JP4528546B2 - Navigation device, control method, control program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a navigation device that searches for a guidance route to a destination, a control method thereof, a control program, and a recording medium.

  Conventionally, a navigation device that guides a guidance route from a current location to a destination is known. Also, this type of navigation device has a route search function that searches for and presents a guidance route from the departure point to the destination based on the departure point (or current location) and the destination input by the user. There is. However, in this route search, the guide route intended by the user is not always presented.

  In recent years, therefore, a navigation device has been proposed that allows a user to specify search conditions and searches for a guidance route based on the search conditions (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The search conditions that can be specified by the user include a road type condition (first search condition) for specifying a road type to be preferentially used as a route, and a search criterion (second search condition for specifying the search condition in more detail). Search condition). In general, the road type condition includes options such as “general road priority” and “toll road priority”, and the search criteria include “distance priority”, “time priority”, “charge priority” and Options such as “Standard” are provided.

  Here, “General road priority” specifies that the general road is preferentially taken into the route to the destination, and “Toll road priority” preferentially gives the toll road to the route to the destination. It is specified to be included. “Distance priority” specifies that a short travel distance to the destination is selected preferentially, and “Time priority” preferentially selects a short travel time to the destination. Specifies that a selection is to be made. “Price priority” specifies that the toll road to the destination is cheaper, and “standard” takes into account “distance priority” and “time priority”. This specifies the search criteria not to be used.

In this way, by enabling the user to specify search conditions such as road type conditions and search criteria, a guide route that meets the user's needs is searched and presented.
JP-A-8-201087

  However, in the conventional navigation device, when the user performs a route search by changing the road type condition, it is necessary to specify the search criteria each time. For example, after the user designates “paid road priority” as the road type condition and performs route search by specifying “distance priority” as the search criterion, the route search is performed again by specifying “general road priority” as the road type condition. When performing the above, it becomes necessary to respecify the search criteria. That is, in the conventional car navigation apparatus, when the user performs a route search by changing the road type condition, it is necessary to change both the road type condition and the search criterion. There was a problem such as poor operability.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a navigation device, a control method thereof, a control program, and a recording medium that can improve operability during route search.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a first search condition designation that designates a road type that is preferentially used as the guidance route in a navigation device including route search means for searching for a guidance route to a destination. For each road type designated by the first search condition designating means, a second search condition designating means for designating a search criterion for designating the search condition for the guidance route, and a designation by the first search condition designating means in advance. Storage means for storing the search criteria designated by the second search condition designating means for each road type, and the route search means uses the road type designated by the first search condition designating means. Correspondingly, the guidance route is searched based on the search criteria stored in advance in the storage means .

Further, the present invention is the above invention, wherein the route search means is configured such that each of the road types included in the guide route among the guide routes satisfying the road type specified by the first search condition specifying means is the search criterion. It is characterized by searching for a guidance route that satisfies

The present invention, in the above invention, the first search condition designating means, and the preferentially used road type to as the guidance route, to specify a preference of any of the general road and toll road Features.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a navigation device control method including a route search means for searching for a guide route to a destination, wherein a first road type that is preferentially used as the guide route is designated. A second step for designating a search criterion for designating the search conditions for the guidance route for each road type designated in the first step, and a second step for designating the second search condition for the road type designated in the first step in advance. A third step of storing the search criteria specified in the step in the storage means; and the search criteria stored in advance in the storage means corresponding to the road type specified in the first step. And a fourth step of searching for a guidance route based on the above.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, in a control program for a navigation apparatus including a computer that searches for a guidance route to a destination , a road type that preferentially uses the computer as the guidance route is designated. First search condition designating means, second search condition designating means for designating search criteria for designating search conditions for the guidance route for each road type designated by the first search condition designating means, the first search condition designating in advance Storage means for storing the search criteria specified by the second search condition specifying means for each road type specified by the means, and the storage corresponding to the road type specified by the first search condition specifying means based on the search criteria stored in advance in the unit, to characterized in that to function as a route searching means for searching for a guide route to the destination .

  The present invention can also be implemented in a mode in which the control program is recorded and distributed on a recording medium such as an optical disk such as a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM or a magnetic disk such as a floppy (registered trademark). The control program can also be implemented by transmitting it via a telecommunication line (including an optical fiber network) such as the Internet.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the operability during route search.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, an in-vehicle navigation device (so-called car navigation device) will be exemplified as the navigation device.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of navigation device 100 according to the present embodiment. As shown in this figure, the navigation device 100 includes an absolute position / orientation detection unit 1, a relative orientation detection unit 2, a vehicle speed detection unit 3, a main control unit 4, a ROM 5, a DRAM 6, an SRAM 7, and a VRAM 8. A user interface unit 9, a display unit 10, an input unit 11, a disk control unit 12, an FM multiplex signal processing unit 13, and an external recording device control unit 14.

  The absolute position / orientation detection unit 1 includes an antenna (which may be a receiver) that receives a GPS radio wave transmitted from a GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite, and is the current location of the automobile on which the navigation device 100 is mounted, that is, the own vehicle. The absolute position coordinates and direction on the ground surface of the position are calculated based on GPS radio waves and output to the main control unit 4. The relative azimuth detecting unit 2 has a gyro sensor, detects a relative azimuth of the own vehicle position, and outputs it to the main control unit 4. The vehicle speed detection unit 3 processes vehicle speed pulses obtained from the automobile and outputs the speed of the host vehicle to the main control unit 4.

  The main control unit 4 executes various processes such as control of each part of the navigation device 100 and processes for the navigation function, and includes a CPU as arithmetic means and other peripheral circuits. The ROM 5 stores various programs such as a control program, a basic input output system (BIOS), a boot program for starting the apparatus, and a program for realizing a navigation function, and can be accessed by the main control unit 4. Has been made. The DRAM 6 is a volatile memory and is used as a work area for the main control unit 4. The SRAM 7 is a non-volatile memory, and is supplied with power from a main power source (not shown) such as an accessory power source of an automobile, and a standby power source (not shown) such as a battery while the main power source is off. Is configured so that the stored contents can be held at all times by supplying power from the storage device, and functions as a backup memory. The VRAM 8 is a buffer memory in which screen data displayed on the display unit 10 is written.

  The display unit 10 displays various information such as a map for navigation, a vehicle position, and an operation menu under the control of the user interface unit 9. For example, the display unit 10 is an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or an EL (Electro Luminescent). ) A display device such as a display is provided. The input unit 11 receives a user's instruction operation and outputs it to the user interface unit 9. The input unit 11 includes a plurality of operators disposed on the front portion of the navigation device 100 and the display device provided in the display unit 10. Is provided with a touch panel (not shown). Note that the input unit 11 may be configured such that the navigation device 100 can be remotely operated by a remote controller or the like.

  The user interface unit 9 includes an input / output (I / O) control circuit and a driver circuit, and functions as an interface that connects the display unit 10 and the input unit 11 to the main control unit 4. Specifically, the user interface unit 9 executes display control of the display unit 10 under the control of the main control unit 4 and outputs an operation of the input unit 11 to the main control unit 4.

  The disk control unit 12 controls storage devices such as a CD-ROM drive, a DVD-ROM drive, and a hard disk drive that store map data used for navigation and various data. The FM multiplex signal processing unit 13 receives FM multiplex broadcast waves, extracts VICS (road traffic information communication system) information indicating information such as traffic jams, accidents, and traffic regulations, and outputs the information to the main control unit 4. is there. The external recording device control unit 14 performs recording and reading of data with respect to an external recording medium such as a memory card, a Memory Stick (registered trademark), and a compact flash (registered trademark) card.

  Under the above configuration, when the destination is input from the input unit 11 by the user, the main control unit 4 displays the guidance route from the vehicle position detected by the absolute position / orientation detection unit 1 to the destination. It searches and displays the optimal map and the own vehicle position on the said display part 10 to show the said guidance route. While the vehicle is running, the main control unit 4 detects the vehicle position calculated by autonomous navigation based on the detection results of the relative direction detection unit 2 and the vehicle speed detection unit 3 by the absolute position / direction detection unit 1. By using the hybrid navigation that corrects the vehicle position based on the vehicle position, the vehicle position obtained with high accuracy is displayed on a map to provide route guidance.

  By the way, in this Embodiment, when the destination is input from the said input part 11, the main-control part 4 has a function which searches the guidance route from the present location (own vehicle position) to the destination. . In this route search, the above-described road type condition (first search condition) and a search criterion (second search condition) for specifying a search condition other than the road type condition in more detail are input as search conditions. The user can specify using the part 11.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a search condition designation screen 200 displayed on the display unit 10 when the user designates a search condition. As shown in this figure, the search condition designation screen 200 displays a road type condition column 201, a toll road priority search criterion column 202, a general road priority search criterion column 203, and a search start button 204. In each of the columns 201 to 203, a plurality of selection items are displayed.

  The road type condition column 201 is for specifying the road type condition described above, and has “toll road priority” and “general road priority” as selection items, and only one of them can be selected and specified. Yes.

  The toll road priority search criteria column 202 is for designating search criteria associated with the road type condition “toll road priority”. As the selection items, the above-mentioned “standard”, “fee priority”, “ It has “distance priority” and “time priority”, and one of them can be selected and specified.

  The general road priority search criterion column 203 is used to specify a search criterion associated with the “general road priority” of the road type condition, and the above-mentioned “standard” and “fee priority” are selected as selection items. And “distance priority” and “national road priority”, and any one of them can be selected and designated. Here, “National road priority” designates that a national road is preferentially taken in as a general road used for a route to a destination.

  As described above, search criteria corresponding to “toll road priority” and search criteria corresponding to “general road priority” have different selection items. Routes can be specified, whereas “General road priority” does not preferentially search for routes that include toll roads, so there is no need to specify conditions based on tolls. This is because there is a difference in conditions (search criteria) that can be specified for each priority road type, for example, it is not necessary to specify in “toll road priority” while a route can be specified by use. That is, the search criteria for each priority road type may not have the same selection item.

  The road type condition and each search criterion selected and designated on the search condition designation screen 200 are stored in the DRAM 6 or the SRAM 7. Then, after the selection items in the fields 201 to 203 are selected and designated, when the search start button 204 is operated and the search start is instructed, the main control unit 4 selects the road type condition selected and designated by the user, The search for the guidance route is started based on the search criteria of the toll road priority search criteria and the general road priority search criteria selected and designated for each road type condition.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the main control unit 4 first determines whether “toll road priority” is selected and specified as the road type condition (step S101), and “toll road priority” is selected. If it is designated (step S101: Y), the route search process is started (step S104) using the search criteria selected and designated in the toll road priority search criteria column 202 (step S102). Exit. On the other hand, if “toll road priority” is not selected and specified in step S101 (step S101: N), the search criterion selected and specified in the general road priority search criterion column 203 is used (step S103). The route search process is started (step S104), and this process is terminated.

  With the above processing, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, “time priority” is selected and specified in the toll road priority search reference column 202, and “distance priority” is selected and specified in the general road priority search criterion column 203. If “toll road priority” is selected and specified in the road type condition column 201, a search is made for a guidance route that uses the toll road preferentially and that has a short travel distance. Become.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the toll road priority search criterion column 202 and the general road priority search criterion column 203 for specifying the search criterion for each item (condition) that can be specified as the road type condition are provided. Even if the item to be selected and specified in the road type condition column 201 is changed, the search criteria can be specified in advance for each item, so that it is not necessary to specify the search criteria each time. The operability of the navigation device 100 can be improved.

  The above-described embodiment is merely an aspect of the present invention, and can be arbitrarily modified within the scope of the present invention.

  For example, in the embodiment described above, the following designated items may be used as search criteria that can be designated for each road type condition. In other words, even if “toll road general” is designated as the road type preferentially included in the route in the road type condition, the searched route includes the general road section in addition to the toll road section. Is common. Therefore, as a search criterion, two search criteria, “a toll road segment search criterion” that is a search criterion for a toll road segment, and “a general road segment search criterion” that is a search criterion for a general road segment are provided. FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the search condition designation screen 200 according to this modification.

  As shown in this figure, in the present modification, the embodiment described above is different in that a toll road section search reference field 205 and a general road section search reference field 206 are provided as search reference fields. Is different. In the toll road section search criteria column 205, “Standard”, “Price priority”, “Distance priority” and “Time priority” are provided as selection items, and the general road section search criterion 206 includes “Standard”, “National road priority”, “Distance priority”, and “Time priority” are provided as selection items.

  Under such a configuration, the main control unit 4 is based on the road type condition selected and designated by the user, and the toll road section search standard and the general road section search standard search standard selected and designated for each road type condition. Start searching for a guidance route.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, first, the main control unit 4 determines whether a toll road section is included in the guidance route searched based on the road type specified in the road type condition column 201. When the determination is made (step S201) and the toll road section is searched (step S201: Y), the route search process is performed using the search criteria selected and specified in the toll road section search reference field 205 (step S202). Is started (step S204), and this process is terminated. On the other hand, when the toll road section is not included in the guidance route to be searched in step S201 (step S201: N), the search criterion selected and specified in the general road section search criterion column 206 is used (step S201). S203), the route search process is started (step S204), and this process is terminated.

  With the above processing, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, “charge priority” is selected and specified in the toll road section search reference field 205, and “national road priority” is selected and specified in the general road section search reference field 206. When “toll road priority” is selected and specified in the road type condition column 201, as shown in FIG. 6, the toll road has a low toll road charge and preferentially incorporates a national road into a general road. Will be searched.

  For example, there are two available toll roads (motorway (so-called expressway)), “Tomei Expressway” and “Chuo Expressway”, such as designating the departure point as Tokyo and the destination as Osaka. In addition, the user selects and designates the desired toll road condition in the toll road section search reference field 205, such as priority that the fare is high but the distance is short and priority / time is required but the fare is low. It is possible to search for a guidance route that matches the user's wish.

  As described above, according to the present modification, because the configuration is such that a condition for each road type (toll road section and general road section) that can be included in the guidance route is specified as a search criterion, the user has changed the road type condition. However, it is not necessary to change the search criteria for each road type included in the guidance route, and thereby the operability of the navigation device can be improved.

  In the above-described embodiment, an in-vehicle device is exemplified as the navigation device. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can also be applied to a navigation device incorporated in a portable information device such as a mobile phone or a PDA.

It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of the navigation apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a search condition designation | designated screen typically. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of a navigation apparatus. It is a figure which shows typically an example of the search condition designation | designated screen which concerns on a modification. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the navigation apparatus which concerns on a modification. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of this modification.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 4 Detecting and main control part 10 Display part 11 Input part 100 Navigation apparatus 200 Search condition designation | designated screen 201 Road classification condition column 202 Toll road priority search reference field 203 General road priority search reference field 205 Toll road section search reference field

Claims (6)

In a navigation apparatus provided with route search means for searching for a guidance route to a destination,
First search condition designating means for designating a road type preferentially used as the guidance route;
Second search condition designating means for designating search criteria for designating the search conditions for the guidance route for each road type designated by the first search condition designating means;
Storage means for storing the search criteria designated by the second search condition designating means for each road type designated in advance by the first search condition designating means ,
The route searching means searches for a guidance route based on the search criteria stored in advance in the storage means corresponding to the road type specified by the first search condition specifying means. . The route search means includes
The guide route satisfying the search criterion is searched for each of the road types included in the guide route among the guide routes satisfying the road type specified by the first search condition specifying means. The navigation device according to 1. The first search condition designating means includes:
And a road type preferentially used as the guide route, the navigation device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that to specify a preference of any of the general road and toll roads. In a control method of a navigation device provided with route search means for searching for a guidance route to a destination,
A first step of designating a road type preferentially used as the guide route;
A second step of specifying a search criterion for specifying a search condition for the guidance route for each road type specified in the first step;
For each road type designated in advance in the first step, a third step for storing the search criteria designated in the second step in a storage means;
The route search means includes a fourth step of searching for a guidance route based on the search criteria stored in advance in the storage means, corresponding to the road type specified in the first step. Control method of navigation device. In a control program for a navigation device provided with a computer for searching for a guidance route to a destination , the computer comprises:
First search condition designating means for designating a road type preferentially used as the guide route ;
Second search condition designating means for designating a search criterion for designating the search condition for the guidance route for each road type designated by the first search condition designating means;
Storage means for storing the search criteria designated by the second search condition designation means for each road type designated in advance by the first search condition designation means; and
Functioning as route search means for searching for a guide route to a destination based on the search criteria stored in advance in the storage means corresponding to the road type specified by the first search condition specifying means. A characteristic control program. A computer-readable recording medium on which the control program according to claim 5 is recorded.

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