JP5921972B2 - Route guidance device, route guidance method, and computer program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for performing route guidance.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a navigation device that can know how long a user can be outdoors after sunset after arrival at a destination. Yes.

JP 2010-19582 A

  However, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, since the time until sunset is notified only after arrival at the destination, for example, the request to return home by sunset cannot be met. Therefore, a technique for performing route guidance with high convenience according to the standard time such as sunset has been desired. In addition, in the conventional route guidance device, for example, reduction of processing load and reduction of communication amount with the server device have been desired.

SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to solve at least a part of the problems described above, and the invention can be implemented as the following forms.
A first aspect of the present invention is a route guidance device,
A position acquisition unit for acquiring the current position;
A route search unit for searching for a route for moving between the departure point and the destination,
A route guidance unit for performing route guidance based on the current position and the route;
The route is changed according to whether or not it is possible to arrive at the final point indicating either the starting point or the destination by a reference time that is a time when the user can ensure safety. A route change unit to perform,
With
When the route changing unit determines that the final point cannot be reached by the reference time, the route change unit is reachable by the reference time and changes the route to a facility that can be stayed.
It is a route guidance device.
In addition, the present invention can be realized in the following forms.

(1) According to one form of this invention, a route guidance apparatus is provided. The route guidance device includes a position acquisition unit that acquires a current position; a route search unit that searches for a route for moving between a departure point and a destination; and provides route guidance based on the current position and the route. A route guidance unit to perform; a route change unit to change the route according to whether or not it is possible to arrive at a final point indicating either the departure point or the destination by a predetermined reference time; Comprising. According to the route guidance device of this aspect, for example, whether or not the final point can be reached by the reference time even when the pace of movement is slower than the schedule or when the departure is delayed from the schedule. Since the route can be changed accordingly, highly convenient route guidance can be performed.

(2) In the route guidance device of the above aspect, the route changing unit determines whether it is possible to arrive at the departure point as the final point via the destination by the reference time, When it is determined that it is impossible to arrive at the departure place by the reference time, the route may be changed from the current position to a route that can arrive at the departure place without passing through the destination. According to the route guidance device of this aspect, even when the destination cannot be reached, the route returning to the departure point can be guided by the reference time, so that highly convenient route guidance can be performed.

(3) In the route guidance device according to the above aspect, the route change unit may change the route to a route toward a facility where accommodation is possible when it is determined that the final point cannot be reached by the reference time. . According to the route guidance device of this aspect, even when the final point cannot be reached by the reference time, it is possible to guide the route to the facility where accommodation is possible, and therefore it is possible to provide highly convenient route guidance. it can.

(4) In the route guidance device of the above aspect, the route includes a stopover point, and a time for staying at the stopover point is set, and the route change unit sets the final point by the reference time. If it is determined that the route cannot be reached, the route may be changed to a route with a shortened stay time at the waypoint or a route from which the waypoint is deleted. According to the route guidance device of this aspect, even when the final point cannot be reached by the reference time, the staying time at the waypoint can be shortened or the waypoint can be deleted. High route guidance can be performed.

(5) In the route guidance device according to the above aspect, the route search unit searches for a route that can be moved by the designated moving means, and the route change unit determines that the final point cannot be reached by the reference time. In this case, the route may be changed to a route that can be moved by a moving means different from the designated moving means. According to the route guidance device of this aspect, when it is not possible to reach the final point by the reference time, it is possible to guide a route that can be moved by a moving means different from the original moving means. It can be performed.

(6) In the route guidance device according to the above aspect, the reference time may be a sunset time. According to the route guidance device of this aspect, the route is changed according to whether or not the final point can be reached by sunset, so that highly safe route guidance can be performed.

  The present invention can also be realized in various forms other than the route guidance device. For example, the present invention can be realized in the form of a route guidance system including a route guidance device and a server, a route guidance method, a computer program that realizes the method, a non-temporary recording medium that records the computer program, and the like.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of a route guidance system. It is a flowchart of a route guidance process. It is a figure which shows the concept of search conditions. It is a figure which shows the concept of the route change process in 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the concept of the route change process in 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the concept of the route change process in 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the concept of the route change process in 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the concept of the route change process in 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the concept of the route change process in 4th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the concept of the route change process in 4th Embodiment.

A. First embodiment:
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the route guidance system 10. The route guidance system 10 includes a smartphone 20 as a route guidance device and a map server 50. The smartphone 20 can access the map server 50 connected to the Internet INT via a communication carrier 70 including a transmission / reception antenna, a radio base station, and an exchange.

  The smartphone 20 includes a wireless communication unit 32, a display unit 38, a touch panel 36, a main control unit 22, an audio output unit 40, a GPS receiver 42, and a time measuring unit 44.

  The wireless communication unit 32 is a circuit for performing data communication and voice communication via the communication carrier 70. The display unit 38 is a device that displays various images such as a map image. The touch panel 36 is provided so as to be superimposed on the display unit 38, and accepts a touch operation from the user with a finger or a pen. The GPS receiver 42 measures the current position (longitude / latitude) of the smartphone 20 (user) based on radio waves received from artificial satellites constituting a GPS (Global Positioning System / Global Positioning System). The time measuring means is an integrated circuit (for example, a real time clock circuit) that measures the current time. The time measuring means may be realized in software by executing a program for the main control unit 22 described later to measure the current time.

  The main control unit 22 includes a CPU and a memory, and controls the entire operation of the smartphone 20. The main control unit 22 functions as a route search unit 24, a route guidance unit 26, and a route change unit 28 by the CPU executing a predetermined program recorded in the memory.

  The route search unit 24 receives input of search conditions including a departure place and a destination from the user via the touch panel 36, and searches for a route that matches the received search conditions using the wireless communication unit 32, which will be described later. 50. This request is hereinafter referred to as “route search request”.

  The route guidance unit 26 receives route data representing the route searched by the map server 50 from the map server 50 using the wireless communication unit 32, and uses the display unit 38 to route the user to the user based on the received route data. I will guide you.

  The route changing unit 28 changes the route when it is determined that the user cannot reach the final point of the route by a reference time (details will be described later) set in advance as a search condition.

  In the present embodiment, the smartphone 20 receives an operation from the user via the touch panel 36, but includes various operation buttons such as a cross key and a numeric keypad and receives an operation from the user via these operation buttons. Also good. That is, the smartphone 20 may be one in which the touch panel 36, the cross key, and the numeric keypad are operated in parallel, or may be operated by the cross key or the numeric keypad instead of the touch panel 36.

  The map server 50 includes a communication unit 52, a control unit 54, and a map database 56. The communication unit 52 can communicate with the smartphone 20 via the Internet INT.

  The map database 56 stores map data for displaying a map on the display unit 38 of the smartphone 20 and network data for performing a route search. The network data includes, for each type of moving means such as a car, a bicycle, a bus, a train, and a walk, data representing the connection state of roads that can be moved by each moving means by links and nodes. The map database 56 may record the locations of stores, accommodation facilities, tourist facilities, and the like.

  The control unit 54 includes a CPU and a memory, and controls the entire operation of the map server 50. When receiving a route search request from the smartphone 20 via the communication unit 52, the control unit 54 performs a route search using the network data stored in the map database 56 and transmits the search result to the smartphone 20. In addition, when receiving a map acquisition request from the smartphone 20, the control unit 54 reads map data from the map database 56 and transmits the map data to the smartphone 20.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart of route guidance processing executed by the main control unit 22 of the smartphone 20. This process is started when the user calls the route guidance function of the smartphone 20 using the touch panel 36. When the route guidance process is started, the route search unit 24 of the main control unit 22 receives an input of search conditions (step S100).

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the concept of search conditions. The route search unit 24 can accept, as search conditions, the position of the departure place, the position of the destination, the moving means to be used, the position of the waypoint, the stay time at each waypoint, the reference time, and the final point. In addition, the setting of a waypoint is arbitrary and the setting of the stay time is also arbitrary.

  In the present embodiment, the “reference time” represents a time at which safety can be ensured when the user acts. That is, the “reference time” can also be expressed as “safe action possible time”. For example, assuming that the user goes out for cycling on a bicycle, the user can designate “sunset” as the reference time as a time when the user can safely act on the bicycle. When “sunset” is designated as the reference time, the route search unit 24 corresponds to the current date from the sunset time recorded in advance in the memory in the main control unit 22 every year, month, and day. Get the specific sunset time. The specific time of sunset may be acquired from the map server 50 in step S104 described later. When no reference time is specified, the sunset time may be set as the reference time by default.

  As the “final point”, the user can select either the starting point or the destination. When a destination is selected as the final point, a route from the departure point to the destination is searched. On the other hand, when the departure point is selected as the final point, in addition to the route from the departure point to the destination, the route from the destination to the return point is searched again. In this embodiment, it is assumed that “departure place” is set as the final point. If the final point is not specified, the departure point may be set as the final point by default.

  In step S100 of FIG. 2, when the input of the search condition is accepted, the route search unit 24 transmits the input search condition together with the route search request to the map server 50 (step S102). Upon receiving the route search request and the search condition, the map server 50 searches for a route that satisfies the received search condition using the network data recorded in the map database 56.

  When the route search is performed by the map server 50, the route search unit 24 acquires route data representing the route searched from the map server 50 (step S104). When route data is acquired by the route search unit 24, the route guide unit 26 of the main control unit 22 acquires the current position from the GPS receiver 42 (step S106).

  When the current position is acquired, the route guide unit 26 acquires map data representing a map around the acquired current position from the map server 50 (step S108). When the map data is acquired, the route guide unit 26, on the map image represented by the acquired map data, the route represented by the route data acquired in step S104, the mark indicating the current position acquired in step S106, Are superimposed and displayed on the display unit 38 to provide route guidance (step S110).

  When route guidance is performed, the route guidance unit 26 determines whether or not the guidance is finished (step S112). For example, when the current position acquired in step S106 substantially matches the final point set in step S100, or when the user gives an instruction to end guidance, it can be determined that the guidance has ended. If it is determined that the guidance has been completed (step S112: Yes), the route guidance unit 26 terminates the route guidance process.

  If it is determined in step S112 that the guidance has not ended (step S112: No), the route changing unit 28 of the main control unit 22 determines whether or not a predetermined time (X minutes) has elapsed. Is determined (step S114). This time is a time that represents an interval for executing the processing of steps S116 to S120 described later, and can be set, for example, between 1 second and 10 minutes. If it is determined that X minutes have not elapsed (step S114: No), the route changing unit 28 returns the process to step S106 and causes the route guide unit 26 to continue the route guidance process.

  If it is determined in step S114 that X minutes have elapsed (step S114: Yes), the route changing unit 28 calculates the time required to arrive at the final point from the current position (step S116). In step S116, if the destination is set as the final point, the time required to reach the destination along the route from the current position is calculated. On the other hand, if the departure point is set as the final point, the sum of the time required to reach the destination along the route from the current position and the time required to return to the departure point from the destination is the final point. It is calculated as the time required until. The required time can be calculated, for example, by dividing the distance to the final point by the average speed of the moving means set as the search condition. If a stopover is set, it is set for each stopover. It can be calculated by adding the remaining stay time to the value.

  When the required time to the final point is calculated, the route changing unit 28 determines whether or not the final point can be reached by the reference time set in step S100 (step S118). Specifically, the route changing unit 28 adds the required time calculated in step S116 to the current time measured by the time measuring unit 44, and if the time after the addition does not exceed the reference time, the route changing unit 28 reaches the reference time. It can be determined that it can arrive. On the other hand, when the time after addition exceeds the reference time, it can be determined that the arrival is impossible by the reference time.

  If it is determined in step S118 that the final point can be reached by the reference time (step S118: Yes), the route changing unit 28 returns the process to step S106 and causes the route guide unit 26 to continue route guidance. . On the other hand, when it is determined that the final point cannot be reached by the reference time (step S118: No), the fact that the final point cannot be reached by the reference time is displayed on the display unit 38, and the route is changed. The route change process to be performed is executed (step S120).

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a concept of route change processing in the first embodiment. As described above, in this embodiment, the departure place is designated as the final point. Therefore, when it is determined that it is impossible to return to the departure place by the reference time, the route change unit 28 gives up arrival at the destination and changes the route to a route that returns from the current position to the departure place. Specifically, a search condition in which the departure point is set as the current position and the destination is set as the initial departure point is transmitted to the map server 50 together with the route search request, and new route data is acquired from the map server 50 to obtain the route information. Make a change. In FIG. 4, the route before the change is indicated by a broken line, and the route after the change is indicated by a solid line.

  When the route change process is executed as described above, the route change unit 28 returns the process to step S106 to cause the route guide unit 26 to perform route guidance based on the new route.

  According to the route guidance system 10 of the first embodiment described above, if it is determined that the user cannot arrive at the destination by the reference time such as sunset, the arrival at the destination is canceled at that time. The route to return to the departure place is guided. Therefore, for example, when the user goes out for cycling or walking, even if the pace of movement becomes slower than planned, the user can safely return to the departure place such as home. Therefore, highly convenient route guidance can be realized.

B. Second embodiment:
Hereinafter, various embodiments of the route change process (step S120) in the route guidance process (FIG. 2) described above will be described. In the embodiment described below, the configuration of the route guidance system 10 is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the processing contents of the entire accounting guidance processing excluding the route change processing are also the same as those of the first embodiment.

  FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are diagrams showing the concept of route change processing in the second embodiment. In this embodiment, the route changing unit 28 changes the original route to the route to the accommodation facility that can be reached by the reference time when it is determined that the final point cannot be reached by the reference time. Specifically, the route is changed by setting the current position as the departure point and setting the destination in the accommodation facility around the position when it is assumed that the vehicle has moved to the reference time along the current route. The route changing unit 28 can search for such accommodation by inquiring the map server 50. When a plurality of accommodation facilities are searched, the route changing unit 28 may set the accommodation facility closest to the original route as the destination, and cause the display unit 38 to display a list of searched accommodation facilities. Thus, the user may be allowed to select. FIG. 5A shows an example in which the destination is changed to an accommodation facility on the route from the destination to the departure place after arrival at the destination when the final point is set as the departure place. . FIG. 5B shows an example in which the destination is changed to an accommodation facility near the waypoint 2 when the final point is set as the destination.

C. Third embodiment:
7 and 8 are diagrams illustrating the concept of route change processing in the third embodiment. In this embodiment, the route changing unit 28 shortens the staying time set at the waypoint when it is determined that the final point cannot be reached by the reference time. FIG. 7 shows an example in which the stay time at the waypoint 2 is shortened from 1 hour to 10 minutes. The shortening time is adjusted so that the final point can be reached. In this way, the user can arrive at the final point by the reference time. If the route changing unit 28 determines that the final point cannot be reached even if the stay time at the waypoint is shortened, as shown in FIG. 8, the set waypoint itself may be deleted. This also allows the user to arrive at the final point by the reference time.

  In addition, when it is determined that it is not possible to arrive at the final point by the reference time even if the transit time is shortened or the transit point is deleted, the route changing unit 28, as in the second embodiment, The destination may be changed to an accommodation facility. Further, if the final point is set as the departure place, the destination may be forcibly changed to the original departure place as in the first embodiment.

D. Fourth embodiment:
FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 are diagrams showing the concept of route change processing in the fourth embodiment. In the present embodiment, the route changing unit 28 changes the moving means when it is determined that the final point cannot be reached by the reference time. Specifically, among the search conditions set in step S100 of FIG. 3, the moving means is switched to a moving means that can move faster than the currently set moving means, and the route search is performed again by the map server 50. To change the route. FIG. 9 shows an example in which the moving means is changed from a bicycle to a train after arrival at the destination. FIG. 10 shows an example in which, after arriving at the waypoint 2, the moving means is changed from a walk to a taxi (car). As described above, the user can arrive at the final point by the reference time by changing the moving means.

E. Variations:
・ Modification 1:
In the above embodiment, the map server 50 stores map data and network data. On the other hand, the smartphone 20 may store map data and network data in its own memory. In this case, the smartphone 20 can display a map using the map data stored in its own memory, and can perform a route search using the network data stored in its own memory.

Modification 2
In the above embodiment, the reference time specified as the search condition is a time at which safety when the user moves can be secured. On the other hand, the reference time may be a time that can be arbitrarily designated by the user regardless of safety. If the user can arbitrarily specify the reference time, for example, it is possible to arrive at the final point by the next schedule, so the user can appropriately manage the schedule.

・ Modification 3:
In the route guidance processing described in the above embodiment, the time (X minutes) shown in step S114 of FIG. 2 may be set to be shorter as the current time approaches the reference time, for example. By doing so, the closer the reference time is, the more judgments are made as to whether or not the final point can be reached. Therefore, it is possible to accurately determine whether or not the final point can be reached.

-Modification 4:
In the above embodiment, the route guidance device of the present invention is applied to the smartphone 20. On the other hand, the route guidance device of the present invention is applied to various devices such as a general mobile phone, a notebook personal computer, a tablet terminal, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable music player, and a portable game machine. It is possible.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and modifications, and can be realized with various configurations without departing from the spirit thereof. For example, the technical features in the embodiments and the modifications corresponding to the technical features in each embodiment described in the summary section of the invention are to solve some or all of the above-described problems, or In order to achieve part or all of the effects, replacement or combination can be performed as appropriate. Further, if the technical feature is not described as essential in the present specification, it can be deleted as appropriate.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Route guidance system 20 ... Smartphone 22 ... Main control part 24 ... Route search part 26 ... Route guidance part 28 ... Route change part 32 ... Wireless communication part 36 ... Touch panel 38 ... Display part 40 ... Audio | voice output part 42 ... GPS receiver 44 ... Timekeeping means 50 ... Map server 52 ... Communication unit 54 ... Control unit 56 ... Map database 70 ... Communication carrier INT ... Internet

Claims (3)

A route guidance device,
A position acquisition unit for acquiring the current position;
A route search unit for searching for a route for moving between the departure point and the destination,
A route guidance unit for performing route guidance based on the current position and the route;
The route is changed according to whether or not it is possible to arrive at the final point indicating either the starting point or the destination by a reference time that is a time when the user can ensure safety. A route change unit to perform,
Equipped with a,
When the route changing unit determines that the final point cannot be reached by the reference time, the route change unit is reachable by the reference time and changes the route to a facility that can be stayed.
Route guidance device. A route guidance method by a route guidance device equipped with a CPU,
The CPU acquires a current position from a GPS receiver ; and
A route search step in which the CPU searches for a route for moving between the departure point and the destination based on a map database stored in a storage device ;
A route guidance process in which the CPU performs route guidance on a display unit based on the current position and the route;
Depending on whether or not the CPU can arrive at the final point indicating either the departure place or the destination by a reference time, which is a time when the user can ensure safety when acting , A route change process for changing the route;
Equipped with a,
In the route changing step, when the CPU determines that the final point cannot be reached by the reference time, the CPU routes the route to a facility that can be reached by the reference time and can be stayed. change,
Route guidance method. A computer program for a computer to perform the route guidance,
A position acquisition function in which a computer acquires a current position from a GPS receiver ;
A route search function in which a computer searches for a route for moving between a departure point and a destination based on a map database stored in a storage device ;
A route guidance function in which a computer performs route guidance on a display unit based on the current position and the route;
The route depends on whether or not the computer can arrive at the final point indicating either the starting point or the destination by a reference time that is a time when the user can ensure safety when acting. A route change function to change
Is a computer program that causes a computer to realize
In the route change function, when the computer determines that the final point cannot be reached by the reference time, the computer changes the route to a route that can be reached by the reference time and that can be accommodated. To
Computer program .

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