Navigation apparatus, route search method, and program

• US 20050192742A1
• Filed: 02/08/2005
• Published: 09/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alpine Electronics Incorporated (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Alpine Electronics Incorporated (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Okochi, Masaru
• Granted Patent: US 7,400,973 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/209
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3484 Personalized, e.g. from learned user behaviour or user-defined profiles

Abstract

There is provided a “navigation apparatus”, a “route search method”, and a “program” which provide routes meeting the actual requirements and preferences of respective drivers. The navigation apparatus 1 according to the present invention including a function of carrying out a route search to a set destination, and then providing a route guidance according to a search result, includes a route search processing section 26 that searches for routes based on predetermined search conditions specific to a user in predetermined first areas, and searches for routes based on predetermined recommended search conditions in second areas different from the first areas. In addition, the route search processing section 26 distinguishes between the first areas and the second areas reflecting travel histories of a vehicle, search conditions set previously, and registered contents.

Claims

1. A navigation apparatus for carrying out a route search to a set destination, and subsequently providing route guidance according to a search result, comprising:

a route search processing section that searches for a route based upon a predetermined search condition specific to a user in a predetermined first area, and searches for a route based upon a predetermined recommended search condition in a second area different from the first area.

2. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said route search processing section distinguishes between the first area and the second area based upon a travel history of a vehicle.

3. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said route search processing section distinguishes between the first area and the second area based upon a search condition previously set.

4. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said route search processing section distinguishes between the first area and the second area based upon a predetermined registered content.

5. The navigation apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said route search processing section uses the most recent registered content.

6. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said route search processing section searches for a route using the search condition specific to a user on both sides of a transit location.

7. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, upon there being a plurality of search conditions, said route search processing section searches for a route based upon the priority of the search conditions.

8. The navigation apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a user interface that, upon there being a plurality of search conditions, allows a change in the priority of the search conditions.

9. A navigation apparatus for carrying out a route search to a set destination, and subsequently providing route guidance according to a search result, comprising:

a route search processing section that searches for a route based upon a travel history of a vehicle.

10. A navigation apparatus for carrying out a route search to a set destination, and subsequently providing route guidance according to a search result, comprising:

a route search processing section that searches for a route based upon search conditions previously set, the search conditions including specific transit points and toll roads.

11. A route search method for searching for a route based upon a set destination comprising:

searching for a route based upon a predetermined search condition specific to a user in a predetermined first area, and searching for a route based upon a predetermined recommended search condition in a second area different from the first area.

12. The route search method according to claim 11, further comprising distinguishing between the first area and second area based upon a travel history of a vehicle.

13. The route search method according to claim 11, further comprising distinguishing between the first area and second area based upon a search condition previously set.

14. The route search method according to claim 11, further comprising distinguishing between the first area and second area based upon a predetermined registered content.

15. The route search method according to claim 11, further comprising, upon there being a plurality of search conditions, searching for a route based upon the priority of the search conditions.

16. A route search method for searching for a route based upon a set destination comprising:

recording a travel history of a vehicle; and

searching for a route based upon the travel history of the vehicle.

17. A route search method for searching for a route based upon a set destination comprising:

step for storing a search condition previously set; and

step for searching for a route upon reflection of the search condition previously set.

18. A program for searching for a route based upon a set destination causing a computer to function as:

means for searching for a route based upon a predetermined search condition specific to a user in a predetermined first area, and searching for a route based upon a predetermined recommended search condition in a second area different from the first area.

19. A program for searching for a route based upon a set destination causing a computer to function as:

means for storing a travel history of a vehicle onto a predetermined memory; and

means for searching for a route based upon the travel history of the vehicle.

20. A program for searching for a route based upon a set destination causing a computer to function as:

means for storing a search condition set previously onto a predetermined memory; and

means for searching for a route upon reflection of the previous search condition.