ROUTE SEARCH APPARATUS, ROUTE SEARCH METHOD, ROUTE SEARCH PROGRAM AND STORAGE MEDIUM

• US 20100114470A1
• Filed: 10/10/2006
• Published: 05/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
• Original Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
• Inventors: Nambata, Ippei
• Application Number:
  US12/442,827
• Publication Number:
  US 20100114470A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/200
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3446 Details of route searching algorithms, e.g. Dijkstra, A*, arc-flags, using precalculated routes
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/10 Map spot or coordinate position indicators; Map reading aids optical projection apparatus per se G03B

Abstract

A route searching device is composed as a terminal device for a PC or the like which carries out route searching by making use of a navigation device and map data. Route calculation data used for the search of a route include candidate link data indicative of a link subjected to calculation for a candidate route by way of a node in addition to node data and link data. A route calculating means carries out route calculations for a candidate link, as a subject, that candidate link data indicate for a node in which the candidate link data exist and for a link, as a subject, along a route in which no candidate link data exist.

Claims

1-8. -8. (canceled)

9. A route search apparatus comprising:

a storage unit which stores route calculation data that includes link data showing a link corresponding to a road, node data showing a node corresponding to a predetermined point on the road and candidate link data showing a link to be used in calculation of a candidate route via the node; and

a route calculation unit which executes route calculation with using the route calculation data,

wherein the route calculation unit executes the route calculation by using the link shown by the candidate link data at the node at which the candidate link data exists and by using a link along a road at the node at which the candidate link data does not exist.

10. The route search apparatus according to claim 9,

wherein the candidate link data is prepared for each search condition, and

wherein the route calculation unit executes the route calculation with using candidate link data corresponding to a search condition designated by a user.

11. The route search apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the route calculation unit uses only the link showing a destination, out of the links shown by the candidate link data.

12. The route search apparatus according to claim 9,

wherein the route calculation data is prepared for each of plural layers corresponding to different scales, and

wherein the candidate link data is prepared for the layer corresponding to at least a widest map.

13. The route search apparatus according to claim 9,

wherein the route calculation data includes an intermediate destination table showing correspondence of a final destination and an intermediate destination positioned on a route to the final destination, and

wherein the route calculation unit calculates the candidate route by prescribing the final destination and the intermediate destination as the destinations.

14. A route search method comprising a route calculation process which executes route calculation with using route calculation data that includes link data showing a link corresponding to a road, node data showing a node corresponding to a predetermined point on the road and candidate link data showing a link to be used in calculation of a candidate route via the node,

wherein the route calculation process executes the route calculation by using the link shown by the candidate link data at the node at which the candidate link data exists and by using the link along a road at the node at which the candidate link data does not exist.

15. A computer program product in a computer-readable medium for route search which is executed in a terminal apparatus comprising:

a storage unit which stores route calculation data that includes link data showing a link corresponding to a road, node data showing a node corresponding to a predetermined point on the road and candidate link data showing a link to be used in calculation of a candidate route via the node; and

a computer, and which makes the computer function as a route calculation unit that executes route calculation with using the route calculation data,

wherein the route calculation unit executes the route calculation by using the link shown by the candidate link data at the node at which the candidate link data exists and by using the link along a road at the node at which the candidate link data does not exist.