Method and System for Route Searching, and Navigation Apparatus Using the Same
First Claim
1. A route searching method for execution by a computer for finding a recommended route from a departure place to a destination,wherein the computer stores preference parameters calculated as road usage frequencies, representing preference degrees, according to preference items which can be factors for route selection, andwherein the computer executes the steps of:
- receiving location information specifying a departure place and a destination;
selecting, out of the preference parameters, at least one preference parameter similar to user attribute data;
adjusting, based on the selected preference parameter, a cost of each road link; and
determining, based on the adjusted cost of each road link, a minimum-cost route from a departure place to a destination.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A route searching method is provided which allows drivers having mutually similar traveling purposes and preferences to find highly convenient routes by sharing their route searching know-how. A center apparatus (1) collects probe data received from an in-vehicle terminal apparatus (5). A preference parameter creating unit (14) calculates, based on the probe data, road usage frequencies according to preference items such as vehicle type, driver age and gender, and travel purpose which can be factors for route selection and stores the calculated road usage frequencies as preference parameters in a preference parameter database (15). A route searching unit (513) included in the in-vehicle terminal apparatus (5) requests the center apparatus (1) to transmit a preference parameter similar to user attribute information (519), adjusts link costs according to the preference parameter received from the center apparatus, and determines a minimum-cost route to a destination.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A route searching method for execution by a computer for finding a recommended route from a departure place to a destination,
wherein the computer stores preference parameters calculated as road usage frequencies, representing preference degrees, according to preference items which can be factors for route selection, and wherein the computer executes the steps of: -
receiving location information specifying a departure place and a destination; selecting, out of the preference parameters, at least one preference parameter similar to user attribute data; adjusting, based on the selected preference parameter, a cost of each road link; and determining, based on the adjusted cost of each road link, a minimum-cost route from a departure place to a destination. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A route searching system for finding a recommended route from a departure place to a destination, comprising
an in-vehicle terminal apparatus which transmits travel data as probe data, the travel data including location information, time information, vehicle information such as information on brake and wiper operations, and travel environment information such as atmospheric temperature and road surface temperature information, and a center apparatus provided with a probe data storing unit which stores the probe data transmitted from the in-vehicle terminal apparatus, wherein the center apparatus includes: -
a preference parameter calculation unit which classifies the stored probe data into preference items which can be factors for route selection and calculates each road-link usage frequencies, as preference degrees, according to the preference items; and a communication unit which transmits the preference parameters when requested from the in-vehicle terminal apparatus, and wherein the in-vehicle terminal apparatus includes; a location information input unit which receives location information specifying a departure place and a destination; an attribute information storing unit which stores attribute information on such items as vehicle, driver, and passenger; a communication unit which requests the center apparatus to transmit at least one preference parameter similar to the attribute information and receives the transmitted preference parameter; a link cost adjusting unit which adjusts a cost of each link according to the received preference parameter; a route searching unit which determines, based on the adjusted link cost, a minimum-cost route from a departure place to a destination; and a route presentation unit which presents, using a display device or by voice, route information obtained using the route searching unit to the user. - View Dependent Claims (5)
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6. A route searching system for finding a recommended route from a departure place to a destination, comprising
an in-vehicle terminal apparatus which transmits travel data as probe data, the travel data including location information, time information, vehicle information such as information on brake and wiper operations, and travel environment information such as atmospheric temperature and road surface temperature information, and a center apparatus provided with a probe data storing unit which stores the probe data transmitted from the in-vehicle terminal apparatus, wherein the center apparatus includes: -
a preference parameter calculation unit which calculates the road usage frequencies, based on the stored probe data, as preference degrees according to preference items which can be factors for route selection; a preference parameter storing unit which stores the calculated preference parameters; a request receiving unit which receives a request for route searching from the in-vehicle terminal apparatus, the request including attribute information on such items as vehicle, driver, and passenger and location information specifying a departure place and a destination; a route searching unit which selects at least one preference parameter similar to the collected attribute information from the preference parameter storing unit, adjusts costs of links to be considered in route searching according to the selected preference parameter, and determines a minimum-cost route from a departure place to a destination; and a transmission unit which transmits information on the determined route to the in-vehicle terminal apparatus, and wherein the in-vehicle terminal apparatus includes; a location information input unit which receives location information specifying a departure place and a destination; an attribute information storing unit which stores attribute information on such items as vehicle, driver, and passenger; a route request unit which requests the center apparatus to search for a route to a destination; a receiving unit which receives route information from the center apparatus; and a route presentation unit which presents, using a display device or by voice, the received route information to the user.
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7. A route searching system for finding a recommended route from a departure place to a destination, comprising
an in-vehicle terminal apparatus which transmits travel data as probe data, the travel data including location information, time information, vehicle information such as information on brake and wiper operations, and travel environment information such as atmospheric temperature and road surface temperature information, and a center apparatus provided with a probe data storing unit which stores the probe data transmitted from the in-vehicle terminal apparatus, wherein the center apparatus includes: -
a preference parameter calculation unit which calculates the road usage frequencies, based on the stored probe data, as preference degrees according to preference items which can be factors for route selection; a preference parameter storing unit which stores the preference parameters; a request receiving unit which receives a request for route searching from the in-vehicle terminal apparatus, the request including location information specifying a departure place and a destination; a route preference calculation unit which determines a route preference of the vehicle based on the travel data stored in the probe data storing unit; a route searching unit which selects at least one preference parameter similar to the route preference of the vehicle from the preference parameter storing unit, adjusts costs of links to be considered in route searching according to the selected preference parameter, and determines a minimum-cost route from a departure place to a destination; and a transmission unit which transmits information on the determined route to the in-vehicle terminal apparatus, and wherein the in-vehicle terminal apparatus includes; a location information input unit which receives location information specifying a departure place and a destination; an attribute information storing unit which stores attribute information on such items as vehicle, driver, and passenger; a route request unit which requests the center apparatus to search for a route to a destination; a receiving unit which receives route information from the center apparatus; and a route presentation unit which presents, using a display device or by voice, the received route information to the user.
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8. A navigation apparatus for finding a recommended route from a departure place to a destination and guiding a user to the destination, comprising:
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a preference parameter storing unit which stores preference parameters calculated as each road-link usage frequencies, representing preference degrees, according to preference items which can be factors for route selection; an attribute information storing unit which stores user attribute data; and a route searching unit which selects at least one preference parameter similar to the attribute data, adjusts a cost of each link according to the selected preference parameter, and determines a minimum-cost route from a departure place to a destination. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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Specification