Route search device and method for searching route

• US 20090093954A1
• Filed: 10/07/2008
• Published: 04/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Seto, Ouhisa
• Application Number:
  US12/285,472
• Publication Number:
  US 20090093954A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/201
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence

Abstract

A route search device searches a route from a starting place to a destination based on a road data in a map data. The device includes: a path setting element for setting a path in a special section according to a search condition; and a route searching element for searching the route including the path of the special section. The special section is specified by an user, and the search condition is specified by the user regardless of the road data.

Claims

1. A route search device for searching a route from a starting place to a destination based on a road data in a map data, the device comprising:

a path setting element for setting a path in a special section according to a search condition, wherein the special section is specified by an user, and wherein the search condition is specified by the user regardless of the road data; and

a route searching element for searching the route including the path of the special section.

2. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a controller for inputting information of the special section and the search condition by the user.

3. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a point registration element for registering a starting point and an end point, which define the special section,

wherein the path setting element sets the path in such a manner that the starting and end points of the special section are coupled with a straight line as the path when the search condition is specified to include the starting and end points as a passing point of the route.

4. The device according to claim 3,

wherein the point registration element registers at least one mid point between the starting point and the end point, the mid point defining the special section, and

wherein the path setting element sets the path in such a manner that the starting point and the at least one mid point of the special section are coupled with a first line as a part of the path, and the at least one mid point and the end point of the special section are coupled with a second line as another part of the path when the search condition is specified to include the starting point, the at least one mid point and the end point as a passing point of the route.

5. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a section registration element for registering a part of or a whole of a driving trajectory, which defines the special section,

wherein the path setting element sets the path in such a manner that the path includes the part of or the whole of the driving trajectory in the special section when the search condition is specified to include the part of or the whole of the driving trajectory as a passing route of the route.

6. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a section determination element for determining whether a current position of the device is disposed in the special section; and

a navigation element for navigating the route and for displaying a compassing direction on a screen when the section determination element determines that the current position is disposed in the special section.

7. The device according to claim 6,

wherein the navigation element displays at least one of a distance between the current position and an end point of the special section and a distance between the current position and the destination.

8. A method for searching a route from a starting place to a destination based on a road data in a map data, comprising:

storing a driving trajectory of a vehicle;

specifying a part of or a whole of the driving trajectory;

specifying a first starting point and a first end point of the part of or the whole of the driving trajectory;

registering the part of or the whole of the driving trajectory together with the first starting point and the first end point as a first special section;

storing multiple points as a memory point;

specifying one of the memory points as a second starting point and another one of the memory points as a second end point;

registering the second starting point and the second end point as a second special section;

setting a search condition to include at least one of the first special section and the second special section;

setting a path according to the search condition; and

searching the route including the path according to the search condition.

9. The method according to claim 8,

wherein the route from the starting place to the first staring point is searched based on the road data when the route includes the first special section,

wherein the route from the first end point to the destination is searched based on the road data when the route includes the first special section,

wherein the route from the starting place to the second staring point is searched based on the road data when the route includes the second special section, and

wherein the route from the second end point to the destination is searched based on the road data when the route includes the second special section.

10. The method according to claim 9,

wherein the route includes the part of or the whole of the driving trajectory as the path when the route includes the first special section,

wherein the route includes a linear route as the path when the route includes the second special section, and

wherein the linear route is formed by connecting the second starting point and the second end point.