JP6316635B2 - Route search device, route search method and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to route search technology.

  Conventionally, when searching for a route from the departure point to the destination, use actual traffic information acquired from the Vehicle Information and Communication System (VICS) to avoid traffic to the destination. A technique for searching for an optimum route is known. Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for searching for a route that can arrive at a destination in the shortest time by avoiding a traffic jam section or a construction section using information from VICS.

JP 2012-233856 A

  However, the traffic situation changes over time. Therefore, in the method of performing route search using actual traffic jam information as described above, when trying to perform route search using traffic jam information about a place far away from the departure place (for example, a place away from 100 km or more) When you get there, the traffic situation may have changed. Therefore, there is a case where the optimum route cannot be searched by such route search. In addition, if the user travels a certain distance according to the searched route and then searches for the route again using the latest traffic jam information at that time, when the entire route from the starting point to the destination is viewed, Thus, the route searched again may not be the optimal route.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique for performing a more optimal route search using traffic jam information.

  The route search device according to the present invention includes a traffic information acquisition unit that acquires first traffic information that is actual traffic information and second traffic information that is traffic information obtained by statistics; Route search means for searching for an optimum route from a departure place to a destination using a combination of the traffic jam information and the second traffic jam information.

  The route search method according to the present invention is a method implemented in an information processing apparatus including a control unit, and the control unit is configured to have first traffic information that is actual traffic information and traffic information obtained by statistics. The traffic jam information acquisition step for acquiring the second traffic jam information, and the control unit using the first traffic jam information and the second traffic jam information in combination, from the departure place to the destination A route search step for searching for an optimum route.

  The program according to the present invention is a program for acquiring traffic information, wherein the computer acquires first traffic information that is actual traffic information and second traffic information that is traffic information obtained by statistics. A combination of the traffic information and the second traffic information is used to function as route search means for searching for the optimum route from the departure point to the destination.

  The program of the present invention can be installed or loaded on a computer through various recording media such as an optical disk such as a CD-ROM, a magnetic disk, and a semiconductor memory, or via a communication network. .

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the technique which performs a more optimal route search using traffic congestion information can be provided.

It is a conceptual diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the route search apparatus in one Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of the route search apparatus in one Embodiment. It is a conceptual diagram for demonstrating the route search method in one Embodiment. It is a table | surface for demonstrating the method of the route search in one Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process performed by the route search apparatus in one Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the scope of the invention is not limited to these.

  With reference to FIG. 1, a hardware configuration of a route search apparatus according to an embodiment will be described. The route search device 10 includes an information processing device such as a mobile phone (including a smartphone), a tablet terminal, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistants), a navigation device, a personal computer, and a server computer. The route search apparatus 10 mainly includes a control unit 11, a communication unit 14, a storage unit 15, an operation unit 16, and a display unit 17. The control unit 11 mainly includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 12 and a memory 13. Note that the route search apparatus 10 may be configured by a single information processing apparatus or may be configured by a plurality of information processing apparatuses distributed on a network.

  In the control unit 11, the CPU 12 controls the operation of various configurations included in the route search apparatus 10 by developing the program stored in the storage unit 15 or the like in the memory 13 and executing the program, and executes various processes. Control. Details of processing executed in the control unit 11 will be described later.

  The communication unit 14 is a communication interface for communicating with an external device. For example, the communication unit 14 receives data or a command from an external device or transmits a processing result by the route search device 10 to the outside.

  The storage unit 15 is configured by a storage device such as a hard disk. The storage unit 15 stores various programs and various information necessary for execution of processing in the control unit 11.

  The operation unit 16 is a user interface for receiving an instruction from the user of the route search device 10 and outputting it to the control unit 11. The operation unit 16 includes a keyboard, a mouse, operation keys, a touch panel, and the like.

  The display unit 17 is a user interface for displaying a processing result by the route search device 10. The display unit 17 is configured by a display device using a liquid crystal, an LED (Light Emitting Diode), a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), or the like.

  With reference to FIG. 2, the functional configuration of the route search apparatus 10 according to an embodiment will be described. The route search apparatus 10 mainly includes a condition acquisition unit 111, a traffic jam information acquisition unit 112, a route search unit 113, and a database 120 as functional configurations. In addition, although not shown, the route search device 10 can also have a positioning function for specifying the current location of the own device. These functions are realized by, for example, the control unit 11 having the CPU 12 develop and execute a program stored in the storage unit 15 or the like in the memory 13. Below, the detail of each function structure with which the route search apparatus 10 is provided is demonstrated.

  First, the database 120 stores various information such as information necessary for processing executed in the route search device 10 and information generated by the processing. The database 120 stores, for example, map information and statistical traffic jam information. The map information includes various types of information related to maps such as facility information, road information, railway line information, building information, terrain information, address information, and other geographical information. Statistical traffic jam information is calculated by collecting past traffic information (or congestion information) and predicting traffic jams by statistically determining the location of traffic jams by period (for example, by day or by month) or by time of day (ie, statistically Traffic congestion information). Note that the congestion information can be replaced with congestion information. The same applies to the following description.

  The condition acquisition unit 111 acquires information on route search conditions, which are conditions necessary for route search, via the communication unit 14 and the operation unit 16. The route search condition includes information such as a departure place, a destination, a departure date / time (or arrival date / time), and whether to use a toll road.

  The traffic jam information acquisition unit 112 acquires traffic jam information related to the route searched according to the route search condition acquired by the condition acquisition unit 111. The traffic information is traffic information in the vicinity of the searched route and traffic information in the vicinity of the date and time passing through the route. The acquired traffic information includes actual traffic information (first traffic information) that is actual traffic information at the time of route search (first traffic information) and the above-mentioned statistical traffic information (second traffic information). And are included. The actual traffic jam information is acquired from the outside (for example, VICS) via the communication unit 14. The statistical traffic jam information is acquired from the database 120 or from the outside via the communication unit 14.

  The route search unit 113 uses a combination of the actual traffic jam information acquired by the traffic jam information acquisition unit 112 and the statistical traffic jam information, from the departure point that satisfies the search condition indicated by the information acquired by the condition acquisition unit 111. The optimal route (for example, the route with the shortest time) is searched. For example, the route search unit 113 refers to the actual traffic jam information and the statistical traffic jam information, and compares the transit time when passing the traffic jam section with the transit time when passing the route avoiding the traffic jam section, The optimum route that satisfies the search condition is searched.

  In this way, the route search unit 113 performs route search using a combination of actual traffic information and statistical traffic information. As a result, problems that may occur when a route search is performed using only actual traffic jam information as in the past are unlikely to occur. In other words, as in the past, when a route search was performed using only actual traffic jam information, the traffic jam situation may have changed when arriving far away from the departure place. It is difficult to perform an optimum route search in consideration. In addition, if the user travels a certain distance according to the route searched using only actual traffic jam information and then searches for the route again using the latest traffic jam information at that time, the entire route from the departure point to the destination In other words, the route searched again in this way may not be the optimum route. On the other hand, according to the present embodiment, the above-described problem that may occur when only actual traffic information is used occurs by using the actual traffic information and the statistical traffic information in combination when the route search is first performed. Absent. In addition, in this embodiment, since not only statistical traffic jam information but also actual traffic jam information is used, it is possible to perform a route search that considers the actual traffic jam situation more than when only statistical traffic jam information is used. . Therefore, the route search unit 113 can perform a more optimal route search using the traffic jam information.

  Further, the actual traffic jam information and the statistical traffic jam information used by the route search unit 113 can be combined by any method. For example, the route search unit 113 can search for the optimum route using the first traffic jam information from the departure point to a predetermined position and using the statistical traffic jam information from the predetermined location to the destination.

  The predetermined position (hereinafter referred to as “actual-statistic switching position”) can include a position set by various methods. In any of the methods, the actual-statistic switching position is predicted that the difference between the traffic congestion status indicated by the actual traffic congestion information acquired during the route search and the actual traffic congestion status is a predetermined value or more. Set to be position.

  For example, the real-statistic switching position can include a position that can be moved in a predetermined time (for example, 2 hours) from the departure place. The movable position can be a position that can be moved in the predetermined time when the vehicle is moved from the departure place according to traffic regulations. Or it can also be set as the position which can move in the said predetermined time when it moves according to traffic regulation from the departure place by other predetermined moving means (for example, a walk, a bicycle etc.).

  Further, the actual-statistic switching position can include a position away from the departure place by a predetermined distance (for example, 100 km).

  Further, the actual-statistic switching position can include a position where the vehicle can move by a predetermined time (for example, 7:00 am) after leaving the departure place. For example, when the vehicle departs from the departure place and moves according to traffic regulations, the position can be assumed to pass at the predetermined time. In this example, the predetermined time is set to a time at which the traffic situation is expected to change significantly (for example, a time that changes from a time zone in a normal traffic state to a traffic time zone due to commuting rush). Is desirable.

  That is, the real-statistic switching position includes at least one of a position that can move from the departure place in a predetermined time, a position that is a predetermined distance away from the departure place, and a position that stays at a predetermined time. Can be included. Note that the above only shows an example of the actual-statistic switching position, and other positions may be included in the actual-statistic switching position.

  Further, the route search unit 113 changes the statistical traffic jam information used for searching for the optimum route depending on the travel time and / or travel distance (for example, every 2 hours travel time and / or 100 km). Statistic traffic jam information to be used for each travel distance. In other words, since the traffic situation changes with the passage of time, in order to search for a route using appropriate statistical traffic jam information about the location and the date and time (or time zone) corresponding to the passage position and passage time of the route, Change the statistical traffic information used for route search. Note that it is possible to arbitrarily specify at what timing the statistical traffic jam information to be used is changed, but a change in the status of the traffic jam can greatly affect a change in the travel time (for example, a change in the travel time is predetermined). It is desirable that the timing be greater than or equal to the value.

  With reference to FIG. 3, the traffic jam information used for the route search unit 113 to search for the optimum route from the departure point to the destination will be conceptually described. First, in FIG. 3, the actual-statistic switching position is indicated by a line so as to surround the departure place. The route search unit 113 uses actual traffic jam information for route search in the range from the departure place to the actual-statistic switching position. Further, the route search unit 113 uses statistical traffic jam information for route search in a range outside the actual-statistic switching position (in a direction away from the departure place).

  Also, in FIG. 3, the change position of statistical traffic information used for route search (statistical traffic information change position 1 and 2) is outside the line indicating the actual-statistic switching position at every predetermined moving distance or at a predetermined movement. Each location that arrives in time is indicated by a line. In the range from the actual-statistic switching position to the statistical traffic jam information change position 1 (first range), the route search unit 113 passes the position of the first range and the representative position in the first range. Statistical congestion information corresponding to is used for route search. Further, the route search unit 113 passes through the position of the second range and the representative position in the second range in the range (second range) of the statistical traffic information change position 2 to the statistical traffic jam information change position 2. Statistical congestion information corresponding to the time zone is used for route search. In the example of FIG. 3, two types of statistical traffic jam information for different time zones (or times) are used, but the present invention is not limited to this, and different time zones depending on the target position and the time passing through the position. Three or more types of statistical traffic jam information about (or time) may be used.

  With reference to FIG. 4, an example of the actual-statistic switching position and the statistical traffic jam information change position will be described. In FIG. 4, the actual-statistic switching position includes, as described above, a position that can be moved from the departure place in a predetermined time (“movement time”), and a position that is separated from the departure place by a predetermined distance (“movement distance”). ), And a position where the user stays at a predetermined time (“time”) is included. In addition, a position that can be moved within 2 hours from the departure place, a position that is 100 km away from the departure place, and 7:00, 9:00, 17:00, and 19:00 are specific values of the actual-statistic switching position It is shown that it can be set. Furthermore, it is shown that a statistical traffic jam information change position can be set for every two hours of travel time and for every 100 km of travel distance.

  In addition, changes in traffic conditions generally vary depending on the day, day of the week, month, season, and the like. Accordingly, the specific values set in the actual-statistic switching position and the statistical traffic jam information changing position depend on at least one of the day of departure (or arrival at the destination), day of the week, month, and season. Different values can be set. For example, on Monday, the position that can be moved in two hours from the departure location by car is set as the actual-statistic switching position, and on Sunday, the position that can be moved in three hours by car from the departure location is set as the actual-statistic switching position. can do.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 5, the flow of processing executed in the route search apparatus 10 will be described. Each processing step included in the processing flow described below can be executed in any order or in parallel as long as there is no contradiction in the processing contents. Steps may be added. Further, a step described as one step for convenience can be executed by being divided into a plurality of steps, while a step described as being divided into a plurality of steps for convenience can be grasped as one step. The details of the processing steps are already described with reference to FIG.

  First, in step S11, the control unit 11 acquires route search condition information, which is a condition necessary for route search, via the communication unit 14, the operation unit 16, and the like. The route search condition includes information such as a departure place, a destination, a departure date / time (or arrival date / time), and whether to use a toll road.

  In step S12, the control unit 11 acquires traffic jam information related to the route searched according to the route search condition acquired in step S11. The traffic information is traffic information in the vicinity of the searched route and traffic information in the vicinity of the date and time passing through the route. The acquired traffic jam information includes actual traffic jam information that is actual traffic jam information at the time of route search and the above-mentioned statistical traffic jam information.

  In step S13, the control unit 11 uses a combination of the actual traffic jam information acquired in step S12 and the statistical traffic jam information, from the departure point to the destination that satisfy the search condition indicated by the information acquired in step S11. The optimum route (for example, the route with the shortest time) is searched.

  In step S <b> 14, the control unit 11 outputs information on the optimum route searched in step S <b> 13 via the communication unit 14 and / or the display unit 17.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the actual traffic information and the statistical traffic information are used in combination when the route search is performed for the first time. There is no problem. In addition, in this embodiment, since not only statistical traffic jam information but also actual traffic jam information is used, it is possible to perform a route search that considers the actual traffic jam situation more than when only statistical traffic jam information is used. . Therefore, the route search unit 113 can perform a more optimal route search using the traffic jam information.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be implemented in various other forms without departing from the gist of the present invention. The above-described embodiment is merely an example in all respects, and is not construed as limiting.

  10 route search device, 11 control unit, 12 CPU, 13 memory, 14 communication unit, 15 storage unit, 16 operation unit, 17 display unit

Claims (7)

Traffic information acquisition means for acquiring first traffic information that is actual traffic information and second traffic information that is traffic information obtained by statistics;
A route search means for searching for an optimum route from a departure place to a destination using a combination of the first traffic jam information and the second traffic jam information ;
Storage means for storing the time at which the traffic jam is expected to change;
Equipped with a,
The route search means searches for the optimum route using the first traffic jam information from the departure location to a predetermined position and using the second traffic jam information from the predetermined location to the destination. Done
The predetermined position includes a position expected to pass at the time,
Route search device. The route search device according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined position includes a position that can move from the departure place in a predetermined time. The route search device according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined position includes a position separated from the departure place by a predetermined distance. The route search device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the predetermined position differs according to at least one of a departure day, a day of the week, a month, and a season of the departure place. 5. The route search unit according to claim 1 , wherein the route search unit performs the search by using the second traffic jam information for a different time depending on a travel time or a travel distance from the departure place. Route search device. A method implemented in an information processing apparatus including a control unit,
The control unit acquires first traffic information that is actual traffic information and second traffic information that is traffic information obtained by statistics;
The control unit comprises a route search step for searching for an optimum route from a departure place to a destination using a combination of the first traffic information and the second traffic information ,
The route search step refers to storage means for storing a time at which a traffic jam situation is expected to change, and from the departure place to a predetermined position including a position expected to pass at the time. Using the first traffic jam information and searching for the optimum route from the predetermined position to the destination using the second traffic jam information,
Method. Computer
Traffic information acquisition means for acquiring first traffic information that is actual traffic information and second traffic information that is traffic information obtained by statistics;
A program for functioning as route search means for searching for an optimum route from a departure place to a destination using a combination of the first traffic jam information and the second traffic jam information ,
The route search means refers to a storage means for storing a time at which a traffic jam situation is expected to change, from the departure place to a predetermined position including a position expected to pass at the time. Search for the optimum route using the first traffic jam information and using the second traffic jam information from the predetermined position to the destination.
Program .

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