JP2007010549A - Navigation system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a navigation system capable of enhancing convenience for a user, by executing a guide to a prescribed place, based on information input preliminarily, when traveling toward an own dwelling house position. <P>SOLUTION: When one's own vehicle is determined to travel toward own dwelling house for return home (S23:YES, S29:YES), in the condition where a visit place is registered preliminarily (S12), the visit place registered preliminarily is guided (S25), and a guide route to the visit place is set, when desired, to guide the route (S27). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a navigation device that provides guidance to a predetermined location input by a user, and in particular, to a predetermined location based on information input in advance when the vehicle travels to the user's home position. It is related with the navigation apparatus which improved the convenience of the user by performing this guidance.

  In recent years, a navigation device is often mounted on a vehicle that provides vehicle travel guidance so that a driver can easily reach a desired destination. Here, the navigation device detects the current position of the vehicle with a GPS receiver or the like, acquires map data corresponding to the current position through a recording medium such as a DVD-ROM or a network, and displays it on a liquid crystal monitor. This is a device that can search for a recommended route to the destination set by the user and display it on the map displayed on the liquid crystal monitor. Furthermore, such a navigation device has a route search function for searching for the optimum route from the vehicle position to the destination when a desired destination is input, and displays the guidance route on the display screen and approaches the intersection. In such a case, the driver is surely guided to a desired destination by providing voice guidance.

In such a navigation device, it is normal for a user to input a destination in advance before starting traveling, but selecting and inputting a destination from a large number of facilities throughout the country is equivalent. The amount of time and complicated operations were required. Therefore, in the conventional navigation apparatus, in order to reduce such an operation burden on the user, the navigation apparatus automatically predicts a destination to be input and performs route guidance. For example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-230773, a route to a destination is searched and displayed only by inputting a destination (destination), and a return route from the last destination to the home is automatically searched. A navigation device that can be displayed is described.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-230773 (pages 2 to 3, FIGS. 1 to 4)

However, in the conventional navigation device, even if there is a place where the user wants to go further after the use at the destination, if the place where the user wants to approach is not set as the next destination after the current destination, guidance is received. In addition, if the destination has already been set to another location, the destination must be set again in order to change or add the destination. Therefore, even if there is a place that you want to go to, when there is not enough time for commuting, it is a heavy burden on the user to set the destination or change the destination setting. .
On the other hand, when leaving the destination, it is possible to receive guidance by newly setting the place you want to stop as the next destination, but after you finish using it at the destination, There is a possibility of forgetting that there is, and it is desirable to input a place where the user wants to approach by a simple operation in advance while remembering.
Further, in the navigation device described in Patent Document 1 described above, although it is possible to reduce the burden of inputting the home as the destination, regarding the case of inputting any place other than the home as the destination as described above A similar burden occurred.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described conventional problems, and does not require a complicated operation and is a case where the user has forgotten to stop at a predetermined place when returning home. However, it is possible to provide a user with guidance to a predetermined place, and an object is to provide a navigation device that improves user convenience.

In order to achieve the above object, the navigation apparatus according to claim 1 of the present application includes a home position storage unit that stores a home position, a location input unit that inputs information for specifying a predetermined location, and a vehicle that includes the home position storage unit. Based on the information input by the location input means when it is determined by the travel determination means to travel to the home position. Guidance means for guiding to the predetermined place.
“Guiding to a predetermined place” means setting a guide route to a predetermined place and performing route guidance, for example, displaying the position of the predetermined place on a map, Including displaying a message regarding a predetermined place on the screen, outputting the message by voice from a speaker, and the like.

  A navigation device according to claim 2 is the navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the route between the destination setting means for setting the destination and the destination set by the destination setting means Route setting means for searching for and setting as a guidance route, and travel guidance means for guiding a travel along the guidance route set by the route setting means, wherein the travel determination means is the destination setting means When the home is set as the destination, the vehicle is determined to travel to the home position stored in the home position storage means.

  A navigation device according to claim 3 is the navigation device according to claim 1, further comprising travel history storage means for storing a travel history of the host vehicle, wherein the travel determination means is stored in the travel history storage means. It is characterized in that it is determined whether or not the vehicle travels to the home position stored in the home position storage means based on the stored travel history.

  The navigation device according to claim 4 is the navigation device according to claim 3, wherein the travel history stores a travel start point when the vehicle travels to a home position, and the current vehicle Based on the current position detecting means for detecting the position and the current position of the own vehicle detected by the current position detecting means, it is determined whether or not the own vehicle has started traveling from the traveling start point stored in the traveling history storage means. A travel start point determination unit, and when the travel start point determination unit determines that the vehicle has started traveling from the travel start point, the travel determination unit stores the vehicle in the home position storage unit. It is determined that the vehicle travels to the home position.

  Furthermore, the navigation device according to claim 5 is the navigation device according to claim 4, wherein the travel history stores a travel start time of the travel start point when traveling to a home position, and a current time Based on the current time detected by the current time detection means and the current time detected by the current time detection means, the vehicle travels from the travel start point within a predetermined time difference between the departure time and the departure time stored in the travel history storage means. A travel start time determination means for determining whether or not the vehicle has started, and when the travel start time determination means determines that the travel has started within a predetermined time difference between the travel start time or the travel start time, The travel determination means determines that the vehicle travels to a home position stored in the home position storage means.

  In the navigation device according to claim 1 having the above-described configuration, when it is determined that the own vehicle travels to the home position, guidance to a predetermined place is performed based on the input information. Even when the user forgets to drop in at the predetermined place when returning home, the user can be guided to the predetermined place based on the information inputted in advance. Therefore, a complicated operation is not necessary, and it is possible to surely stop at a desired stop-off place, thereby improving the convenience for the user.

  Further, in the navigation device according to claim 2, when the destination is set at home, it is determined that the own vehicle travels to the home position. Therefore, when the user returns home, the user stops at a predetermined place. Even if this is forgotten, it is possible to guide the user to the planned location based on information input in advance.

  Further, in the navigation device according to claim 3, since it is determined whether or not the vehicle travels to the home position based on the travel history, even if the destination is not clearly set, the user can It is possible to accurately determine whether or not to return home, and it is possible to provide guidance to a planned location that has been input in advance for a user who returns home.

  In the navigation device according to claim 4, when the vehicle starts traveling from the point stored in the traveling start point where the vehicle starts traveling to the home position in the traveling history, it is determined to travel to the home position. Even if the destination is not clearly set, it is possible to accurately determine whether or not the user will return home based on the travel history, and input in advance for the user to return home It is possible to provide guidance to the planned location.

  Further, in the navigation device according to claim 5, when the vehicle starts traveling within the travel history within a predetermined time difference or the travel start time when the vehicle started traveling to the home position, it is determined to travel to the home position. Even if the destination is not clearly set, it is possible to accurately determine whether or not the user will return home based on the travel history, and input in advance for the user to return home It is possible to provide guidance to the planned location.

  Hereinafter, a navigation device according to the present invention will be described in detail based on an embodiment embodied in the navigation device 1 with reference to the drawings. First, a schematic configuration of the navigation device 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a navigation device 1 according to this embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a navigation device 1 according to this embodiment includes a current location detection processing unit (current location detection means) 11 that detects the current location of the host vehicle, and a data recording unit (home location storage) in which various data are recorded. Means, travel history storage means) 12 and a navigation control unit (travel determination means, guide means, route setting means, travel guide means, travel start point determination means, travel start based on the input information. (Time determination means) 13, an operation unit (place input means) 14 for accepting an operation from the operator, a liquid crystal display 15 for displaying information such as a map to the operator, and a speaker for outputting voice guidance regarding route guidance 16 and a communication device 17 that communicates with an information center such as a traffic information transmission center. The navigation control unit 13 is connected to a vehicle ECU (electronic control unit) 21 that is an electronic control unit of the vehicle that controls the operation of the engine, transmission, brake, and the like.

  The components constituting the navigation device 1 will be described below. The current location detection processing unit 11 includes a GPS (current time detection means) 31, a geomagnetic sensor 32, a distance sensor 33, a steering sensor 34, and a gyro as an orientation detection unit. A sensor 35, an altimeter (not shown), and the like, which can detect the current position and direction of the vehicle, a distance to a target (for example, an intersection), and the like.

  Specifically, the GPS 31 detects the current location and current time of the vehicle on the earth by receiving radio waves generated by artificial satellites, and the geomagnetic sensor 32 measures the direction of the vehicle by measuring the geomagnetism. The distance sensor 33 detects a distance between predetermined positions on the road. Here, as the distance sensor 33, for example, the rotational speed of a wheel (not shown) of the vehicle is measured, a sensor that detects the distance based on the measured rotational speed, the acceleration is measured, and the measured acceleration is 2 A sensor that integrates the times and detects the distance can be used.

  The steering sensor 34 detects the rudder angle of the host vehicle. Here, as the steering sensor 34, for example, an optical rotation sensor attached to a rotating portion of a steering wheel (not shown), a rotation resistance sensor, an angle sensor attached to a wheel, or the like is used.

  And the gyro sensor 35 detects the turning angle of the own vehicle. Here, as the gyro sensor 35, for example, a gas rate gyro, a vibration gyro, or the like is used. Further, by integrating the turning angle detected by the gyro sensor 35, the vehicle direction can be detected.

  The data recording unit 12 includes an external storage device and a hard disk (not shown) as a recording medium, a travel history DB 22 (see FIG. 2) recorded on the hard disk, a stop location storage area 23, a predetermined program, and map data. And a recording head (not shown) that is a driver for writing predetermined data to the hard disk. In the present embodiment, a hard disk is used as the external storage device and storage medium of the data recording unit 12. However, in addition to the hard disk, a magnetic disk such as a flexible disk can be used as the external storage device. Also, a memory card, magnetic tape, magnetic drum, CD, MD, DVD, optical disk, MO, IC card, optical card, etc. can be used as an external storage device.

  The data recording unit 12 stores various information necessary for route guidance and map display. For example, map data for displaying a map, intersection data regarding each intersection, node data regarding node points, and road data. Road data, search data for searching for a route, facility data related to a facility, search data for searching for a point, and the like are recorded. Furthermore, coordinate data for specifying the user's home position is also recorded.

  The travel history DB 22 is a storage area for recording a travel history of the host vehicle. When the host vehicle travels from a predetermined departure location to an arrival location, the departure location (travel start location), the arrival location, and the departure time. (Travel start time) is a DB in which the travel order is recorded. The travel history DB 22 will be described in detail later with reference to FIG.

  On the other hand, the drop-in place storage area 23 is a storage area for storing information on the input stop place when the user performs a predetermined operation for inputting a place where the user wants to drop in when returning home. Then, based on the drop-in place stored in the drop-in place storage area 23, guidance to the drop-in place is given to the user at home as described later (S25 and S27 in FIG. 5). Further, the stored contents stored in the drop-in place storage area 23 are erased 24 hours after being input as described later (S15 in FIG. 4). As a result, it is possible to prevent a problem that guides to an unnecessary stop place that was input before the previous day.

  In addition, the navigation control unit 13 is used as a working memory for the CPU 41 as an arithmetic device and a control device that perform overall control of the navigation device 1 and the CPU 41 performs various arithmetic processes, and when a route is searched for In addition to the RAM 42 that stores route data and the like, a control program, a route guidance processing program that searches for a route to the destination, guides the searched guidance route, and a travel history storage process that stores the travel history of the vehicle A program (see FIG. 3), a stop location registration program (see FIG. 4) that pre-registers a place where you want to stop when you return to your home, and a place where you want to stop, and where your vehicle travels to your home When doing this, a return route guidance processing program (see FIG. 5), which provides route guidance to the registered location, is described. It includes an internal storage device such as a flash memory 44 which records a program read from has been ROM 43, ROM 43. As the RAM 42, ROM 43, flash memory 44, etc., a semiconductor memory, a magnetic core or the like is used. As the arithmetic device and the control device, an MPU or the like can be used instead of the CPU 41.

  In the present embodiment, various programs are recorded in the ROM 43 and various data are recorded in the data recording unit 12. However, the programs, data, and the like are stored in the same external storage device, memory card, and the like. It is also possible to read out a program, data, etc. from the flash memory 44 and so on. Further, the program, data, etc. can be updated by exchanging a memory card or the like.

  Furthermore, the navigation control unit 13 is electrically connected to peripheral devices (actuators) of the operation unit 14, the liquid crystal display 15, the speaker 16, and the communication device 17.

  The operation unit 14 is operated when correcting the current location at the start of travel and inputting a departure point as a guidance start point and a destination point as a guidance end point. The operation unit 14 includes a plurality of operation switches (such as various keys and buttons). (Not shown). The navigation control unit 13 performs control to execute various corresponding operations based on switch signals output by pressing the switches. In particular, in the navigation device 1 according to the present embodiment, by registering a “stop location” in advance using the operation unit 14, control is performed to start route guidance to the registered stop location when heading home (FIG. 5). reference). As the operation unit 14, a keyboard, a mouse, a barcode reader, a remote control device for remote operation, a joystick, a light pen, a stylus pen, or the like can be used. Furthermore, it can also be configured by a touch panel provided on the front surface of the liquid crystal display 15.

  The liquid crystal display 15 also has operation guidance, operation menus, key guidance, guidance route from the current location to the destination, guidance information along the guidance route, traffic information, news, weather forecast, time, mail, TV program, etc. Is displayed. Instead of the liquid crystal display 15, it is also possible to use a CRT display, a plasma display, or the like, or a hologram device that projects a hologram onto the windshield of a vehicle.

  In addition, the speaker 16 outputs voice guidance for guiding traveling along the guidance route based on an instruction from the navigation control unit 13. Here, examples of the voice guidance to be guided include “Please turn right at the intersection 200 meters ahead” and “The next national highway No. XX is congested”. In addition to the synthesized voice, the voice output from the speaker 16 can output various sound effects and various guidance information recorded in advance on a tape, a memory, or the like.

  Then, the communication device 17 is used for information such as traffic congestion information, regulation information, parking lot information, traffic accident information, service area congestion, etc. transmitted from an information center, for example, a VICS (registered trademark: Vehicle Information and Communication System) center. It is a beacon receiver that receives traffic information composed of each information as a radio beacon, an optical beacon, or the like via a radio beacon device, an optical beacon device, or the like arranged along a road. The communication device 17 is a network that enables communication in a communication system such as a LAN, WAN, intranet, cellular phone line network, telephone line network, public communication line network, dedicated communication line network, and communication line network such as the Internet. It may be a device. In addition to the information from the information center, the communication device 17 includes an FM receiver that receives FM multiplex information including information such as news and weather forecast as FM multiplex broadcast via an FM broadcast station. The beacon receiver and the FM receiver are unitized and arranged as a VICS receiver, but can be arranged separately.

The vehicle ECU 21 is a vehicle electronic control unit that controls the operation of the engine, transmission, brake, and the like, and is connected to various sensors such as a vehicle speed sensor. Further, when the ignition switch is turned on or off, a detection signal indicating that the ignition switch is turned on or off is transmitted to the navigation control unit 13.
As a result, the navigation control unit 13 can detect the current vehicle speed and that the ignition switch is turned on or off via the vehicle ECU 21.

  Next, the travel history DB 22 recorded in the data recording unit 12 will be described using a specific example with reference to FIG. Here, the travel history DB 22 is a storage area for recording the travel history of the host vehicle. When the host vehicle travels from a predetermined departure location to the arrival location, the departure location, the arrival location, and the departure time are respectively in the order of travel. DB to be recorded.

  For example, if the vehicle departs from a XX company at 20:15 and then travels to the user's home, the XX company is stored in “Departure” as shown in FIG. 20:15 is stored in “Departure time”, and home is stored in “Arrival location”. Here, the “departure place” and the “arrival place” are the current location of the vehicle when the ignition switch is turned on and off (that is, when the vehicle engine is started and stopped), and the data recording unit 12. The navigation control unit 13 determines and records based on the stored facility data and the home position. The departure time is recorded as the current time detected by the GPS 31 when the ignition switch is turned on. Note that the “departure place” and “arrival place” may be manually input by the user.

  Similarly, when the own vehicle departs from the user's home at 8:00 and then travels to the XX company, the home is stored in the “departure place” and the departure time is set to 8 0:00 is stored, and “XX company” is stored in “arrival place”. If the vehicle departs from the user's home at 10:00 and then travels to the XX department store, the home is stored in the “departure place” and the departure time is 10: 00 is stored, and “XX department store” is stored in “arrival place”. Also, if the vehicle leaves the inn at 17:05 and then travels to the user's home, the inn is stored in the “departure place” and the “departure time”. 17:05 is stored, and the home is stored in “arrival place”. If the vehicle departs from XX company at 20:42 and then travels to the user's home, the XX company is stored in the “departure place” and the “departure time” 20:42 is stored, and the home is stored in “arrival place”.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the travel history DB 22 in which the past travel history of the own vehicle related to the departure place, the arrival place, and the departure time is recorded, when the destination is not set in the navigation device 1 (route) This is used to determine whether or not the vehicle is traveling for returning home when no guidance is provided. Specifically, in the history in which “arrival place” is stored as the home in the travel history DB 22, the same point as the point recorded as “departure place” is the time recorded as “departure time”. When the vehicle departs within two hours before and after, it is determined that the vehicle is traveling to return home (S28 and S29 in FIG. 5). Thereby, even if the destination is not set, it is possible to accurately determine that the vehicle is traveling toward the home.

  Next, a travel history processing program executed by the CPU 41 in the navigation device 1 having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the travel history processing program according to the present embodiment. Here, the travel history processing program is a program that stores the travel history of the host vehicle in the travel history DB 22 every time the host vehicle travels. The programs shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 3 to 5 below are stored in the RAM 42 and the ROM 43 provided in the navigation device 1 and are executed by the CPU 41.

  First, in step (hereinafter abbreviated as S) 1 in the travel history processing program, the CPU 41 transmits from the vehicle ECU 21 whether or not the ignition switch has been turned on, that is, whether or not the own vehicle engine has been started. The determination is made based on the detected signal.

If it is determined that the ignition switch is turned on (S1: YES), the current position of the vehicle is detected based on the detection result of the current position detection processing unit 11 in S2, and the current time is detected by the GPS 31. Is done.
On the other hand, if it is determined that the ignition switch is not turned on (S1: NO), the process waits until it is turned on.

  Furthermore, in S3, the travel start point of the host vehicle is detected based on the current position of the host vehicle detected in S2 and the map data, facility data, and home position stored in the data recording unit 12, and the result is obtained. It memorize | stores in "starting place" of driving | running | working log | history DB22 (refer FIG. 2). Further, in S4, the current time (travel start time) detected in S2 is stored in the “departure time” in the travel history DB 22 (see FIG. 2). For example, when the ignition switch of the own vehicle is turned on at home at 8:00, the own vehicle is located within the user's home premises from the detection result of the current location detection processing unit 11 and the home position stored in the data recording unit 12. Based on this, “Home” is stored in “Departure” of the travel history DB 22. Further, “8:00” is stored in “Departure time”. On the other hand, when the ignition switch of the own vehicle is turned on at 20:15 at the XX company, the own vehicle is determined from the detection result of the current location detection processing unit 11 and the facility data stored in the data recording unit 12 of the XX company. Based on this, it is detected that “X company” is stored in the “departure place” of the travel history DB 22. Further, “20:15” is stored in the “departure time”.

  Thereafter, in S5, the CPU 41 determines whether or not the ignition switch is turned from ON to OFF, that is, whether or not the engine of the host vehicle is stopped, based on the detection signal transmitted from the vehicle ECU 21.

  If it is determined that the ignition switch is turned off (S5: YES), the current position of the host vehicle is detected based on the detection result of the current position detection processing unit 11 in S6. On the other hand, if it is determined that the ignition switch is not turned off (S5: NO), the system waits until it is turned off.

  In S7, the travel end point of the vehicle is detected based on the current position of the vehicle detected in S6 and the map data, facility data, and home position stored in the data recording unit 12, and the travel history DB 22 is detected. (See FIG. 2). For example, when the ignition switch of the own vehicle is turned off at home, the own vehicle may be in the user's home site from the detection result of the current location detection processing unit 11 and the home position stored in the data recording unit 12. Based on this, “home” is stored in “arrival place” of the travel history DB 22. In addition, when the ignition switch of the own vehicle is turned off at the XX company, the own vehicle is within the premises of the XX company from the detection result of the current location detection processing unit 11 and the facility data stored in the data recording unit 12. Based on this, “XX company” is stored in the “arrival place” of the travel history DB 22. Thus, the travel history processing program ends.

  Next, a stop location registration processing program executed by the CPU 41 in the navigation device 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a stop location registration processing program according to this embodiment. Here, the stop location registration processing program is executed at regular time intervals, for example, every 4 ms, and registers the stop location for guidance when the user returns home in the navigation device 1 in advance and is registered. This is a program for erasing registration information after 24 hours.

  First, in the stop location registration processing program, it is determined in S11 whether or not the stop location has been input. Here, the input of the stop location in the navigation device 1 according to the present embodiment is, for example, displaying a list of facilities from the menu screen displayed on the liquid crystal display 15, and then entering the name of the facility corresponding to the location where you want to stop 14 or by inputting the name of a place where the user wishes to drop in a microphone (not shown) provided in the navigation device 1 by voice.

Here, FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a method for inputting a stopover location.
As shown in FIG. 6, in order to input a stop location, first, the menu screen 50 is displayed on the liquid crystal display 15 by operating the operation unit 14. Various setting items related to the navigation device 1 are displayed in a list on the menu screen 50 as icons 51, and in particular, when the “drop-in place input” icon in the menu screen 50 is selected, the menu screen 50 displays the drop-in place selection screen 52. Switches.
On the drop-in place selection screen 52, icons 53 indicating the genres of the six facilities “GS (gas station)”, “restaurant”, “department store”, “convenience store”, “rental video”, and “bank” are displayed. When the user selects the genre icon 53 of the facility desired to stop by using the operation unit 14, the display on the liquid crystal display 15 goes to the facility selection screen 54 that displays the facility list of the genre selected from the stop location selection screen 52. And switch.
On the facility selection screen 54, a list of facilities corresponding to the genre selected on the stop location selection screen 52, in particular, a facility located within a radius of 10 km from the current position of the own vehicle is extracted from the facility data of the data recording unit 12. Displayed. Then, the user selects one of the icons 55 on which a specific facility name is displayed by using the operation unit 14 to input the selected facility as a stop-in place.

If it is determined that a stop location has been input (S11: YES), the stop location is registered by storing the input stop location information in the stop location storage area 23 of the data recording unit 12. . Here, as information stored in the stop location storage area 23, for example, when a specific facility name is selected as the stop location as shown in FIG. 6, a facility ID that identifies the selected facility is stored. When the name of the stop-by place is inputted by voice, voice data obtained by converting the inputted voice is stored. If information on another stop location is already stored in the stop location storage area 23, the information is basically overwritten.
On the other hand, when it is determined that there is no input of a stopover place (S11: NO), the process proceeds to S13.

  In S <b> 13, it is determined whether or not information (facility ID and audio data) regarding the stop location is stored in the stop location storage area 23 of the data recording unit 12. If it is determined that information on the stop location is stored (S13: YES), whether or not 24 hours have elapsed since the stored stop location information was registered in S12. Is determined.

  As a result, if it is determined that 24 hours have passed since registration (S14: YES), the information regarding the stop location stored in the stop location storage area 23 of the data recording unit 12 is deleted. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent inconveniences that are guided to an unnecessary drop-in place input before the previous day by a guidance process (S25 and S27 in FIG. 5) described later.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the information regarding the stop location is not stored (S13: NO), and when it is determined that 24 hours have not passed since the information regarding the stop location is registered (S14: NO). Then, the stop location registration process is terminated.

  Next, a return route guidance processing program executed by the CPU 41 in the navigation device 1 having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the return route guidance processing program according to this embodiment. Here, the return route guidance processing program performs route guidance to a registered location when the stop location is registered in the stop location registration process (FIG. 4) and when the vehicle travels to home. It is a program.

First, in the return route guidance processing program, in S21, the current position of the host vehicle is detected based on the detection result of the current location detection processing unit 11.
Thereafter, in S22, it is determined whether or not the destination is set in the navigation device 1. Here, when the destination is set, the navigation device 1 performs a route search to the destination based on various information such as node data recorded in the data recording unit 12, and guides the searched route. While setting as a route, the vehicle travels along the guidance route. Specifically, the set guidance route is displayed on the map, the guidance for the intersection to turn right and left and the route guidance at the branch point are displayed on the liquid crystal display 15 together with the map, and the guidance sound is output from the speaker 16 To do. Note that route search processing and guidance processing related to a general navigation function when a destination is set are already known (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-281785), and details thereof are omitted here. .

  If it is determined that the destination has been set (S22: YES), then whether or not the set destination is the user's home is recorded in the data recording unit 12. It is determined based on the home position (S23). As a result, when it is determined that the destination is set at the user's home (S23: YES), the vehicle is considered to travel toward the user's home, and the process proceeds to S24. On the other hand, if it is determined that the destination is set at a location other than the user's home (S23: NO), the vehicle is considered to travel to a destination other than the home, and the return route guidance processing is terminated. .

  In S24, it is determined whether or not a stop location is registered in the stop location registration process (FIG. 4). Here, whether or not the stop location is registered is specifically determined by whether or not information (facility ID and audio data) regarding the stop location is stored in the stop location storage area 23 of the data recording unit 12. The If it is determined that the stop location is not registered (S24: NO), guidance to the stop location cannot be performed, and the return route guidance process is terminated.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the stop-in place is registered (S24: YES), the user is first informed that there is a registered stop-in place. Specifically, on the map displayed on the liquid crystal display 15, a new mark indicating the location of the facility or the like registered at the place of stop is displayed, or the text “Please stop at xx” is displayed on the liquid crystal display 15. When the sound is displayed above or the stop location is input by voice by the microphone, the stored voice data is reproduced and the input voice of the user is output from the speaker 16. As a result, it becomes possible to remind a user who has forgotten to stop by the stop-by location.

Here, an example of the drop-in place guidance in S25 will be described with reference to FIGS. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the normal guidance screen 61 based on the navigation function of the normal navigation device 1 is displayed on the liquid crystal display 15 before the stop location is guided in S25. The normal guidance screen 61 displays a map around the current vehicle and a vehicle mark 62 indicating the position and traveling direction of the vehicle on the map. Further, when a destination is set, a destination mark 63 indicating the position of the destination (for example, the user's home) and a guidance route 64 from the current position to the destination are displayed.
When the stop location guidance is performed in S25, as shown in FIG. 8, a mark 65 on the map indicating the location of the stop location registered in the stop location registration process (FIG. 4) on the normal guidance screen 61 is displayed. Newly displayed. The mark 65 displays characters, patterns, etc. indicating the type of facility at the stop-off location. For example, when a gas station is registered at the stop-off location, the characters “GS” are displayed as shown in FIG. In addition, when the bank is registered as a stop-in place, the letters “Bank” are displayed.

  Subsequently, in S26, it is determined whether or not to perform route guidance to the stop location registered in the stop location registration process (FIG. 4). Here, in the navigation device 1 according to the present embodiment, after the stop location guidance of S25 is performed, an option as to whether or not to perform route guidance to the stop location is displayed on the liquid crystal display 15. Then, the CPU 41 detects the selection result of the user's option based on the operation information of the operation unit 14 and determines whether or not route guidance to the stop-off place is performed.

  As a result, when it is determined that route guidance for the stop location is to be performed (S26: YES), the route search to the stop location is performed based on various information such as node data recorded in the data recording unit 12, and the search is performed. The set route is set as a guide route, and travel along the guide route is guided (S27). Specifically, the guidance route is displayed on the map, the guidance for the intersection to turn right and left and the route guidance at the branch point are displayed on the liquid crystal display 15 together with the map, and the guidance voice is output from the speaker 16. When the destination is set to the home (S23: YES), the guide route starts from the guide route that has already been set with the home as the destination and goes to the home via the registered stop. The setting is changed to a new guide route that is headed and displayed on the liquid crystal display 15.

Here, an example of route guidance to the stop-in place in S27 will be described with reference to FIG. For example, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, before the route guidance to the stop location is performed in S27, on the normal guidance screen 61, the map around the current vehicle and the vehicle on the map are displayed. The own vehicle mark 62 indicating the position and the traveling direction is displayed. Further, when a destination is set, a destination mark 63 indicating the position of the destination (for example, the user's home) and a guidance route 64 from the current position to the destination are displayed.
When the route search to the stop location and the setting of the guidance route are performed in S27, if the guidance route 64 to the destination is displayed, the guidance route 64 is temporarily deleted, as shown in FIG. On the normal guidance screen 61, a new guide route 66 that passes through the stop location registered in the stop location registration process (FIG. 4) is displayed. For example, in FIG. 9, a guidance route 66 heading to the home via a gas station (a position is indicated by a mark 65) that is a stopover place is displayed instead of the guidance route 64.

  On the other hand, in the determination process of S26, when it is determined that route guidance for the stop location is not performed (S26: NO), the route guidance processing is terminated without performing route guidance for the stop location.

  If it is determined that the destination has not been set (S22: NO), whether or not the vehicle is traveling to return to the user's home through the determination processes of S28 and S29 below. Determine whether. Specifically, first, in the history where “arrival place” is stored as home in the travel history DB 22 in S28, the travel start point recorded as “departure place” (for example, “XX in FIG. 2”). Whether or not the travel started from “company” and “△△ inn”), the detection result of the current location detection processing unit 11, travel information such as the vehicle speed transmitted from the vehicle ECU 21, facility data of the data recording unit 12, etc. Determine based on.

  Further, if it is determined that the vehicle has started traveling from the point recorded as the “departure place” (S28: YES), then, in S29, it is stored in association with the “departure place” that started the travel. Within a predetermined time difference of “departure time” (for example, in FIG. 2, “XX company” is 20:15 and 20:42, “△△ inn” is 17:05) within two hours before and after in this embodiment) It is determined based on the current time detected by the GPS 31 whether or not the vehicle has started traveling at this time. When the number of data of “departure time” to be compared is large, it may be determined in S29 whether or not the travel start time is within an average value ± 3σ (standard deviation) of the corresponding “departure time”. good. Alternatively, it may be determined whether or not the “departure time” and the running start time coincide with each other.

  And when it determines with having started driving | running | working at the time within the predetermined time difference of the time recorded on "departure time" (S29: YES), it is carrying out the driving | running | working for the own vehicle to go home. The determination is made and the process proceeds to S24. Note that S22, S23, S28, and S29 correspond to the processing of the traveling determination means.

In S24, as described above, it is determined in the stop location registration process (FIG. 4) whether or not the stop location is registered, and if it is determined that the stop location is registered (S24: YES), first, Inform users that there is a registered stop.
Further, in S26, it is determined whether or not to perform route guidance to the registered stop location in the stop location registration process (FIG. 4), and when it is determined to perform route guidance of the stop location (S26: YES). Performs a route search to a stop location based on various information such as node data recorded in the data recording unit 12, sets the searched route as a guide route, and guides traveling along the guide route ( S27). As for the guide route, when the destination is not set (S22: NO), the guide route to the registered stop location may be set, or the guide route to the home via the stop location may be set. It may be set. S25 and S27 correspond to the processing of the guide means.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in S28 that traveling has not started from the point recorded as the “departure place” (S28: NO), and at a time other than the predetermined time difference of the time recorded in the “departure time”. If it is determined that the vehicle has started traveling (S29: NO), it is determined that the vehicle is not traveling to return home, and the return route guidance process is terminated. Note that S28 corresponds to the process of the travel start point determination unit, and S29 corresponds to the process of the travel start time determination unit.

As described above in detail, in the navigation device 1 according to the present embodiment, it is determined that the stop location is registered in advance (S12) and that the vehicle is traveling in order to return home. (S23: YES, S29: YES), the registered stop location is guided (S25), and if desired, a guide route to the stop location is set and route guidance is performed (S27). Even when the user forgets to stop at the planned stopover when returning home, the user can be provided with guidance to the stopover based on information input in advance. . Therefore, a complicated operation is not required, and it is possible to surely stop at a desired stop-off place, thereby improving user convenience.
Further, based on the “departure point” and “departure time” of the travel history stored in the travel history DB 22, it is determined whether or not the vehicle travels to home (S28, S29), so the destination is clear. Even if it is not set to, it is possible to accurately determine whether or not the user will return home, and guide the user to the stop-in place that has been input in advance for the user to return home Is possible.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
For example, in this embodiment, when information on the stop location has already been stored in the stop location storage area 23 of the data recording unit 12 and a new stop location has been input, the newly input stop location Although the information on the place is overwritten on the previous information and stored in the drop-in place storage area 23, the information on a plurality of drop-off places may be stored at the same time. In that case, a plurality of stop-by locations stored in S25 are respectively guided simultaneously or in a predetermined order, and in S27, a new guidance route passing through all the stored stop-by locations can be set and guided. desirable.

In the present embodiment, the travel start time when the vehicle has started traveling from the departure location is stored as the departure time in the travel history DB 22 (S4), and when the vehicle departs from the same departure location within a predetermined time difference from the departure time. When it is determined that the car is traveling to return home (S29), the travel day DB (Sunday to Saturday) may be stored in the travel history DB 22 along with the time. Thereby, for example, when the current time is within a predetermined time difference from the departure time and the current day of the week is the same day as the stored day of the week, it is determined that the vehicle is traveling for returning home. Processing is also possible. In addition, when the current time is within a predetermined time difference from the departure time and the current day is a day of the week having the same attribute (weekday (Monday to Friday) or holiday (Saturday to Sunday)) as the stored day, It is also possible to perform processing so as to determine that traveling for returning home is being performed.
Furthermore, it is good also as determining whether the own vehicle is driving | running for returning home only by the coincidence of the day of the week or the attribute of a day of the week, without using departure time as a criterion.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the information on the stop location stored in the stop location storage area 23 is configured to be deleted (S15) when it is determined that 24 hours have elapsed since registration (S14: YES). However, after registering the stop location, the current location detection processing unit 11 detects whether or not the own vehicle has stopped at the registered stop location, and when it is determined that the stop location has stopped, the information about the stop location is deleted. You may do it.

It is the block diagram which showed the navigation apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is the figure shown about traveling history DB in which the traveling record of the own vehicle is recorded. It is a flowchart of the driving history processing program which the navigation device concerning this embodiment performs. It is a flowchart of the stop location registration process program which the navigation apparatus concerning this embodiment performs. It is a flowchart of the return route guidance processing program which the navigation apparatus concerning this embodiment performs. It is the schematic diagram shown about the input method at the time of inputting a stop place using a liquid crystal display. It is the figure shown about the guidance screen displayed on a liquid crystal display, when the destination is set to home. It is the figure shown about the guidance screen displayed on a liquid crystal display at the time of guiding a stop place to a user by step 25. FIG. It is the figure shown about the guidance screen displayed on a liquid crystal display at the time of setting the guidance path | route via a stop place in step 27. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Navigation apparatus 11 Present location detection process part 12 Data recording part 13 Navigation control part 14 Operation part 15 Liquid crystal display 16 Speaker 21 Vehicle ECU
22 Travel history DB
23 Stop location storage area 31 GPS
41 CPU
42 RAM
43 ROM

Claims (5)

Home position storage means for storing the home position;
A place input means for inputting information for identifying a predetermined place;
Traveling determination means for determining whether or not the vehicle travels to the home position stored in the home position storage means;
Guidance means for guiding to the predetermined place based on information input by the place input means when it is determined by the running determination means to travel to a home position;
A navigation device comprising: Destination setting means for setting the destination;
A route setting means for searching for a route to the destination set by the destination setting means and setting as a guidance route;
Travel guidance means for guiding travel along the guidance route set by the route setting means,
The travel determination means determines that the own vehicle travels to a home position stored in the home position storage means when a home is set as the destination by the destination setting means. The navigation device according to 1. A travel history storage means for storing a travel history of the own vehicle;
The travel determination means determines whether or not the vehicle travels to a home position stored in the home position storage means based on a travel history stored in the travel history storage means. Item 4. The navigation device according to Item 1. The travel history stores the travel start point when the vehicle travels to the home position,
Current location detection means for detecting the current position of the vehicle;
Based on the current position of the host vehicle detected by the current location detection unit, a travel start point determination unit that determines whether the host vehicle has started traveling from the travel start point stored in the travel history storage unit; Have
When it is determined by the travel start point determination means that the travel has started from the travel start point, the travel determination means determines that the vehicle travels to the home position stored in the home position storage means. The navigation device according to claim 3. The travel history stores the travel start time of the travel start point when traveling to the home position,
Current time detection means for detecting the current time;
Based on the current time detected by the current time detection means, it is determined whether or not the travel has started from the travel start point within a predetermined time difference between the travel start time stored in the travel history storage means or the travel start time. Running start time determination means
When it is determined by the travel start time determination means that the travel has started within a predetermined time difference between the travel start time or the travel start time, the travel determination means is configured to determine whether the vehicle has a home position stored in the home position storage means. The navigation device according to claim 4, wherein the navigation device is determined to travel to

Images