Method for displaying traffic information and navigation system

• US 20070155404A1
• Filed: 01/03/2007
• Published: 07/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Clarion Co., Ltd. (Faurecia SA)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Yamane, Kenichiro, Okude, Mariko
• Granted Patent: US 8,296,062 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.100
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3694 Output thereof on a road map
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096827 where the route is computed onboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09685 where the complete route is computed only once and not updated
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096866 where the complete route is shown to the driver
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal

Abstract

There is provided a method for displaying traffic information, a navigation system, and a program for displaying the traffic information. A data processing unit receives a specified time 1203, which is a future or current time, through an operation input unit, specifies an area of a map to be displayed, and then obtains map data of the specified area from a map data storage unit. The data processing unit obtains traffic information 1201 of the specified time from a traffic information storage unit, and then makes the display unit show links in association with the traffic information 1201. It is, therefore, possible to display the traffic information of an arrival time at each point on a route in a user-friendly manner.

Claims

1. A method for displaying traffic information making use of:

a traffic information storage unit that stores traffic information on a future or current traffic situation of a link;

a map data storage unit that stores map data;

an operation input unit that inputs operations of a user;

a positioning data acquisition unit that acquires data necessary to measure a location of a vehicle;

a data processing unit that is coupled to said traffic information storage unit, said map data storage unit, said operation input unit, and said positioning data acquisition unit, and that performs data processing; and

a display unit that displays processing results of said data processing unit,

the method comprising the steps by said data processing unit of;

measuring a location of the vehicle based on data obtained from said positioning data acquisition unit;

calculating a recommended route to be traveled by the vehicle;

receiving a specified time, which is a future or current time, through said operation input unit;

calculating a predicted arrival location on said recommended route where the vehicle arrives at a specified time, based on data of links making up said recommended route and said specified time;

specifying an area of a map to be displayed based on said predicted arrival location, and then obtaining map data of the specified area from said map data storage unit;

obtaining traffic information of the specified time from said traffic information storage unit; and

making said display unit show links in said map data in association with said traffic information, thereby displaying said predicted arrival location on said display unit.

2. The method for displaying the traffic information according to claim 1,

the method comprising the steps by said data processing unit of:

calculating a time change in said traffic information;

selecting said link based on said time change; and

making said display unit show said selected link in association with said traffic information corresponding to said link.

3. The method for displaying the traffic information according to claim 1,

the method comprising the steps by said data processing unit of;

obtaining predicted weather information on the recommended route including said predicted arrival location of said specified time from said traffic information storage unit, and

making said display unit show said predicted weather information.

4. A method for displaying traffic information making use of:

a traffic information storage unit that stores traffic information on a future or current traffic situation of a link, the traffic information including a traffic congestion degree showing a degree of traffic congestion;

a map data storage unit that stores map data;

an operation input unit that inputs operations of a user;

a positioning data acquisition unit that acquires data necessary to measure a location of a vehicle;

a data processing unit that is coupled to said traffic information storage unit, said map data storage unit, said operation input unit, and said positioning data acquisition unit, and that performs data processing; and

a display unit that displays processing results of said data processing unit, wherein

the method comprising the steps by said data processing unit of;

measuring a location of the vehicle based on data obtained from said positioning data acquisition unit;

calculating a recommended route to be traveled by the vehicle;

receiving a specified time, which is a future or current time, through said operation input unit;

calculating a predicted arrival location on said recommended route where the vehicle arrives at a specified time, based on data of links making up said recommended route and said specified time;

obtaining traffic information of said specified time of a link including said predicted arrival location or traffic information of said specified time of a link on said recommended route, which includes said predicted arrival location and exists within a predetermined distance from said predicted arrival location, from said traffic information storage unit; and

making said display unit show said predicted arrival location with different display patterns according to the traffic congestion degree included in said traffic information.

5. A method for displaying traffic information making use of:

a traffic information storage unit that stores traffic information on a future or current traffic situation of a link;

an operation input unit that inputs operations of a user;

a positioning data acquisition unit that acquires data necessary to measure a location of a vehicle;

a data processing unit that is coupled to said traffic information storage unit, said operation input unit, and said positioning data acquisition unit, and that performs data processing; and

a display unit that displays processing results of said data processing unit, wherein

the method comprising the steps by said data processing unit of;

measuring a location of the vehicle based on data obtained from said positioning data acquisition unit;

calculating a recommended route to be traveled by the vehicle;

receiving a departure time, at which the vehicle departs from a predetermined point, through said operation input unit;

calculating total travel time that the vehicle takes to travel from the predetermined point in each link making up said recommended route;

calculating a predicted arrival time, at which the vehicle arrives at a predetermined point including an intersection, a destination, a departure place, or a current location on the recommended route, based on said departure time and said total travel time;

obtaining the traffic information of said predicted arrival time from said traffic information storage unit, and

making said display unit show the predetermined point on said recommended route in association with said predicted arrival time.

6. The method for displaying the traffic information according to claim 5,

the method comprising the steps by said data processing unit of:

obtaining predicted weather information of said predicted arrival time at said predetermined point on said recommended route from said traffic information storage unit, and

making said display unit show said predicted weather information.

7. A navigation system comprising:

a traffic information storage unit that stores traffic information on a future or current traffic situation of a link;

a map data storage unit that stores map data;

an operation input unit that inputs operations of a user;

a positioning data acquisition unit that acquires data necessary to measure a location of a vehicle;

a data processing unit that is coupled to said traffic information storage unit, said map data storage unit, said operation input unit, and said positioning data acquisition unit, and that performs data processing; and

a display unit that displays processing results of said data processing unit,

wherein said data processing unit;

measures a location of the vehicle based on data obtained from said positioning data acquisition unit;

calculates a recommended route to be traveled by the vehicle;

receives a specified time, which is a future or current time, through said operation input unit;

calculates a predicted arrival location on said recommended route where the vehicle arrives at a specified time, based on data of links making up said recommended route and said specified time;

specifies an area of a map to be displayed based on said predicted arrival location, and then obtaining map data of the specified area from said map data storage unit;

obtains traffic information of the specified time from said traffic information storage unit; and

makes said display unit show links in said map data in association with said traffic information, thereby displaying said predicted arrival location on said display unit.

8. The navigation system according to claim 7,

wherein said data processing unit:

calculates a time change in said traffic information;

selects said link based on said time change; and

makes said display unit show said selected link in association with said traffic information corresponding to said link.

9. The navigation system according to claim 7,

wherein said data processing unit:

obtains predicted weather information on the recommended route including said predicted arrival location of said specified time from said traffic information storage unit, and

makes said display unit show said predicted weather information.

10. A navigation system comprising:

a traffic information storage unit that stores traffic information on a future or current traffic situation of a link, the traffic information including a traffic congestion degree showing a degree of traffic congestion;

a map data storage unit that stores map data;

an operation input unit that inputs operations of a user;

a positioning data acquisition unit that acquires data necessary to measure a location of a vehicle;

a data processing unit that is coupled to said traffic information storage unit, said map data storage unit, said operation input unit, and said positioning data acquisition unit, and that performs data processing; and

a display unit that displays processing results of said data processing unit,

wherein said data processing unit;

measures a location of the vehicle based on data obtained from said positioning data acquisition unit;

calculates a recommended route to be traveled by the vehicle based on said location of the vehicle and said traffic information;

receives a specified time, which is a future or current time, through said operation input unit;

calculates a predicted arrival location on said recommended route where the vehicle arrives at a specified time, based on data of links making up said recommended route and said specified time;

obtains traffic information of said specified time of a link including said predicted arrival location or traffic information of said specified time of a link on said recommended route, which includes said predicted arrival location and exists within a predetermined distance from said predicted arrival location, from said traffic information storage unit; and

makes said display unit show said predicted arrival location with different display patterns according to the traffic congestion degree included in said traffic information.

11. The navigation system comprising:

a traffic information storage unit that stores traffic information on a future or current traffic situation of a link;

an operation input unit that inputs operations of a user;

a positioning data acquisition unit that acquires data necessary to measure a location of a vehicle;

a data processing unit that is coupled to said traffic information storage unit, said operation input unit, and said positioning data acquisition unit, and that performs data processing; and

a display unit that displays processing results of said data processing unit,

wherein said data processing unit;

measures a location of the vehicle based on data obtained from said positioning data acquisition unit;

calculates a recommended route to be traveled by the vehicle;

receives a departure time, at which the vehicle departs from a predetermined point, through said operation input unit;

calculates total travel time that the vehicle takes to travel from the predetermined point in each link making up said recommended route;

calculates a predicted arrival time, at which the vehicle arrives at a predetermined point including an intersection, a destination, a departure place, or a current location on the recommended route, based on said departure time and said total travel time;

obtains the traffic information of said predicted arrival time from said traffic information storage unit, and

makes said display unit show the predetermined point on said recommended route in association with said predicted arrival time.

12. The navigation system according to claim 11,

wherein said data processing unit:

obtains predicted weather information of said predicted arrival time at the predetermined point on said recommended route from said traffic information storage unit, and

makes said display unit show said predicted weather information.