, or a method using or using a gyro sensor. It is good.

  The command input unit 104 inputs a user instruction by operating the operation panel 14 or the remote controller 16.

  The electronic map data reference unit 105 refers to the route search data held by the DVD and the hard disk 110 based on the current location, the destination, and the like. The electronic map data reference unit 105 refers to route guidance data based on the route search result performed by the route search unit 106.

  The route search unit 106 uses the route search data referred to by the electronic map data reference unit 105 to perform a route search from the departure point to the destination. In this embodiment, the route search is performed by the well-known Dijkstra method. The route guidance unit 107 performs route guidance using the current location detected by the current location detection unit 103 and the route guidance data referenced by the electronic map data reference unit 105.

  The display control unit 108 controls the display screen displayed on the display panel 12.

C. server:
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of the server 500. The server 500 is a computer including a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like, and includes each functional block illustrated. Each of these functional blocks is configured by software.

  The control unit 510 controls each unit in the server 500. The communication unit 520 exchanges data with the communication navigation apparatus 10 via the Internet INT. The interface providing unit 530 provides various user interfaces for displaying on the display panel 12 of the communication navigation device 10 in response to a request from the communication navigation device 10.

  The group registration unit 540 registers and cancels a plurality of communication navigation devices 10 as a group when touring in a group. The group registration unit 540 also registers and cancels the leading vehicle and the following vehicle in the group. In the present embodiment, identification information (ID) is assigned in advance to each communication navigation apparatus 10, and the group registration unit 540 performs registration and cancellation using this identification information. The group registration unit 540 corresponds to the registration unit and deregistration unit of the present invention.

  The server 500 includes a personal information database (not shown), and the personal information database stores usage histories of various services provided by the server 500 such as a group registration history for each user of the communication navigation apparatus. The personal information database can refer to its own service usage history from each communication navigation device.

  The position information acquisition unit 550 acquires the current position information received from the communication navigation device 10 by the communication unit 520. This current position information is stored in the position information database as needed for each communication navigation device 10 so that it can be used individually by each communication navigation device 10 later. In this embodiment, position information databases 551, 552, and 553 for the communication navigation devices 10A, 10B, and 10C are prepared. The position information databases 551, 552, and 553 also correspond to the movement locus storage unit of the present invention.

  The database reference unit 560 refers to the electronic map database 561, the meeting place database 562, and the position information databases 551, 552, and 553 as necessary. The electronic map database 561 stores route search data, route guidance data, and the like. As will be described later, the meeting place database 562 stores meeting place data relating to facilities suitable for the meeting place.

  The meeting place setting unit 570 is based on the current position information of each departure place of the communication navigation devices 10A, 10B, and 10C registered in the group registration unit 540 and the meeting place database 562 at the start of touring in the group. Set an appropriate meeting place. The setting of the meeting place will be described later.

  The server 500 has a function of transmitting the movement trajectory of the vehicle A (communication navigation device 10A) as a leading vehicle to the communication navigation devices 10B and 10C mounted on the vehicle B and the vehicle C as follow vehicles. Then, the movement locus complement unit 580 has a current position immediately before the communication trouble occurs when the communication between the communication navigation device 10A mounted on the leading vehicle A and the server 500 is troubled and the trouble is solved. Based on the information and the current position information after the trouble is solved, the movement trajectory during the trouble period is complemented by the route search.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of meeting place data in the meeting place database 562. As shown in the drawing, in this embodiment, the meeting place database 562 stores the names of facilities suitable for the meeting place, parking availability, and positional information (latitude and longitude) in association with each other.

D. Communication navigation:
The communication navigation system 1000 of the present embodiment has several functions described below.

D1. Automatic location setting:
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a process of automatically setting a meeting place from each departure place of the vehicles A, B, and C. First, the communication navigation device 10A transmits a request for providing a service for setting a meeting place together with its own ID to the server 500 according to a user instruction (step S100). When receiving the service provision request from the communication navigation device 10A, the server 500 provides the user interface for group registration to the communication navigation device 10A (step S110). Next, the communication navigation device 10A transmits the contents of the group registration input by the user to the server 500 (step S120). In the present embodiment, the communication navigation device 10A transmits the IDs of the communication navigation devices 10B and 10C to register the communication navigation devices 10A, 10B, and 10C as a group. When server 500 receives the contents of group registration from communication navigation apparatus 10A, server 500 transmits an inquiry as to whether group registration is possible or not to communication navigation apparatuses 10B and 10C (step S130). Next, the communication navigation devices 10B and 10C transmit a group registration permission notification to the server 500 (step S140). Upon receiving the group registration permission notification from the communication navigation devices 10B and 10C, the server 500 registers the communication navigation devices 10A, 10B, and 10C in the group registration unit 540, and groups the communication navigation devices 10A, 10B, and 10C. A registration completion notification is transmitted (step S150). If the group navigation permission notification is not obtained from the communication navigation devices 10B and 10C within a predetermined time, the server 500 transmits a message to that effect to the communication navigation device 10A. In addition, when the group registration permission notification can be obtained from only one of the communication navigation devices 10B and 10C, the server 500 notifies the communication navigation device 10A and any communication for which the group registration permission notification is obtained. To the navigation device.

  When the communication navigation devices 10A, 10B, and 10C receive the group registration completion notification from the server 500 in step S150, the communication navigation devices 10A, 10B, and 10C transmit the current position information detected by the current location detection unit 103 to the server 500, respectively. The server 500 acquires current position information from each of the communication navigation devices 10A, 10B, and 10C (step S160), and performs a meeting place setting process (step S170). Then, the server 500 transmits the set collective position information to the communication navigation devices 10A, 10B, and 10C (step S180). At this time, the server 500 also transmits the current position information of other vehicles (other communication navigation devices) to each of the communication navigation devices 10A, 10B, and 10C.

  In each of the communication navigation devices 10A, 10B, and 10C, the collective position information received from the server 500 is set as the destination. Thereafter, the current position information is exchanged at any time between the server 500 and each of the communication navigation devices 10A, 10B, and 10C. In each of the communication navigation devices 10A, 10B, and 10C, route search from the current position to the meeting place and Route guidance is performed.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of the meeting place setting process. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing how the meeting place is set. First, the server 500 calculates coordinates Po of the same distance from the departure points Pa, Pb, Pc of the vehicles A, B, C (step S172). Then, referring to the meeting place database 562 (step S174), “OO park”, which is the closest facility to the coordinate value calculated in step S172 and is a parking facility, is set as the meeting place (step S176).

  Note that the server 500 can switch the setting method of the meeting place according to the usage state of the communication navigation devices 10A, 10B, and 10C. For example, when the communication navigation devices 10A, 10B, and 10C are used in a state where they are not mounted on the vehicle, the server 500 sets the meeting place without considering whether parking is possible. The switching conditions for the method of setting the meeting place, such as whether to consider whether or not parking is possible, can be set in advance by the user.

  FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a display screen displayed on the display panel 12 of the communication navigation device 10. As shown in the drawing, the display panel 12 displays the positions of the vehicles A, B, and C, the meeting place, and the estimated arrival time of each vehicle at the meeting place as needed. In this embodiment, the server 500 calculates the estimated arrival time at the meeting place. The estimated arrival time may be calculated by the communication navigation device 10.

  Through the steps described above, the meeting place can be automatically set without the member of the touring sensibly consulting the meeting place. In addition, unfairness about the distance from each departure place to the meeting place can be avoided.

D2. Display of the trail of the leading vehicle:
After each vehicle A, B, C arrives at the meeting place, the leading vehicle and the following vehicle are registered, and the vehicle departs for touring. And the movement locus | trajectory of a leading vehicle is displayed on the communication navigation apparatus 10 which a follower vehicle mounts.

  FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a process of displaying the movement trajectory of the leading vehicle. First, the communication navigation device 10A mounted on the vehicle A serving as the leading vehicle transmits a request for providing a moving locus display service for the leading vehicle to the server 500 (step S200). Upon receiving the service provision request from the communication navigation device 10A, the server 500 provides the communication navigation device 10A with a user interface for registering the leading vehicle and the following vehicle (step S210). Next, the communication navigation device 10A transmits the setting contents of the leading vehicle and the following vehicle input by the user to the server 500 (step S220). As described above, in this embodiment, the vehicle A is registered as the leading vehicle, and the vehicles B and C are registered as the following vehicles. When server 500 receives the setting content from communication navigation apparatus 10A, server 500 transmits an inquiry as to whether registration is possible or not to communication navigation apparatuses 10B and 10C (step S230). Then, the communication navigation devices 10B and 10C transmit a registration permission notification to the server 500 (step S240). Upon receiving the registration permission notification from the communication navigation devices 10B and 10C, the server 500 registers the communication navigation devices 10A, 10B, and 10C in the group registration unit 540 as the leading vehicle and the following vehicle, and the communication navigation devices 10A and 10B. The registration completion notification is transmitted to 10C (step S250). If the registration permission notification is not obtained from the communication navigation devices 10B and 10C within a predetermined time, the server 500 transmits a notification to that effect to the communication navigation device 10A. In addition, when the group registration permission notification can be obtained from only one of the communication navigation devices 10B and 10C, the server 500 notifies the communication navigation device 10A and any communication for which the group registration permission notification is obtained. To the navigation device.

  In step S250, the communication navigation devices 10A, 10B, and 10C transmit the current location information detected by the current location detection unit 103 to the server 500 when receiving the registration completion notification from the server 500. The server 500 acquires the current position information from each of the communication navigation devices 10A, 10B, and 10C (step S260), and uses each current position information in the position information databases 551, 552, and 553 later and individually in each communication navigation device 10. Save as possible (step S270). By doing so, the communication navigation devices 10B and 10C can later use the movement trajectory of the leading vehicle A for the route search.

  Then, the server 500 transmits the current position information of the following vehicles B and C (communication navigation devices 10B and 10C) to the communication navigation device 10A (step S280). Further, the server 500 transmits to the communication navigation device 10B the movement locus of the leading vehicle A (communication navigation device 10A) and the current position information of the leading vehicle A and the following vehicle C (communication navigation device 10C) (step S280). In addition, the server 500 transmits the movement trajectory of the leading vehicle A and the current position information of the leading vehicle A and the following vehicle B (communication navigation device 10B) to the communication navigation device 10C (step S280). Thereafter, steps S260 to S280 are performed as needed.

  FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the display of the leading vehicle and the following vehicle displayed on the display panel 12 of the communication navigation devices 10B and 10C. A thick solid line L indicates a movement locus of the vehicle A which is the leading vehicle. The time difference between the leading vehicle A and the following vehicles B and C may be displayed on the display panel 12 together.

  Through the steps described above, the users of the following vehicles B and C can perform touring according to the movement trajectory of the leading vehicle A.

D3. Complementing the movement trajectory of the lead vehicle:
When the communication between the leading vehicle A (communication navigation device 10A) and the server 500 is hindered, the movement locus of the leading vehicle A described above cannot be displayed. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing the flow of processing when communication between the leading vehicle A and the server 500 is hindered. The server 500 acquires the current position information from each communication navigation device 10A, 10B, 10C (step S300). At this time, it is assumed that trouble occurs in communication with the leading vehicle A (communication navigation device 10A). The server 500 notifies the following vehicles B and C (communication navigation devices 10B and 10C) that the communication with the leading vehicle A is hindered and the movement track of the leading vehicle A cannot be transmitted (step S310). Thereafter, it is assumed that the communication trouble between the server 500 and the leading vehicle A has been eliminated. The server 500 notifies the following vehicles B and C that the trouble with communication with the leading vehicle A has been resolved (step S320). Then, the current position information is acquired again from the vehicles A, B, and C (step S330), and the current position information is stored in the position information databases 551, 552, and 553 (step S340).

  Next, the server 500 reads from the position information database 551 the current position information of the leading vehicle A immediately before the communication trouble occurs (step S350). Then, using the current position information and the current position information immediately after the trouble is solved, the movement trajectory is complemented by the route search with reference to the electronic map database 561 (step S360). Then, the server 500 transmits the current position information of the following vehicles B and C (communication navigation devices 10B and 10C) to the communication navigation device 10A (step S370). Further, the server 500 transmits to the communication navigation device 10B the movement locus of the leading vehicle A (communication navigation device 10A) and the current position information of the leading vehicle A (communication navigation device 10A) and the following vehicle C (communication navigation device 10C). (Step S370). Further, the server 500 transmits to the communication navigation device 10C the movement locus of the leading vehicle A (communication navigation device 10A) and the current position information of the leading vehicle A (communication navigation device 10A) and the following vehicle B (communication navigation device 10B). (Step S370).

  By the processing described above, troubles occur in communication between the leading vehicle A and the server 500, and thereafter, when the troubles are resolved, the movement locus of the leading vehicle A is displayed on the display panel 12 of the communication navigation devices 10B and 10C. Can do.

  Note that the above-described complementation of the movement track of the leading vehicle can also be applied when the server 500 is down. In this case, since the server 500 cannot perform the notification in steps S310 and S320, when the trouble is resolved, the server 500 transmits a request for the current position information to each of the communication navigation devices 10A, 10B, and 10C. (Step S330) and the same processing is performed.

D4. Directions to followers:
In the communication navigation system 1000 according to the present embodiment, the waypoint can be instructed from the leading vehicle A (communication navigation device 10A) to the following vehicles B and C (communication navigation devices 10B and 10C). FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a process of instructing a waypoint from the leading vehicle A to the following vehicles B and C. First, the user of the communication navigation device 10A performs an operation for designating a waypoint by using the operation panel 14 or the remote controller 16 at a timing when the user wants to instruct the following vehicles B and C by using a certain position as a waypoint (step S400). Then, the communication navigation device 10A transmits the current position information at that time to the server 500 as waypoint information. On the display panel 12 of the communication navigation device 10A, the user may designate a point where the communication navigation devices 10B and 10C have not yet reached at the past passing points as the waypoints. When the server 500 receives the route point information from the communication navigation device 10A, the server 500 sets the route point (step S410) and transmits the route point information to the communication navigation devices 10B and 10C (step S420). On the display panels 12 of the communication navigation devices 10B and 10C, the waypoints are displayed based on the waypoint information received from the server 500.

  FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a display screen displayed on the display panel 12 of the communication navigation devices 10B and 10C. Here, a case where the leading vehicle A parks in the parking lot of “XX amusement park”, designates this parking lot as a waypoint, and moves after removing the communication navigation device 10A from the vehicle A is shown. On the display panel 12, the position of each communication navigation device 10A, 10B, 10C, the movement trajectory of the communication navigation device 10A (thick solid line L), the waypoint, and the current position of the following vehicles B, C to the waypoint are displayed. The required time is displayed as needed. The required time from the current position of the following vehicles B and C to the waypoint may be calculated by the server 500 or the communication navigation device 10.

  By doing in this way, it is possible to specify a waypoint from the leading vehicle A (communication navigation device 10A) to the following vehicles B and C (communication navigation devices 10B and 10C).

D5. Route guidance when returning home:
The user of the following vehicle may stop the touring and return home while performing the touring while displaying the movement locus of the leading vehicle. FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing a route guidance process when the following vehicle returns. Here, a case where the following vehicle B returns home will be described. First, when the user of the follow-up vehicle B presses the “return” button 15 of the communication navigation device 10B (step S500), the communication navigation device 10B transmits the fact to the server 500 together with its own ID. At this time, the communication navigation device 10B automatically sets the original departure point as a new destination without the user inputting a new destination. Further, the communication navigation device 10 </ b> B sets the current position information detected by the current position detection unit 103 not to be transmitted to the server 500.

  When receiving that the “return” button 15 is pressed from the communication navigation device 10B, the server 500 cancels the tracking vehicle registration of the communication navigation device 10B of the group registration unit 540 (step S510). Then, the communication navigation devices 10A, 10B, and 10C are notified that the registration of the communication navigation device 10B has been canceled.

  Thereafter, the communication navigation device 10B performs route search and route guidance using the electronic map data and the data of the position information database 552 without displaying the movement locus of the leading vehicle A (step S520). Whether to use the data in the position information database 552 can be selected by the user. When using the data of the location information database 552, the communication navigation device 10B receives the data accumulated in the forward path from the server 500 and performs route guidance. The server 500 and the communication navigation devices 10A and 10C continue the processing as before, that is, the steps S260 to S280 shown in FIG.

  When the user of the leading vehicle A presses the “return” button 15 of the communication navigation device 10A, the server 500 may cancel all registrations of the leading vehicle and the following vehicle in the group registration unit 540. Alternatively, the group registration of the communication navigation devices 10B and 10C may be maintained. In the former case, each of the communication navigation devices 10A, 10B, and 10C can perform route search and route guidance using the electronic map data and the data of the position information databases 551, 552, and 553, respectively. In the latter case, the communication navigation devices 10B and 10C can display each other's current position while performing route search and route guidance using the electronic map data and the data in the position information databases 552 and 553.

  In this way, when returning home, the original departure point is automatically set as the destination regardless of the user's intention, and the group registration can be canceled. Furthermore, the privacy of the user can be protected by preventing the communication navigation device 10 from transmitting the current position information to the server 500 when the “return” button 15 is pressed.

  According to the communication navigation system 1000 of the present embodiment described above, the electronic map data can be used effectively and the convenience can be improved.

E. Variations:
As mentioned above, although several embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to such embodiment at all, and implementation in a various aspect is possible within the range which does not deviate from the summary. It is. For example, the following modifications are possible.

E1. Modification 1:
In the above-described embodiment, the communication navigation devices 10A, 10B, and 10C perform communication and various processes via the Internet INT and the server 500, but are not limited thereto. Each communication navigation device 10A, 10B, 10C is provided with the functions of the server 500, for example, the meeting location setting unit, the movement locus complementing unit, the meeting location database, the position information database, etc. 10B and 10C may directly communicate with each other.

E2. Modification 2:
In the above embodiment, the coordinates Po of the same distance are calculated from the departure points Pa, Pb, and Pc in the meeting place setting process, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a route search may be made for points where the required times from the departure points Pa, Pb, and Pc are the same. By doing so, it is possible to avoid unfairness of the required time from each departure place to the meeting place.

  In addition to the departure point, the meeting place may be set in consideration of the destination. In this case, various aspects can be taken. For example, the destination may be handled in the same way as the departure place and the meeting place may be set. Further, the meeting place may be set by changing the weight, for example, (distance from the departure place to the meeting place) :( distance from the meeting place to the destination) = 1: 2. Further, the meeting place may be set within a predetermined distance from the destination. Further, for each departure place, the meeting place may be set so that the angle formed by the direction from the starting place to the destination and the direction from the starting place to the meeting place is within 90 °. In this way, the meeting place can be set so that the movement from the departure place to the meeting place and the movement from the meeting place to the destination can be performed efficiently.

  In addition, for example, using VICS (Vehicle Information and Communication System) etc., considering road traffic information, that is, based on information such as travel time, traffic congestion, traffic regulations, etc. It is also possible to set the meeting place by evaluating the required time and travel distance. By doing so, it is possible to suppress a difference in arrival time from each departure place to the meeting place.

E3. Modification 3:
In the above embodiment, in the setting of the meeting place, one meeting place is extracted and set from the meeting place database 562. However, a plurality of candidate places may be extracted to allow selection by the user. . By doing so, the user's intention can be reflected in the setting of the meeting place.

E4. Modification 4:
In the above embodiment, the server 500 includes the meeting place database 562. However, the server 500 may not be provided.

E5. Modification 5:
In the above embodiment, the current position information of the plurality of communication navigation devices 10 is used as the departure point. However, the user may manually input the position information of the departure point.

E6. Modification 6:
In the above embodiment, the server 500 transmits the collective location information of the collective location set by the collective location setting process to all the communication navigation devices 10 registered in the group. Also good. In this case, the user of the communication navigation device 10 that has received the gathering location information may contact the user of the other communication navigation device 10 about the gathering location and set the gathering location as the destination by himself / herself.

E7. Modification 7:
In the above embodiment, the current positions of the plurality of communication navigation devices 10 are displayed on the display panel 12 of the communication navigation device 10, but they may not be displayed.

E8. Modification 8:
In the above embodiment, the communication navigation apparatus 10 includes the “return” button 15, and the operation of the “return” button 15 sets the original departure point as a new destination and cancels the group registration. However, it is not limited to this. For example, the server 500 is provided with a setting unit for setting a condition for canceling the group registration so that the condition can be arbitrarily set from the communication navigation device 10, and the group registration is canceled when this condition is satisfied. It is good. As this condition, for example, the communication navigation device 10 has arrived at a common destination set in the group, has reached a preset time, or another communication navigation device 10 is connected to the communication navigation device 10. For example, a new destination different from the above is input, or the distance from another communication navigation device 10 is more than a predetermined value.

It is explanatory drawing which shows schematic structure of the communication navigation system 1000 as one Example of this invention. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a communication navigation device 10. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a server 500. FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the meeting place data in the meeting place database. It is explanatory drawing which shows the process of automatically setting the meeting place from each departure place of vehicles A, B, and C. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a meeting place setting process. It is explanatory drawing which shows the mode of the setting of a meeting place. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a display screen displayed on the display panel 12 of the communication navigation device 10. It is explanatory drawing which shows the process of displaying the movement locus | trajectory of a leading vehicle. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the display of the leading vehicle and the following vehicle displayed on the display panel 12 of communication navigation apparatus 10B, 10C. It is explanatory drawing which shows the flow of a process when trouble arises in communication with the leading vehicle A and the server 500. FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the process of instruct | indicating a waypoint from the leading vehicle A to the follower vehicles B and C. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the display screen displayed on the display panel 12 of communication navigation apparatus 10B, 10C. It is explanatory drawing which shows the process of the route guidance at the time of a following vehicle returning home.

Explanation of symbols

1000 ... Communication navigation system 10, 10A, 10B, 10C ... Communication navigation device 12 ... Display panel 14 ... Operation panel 15 ... "Return" button 16 ... Remote controller (remote controller)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Control unit 101 ... Control part 102 ... Communication part 103 ... Present location detection part 104 ... Command input part 105 ... Electronic map data reference part 106 ... Route search part 107. ..Route guiding unit 108 ... Display control unit 110 ... Hard disk 120, 120A, 120B, 120C ... Antenna 130, 130A, 130B, 130C ... GPS antenna 500 ... Server 510 ... Control 520 ... Communication unit 530 ... Interface providing unit 540 ... Group registration unit 550 ... Position information acquisition unit 551, 552, 553 ... Position information database 560 ... Database reference unit 561 .. .Electronic map database 562 ... Meeting place database 570 ... Meeting place setting part 580 ... Moving locus complement part INT ... Internet SAT1, SAT2, SAT3 ... GPS satellite

Claims (8)

An information processing apparatus that performs predetermined information processing for route guidance using electronic map data,
An electronic map data storage unit for storing route search data for route search;
A position information acquisition unit that acquires the current position information indicating the current position of one moving body via a predetermined network, and acquires the current position information of another moving body registered in advance in a time series,
A destination setting unit for setting a destination in response to an instruction from the one moving body or the other moving body;
A route search unit that performs a route search from the current position of the one mobile unit to the destination with reference to the route search data;
Prior to the route search, based on the current position information acquired in time series, a transmission unit that transmits a movement locus of the other moving body to the one moving body;
An information processing apparatus comprising: The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
A moving track storage unit that stores a moving track of at least one of the one moving body and the other moving body;
The transmission unit further transmits the movement trajectory of the one moving body or the other moving body stored in the movement trajectory storage unit in response to a request from the one moving body or the other moving body. ,
Information processing device. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
After the trouble has occurred in the acquisition of the current position information of the other moving body by the position information acquisition unit, when the trouble is resolved, the route search data is referred to and the trouble before the trouble occurs. Based on the current position information of the other moving body and the current position information of the other moving body after the trouble is eliminated, the movement locus of the other moving body during the occurrence of the trouble With a movement trajectory complement that complements
Information processing device. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,
The transmitting unit further transmits the current position information of the one moving body to a predetermined moving body.
Information processing device.   5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is configured as a route search device that performs route search using electronic map data. A method of controlling an information processing apparatus that performs predetermined information processing for route guidance using electronic map data,
(A) preparing route search data for route search;
(B) acquiring current position information indicating the current position of one mobile body via a predetermined network, and acquiring the current position information of other mobile bodies registered in advance in time series;
(C) setting a destination in response to an instruction from the one moving body or the other moving body;
(D) performing a route search from the current position of the one moving body to the destination with reference to the route search data;
(E) transmitting the movement trajectory of the other moving body to the one moving body based on the current position information acquired in time series in preference to the route search;
A control method comprising: A computer program for controlling an information processing apparatus that performs predetermined information processing for route guidance using electronic map data,
A function for storing route search data for route search;
A function of acquiring current position information indicating the current position of one mobile body via a predetermined network and acquiring the current position information of other mobile bodies registered in advance in a time series,
A function of setting a destination in response to an instruction from the one moving body or the other moving body;
A function for performing a route search from the current position of the one mobile unit to the destination with reference to the route search data;
A function of transmitting a movement locus of the other moving body to the one moving body based on the current position information acquired in time series in preference to the route search;
A computer program for realizing a computer.   A recording medium on which the computer program according to claim 7 is recorded in a computer-readable manner.

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