JPH11153444A - Navigator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a navigator in which a bypass route can be selected in accordance with traffic congestion information. SOLUTION: A control device 1A displays a map read from a map information memory medium 7 to a display unit 10, and overwrites current position coordinates determined by a GPS receiver 2 on the map to be displayed. As traffic congestion information is received from a congestion information receiver 12, the control device 1A memorizes the received congestion information in a nonvolatile memory 11, and the received information memorized in the nonvolatile memory 11 is overwritten on the map in the order of provision to be displayed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a navigation device, and more particularly to an improvement in a navigation device having a function of overwriting a congestion information obtained from the outside on a map displayed on a screen of a display device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The present location is determined by using radio waves from a plurality of satellites, map data is read out from a map information storage medium such as a CD-ROM, and a map is displayed on a display device. In-vehicle navigation devices that display the information on a map are becoming widespread.

[0003] Such a navigation device is configured, for example, as shown in FIG. This navigation device is mounted on a vehicle, and has a built-in predetermined program, for example, and operates with a central processing unit (CP) operated by program control.
U) and the like, a GPS receiver 2 for receiving radio waves from a plurality of GPS satellites and outputting positioning data of the current location, a direction sensor 3 for measuring a direction, and a vehicle speed for measuring the speed of the vehicle. A sensor 4 and an input device 5 for inputting data such as a departure place and a destination by keyboard operation or the like
A reader 6 for reading map data from a map information storage medium 7 described later, and a CD storing the map data.
A map information storage medium 7 such as a ROM, a display image memory 8 for temporarily storing map data drawn by the control device 1, a display controller 9, and a reader 6 which is read from the map information storage medium 7. After that, the control device 1 displays the map data rendered on the display image memory 8 through the display controller 9 as a CRT,
A display device 10 such as a liquid crystal display; a non-volatile memory 11 for storing various information such as a guide route calculated by the control device 1 based on the map data and the internal data read from the map information storage medium 7; Traffic information receiver (for example, FM multiplex broadcasting,
12).

By the way, the map data stored in the map information storage medium 7 stores data for converting the road number data from the traffic congestion information receiver 12 into the road numbers on the map medium. When displaying information, it is performed once through the converted data.

[0005] This navigation device operates, for example, as follows. First, when the control device 1 is started, the control device 1 operates based on a program stored in an internal memory (not shown). Then, map data necessary for displaying the current position of the vehicle is read from the map information storage medium 7 by the reader 6 and displayed on the display device 10 as an image. On the other hand, the current position coordinates of the own vehicle are based on the GPS receiver 2
From the absolute position measurement data from the vehicle or the position information from the azimuth sensor 4 and the vehicle speed sensor 5, and is overwritten on the map displayed on the display device 10 by the control device 1. The position of the vehicle on the map is moved and displayed as the vehicle moves. Therefore, the current position of the own vehicle can be easily confirmed on the map.

[0006]

In the navigation apparatus, when the traffic congestion information receiver 12 receives the traffic congestion information, the information is transmitted to the control device 1. Therefore, the control device 1 displays the traffic congestion status on a map based on the traffic congestion information. However, with this method, you can see the current traffic congestion information, but it is possible to know whether the traffic congestion place is a chronic traffic congestion point, whether traffic congestion has just occurred, or whether the traffic congestion is about to be resolved There was a problem that could not be done.

[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a navigation device that can select a detour route according to congestion information.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention displays a map read from a map information storage medium on a screen of a display device, and determines the map on the map from a current position positioning means. In a navigation device having a control device controlled to overwrite and display the current position coordinates, the control device receives traffic jam information from the outside, stores the received traffic jam information in storage means, The received information stored in the storage means,
It is characterized in that the provision time is sequentially overwritten and displayed on the map screen in the order from the oldest provision time.

Further, according to a second aspect of the present invention, the control device analyzes traffic jam information stored in the storage means,
A display color changing means for changing a display color according to a traffic congestion condition is provided.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an embodiment of a navigation device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a navigation device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining a traffic jam information display operation of the control device of FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 shows a display example of the received congestion information, FIG. 4 shows a reproduction state when the congestion information stored in the nonvolatile memory is reproduced, and FIG. 5 changes a display color according to the congestion state. FIG. The same parts as those of the conventional example shown in FIG. 6 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The navigation device shown in FIG.
It employs a hybrid system that combines satellite navigation, which receives radio waves from satellites to determine the current position, and self-contained navigation, which estimates the travel route and determines the current position. The received data of the GPS receiver 2 as the current position positioning means is supplied to the control device 1A, and the current position determined by the control device 1A based on the received data is displayed on the display device 10 on a screen. On the other hand, the output direction data of the direction sensor 3 and the vehicle speed sensor 4 are used to correct the current position by the satellite navigation by the self-contained navigation.
Based on the output vehicle speed data, a travel locus calculation is performed using map matching, and correction is performed based on the estimated current location in an urban area, a mountain area, or the like where GPS radio waves are difficult to reach. The road map data relating to the map displayed on the display device 10 is read from the map information storage medium 7 via the reader 6, and is rendered in the display image memory 8 by the control device 1A. The road map data is displayed as an image on the display device 10 via the display controller 9.

The feature of this embodiment is that the control device 1A
Receives the traffic congestion information from the traffic congestion information receiver 12 and stores the provision time, the traffic congestion location, and the traffic congestion amount of the received traffic congestion information in the non-volatile memory 11 as storage means; The congested traffic information is overwritten and displayed on the map screen in ascending order of the provision time, so that the traffic congestion status of the congested place can be confirmed on the map.

Further, since the traffic congestion information is displayed on the map, the navigation device of the present invention which receives the radio waves from the GPS satellites and calculates the current position displays the current position together with the current position. The relationship between the traffic jam and the location can be immediately understood.

The method of displaying traffic congestion information is as follows: for example, in order of the degree of congestion, traffic congestion is red, congestion is orange,
When there is no congestion, it is overwritten on the map in white.

The control device 1A includes a traffic jam information receiver 1
When the traffic congestion information is received from 2, the traffic congestion information is displayed on the screen, and the provision time, the traffic congestion location, and the traffic congestion amount of the traffic congestion information are stored in the nonvolatile memory 11. When storing in the non-volatile memory 11, the received traffic congestion information is arranged and stored for each provision time.

Further, when reproduction of traffic information is selected by operating the input device 5, the control device 1A
The congestion information stored in No. 1 is called, and the congestion information is played back in ascending order of the provided time.

At this time, on the map screen of the display device 10, traffic congestion information is displayed one after another for each provided time.
It is possible to check the situation where the traffic congestion information is changing.
Furthermore, the traffic congestion information stored in the non-volatile memory 11 is analyzed by a display color changing unit (not shown), and the display color is changed according to the traffic congestion state.

This navigation device operates, for example, as follows. Here, when trying to pass the traveling route A on the road shown in FIGS.
A description will be given assuming that the three types of traffic jam information (c) are stored in the nonvolatile memory 11.

First, map data necessary for displaying the current position of the vehicle is read from the map information storage medium 7 by the reader 6 and displayed on the display device 10 (step 101).

The coordinates of the current position of the vehicle are calculated from the data of the absolute position received from the GPS receiver 2 and the relative position coordinates of the direction sensor 3 and the vehicle speed sensor 4 and displayed on the display device 10 (step 102). ).

In this state, the congestion information receiver 12
Receives the traffic jam information from the FM multiplex broadcast of the road traffic information communication system (VICS) or a beacon (radio wave or light) installed on the road and outputs this to the control device 1A (step 103).

The control unit 1A converts the traffic congestion location and the traffic congestion amount into the road number in the map information storage medium 7 and overwrites it on the map. At this time, if the display is ended simply by displaying, the traffic congestion point on the traveling route A is displayed as "congestion" or "congestion" as shown in FIG. 3, for example. Can be
I can't know past traffic jams. In other words, whether the congested road is a chronically congested road, or whether a congestion has occurred due to an accident, etc., and even though it is currently congested, the congestion is resolved before going to that place It may be that they may have been done.

For this reason, when the controller 1A receives the congestion information from the congestion information receiver 12, the controller 1A displays the congestion information on the screen, and also stores the provision time, the congestion location, and the congestion amount of the congestion information in the nonvolatile memory 11. (Step 104).

Next, the traveling route A displayed on the screen
If the location indicates traffic congestion on the screen when trying to pass through (step 105), the driving route is selected while avoiding the traffic congestion point, but the traffic congestion status is confirmed here. Therefore, "data reproduction" is selected from the input device 5 (step 106).

Then, the control device 1A operates the nonvolatile memory 1
From the data group stored in No. 1, the traffic congestion information with the oldest provision time, here the information shown in FIG. 4A, is read and overwritten and displayed on the map screen (step 107).

Next, in the order of the oldest provided time, here, FIG.
(B) and the congestion information in the nonvolatile memory 1 in the order of FIG.
1 is overwritten and displayed on the map screen (step 108).

Similarly, the traffic congestion information is repeatedly displayed on the map screen by repeating the order from the oldest providing time.

In this way, for example, the traffic congestion points on the traveling route A shown in FIG. 4 indicate congestion and no congestion in (a), congestion and congestion in (b), and traffic congestion in (c).
If the traffic congestion is indicated and the traffic congestion information provision time is displayed in chronological order, it can be confirmed that the traffic congestion status has changed.

This makes it possible to determine whether the traffic congestion point has been chronically congested, whether it is just after the traffic congestion, or whether the traffic congestion has begun to be eliminated. At times, it is possible to grasp the situation of a congested road and select an optimal traveling route.

For example, before rushing into the middle of a traffic jam,
If it is found that it is possible to avoid in advance or vice versa, but the place is currently congested but the place is becoming less congested, it is possible to selectively drive the route without detouring.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, there is provided a display color changing means (not shown) for analyzing traffic jam information stored in the nonvolatile memory 11 and changing a display color according to a traffic jam situation. I have.

With such a configuration, for example, when the situation changes from congestion to congestion, it is present at the position shown in FIG. 5 and the display color is divided between orange and red and displayed. By changing the display color, it is possible to easily grasp the change in the traffic congestion situation.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited only to the above-described embodiment. For example, for receiving congestion information, other means are used regardless of FM multiplex broadcasting or beacon (radio wave or light). It is also possible to use not only a non-volatile memory but also an internal memory as the memory, and it is also possible to express a change in the traffic congestion state not only by a display color but also by a graphic or the like.

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention, the congestion information received from the outside is stored in the storage means, and the congestion information is reproduced in the order of the oldest providing time and the congestion status is displayed. When selecting a travel route, the user can grasp the situation of a congested road and select an optimal travel route.

Further, since the traffic congestion information stored in the storage means is analyzed by the display color changing means, and the display color is changed and displayed according to the traffic congestion state, the traffic congestion situation on the traveling route can be easily determined. You can figure out.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing one embodiment of a navigation device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining a traffic jam information display operation of the control device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display example of traffic jam information received on a screen.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams showing a reproduction situation when congestion information stored in a non-volatile memory is reproduced, wherein FIG. 4A shows traffic congestion information at the oldest provision time, and FIG. FIG. 3C is a diagram showing the traffic jam information at the second oldest provision time, and FIG. 3C is a diagram showing the traffic jam information at the third oldest provision time.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example for changing a display color according to a traffic congestion state.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a conventional navigation device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1A control device 2 GPS receiver (current position measuring means) 3 bearing sensor 4 vehicle speed sensor 5 input device 6 reader 7 map information storage medium 10 display device 11 nonvolatile memory (storage means) 12 traffic information receiver

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A navigation system comprising a control device controlled to display a map read from a map information storage medium on a display device and to overwrite and display the current position coordinates determined by the current position positioning means on the map. In the device, the control device receives traffic jam information from the outside, stores the received traffic jam information in a storage unit, and stores the received information stored in the storage unit on a map screen in the order of oldest providing time. A navigation device characterized by successively overwriting and displaying. 2. The control device according to claim 1, further comprising a display color changing unit that analyzes the traffic congestion information stored in the storage unit and changes a display color according to a traffic congestion state. 2. The navigation device according to 1.