Navigation device

• US 20050080558A1
• Filed: 10/07/2004
• Published: 04/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Kasai, Toshinori
• Granted Patent: US 7,418,340 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/209
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3415 Dynamic re-routing, e.g. recalculating the route when the user deviates from calculated route or after detecting real-time traffic data or accidents
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3492 employing speed data or traffic data, e.g. real-time or historical traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968

Abstract

A navigation device preferentially indicates to a driver a certain route from among multiple candidates of guiding routes that guide the driver to a designated destination. By using the certain route, the driver is able to reach the destination earlier than a desired arrival time point with a minimum difference between the desired arrival time point and an estimated arrival time point. Further, the estimated arrival time point is determined to include a marginal time period compensating for a possible traveling delay.

Claims

1. A navigation device indicating a guiding route that guides a user to a destination, the navigation device comprising:

an obtaining unit that obtains, from the user, a desired arrival time point to the destination; and

a guiding unit that preferentially indicates, as a guiding route, a certain route from among a plurality of candidates for the guiding route,

wherein each of the candidates has

an estimated arrival time point at which the user is estimated to arrive at the destination by using the each of the candidates and

a time difference between the estimated arrival time point of the each of the candidates and the desired arrival time point obtained by the obtaining unit, and

wherein the certain route has a time difference that is smallest among the time differences of the candidates.

2. The navigation device of claim 1,

wherein the guiding unit preferentially indicates the certain route that has the time difference being smallest among the time differences of the candidates and an estimated arrival time point being earlier than the desired arrival time point obtained by the obtaining unit.

3. The navigation device of claim 1,

wherein the estimated arrival time point of the each of the candidates includes a marginal time period that is prudently reserved for compensating for a potential traveling delay in using the each of the candidates.

4. The navigation device of claim 3,

wherein the guiding unit specifies the marginal time period based on a traveling length of the each of the candidates and a road kind included in the each of the candidates.

5. The navigation device of claim 3,

wherein the guiding unit specifies the marginal time period based on a traffic congestion degree of the each of the candidates.

6. The navigation device of claim 3,

wherein the guiding unit specifies the marginal time period based on a time zone in which the user travels the each of the candidates.

7. The navigation device of claim 3,

wherein the guiding unit specifies the marginal time period based on a number of traffic lights included in the each of the candidates.

8. The navigation device of claim 3,

wherein the guiding unit specifies the marginal time period based on a number of turnings that is to cross opposite lanes in using the each of the candidates.

9. The navigation device of claim 3,

wherein the guiding unit specifies the marginal time period based on a number of rest facilities pertinent to the each of the candidates.

10. The navigation device of claim 3,

wherein the guiding unit specifies the marginal time period based on a weather condition in using the each of candidates.

11. The navigation device of claim 1,

wherein, while the user travels the certain route, the guiding unit changes the guiding route so as to preferentially indicate, as an alternative guiding route from a current position to the destination, a given alternative route from among a plurality of alternative candidates for the alternative guiding route,

wherein each of the alternative candidates has

an alternative estimated arrival time point at which the user is estimated to arrive at the destination by using the each of the alternative candidates and

an alternative time difference between the alternative estimated arrival time point of the each of the alternative candidates and the desired arrival time point obtained by the obtaining unit, and

wherein the given alternative route has an alternative time difference that is smallest among the alternative time differences of the candidates.

12. The navigation device of claim 11,

wherein the guiding unit changes the guiding route when, of the certain route, an estimated arrival time point from the current position to the destination is later than the desired arrival time point.

13. The navigation device of claim 11,

wherein the each of the alternative candidates that includes a second portion that is to be substituted for a first portion included in the certain route,

wherein each of the second portions of the alternative candidates includes a second marginal time period with respect to a unit of traveling length while the first portion includes a first marginal time period with respect to a unit of traveling length,

wherein each of the first marginal time period and second marginal time period is prudently reserved for compensating for a potential traveling delay in using each of the first portion and the second portion, respectively,

wherein the second marginal time period is smaller than the first marginal time period, and

wherein the second portion of the given alternative route is located closest to the destination among the second portions of the alternate candidates.

14. The navigation device of claim 1,

wherein, when the user is estimated to arrive at the destination later than the desired arrival time point, the guiding unit causes a notifying unit to notify the user that the user is estimated to arrive at the destination later than the desired arrival time point.

15. The navigation device of claim 1,

wherein the navigation device is mounted in a vehicle, and

wherein, when the vehicle is estimated to arrive at the destination later than the desired arrival time point, the guiding unit notifies another vehicle that the vehicle is estimated to arrive at the destination later than the desired arrival time point.

16. The navigation device of claim 1,

wherein the navigation device is mounted in a vehicle, and

wherein, when the vehicle is estimated to arrive at the destination later than the desired arrival time point, the guiding unit outputs a notification that notifies a preceding vehicle that the vehicle wants the preceding vehicle to give a traveling way to the vehicle.

17. The navigation device of claim 16,

wherein the notification includes information of delay from the desired arrival time point of the vehicle.