Guidance Route Search Device, Navigation Device, and Method of Searching Guidance Route

• US 20070288155A1
• Filed: 02/04/2005
• Published: 12/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JVC Kenwood Corporation
• Original Assignee: JVC Kenwood Corporation
• Inventors: Kaneda, Masaki
• Granted Patent: US 7,937,214 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/200
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/343 Calculating itineraries, i.e. routes leading from a starting point to a series of categorical destinations using a global route restraint, round trips, touristic trips travelling salesman problem G06Q10/04; optimisation of routes G06Q10/047
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/025 Coordination of plural reservations, e.g. plural trip segments, transportation combined with accommodation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096827 where the route is computed onboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096838 where the user preferences are taken into account or the user selects one route out of a plurality
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096866 where the complete route is shown to the driver

Abstract

A guidance route search device essentially having means for specifying a route point and means for selecting a guidance schedule. The route specifying means specifies plural route points guided up to a destination point. The selecting means functions to select a guidance schedule covering plural route points reachable by previously set time of arrival at a destination point and causing staying time at the plural route points to be the maximum within maximum staying time set in advance for the route points. This enables a guidance schedule for guiding through plural route points to be generated with consideration of staying time at each route point.

Claims

1. A guidance route search device, the device comprising:

a route point specifying unit adapted to specify multiple route points to which a user is to be guided before reaching a destination point; and

a selecting unit adapted to select a guidance schedule which defines possible sequences of visiting orders for all the multiple route points by a preset time of arrival at the destination point and a staying time period at each of the route points,

wherein the staying time period at each of the route points is established to have a possible maximal value within the maximum staying time predetermined for that route point.

6. The guidance route search device according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the device further comprising:

a display unit adapted to display the guidance schedule for the multiple route points adjusted by the adjustment unit;

an input unit adapted to operate in order to change the guidance schedule displayed on the display unit; and

a change unit adapted to change the guidance schedule in response to a change operation with the input unit and causing the display unit to display the changed guidance schedule.

7. The guidance route search device according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein

time to start staying and/or the staying time prespecified for each route point is specified based on at least one among the route point, type of the route point, user, utilization group, time of year for utilization and user age.

2. A guidance route search device, the device comprising:

a route point specifying unit adapted to specify multiple route points to which a user is to be guided before reaching a destination point;

a temporary determination unit adapted to determine staying time periods at each of the multiple route points based on staying possible time prespecified for each route point;

a determination unit adapted to make determination about propriety of a guidance schedule in which the multiple route points are passed through, based on each of the determined staying time periods at the multiple route points and traveling time among the route points; and

an adjustment unit adapted to adjust the staying time at least at one route point in response to the result of determination by the determination unit.

3. The guidance route search device according to claim 2, wherein

the determination unit operates to determine whether the guidance schedule in which the multiple route points are passed through is possible or not;

and

if it is determined by the determination unit that the guidance schedule in which the multiple route points are passed through is not possible, the adjustment unit operates to reduce the staying time at least at one route point.

4. The guidance route search device according to claim 3, wherein

the prespecified staying time is specified within the range of a trip time period from departure time of a trip for dropping into the multiple route points to time of arrival at a destination point.

5. The guidance route search device according to claim 2, wherein

the prespecified staying time is specified within a range of a trip time period from departure time of a trip for dropping into the multiple route points to arrival time;

the determination unit operates to determine whether there is spare time other than the staying time at the route points and the traveling time among the route points within the range of the trip time period; and

if it is determined by the determination unit that there is spare time, the adjustment unit operates to add a part or all of the spare time to the staying time at least at one route point.

8. A guidance route search method, the method comprising the steps of:

specifying multiple route points to which a user is to be guided before reaching a destination point, and

selecting a guidance schedule which defines possible sequences of visiting orders for all the multiple route points by a preset time of arrival at the destination point and a staving time period at each of the route points;

wherein the staying time period at each of the route points is established to have a possible maximal value within the maximum staying time predetermined for that route point.

9. A guidance route search method, the method comprising the steps of:

specifying multiple route points to which a user is to be guided before reaching a destination point;

determining staying time periods at each of the multiple route points based on staying possible time prespecified for each route point;

making determination about propriety of a guidance schedule in which the multiple route points are passed through, based on each of the determined staying time periods at the multiple route points and traveling time among the route points; and

adjusting the staying time at least at one route point in response to the result of determination by the step of performing determination.

10. A computer program for causing a computer to execute the steps of:

specifying multiple route points to which a user is to be guided before reaching a destination point; and

selecting a guidance schedule which defines possible sequences of visiting orders for all the multiple route points by a preset time of arrival at the destination point and a staying time period at each of the route points

wherein the staving time period at each of the route points is established to have a possible maximal value within the maximum staving time predetermined for that route point.

11. A computer program for causing a computer to execute the steps of:

specifying multiple route points to which a user is to be guided before reaching a destination point;

determining staying time periods at each of the multiple route points based on staying possible time prespecified for each route point;

making determination about propriety of a guidance schedule in which the multiple route points are passed through, based on each of the determined staying time periods at the multiple route points and traveling time among the route points; and

adjusting the staying time at least at one route point in response to the result of determination by the step of performing determination.