JP4223030B2 - Navigation system, voice data distribution method, route search server, and terminal device - Google Patents

Description

According to the present invention, a route search unit searches for a guide route from the departure point to the destination by referring to the search network data based on a route search condition including the departure point and the destination, and displays a map and a guidance route. And a navigation system, a route search server, a terminal device, and a voice download method for performing guidance by voice output at a guidance point such as an intersection.
In particular, in the navigation system as described above, the present invention accumulates voice data for guidance with an identification code for each unit voice data, and adds an identification code to the guidance route data in which guidance points are set. The present invention relates to a navigation system, a voice data distribution method, a route search server, and a terminal device configured to download only a difference corresponding to a changed guide route when the guide route data is redistributed by reroute processing.

  Conventionally, when visiting a destination place on an unknown land, the user arrives while checking the transportation, road, landmark and address drawn on the map by using a map book or the like. In a car equipped with a car navigation system (hereinafter simply referred to as a car navigation system), a guidance displayed on a monitor screen or a voice output guidance (navigation) by starting the car navigation system and inputting a destination. Information) was reached.

  The car navigation system uses a GPS (Global Positioning System), receives GPS signals transmitted from a plurality of GPS satellites orbiting the earth with a GPS antenna, and transmits the GPS signals to the GPS signals. The position is specified by analyzing the satellite position and clock information included. At least four GPS satellites are required. The single positioning accuracy of GPS is generally over 10 m, but it is improved to 5 m or less by adopting DGPS (Differential GPS). In particular, a positioning unit that is currently installed only in some mobile phones, for example, a GPS receiver that receives a signal from a GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite and performs positioning, is called the third generation. Mobile phones tend to be installed in all models.

  As a technique for using a terminal device having such a positioning function, technologies in various fields have been proposed. For example, a navigation device (car navigation) for automobiles has been developed, and map / route information is obtained using a mobile phone as a terminal. A communication navigation system for pedestrians distributed from a route search server (server) has been proposed.

  In recent years, the performance of mobile communication terminal devices such as mobile phones and PHS has been dramatically improved, and multi-functionalization has been progressing. In particular, the data communication function is strengthened in addition to the call function, and various data communication services are provided to the user via the Internet. A navigation service is one of them, and a communication navigation system that provides route guidance from a current position to a destination for not only a driver of a car but also a mobile phone user has been put into practical use.

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

  The route search server uses roads (routes) of map data as nodes and node positions as the nodes, links connecting the nodes as links, and cost information (distance and required time) for all links as a database. ing. Then, the route search server refers to the database, sequentially searches for links from the departure node to the destination node, and traces the node and link with the smallest cost information of the link as a guide route. The shortest route can be guided to the portable navigation terminal. As such a route search method, a method called label determination method or Dijkstra method is used. Patent Document 1 also discloses a route search method using this Dijkstra method.

  In the navigation system as described above, the guide route distributed to the terminal device by the route search server is data in which node numbers and link numbers to be followed by the user are arranged in order. In order to guide the direction to turn when the user should turn left or right, such as a node at an intersection, a guidance point is set at the node, and guidance is output to the user by voice or display at the guidance point. A navigation system is also known. For example, before the guidance point, guidance data such as “This is a 200m 00-chome intersection. Turn left at the intersection” is delivered to the terminal device along with the guidance route for each guidance point. When the terminal device travels along the guidance route, the above-mentioned guidance is output for each guidance point, and the user can receive guidance on route progress.

  Such a navigation system is disclosed in the following Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-177029). The navigation system disclosed in Patent Document 2 receives a voice data group having a voice quality desired by a user from a voice guidance support device provided on the Internet by one or a plurality of communication units, and receives a voice by an audio data acquisition processing unit. It is configured to be added to the data storage unit. The user can designate a desired voice quality among voice data groups having different voice qualities stored in the voice data storage unit for all messages at once or for each message. Corresponding to the message, it is stored in the voice data storage unit. The voice guidance unit is configured in advance for a message to be guided when voice guidance is requested when the operation on the operation unit is an operation linked with voice guidance or when a specific process executed in the vehicle-mounted navigation device is requested. Audio output with voice quality registered in.

  That is, the navigation system disclosed in Patent Document 2 accumulates voice guidance voice data as voice data generated by different speakers for each unit voice data, and the user designates the voice of a favorite speaker. By doing so, a preferred voice guidance is provided for each user.

  Position information measured using a GPS receiver contains errors, so if the current position is off the guide route, the route matching process that corrects the current position on the guide route or the nearest road on the map A map matching process is performed to correct the image. In addition, guidance points such as intersections are set in the guidance route data, and voice guidance data (for example, a voice message such as “This is a 200m intersection, please turn left”) is added as guidance at the guidance points. In this case, a voice message is reproduced and output through a speaker to guide the user.

  By the way, in-vehicle navigation devices have a high moving speed and are accompanied by a driving operation. Therefore, there are cases in which a guidance point on the guidance route does not correctly perform an action according to the guidance while traveling on the guidance route. For example, a right turn may be made at a node in front of a node (guidance point) for which a right turn guidance is performed, or the guidance point may be overlooked and passed. If the driver misses a guidance point and passes, the driver's psychology is conscious of returning to the route that was guided, and turns right according to the guidance at the intersection node ahead of the guidance point that has passed. Do the driving operation to return to the route.

  In such a state, the vehicle deviates (deviates) from the guidance route, and it becomes necessary to newly search for and guide the optimum route to the destination. For this reason, in a general vehicle-mounted navigation device, when it is detected that the vehicle has deviated from the guide route, the current position of the vehicle (the current vehicle position on the road that is not the guide route) is used as a starting point, It has a function to re-search for the optimum route to the destination. This re-search process is referred to as a reroute process. In the case of navigation for pedestrians, if the pedestrian makes a mistake in the guidance route, a reroute process is also required.

  A navigation device that performs reroute processing is disclosed in, for example, the following Patent Document 3 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-153446). The navigation device disclosed in Patent Document 3 is a navigation device having a reroute search function that recalculates a route so as to return to a guidance route that has not passed when the navigation device deviates from the guidance route. A stop point or destination setting step, a search step from the search start point to the search end point, a search step if a non-passing guidance route is found during the search calculation, and a search step The process includes a step of ending the search operation when a search to the end point of the search is performed without finding the passage guide route.

  In other words, when performing a reroute process from a point deviating from the guidance route to the destination, this navigation device terminates the reroute search if a guidance route in which the vehicle has not passed is found in the route to be rerouted. If the route to the destination is searched without finding the guide route, the reroute processing is terminated, so that the route is rerouted without returning to the unpassed guide route, and deviates by a certain distance from the guide route. Then I start reroute.

  By the way, as a case where the vehicle deviates from the guide route, there is a case where the vehicle deviates from the guide route due to the driver's will as well as a case where the vehicle does not take an action according to the guidance at the guidance point as described above. For example, there are cases where a restaurant or shopping center deviating from the guide route is used to eat and shop, or a service area is stopped while driving on a highway. In general, the road network in the service area of the expressway is not incorporated in the road network data for search, and it may be determined that the road is deviated from the guide route when the service area is stopped.

  Patent Document 4 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-281796) below discloses a route search apparatus configured to prohibit reroute processing in the case of a stop by a service area. The route search device disclosed in Patent Document 4 performs a matching operation for comparing road data recorded in an information storage unit with a measured current position of the host vehicle. As a result of the matching calculation, a road recognized as having the host vehicle is compared with a road (running locus) that has traveled in the past. If they match, the count value is incremented by 1. Otherwise, the count value is cleared. The reroute permission flag is set or cleared according to the size of the count value, and it is determined whether or not to perform reroute depending on the state of the reroute permission flag.

  As a result of the reroute processing, when a new guidance route is searched, guidance points are set in the guidance route, and in the navigation system in which guidance is output to the user by voice or display at the guidance point, those voice data And the guidance data are distributed again to the terminal device.

JP 2001-165681 A (FIGS. 1 and 2) Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-177029 (FIGS. 1 and 13) JP-A-10-153446 (FIGS. 1 and 2, paragraphs [0006] and [0012]) Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-281796 (FIGS. 1 and 7, paragraphs [0011] and [0087] to [0088])

  Generally, in a communication type navigation system, there is a configuration in which voice data necessary for voice guidance guidance is stored on the terminal device side, and a guide route is downloaded from the server to the terminal device each time. If a voice synthesis function is added to the terminal, such as an in-vehicle navigation device, or a storage device such as a large-capacity hard disk is installed, the voice data is stored in the terminal device and the necessary voice data is played back. Can be configured to.

  When a mobile phone is used as a terminal device in such a system, the voice data group having the voice quality desired by the user is received from the voice guidance support device as described in Patent Document 2 by one or a plurality of communication units. If the acquisition processing unit is added to the audio data storage unit, there is a problem that the capacity of the storage device is insufficient to store the downloaded audio data in the terminal device.

  In addition, in a mobile phone on the terminal device side, there are restrictions on mounting functions such as a voice conversion and a voice synthesizer on the terminal device due to limitations such as cost and the physical size of the device. For this reason, voice data provided to a terminal device by a server such as a voice guidance support apparatus is not digital voice data but analog voice data. For this reason, in the structure which downloads required audio | voice data from the server side each time with a guidance route, the problem that the communication load of a network becomes large arises.

  In particular, when using a mobile phone as a terminal device in a car or train that moves at high speed, communication may be interrupted in the middle of data distribution if the communication conditions are bad. There is also a problem of affecting reception.

  When reroute processing occurs, it is necessary to redistribute (download) data relating to the new guidance route that has been searched again, including voice data for guidance, further increasing the communication load on the network. Problem arises.

  As a result of various investigations to solve the above problems, the inventor of the present application has provided a voice database in which voice data for guidance is stored on the server side with an identification code for each unit voice data. An identification code is attached to the guide route data set with points and downloaded (distributed) to the terminal device. Then, whenever a terminal device is required, a request for distribution of the unit voice data corresponding to the server is made by the identification code, and when reroute processing occurs, the change occurs at the time of redistribution of guide route data by reroute processing. The present invention has been completed by conceiving that the above problem can be solved if only the difference corresponding to the guide route is replaced and stored.

  That is, the present invention aims to solve the above problems, and in a navigation system using a terminal device such as a mobile phone, even if reroute processing occurs, the communication load does not increase and the storage capacity is limited. It is an object of the present invention to provide a navigation system, a voice data distribution method, a route search server, and a terminal device that can efficiently handle route guidance and voice data by reroute processing.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 of the present application is
The voice data to be distributed to the terminal device is divided into unit voice data, and a voice database in which an identification code is associated and stored for each unit voice data is provided, and voice data is added when data requested by the terminal device is distributed. If necessary, an identification code is added to the delivery data and delivered to the terminal device, and the search network data is referred to based on the route search conditions including the departure place and the destination, and from the departure place to the destination. A navigation system including a route search server in which a route search means searches for a guide route and distributes guide route data to a terminal device,
The navigation system includes a matching processing unit that corrects an error of a measured current position by matching a road or a route, a route search unit that performs a reroute process when the error exceeds a predetermined range, and a difference detection unit And comprising
The difference detecting means detects a difference between the original guidance route searched before the found new guide route and reroute processing by the reroute processing, the data of a new guide route identified by the difference detecting means The data of the part of the original guide route that is no longer needed is deleted from the data of the original guide route and replaced with the data of the new part of the guide route specified by the difference detection means .

The invention according to claim 2 of the present application is the navigation system according to claim 1,
The terminal device stores the distributed identification code, and is configured to request distribution of the unit voice data corresponding to the route search server based on the identification code when voice output becomes necessary. And

The invention according to claim 3 of the present application is the navigation system according to claim 1,
The distribution data requested from the terminal device is guidance route data searched based on a route search condition or a reroute processing request, and the unit voice data corresponds to unit voice data at a guidance point set on the guidance route. It is an identification code.

The invention according to claim 4 of the present application is the navigation system according to claim 3,
The route search server sets a guidance point on a guidance route searched based on a route search condition or a reroute processing request, and adds guidance as voice data for each guidance point together with the guidance route data to the terminal device. A guide route data creating means for adding an identification code of unit voice data when delivering is provided, and the guide route data is delivered to the terminal device.

The invention according to claim 5 of the present application is the navigation system according to claim 1,
The terminal device includes distribution data storage means for storing distribution data distributed from a route search server, voice data request means, voice data storage means, and voice output means, and the voice data request means is voice output. Is requested to the route search server based on the identification code stored in the distribution data storage means, the unit voice data distributed from the route search server is stored in the voice data storage means, The unit voice data is output by the output means, and then the unit voice data for which output has been completed is deleted.

The invention according to claim 6 of the present application is the navigation system according to claim 5,
The terminal device further includes voice data management means for storing identification codes of unit voice data downloaded from the route search server and stored in the voice data storage means, and the voice data request means requests the voice data from the route search server. In doing so, it refers to the identification code stored in the voice data management means, and requests the route search server to deliver unit voice data corresponding to the identification code not stored in the voice data storage means. To do.

The invention according to claim 7 of the present application is
The voice data to be distributed to the terminal device is divided into unit voice data, and a voice database in which an identification code is associated and stored for each unit voice data is provided, and voice data is added when data requested by the terminal device is distributed. If necessary, an identification code is added to the delivery data and delivered to the terminal device, and the search network data is referred to based on the route search conditions including the departure place and the destination, and from the departure place to the destination. A voice data distribution method in a navigation system including a route search server for searching a guide route by a route search means and distributing guide route data to a terminal device,
The navigation system includes a matching processing unit that corrects an error of a measured current position by matching a road or a route, a route search unit that performs a reroute process when the error exceeds a predetermined range, and a difference detection unit And comprising
A first step of detecting a difference between the original guidance route the difference detecting means is searched before the found new guide route and reroute processing by the reroute processing, new identified by said difference detecting means Data of the part of the original guide route that is no longer necessary due to the data of the guide route is deleted from the data of the original guide route and replaced with data of a new part of the guide route specified by the difference detection means . And 2 steps.

The invention according to claim 8 of the present application is the audio data distribution method according to claim 7,
The audio data distribution method further includes:
A third step of adding an identification code to the distribution data and distributing it to the terminal device when voice guidance data needs to be added when distributing the data requested from the terminal device;
A fourth step of storing the identification code distributed by the terminal device and requesting the distribution of the unit voice data corresponding to the route search server based on the identification code when voice output becomes necessary; It is characterized by having.

The invention according to claim 9 of the present application is the audio data distribution method according to claim 8,
In the third step, the distribution data requested from the terminal device is guide route data searched based on route search conditions, and the unit voice data is unit voice data at a guidance point set on the guide route. It is an identification code corresponding to.

The invention according to claim 10 of the present application is the audio data distribution method according to claim 9,
The route search server sets a guidance point on a guidance route searched based on a route search condition or a reroute processing request, and adds guidance as voice data for each guidance point together with the guidance route data to the terminal device. When delivering, it comprises a guide route data creation means for adding an identification code of unit voice data,
In the third step, the route search server distributes the guide route data to the terminal device.

The invention according to claim 11 of the present application is the audio data distribution method according to claim 8,
The terminal device includes distribution data storage means for storing distribution data distributed from the route search server, voice data request means, voice data storage means, and voice output means,
In the fourth step, when voice output is required, the voice data requesting unit requests unit voice data from the route search server based on the identification code stored in the distribution data storage unit, and is distributed from the route search server. The unit voice data is stored in the voice data storage unit, the unit voice data is output by the voice output unit, and then the unit voice data for which the output has been completed is deleted.

The invention according to claim 12 of the present application is the audio data distribution method according to claim 11,
The terminal device further includes voice data management means for storing an identification code of unit voice data downloaded from the route search server and stored in the voice data storage means,
In the fourth step, when the voice data request means requests voice data from the route search server, the identification code stored in the voice data management means is referred to and the identification code not stored in the voice data storage means is referred to. Including a process of requesting the route search server to deliver unit voice data corresponding to the above.

The invention according to claim 13 of the present application is
The identification code of the unit voice data distributed from the route search server is stored, and when the voice output becomes necessary, the distribution of the unit voice data corresponding to the route search server is requested based on the identification code, and positioning is performed. Matching processing means for matching and correcting an error in the current position with a road or route, and a terminal device that requests reroute processing when the error exceeds a predetermined range, the terminal device being a difference detection means The difference detection means detects a difference between the new guidance route searched by the reroute processing and the original guidance route searched before the reroute processing, and the new guidance route specified by the difference detection means The data of the part of the original guide route that is no longer necessary due to the data of the original data is deleted from the data of the original guide route and specified by the difference detecting means A route search server connected via a network to a terminal device for data and the replacement of a new portion of the path,
The route search server divides voice data to be delivered to a terminal device into unit voice data, and has a voice database in which an identification code is stored in association with each unit voice data, and delivers data requested by the terminal device. When voice guidance data needs to be added at this time, an identification code is added to the delivery data and delivered to the terminal device.

The invention according to claim 14 of the present application is the route search server according to claim 13,
The distribution data requested from the terminal device is guide route data searched based on a route search condition or a reroute processing request, and the unit voice data corresponds to unit voice data at a guidance point set on the guide route. It is an identification code.

The invention according to claim 15 of the present application is the route search server according to claim 14,
The route search server sets a guidance point on a guidance route searched based on a route search condition or a reroute processing request, and adds guidance as voice data for each guidance point together with the guidance route data to the terminal device. A guide route data creating means for adding an identification code of unit voice data when delivering is provided, and the guide route data is delivered to the terminal device.

The invention according to claim 16 of the present application is
Based on the route search condition including the departure point and the destination or the reroute processing request, the route search means searches the guide route from the departure point to the destination by referring to the search network data and distributes the guide route to the terminal device. A route search server, comprising: a voice database in which voice data to be distributed to a terminal device is divided into unit voice data, and an identification code is associated with each unit voice data and stored; When it is necessary to add voice guidance data at the time of distribution, a terminal device connected via a network to a route search server that adds an identification code to the distribution data and distributes it to the terminal device,
The terminal device includes a matching processing unit that corrects an error of a measured current position by matching a road or a route, a route search unit that performs a reroute process when the error exceeds a predetermined range, and a difference detection unit And comprising
The difference detecting means detects a difference between the original guidance route searched before the found new guide route and reroute processing by the reroute processing, the data of a new guide route identified by the difference detecting means The data of the part of the original guide route that is no longer needed is deleted from the data of the original guide route and replaced with the data of the new part of the guide route specified by the difference detection means .

The invention according to claim 17 of the present application is the terminal device according to claim 16,
The terminal device stores the distributed identification code, and is configured to request distribution of the unit voice data corresponding to the route search server based on the identification code when voice output becomes necessary. And

The invention according to claim 18 of the present application is the terminal device according to claim 17,
The distribution data requested by the terminal device is guide route data searched based on a route search condition or a reroute processing request, and the unit voice data is an identification corresponding to unit voice data at a guidance point set on the guide route. It is a code | symbol.

The invention according to claim 19 of the present application is the terminal device according to claim 17,
The terminal device includes distribution data storage means for storing distribution data distributed from a route search server, voice data request means, voice data storage means, and voice output means, and the voice data request means is voice output. Is requested to the route search server based on the identification code stored in the distribution data storage means, the unit voice data distributed from the route search server is stored in the voice data storage means, The unit voice data is output by the output means, and then the unit voice data for which output has been completed is deleted.

The invention according to claim 20 of the present application is the terminal device according to claim 19,
The terminal device further includes voice data management means for storing identification codes of unit voice data downloaded from the route search server and stored in the voice data storage means, and the voice data request means requests the voice data from the route search server. In doing so, it refers to the identification code stored in the voice data management means, and requests the route search server to deliver unit voice data corresponding to the identification code not stored in the voice data storage means. To do.

In the invention according to claim 1, the navigation system performs matching processing means for correcting the error of the measured current position by matching processing with a road or a route, and performs reroute processing when the error exceeds a predetermined range. A route search means and a difference detection means,
The difference detecting means detects a difference between the original guidance route searched before the found new guide route and reroute processing by the reroute processing, the data of a new guide route identified by the difference detecting means The data of the part of the original guide route that is no longer needed is deleted from the data of the original guide route and replaced with the data of the new part of the guide route specified by the difference detection means .
Therefore, since all the new guide route data obtained by the reroute process is not stored, only the difference is replaced and stored, so that even a storage device with a small capacity can easily store the guide route data. Become.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the navigation system according to the first aspect, the terminal device stores the distributed identification code, and the route search is performed based on the identification code when voice output becomes necessary. Request the server to distribute the corresponding unit audio data.
Accordingly, the terminal device temporarily stores the identification IDs of all the unit voice data to be distributed, and the unit voice data itself corresponding to the identification ID of the unit voice data required when the voice output becomes necessary. Since it is distributed and reproduced and output, the communication load of the network is not increased. Moreover, even if the storage device has a small storage capacity, the distribution data can be stored, and there is no fear of insufficient storage capacity.

In the invention according to claim 3, in the navigation system according to claim 1, the distribution data requested from the terminal device is data of a guide route searched based on a route search condition, and the unit voice data is the guide route. It is an identification code corresponding to the unit voice data at the guidance point set above.
Therefore, the terminal device temporarily stores the identification IDs of all the unit voice data to be distributed, and the unit voice data is identified by the identification ID required when the guidance point is approached and guidance output is required. Since the distribution request is made, the unit voice data itself is downloaded and reproduced and output, the guidance route data can be distributed without increasing the communication amount. Moreover, even if the storage capacity of the terminal device is small, unit voice data can be stored, and there is no possibility of insufficient storage capacity.

In the invention according to claim 4, in the navigation system according to claim 3, the route search server sets guidance points on the guide route searched based on the route search condition, and for each guidance point together with the guide route data. When the guidance is added as voice data to the terminal device and distributed to the terminal device, a guidance route data creating means for adding an identification code of unit voice data is provided, and the guidance route data is distributed to the terminal device.
Therefore, the terminal device temporarily stores the identification IDs of all the unit voice data to be distributed, and the unit voice data is identified by the identification ID required when the guidance point is approached and guidance output is required. Since the distribution request is made and the unit audio data itself is downloaded and reproduced and output, the guidance route data can be distributed without increasing the communication amount. Moreover, even if the storage capacity of the terminal device is small, unit voice data can be stored, and there is no possibility of insufficient storage capacity.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the navigation system according to the first aspect, the terminal device includes a distribution data storage unit that stores distribution data distributed from the route search server, a voice data request unit, and a voice data storage unit. And voice output means, and the voice data request means requests unit voice data from the route search server based on the identification code stored in the distribution data storage means when voice output is required, and the route search server Is stored in the audio data storage unit, the unit audio data is output by the audio output unit, and then the unit audio data for which output has been completed is deleted.
Therefore, the terminal device temporarily stores the identification IDs of all the unit voice data to be distributed, and the unit voice data is identified by the identification code required when the guidance point is approached and guidance output is required. Since the distribution request is made, the unit audio data itself is downloaded and reproduced and output, and thereafter the identification code and the downloaded unit audio data are deleted, the network communication load is not increased, and the storage device having a small capacity Voice guidance can be performed even when using.

In the invention according to claim 6, in the navigation system according to claim 5, the terminal device further stores the identification code of the unit voice data downloaded from the route search server and stored in the voice data storage means. The voice data requesting means refers to the identification code stored in the voice data management means and corresponds to the identification code not stored in the voice data storage means when the voice data requesting means requests voice data from the route search server. It requests the route search server to deliver unit voice data.
Accordingly, the terminal device needs to request distribution of the unit voice data already downloaded and stored in the terminal device to the route search server until the end of the series of navigation (guidance from the departure place to the destination). The communication load on the network can be further reduced.

  In the inventions according to claims 7 to 12, it is possible to provide the audio data distribution method in the navigation system according to claims 1 to 6, respectively.

  Further, in the invention according to claims 13 to 15, it is possible to provide a route search server constituting the navigation system according to claims 1, 3, and 4, respectively. According to the inventions according to claims 18, 19, and 20, terminal devices constituting the navigation systems according to claims 1 to 3, 5, and 6 can be provided, respectively. It becomes like this.

  Hereinafter, specific examples of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples and drawings. In the following embodiments, a navigation system that uses a mobile phone as a terminal device and performs route search and route guidance by voice guidance will be described as a specific example. However, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments, and The present invention can also be applied to a navigation system using a portable electronic device as a terminal or a communication navigation system using an in-vehicle mobile terminal. In the present specification, these terminal devices are collectively referred to as terminal devices.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a navigation system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the navigation system 10 includes a portable terminal 20 and a route search server 30 connected via a network 12 such as the Internet. The route search server 30 searches for the optimum route based on the route search conditions (departure point, destination) requested from the terminal device 20. In order to provide the terminal device 20 with voice guidance at the guidance point set at the searched guide route and intersection, a voice data database (DB) 318 storing voice data is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the voice data accumulated in the voice data (DB) 318 is decomposed into voice data (analog voice data recording voice generated by a speaker) for guidance at a guidance point, as shown in FIG. Each unit voice data is stored with a data name with an identification ID (identification code). For example, the guidance “Please turn right 200m, OO street, △ Chome intersection, turn right” reproduces the unit voice data specified by the identification ID [0001], [0008], [0006], [0002] in this order. Can be done.

  When the route search server 30 distributes map data and guide route data to the terminal device 20, the route search server 30 sets guidance points for performing guidance such as intersections of guide routes, and voice data to be output as guidance at the guidance points for each guidance point. Is distributed, not the audio data itself but the identification ID (identification code) for each unit audio data.

  The terminal device 20 temporarily stores identification IDs of all unit voice data distributed together with the guidance route data, and routes the identification IDs required when the guidance point is approached and guidance output is required. It sends to the search server 30 to request distribution of the corresponding unit audio data, downloads the unit audio data itself, and reproduces the audio data. Therefore, when the guidance route data is distributed, the voice data itself is not distributed, but only the identification ID is distributed, so that the communication load of the network is not increased.

  Even if the guidance route from the departure point to the destination is long and there are a lot of guidance points, the voice data identification ID is only distributed for each guidance point, so it can be distributed without increasing the amount of communication. Yes, even if the storage capacity of the terminal device 20 is small, the amount of data can be stored sufficiently. Since certain voice data is required only when approaching a certain guidance point, the identification ID is specified and the voice data itself is downloaded from the route search server 30 when necessary when approaching the guidance point. If the identification ID and the downloaded unit voice data are discarded (deleted) when the guidance is completed, the voice guidance can be performed even if a storage device with a small capacity is used.

  A reroute process is required in the terminal device 20, and the route search server 30 re-searches for a new route to the destination, and includes a guide route, a guidance point, and an identification ID of unit voice data for voice guidance. Data is created, but the guide route to the destination is generally long, the guide route in the vicinity where the reroute occurred becomes a new route, and the guide route ahead matches the guide route searched before the reroute There are many.

  Therefore, the data of the new guidance route searched by the reroute process (guidance route, guidance point, guidance data (identification ID of unit voice data)) is again delivered from the route search server 30 to the terminal device 20, and the terminal device 20 side Then, a difference is detected in comparison with the data of the original guide route, and the data portion of the new guide route that has been changed is replaced on the distribution data storage means, so that a new guide route after the reroute can be easily obtained. We can provide guidance accordingly. The replacement here refers to a process of deleting a part (difference) of the original guide route data that is no longer necessary due to the new guide route data from the original guide route data and storing the difference of the new guide route data. . Nunts

  The route search server 30 includes a control unit 311, a communication unit 312, a distribution data editing unit 313, a guide route data creation unit 314, map data (DB) 315, a route search unit 316, search network data 317, and the above-described voice data ( DB) 318.

  The search network data 317 includes road network data 317A for route search by automobile and pedestrian network data 317B for route search for pedestrians. The road network data 317A does not include road data in areas where vehicles are prohibited from entering such as pedestrian roads and parks, and the pedestrian network data 317B does not include road data such as expressways that are prohibited from pedestrian traffic. . The data structure of the search network data 317 will be described later.

  Although not shown, the control unit 311 is a microprocessor having a RAM, a ROM, and a processor, and controls the operation of each unit by a control program stored in the ROM. The communication unit 312 is an interface for communicating with the terminal device 20 via the network 12. The route search means 316 searches the optimum route with reference to the search network data 317 according to the route search condition transmitted from the terminal device 20.

  The guidance route data creation means 314 sets guidance points in the guidance route obtained as a result of the route search, and refers to the voice data (DB) 318 to identify the identification ID of the unit voice data constituting the guidance at each guidance point. Extract and create as guidance data. The guidance route and guidance data created by the guidance route data creation unit 314 are edited into data for distribution to the terminal device 20 by the distribution data editing unit 313 together with the map data acquired from the map data (DB) 315, and the communication unit. It is distributed to the terminal device 20 via 312. Similarly, when a re-search by reroute is performed, guide route data is created for a new guide route.

  Road network data 317A and pedestrian network data 317B for searching for a route by a pedestrian or an automobile are configured as follows. For example, when the road is composed of roads A, B, and C as shown in FIG. 3, the end points, intersections, and bending points of the roads A, B, and C are used as nodes, and the roads connecting the nodes are directed links. Link cost data and configuration, which is expressed as node data (node latitude / longitude), link data (link number), and link cost of each link (link distance or time required to travel the link) Is done.

  That is, in FIG. 3, ◯ and ◎ indicate nodes, and ◎ indicates a road intersection. Directional links connecting the nodes are indicated by arrow lines (solid line, dotted line, two-dot chain line). As for the links, there are links facing in the upward and downward directions of the road, but in FIG. 3, only the links in the direction of the arrows are shown for the sake of simplicity.

  When route search is performed using such road network data as a route search database, links linked from the starting node to the destination node are traced to accumulate the link cost, thereby minimizing the accumulated link cost. Search and guide the route. That is, in FIG. 3, when a route search is performed with the departure point as the node AX and the destination as the node CY, the road travels from the node AX to the road A, turns right at the second intersection, enters the road C, and reaches the node CY. The link cost is accumulated sequentially, and a route that minimizes the accumulated link cost is searched for and guided.

  Although other routes from the node AX to the node CY are not shown in FIG. 3, in reality there are other such routes, so a possible route from the node AX to the node CY is similarly searched. Of these routes, the route with the lowest link cost is determined as the optimum route. This method is performed by, for example, a known method called the Dijkstra method. Therefore, the searched guide route is expressed as the order of nodes and / or links that guide (guide) the user.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a guidance route searched by the route search server 30. In FIG. 4, a route from a departure point (start) to a destination (goal) is expressed as a route that follows links in the order of node N1, node N2, node N3, and node N4. In the intersection node, a guidance point is set in order to guide whether to go straight or turn left and right, and the guidance at the guidance point is distributed to the terminal device 20 in association with the identification ID of the unit voice data.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the guidance route data (including guidance points and identification IDs of unit voice data) of FIG. 4 distributed from the route search server 30. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, nodes N1, N2, and N4 are intersections and guidance points are set, and node N3 is a right turn and guidance is not required and guidance points are not set.

  In the node N1, identification IDs [0001, 0008, 0006, 0002] of unit voice data are associated in the order shown in FIG. Similarly, in the node N2, unit voice data identification IDs [0001, 0009, 0007, 0003] are associated in the order shown in FIG. 5, and in the node N4, unit voice data identification IDs [0001, 0010, 0005, [0003] are associated in the order of FIG.

  If the unit voice data corresponding to the identification ID [0001, 0008, 0006, 0002] is downloaded from the route search server 30 and played back as guidance of the node N1, “Turn right at 200m, 〇 way, △ Chome intersection, turn right” Is output by voice (see FIG. 2). Similarly, when the unit voice data corresponding to the identification ID is downloaded from the route search server 30 and played back, the guidance “node 200m, Δ street, □ chome intersection, turn left” is output as voice. When the unit voice data corresponding to the identification ID is downloaded from the route search server 30 and played back, the guidance “Please turn right at 200m, □ street, OOxx crossing, turn right” is output as a voice.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, the terminal device 20 includes a control unit 211, a positioning unit 212 including a GPS receiver, a matching processing unit 213, a reroute necessity determination unit 214, a route search request unit 215, a voice data request. Means 216, audio data storage means 217, communication means 218, distribution data storage means 219, audio reproduction means 220, audio output means 221 including a speaker, display means 222 including a liquid crystal display panel, operation / input means 223, difference It comprises a detecting means 224 and the like.

  The matching processing unit 213 performs a matching process on the current position (latitude / longitude) measured by the positioning unit 212 with a road or a route to correct a positioning error. The reroute necessity determination unit 214 determines whether the correction distance by the matching processing unit 213 is within a predetermined value. If the distance exceeds the predetermined distance range, it is determined that the route has deviated from the guide route, and it is determined that the reroute processing is necessary. Then, a reroute processing request is transmitted to the route search server 30.

  The guide route data distributed from the route search server 30 is temporarily stored in the distribution data storage means 219. As a result of the reroute processing request, the new guidance route data distributed from the route search server 30 is compared with the guidance route data originally distributed by the difference detection means 224 to identify the difference, and the distribution data storage means 219 stores the difference. A replacement process is performed in which the unnecessary portion is deleted from the original guide route data temporarily stored and the difference data is stored. Details of this will be described later with reference to the drawings.

  Although not shown, the control unit 211 includes a microprocessor (CPU) having a RAM and a ROM, and controls the operation of each unit by a control program stored in the ROM. The operation / input means 223 is for operation / input means including numeric keys, alphabet keys, other function keys, selection keys, scroll keys, and the like. From the menu screen displayed on the display means 222 as output means Various input operations are performed by selecting a desired menu or operating keys. Therefore, the display unit 222 also functions as a part of the operation / input unit 223. The communication unit 218 is an interface for communicating with the route search server 30 via the network 12.

  The positioning means 212 receives a GPS satellite signal by a GPS receiver, and measures the current position (latitude / longitude) of the terminal device 20. In addition, by providing an acceleration sensor, a geomagnetic sensor, etc., the current position of the terminal device 20 can be determined by autonomous navigation, and when the GPS receiver cannot be determined from the GPS satellite signal, the current position is measured instead. be able to.

  When a user wants to request a route search from the route search server 30, the user operates the operation / input unit 223 to display a service menu screen or a predetermined input screen on the display unit 222, so that the departure place, destination, and movement The route search conditions such as means (walking or car), scheduled departure time and desired arrival time are input. When the current position is selected as the starting point, the current position measured by the positioning means 212 is used as the starting point.

  The route search request unit 215 edits the input route search condition into data to be transmitted to the route search server 30 and transmits the data to the route search server 30 via the communication unit 218. Distribution data such as a guidance route, a map, and guidance data distributed from the route search server 30 is temporarily stored in the distribution data storage unit 219. These distribution data are read from the distribution data storage unit 219 as necessary and displayed on the display unit 222. At the time of display, the current position measured by the positioning means 212 is displayed as a current position mark on the map together with a guide route.

  Guide route data distributed from the route search server 30 is temporarily stored in the distribution data storage means 219. When the user travels along the guidance route and approaches the node for which the guidance point is set, the voice data requesting means 216 transmits the identification ID of the node for which the guidance point is set to the route search server 30, and the corresponding unit voice data. Request distribution (download). The route search server 30 reads the requested unit voice data from the voice data (DB) 318 based on the identification ID and distributes it to the terminal device 20.

  When the terminal device 20 receives the unit voice data distributed from the route search server 30, the terminal device 20 stores the unit voice data in the voice data storage unit 217, reproduces it in the order of the identification ID, and reproduces it in the voice output unit 221. For example, since the guidance at the node N1 described above is the identification ID [0001, 0008, 0006, 0002] (see FIGS. 5 and 2), it is said that “Turn right at 200m, OO street, △ Chome intersection, turn right”. Guidance is output from the voice output means 221.

  If the unit voice data that has become unnecessary and has progressed along the guidance route is deleted from the voice data storage means 217 and approaches a new node to which a guidance point has been set, the voice data requesting means 216 is based on the identification ID as described above. Then, a unit voice data distribution request is sent to the route search server 30, and the unit voice data necessary for the node is downloaded. By repeating this procedure, it is possible to significantly reduce the communication load compared to downloading all voice data related to the guide route at once.

  Further, since the guidance data added to the guide route data is distributed and stored with the identification ID, the communication load is small, and the capacity of the storage device for storing the distribution data is small. Since the unit voice data requested and downloaded by the voice data requesting means 216 to the route search server 30 is only data necessary for a certain node, the voice data storage means 217 may be a storage device having a small storage capacity.

  When the reroute request is transmitted to the route search server 30, the new route information obtained as a result of the re-search by the reroute process is distributed from the route search server 30 to the terminal device 20 as described above. The guidance route shown in FIG. 4 is based on the initial route search, and the guidance re-searched by the route search server 30 in accordance with the reroute request is as shown in FIG. 6 from the departure point (start) to the nodes N5, N3, Assuming that the route reaches the destination (goal) through the node N4, the part indicated by the symbol S in FIG. 7 is initially unnecessary as a result of the route processing field, as a result of the new guide route searched (see FIG. 6). It becomes a part of the guide route (see FIG. 4).

  Here, the node N2 is a left turn in the initial guidance route (see FIG. 4) and a guidance point is set, but in the guidance route after the reroute (see FIGS. 6 and 7), it is between the node N5 and the node N3. Since there is a straight line, no guidance points are set. Therefore, the route that has been changed after the reroute is the link before and after the node N5 (the node for which the guidance point is set), and the link from the node N5 to the node N3 and both nodes is the data of the original guide route. (See FIGS. 6 and 7).

  The difference detection means 224 detects the above-described difference and identifies guide route data corresponding to the difference. Based on the difference, the guide data for the nodes N1 and N2, the node N2 and the node N3, and the links between the nodes, which have been distributed as the initial guide route data, is no longer necessary. This is deleted from the stored initial guidance route data, and instead, the guidance route data (guidance points, identification of unit voice data) for the link connecting the node N5 to the node N3 received from the node N5 as a difference. (Including ID) is performed.

  Next, the operation procedure of the navigation system 10 described above will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure in normal processing, FIG. 8A is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the route search server 30, and FIG. 8B is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the terminal device 20. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the terminal device 20 in the reroute process.

  As shown in FIG. 8A, when the route search server 30 receives a route search request from the terminal device 20 in the process of step S10, the route search means 316 refers to the search network data 317 according to the route search condition in the process of step S11. To search for guidance routes. When the optimum guidance route is searched, the guidance route data creation means 314 sets guidance points in the process of step S12.

  Next, in the process of step S13, the guidance route data creation means 314 refers to the voice data (DB) 318, extracts the identification ID of the unit voice data that matches the content that is guided by the guidance point, and the process of step S14. The guidance route data is created by adding the guidance point and the identification ID of the unit voice data to the guidance route data. The created guide route data is edited into data to be distributed to the terminal device 20 by the distribution data editing means 313 in the process of step S15 and distributed to the terminal device 20.

  As shown in FIG. 8B, when the terminal device 20 transmits a route search request to the route search server 30 in the process of step S20 and receives guide route data from the route search server 30 in the process of step S21, the terminal device 20 stores it in the distribution data storage unit 219. This is temporarily stored. In the process of step S22, when approaching a node with voice guidance, that is, a node for which a guidance point is set, the process proceeds to step S23, where the voice data requesting means 216 sets the identification ID of the unit voice data added to the guidance point. The route search server 30 is used to request distribution of the corresponding unit voice data.

  If it is determined in step S22 that there is no voice guidance (guidance point setting), the process proceeds to step S28. In the process of step S28, it is determined whether or not the route guidance is finished (whether the destination is reached and the navigation is finished). In the flowchart of FIG. 8B, the process from step S22 to step S27 is a process that is repeated for each identification ID when the identification IDs of a plurality of unit audio data are associated with one guidance point.

  When the requested unit voice data is received from the route search server 30 in the process of step S24, it is stored in the voice data storage means 217 in the process of step S25. Then, in step S26, the unit audio data is sequentially output by the audio reproduction means 220 and the audio output means 221. When the audio output is completed, the unit audio data is deleted from the audio data storage means 217 in the process of step S27.

  In the process of step S28, it is determined whether the route guidance has been completed (whether the destination has been reached and the navigation has been completed). If not, the process returns to step S22 and the processes up to step S28 are repeated.

  Next, the operation procedure of the terminal device 20 when a reroute request occurs in the terminal device 20 will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG. The positioning means 212 measures the current position in the process of step S30, and the matching processing means 213 performs the matching process in the process of step S31. In the process of step S32, if the reroute necessity determination means 214 exceeds the predetermined distance range as a result of the matching process, it is determined that the route has deviated from the road or the guide route and determines that the reroute process is required, and the process of step S33. The reroute request is transmitted to the route search server 30. The current position (latitude / longitude) measured by the positioning means 212 is added to the reroute processing request as a starting point condition in the reroute processing.

  When the route search server 30 receives the reroute processing request from the terminal device 20, the route search means 316 searches for the optimum route to the original destination using the current position (latitude / longitude) measured by the positioning means 212 as a departure point, Guide route data is created for the obtained new guide route and distributed to the terminal device 20.

  When the terminal device 20 receives the guidance route data re-searched as described above from the route search server 30 in the process of step S34, the difference detection means 224 is stored in the distribution data storage means 219 in the process of step S35. The initially distributed guide route data and the newly distributed guide route data are compared to identify the difference, and from the initial guide route data temporarily stored in the distribution data storage means 219 in the process of step S36. The unnecessary part is deleted, and the replacement process of storing the difference guide route data is performed in the process of step S37.

  After the process of step S37, the route guidance procedure described in the flowchart of FIG. 8 (the process of steps S22 to S27 is performed, and it is determined whether the route guidance is completed in the process of step S37. If is not completed, the process returns to the current position positioning process in step S30. If the route guidance is completed, the process is terminated.

  FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the navigation system 10 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the navigation system 10 shown in FIG. 10, the same components as those in the navigation system 10 shown in FIG. In order to avoid duplication of explanation, explanations about the components having the same reference numerals are omitted.

  In the first embodiment, the unit voice data downloaded to the terminal device 20 by the identification ID has been described as being deleted from the voice data storage unit 217 every time output ends. However, until a series of navigation to the destination ends. The unit voice data is held in the voice data storage unit 217, and the voice data having the same identification ID as the identification ID already downloaded and stored is not downloaded from the route search server 30, but stored in the voice data storage unit 217. Unit audio data can also be used.

  In order to perform such control, in the navigation system 10 shown in FIG. 10, the terminal device 20 further includes voice data management means 225 in addition to the configuration of the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 11, the voice data management means 225 stores identification IDs of unit voice data that have already been downloaded and saved in the voice data storage means 217. In FIG. 11, N1, N2, and N4 indicate nodes of the guide route shown in FIG. The identification ID indicates unit voice data required at each of the nodes N1, N2, and N4. The example of FIG. 11 is the same as the guidance shown in FIG. The identification ID in parentheses in FIG. 11 is the same as the unit voice data used in the other previous nodes, and uses the unit voice data downloaded from the route search server 30 and stored in the voice data storage means 217. be able to.

  That is, since the unit voice data with the identification ID [0001, 0008, 0006, 0002] has been downloaded and stored in the voice data storage means 217 at the node N1, the unit voice data with the identification ID [0001] is stored at the node N2. Can use the data stored in the voice data storage means 217 and does not need to be downloaded from the route search server 30 again. Similarly, the unit voice data with the identification ID [0001, 0003] in the node N4 has already been downloaded in the previous node, and therefore does not need to be downloaded from the route search server 30 again. As described above, when the voice data requesting unit 216 makes a request for downloading voice data to the route search server 30, the identification ID (FIG. 11) stored in the voice data managing unit 225 is referred to and the identification already downloaded. Except for the ID, it is only necessary to make a voice data request for only a newly required identification ID.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure of the terminal device 20 according to the second embodiment. When the route search request is transmitted to the route search server 30 in the process of step S50 and the guide route data is received from the route search server 30 in the process of step S51, it is temporarily stored in the distribution data storage means 219. In the process of step S52, when a node with voice guidance, that is, a node for which a guidance point is set is approached, the process proceeds to step S53, where the voice data requesting means 216 obtains the identification ID of the unit voice data added to the guidance point. The route search server 30 is used to request distribution of the corresponding unit voice data.

  If it is determined in step S52 that there is no voice guidance (guidance point setting), the process proceeds to step S58. In the process of step S58, it is determined whether or not the route guidance is finished (whether the destination is reached and the navigation is finished). In the flowchart of FIG. 12, the processes from step S52 to step S57 are repeated for each identification ID when the identification IDs of a plurality of unit audio data are associated with one guidance point.

  Next, in the process of step S53, referring to the identification ID stored in the voice data management means 225 for the identification ID associated with the guidance point (identification ID for which the corresponding unit voice data has already been downloaded), the voice data It is determined whether or not it has been saved in the storage means 217. For identification IDs that are not stored in the voice data storage unit 217, the voice data request unit 216 requests the route search server 30 to distribute unit voices in step S54. If already stored in the audio data storage means 217, the process proceeds to the audio output process in step S57. At this time, the voice output uses unit voice data stored and saved in the voice data storage means 217.

  When the requested unit voice data is received from the route search server 30 in the process of step S55, it is stored in the voice data storage means 217 and the identification ID is added to the voice data management means 225 in the process of step S56. Then, in the process of step S57, the unit audio data is sequentially output by the audio reproducing means 220 and the audio output means 221, and in the process of step S58, whether the route guidance is completed (whether the destination is reached and the navigation is completed). Is determined.

  If navigation is not completed in the process of step S58, the process returns to step S52 and the processes up to step S57 are repeated. When the navigation is finished in the process of step S58, the unit voice data and the identification ID stored in the voice data storage means 217 and the voice data management means 225 are deleted in the process of step S59, and the process is finished.

  If the navigation system 10 is configured in this way, the unit voice data that has already been downloaded and stored in the terminal device 20 until the end of a series of navigation (guidance from the departure place to the destination) is re-routed. There is no need to make a distribution request to the server 30, and the communication load can be further reduced.

  In the second embodiment, the unit voice data downloaded from the route search server 30 is deleted from the terminal device 20 when the navigation is completed. However, a certain amount of storage device capacity is secured in the in-vehicle navigation system. If possible, it is possible to store a certain amount of unit audio data and use the stored unit audio data as necessary.

  In the first and second embodiments, the example in which the guidance (voice guidance) at the guidance point set in the guidance route is distributed as voice data has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the navigation system provides it. In other services, such as searching for places of interest such as hotels and restaurants, and guidance services, when delivering search results to the terminal device, the server adds voice data to the terminal device. It is generally applicable when delivering

  In addition, unit voice data of voice guidance includes standard guidance, for example, a distance to the intersection that is a guidance point (200m ahead), or guidance of straight ahead or left / right turn, road names, intersection names, and landmark names. Thus, it becomes a combination of indeterminate guidance depending on the guide route. Atypical guidance is added and updated as map data is added and updated after a certain period of time.

  In the first and second embodiments, the example in which the present invention is intended to be applied to all of the above-described regular and indeterminate unit audio data has been described. It is also possible to apply the distribution method according to the present invention to a single unit voice data and download it together with the identification ID. As described above, the communication load can be further reduced by applying the distribution method according to the present invention to the irregular unit voice data.

  Further, in the first and second embodiments, the example in which the difference between the new guide route data and the initial guide route data by the reroute process is posted on the terminal device 20 side is described, but this is performed on the route search server 30 side. It can also be configured. In that case, the terminal device 20 is not provided with the difference detection means 224, but is provided with a difference detection means on the route search server 30 side. Only the corresponding part of the guide route data may be distributed to the terminal device 20, and the terminal device 20 may be configured to perform a process of replacing the unnecessary part of the original guide route data with the difference data based on the difference data.

  According to the present invention, voice data such as voice guidance is divided into unit data, each is given an identification ID, the initial identification ID is downloaded, and the voice data based on the identification ID every time voice output is required. Since it is downloaded and deleted when it is no longer needed, the communication load can be reduced. Further, when the reroute process occurs, the guide route data only of the difference between the initial guide route data and the new guide route obtained as a result of the re-search is distributed, so that the communication load can be further reduced. Therefore, it is suitable for use in a communication type in-vehicle navigation system and a pedestrian navigation system using a mobile phone. In addition, the communication packet charge is low, which is particularly suitable for a navigation system using a mobile phone.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the navigation system concerning Example 1 of this invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a data structure of a voice database (DB) storing voice data for guidance. It is a schematic diagram explaining the structure of the road network for a route search. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of a guidance route. It is a figure which shows an example of the guidance data (voice data) in the guidance route | root of FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the new guidance route searched by the reroute process. It is a figure for demonstrating the difference of the guidance route after the initial route of FIG. 4, and the guidance route after the reroute of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure at the normal time of the navigation system concerning Example 1 of this invention. FIG. 8A is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the route search server 30, and FIG. 8B is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the terminal device 20. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure in the terminal device at the time of the reroute process of the navigation system concerning Example 1 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the navigation system concerning Example 2 of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of the data memorize | stored in an audio | voice data management means in the navigation system of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure of the terminal device in the navigation system concerning Example 2 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

10. Navigation system 12 ... Network 20 ... Terminal device 211 ... Control means 212 ... Positioning means 213 ... Matching processing means 214 ... Reroute necessity determination means 215 ..Route search request means 216... Voice data request means 217... Voice data storage means 218... Communication means 219... Distribution data storage means 220. 222 ... display means 223 ... operation / input means 224 ... difference detection means 30 ... route search server 311 ... control means 312 ... communication means 313 ... distribution data editing means 314 ... Guide route data creation means 315 ... Map data (DB)
316 ... Route search means 317 ... Search network data 317A ... Road network data 317B ... Pedestrian network data 318 ... Voice data (DB)

Claims (20)

The voice data to be distributed to the terminal device is divided into unit voice data, and a voice database in which an identification code is associated and stored for each unit voice data is provided, and voice data is added when data requested by the terminal device is distributed. If necessary, an identification code is added to the delivery data and delivered to the terminal device, and the search network data is referred to based on the route search conditions including the departure place and the destination, and from the departure place to the destination. A navigation system including a route search server in which a route search means searches for a guide route and distributes guide route data to a terminal device,
The navigation system includes a matching processing unit that corrects an error of a measured current position by matching a road or a route, a route search unit that performs a reroute process when the error exceeds a predetermined range, and a difference detection unit And comprising
The difference detecting means detects a difference between the original guidance route searched before the found new guide route and reroute processing by the reroute processing, the data of a new guide route identified by the difference detecting means Navigation data characterized in that the data of the part of the original guide route that is no longer needed is deleted from the data of the original guide route and replaced with the data of the new part of the guide route specified by the difference detecting means. system.   The terminal device stores the distributed identification code, and is configured to request distribution of the unit voice data corresponding to the route search server based on the identification code when voice output becomes necessary. The navigation system according to claim 1.   The distribution data requested from the terminal device is guidance route data searched based on a route search condition or a reroute processing request, and the unit voice data corresponds to unit voice data at a guidance point set on the guidance route. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the navigation system is an identification code.   The route search server sets a guidance point on a guidance route searched based on a route search condition or a reroute processing request, and adds guidance as voice data for each guidance point together with the guidance route data to the terminal device. The navigation system according to claim 3, further comprising guide route data creating means for adding an identification code of unit voice data when delivering, wherein the guide route data is delivered to the terminal device.   The terminal device includes distribution data storage means for storing distribution data distributed from a route search server, voice data request means, voice data storage means, and voice output means, and the voice data request means is voice output. Is requested to the route search server based on the identification code stored in the distribution data storage means, the unit voice data distributed from the route search server is stored in the voice data storage means, 2. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the unit voice data is output by the output means, and thereafter the unit voice data for which the output has been completed is deleted.   The terminal device further includes voice data management means for storing identification codes of unit voice data downloaded from the route search server and stored in the voice data storage means, and the voice data request means requests the voice data from the route search server. In doing so, it refers to the identification code stored in the voice data management means, and requests the route search server to deliver unit voice data corresponding to the identification code not stored in the voice data storage means. The navigation system according to claim 5. The voice data to be distributed to the terminal device is divided into unit voice data, and a voice database in which an identification code is associated and stored for each unit voice data is provided, and voice data is added when data requested by the terminal device is distributed. If necessary, an identification code is added to the delivery data and delivered to the terminal device, and the search network data is referred to based on the route search conditions including the departure place and the destination, and from the departure place to the destination. A voice data distribution method in a navigation system including a route search server for searching a guide route by a route search means and distributing guide route data to a terminal device,
The navigation system includes a matching processing unit that corrects an error of a measured current position by matching a road or a route, a route search unit that performs a reroute process when the error exceeds a predetermined range, and a difference detection unit And comprising
A first step of detecting a difference between the original guidance route the difference detecting means is searched before the found new guide route and reroute processing by the reroute processing, new identified by said difference detecting means Data of the part of the original guide route that is no longer necessary due to the data of the guide route is deleted from the data of the original guide route and replaced with data of a new part of the guide route specified by the difference detection means . And an audio data delivery method comprising the steps of: The audio data distribution method further includes:
A third step of adding an identification code to the distribution data and distributing it to the terminal device when voice guidance data needs to be added when distributing the data requested from the terminal device;
A fourth step of storing the identification code distributed by the terminal device and requesting the distribution of the unit voice data corresponding to the route search server based on the identification code when voice output becomes necessary; 8. The audio data delivery method according to claim 7, further comprising:   In the third step, the distribution data requested from the terminal device is guide route data searched based on route search conditions, and the unit voice data is unit voice data at a guidance point set on the guide route. The audio data distribution method according to claim 8, wherein the identification code corresponds to: The route search server sets a guidance point on a guidance route searched based on a route search condition or a reroute processing request, and adds guidance as voice data for each guidance point together with the guidance route data to the terminal device. When delivering, it comprises a guide route data creation means for adding an identification code of unit voice data,
10. The voice data distribution method according to claim 9, wherein in the third step, the route search server distributes the guide route data to the terminal device. The terminal device includes distribution data storage means for storing distribution data distributed from the route search server, voice data request means, voice data storage means, and voice output means,
In the fourth step, when voice output is required, the voice data requesting unit requests unit voice data from the route search server based on the identification code stored in the distribution data storage unit, and is distributed from the route search server. 9. The method of claim 8, further comprising: storing the unit voice data in the voice data storage means, outputting the unit voice data by the voice output means, and then deleting the unit voice data for which the output has been completed. Audio data delivery method. The terminal device further includes voice data management means for storing an identification code of unit voice data downloaded from the route search server and stored in the voice data storage means,
In the fourth step, when the voice data request means requests voice data from the route search server, the identification code stored in the voice data management means is referred to and the identification code not stored in the voice data storage means is referred to. The audio data distribution method according to claim 11, further comprising a process of requesting the route search server to distribute unit audio data corresponding to the above. The identification code of the unit voice data distributed from the route search server is stored, and when the voice output becomes necessary, the distribution of the unit voice data corresponding to the route search server is requested based on the identification code, and positioning is performed. Matching processing means for matching and correcting an error in the current position with a road or route, and a terminal device that requests reroute processing when the error exceeds a predetermined range, the terminal device being a difference detection means The difference detection means detects a difference between the new guidance route searched by the reroute processing and the original guidance route searched before the reroute processing, and the new guidance route specified by the difference detection means The data of the part of the original guide route that is no longer necessary due to the data of the original data is deleted from the data of the original guide route and specified by the difference detecting means A route search server connected via a network to a terminal device for data and the replacement of a new portion of the path,
The route search server divides voice data to be delivered to a terminal device into unit voice data, and has a voice database in which an identification code is stored in association with each unit voice data, and delivers data requested by the terminal device. When it is necessary to add voice guidance data at this time, an identification code is added to the distribution data and distributed to the terminal device.   The distribution data requested from the terminal device is guide route data searched based on a route search condition or a reroute processing request, and the unit voice data corresponds to unit voice data at a guidance point set on the guide route. The route search server according to claim 13, wherein the route search server is an identification code.   The route search server sets a guidance point on a guidance route searched based on a route search condition or a reroute processing request, and adds guidance as voice data for each guidance point together with the guidance route data to the terminal device. 15. The route search server according to claim 14, further comprising guide route data creating means for adding an identification code of unit voice data when delivering, wherein the guide route data is delivered to the terminal device. Based on the route search condition including the departure point and the destination or the reroute processing request, the route search means searches the guide route from the departure point to the destination by referring to the search network data and distributes the guide route to the terminal device. A route search server, comprising: a voice database in which voice data to be distributed to a terminal device is divided into unit voice data, and an identification code is associated with each unit voice data and stored; When it is necessary to add voice guidance data at the time of distribution, a terminal device connected via a network to a route search server that adds an identification code to the distribution data and distributes it to the terminal device,
The terminal device includes a matching processing unit that corrects an error of a measured current position by matching a road or a route, a route search unit that performs a reroute process when the error exceeds a predetermined range, and a difference detection unit And comprising
The difference detecting means detects a difference between the original guidance route searched before the found new guide route and reroute processing by the reroute processing, the data of a new guide route identified by the difference detecting means A terminal characterized in that the data of the part of the original guide route that is no longer needed is deleted from the data of the original guide route and replaced with the data of the new part of the guide route specified by the difference detection means apparatus.   The terminal device stores the distributed identification code, and is configured to request distribution of the unit voice data corresponding to the route search server based on the identification code when voice output becomes necessary. The terminal device according to claim 16.   The distribution data requested by the terminal device is guide route data searched based on a route search condition or a reroute processing request, and the unit voice data is an identification corresponding to unit voice data at a guidance point set on the guide route. The terminal device according to claim 17, wherein the terminal device is a code.   The terminal device includes distribution data storage means for storing distribution data distributed from a route search server, voice data request means, voice data storage means, and voice output means, and the voice data request means is voice output. Is requested to the route search server based on the identification code stored in the distribution data storage means, the unit voice data distributed from the route search server is stored in the voice data storage means, 18. The terminal apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the unit voice data is output by the output means, and thereafter, the unit voice data for which the output has been completed is deleted.   The terminal device further includes voice data management means for storing identification codes of unit voice data downloaded from the route search server and stored in the voice data storage means, and the voice data request means requests the voice data from the route search server. In doing so, it refers to the identification code stored in the voice data management means, and requests the route search server to deliver unit voice data corresponding to the identification code not stored in the voice data storage means. The terminal device according to claim 19.

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