NAVIGATION SYSTEM, ROUTE RETRIEVAL SERVER AND MOBILE TERMINAL DEVICE, AND ROUTE GUIDING METHOD

• US 20100153004A1
• Filed: 05/23/2007
• Published: 06/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Navitime Japan Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Navitime Japan Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Natsume, Yoshifumi
• Granted Patent: US 8,401,789 B2
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/005 including pedestrian guidance indicator
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096883 where input information is obtained using a mobile device, e.g. a mobile phone, a PDA

Abstract

A mobile terminal device has a display means for indicating a guidance of a route retrieved by a route retrieval means and a GPS receiver means for detecting the present location. A route retrieval server has an operation service information database for collecting and storing the present location of each bus running on bus lines and an alternative route guiding means for evaluating alternative bus route to provide a guidance. When the guided route includes a walking route block, the route retrieving means makes reference to the operation service information database in accordance with the present location of the mobile terminal device to identify bus services which a user of the mobile terminal device can use for retrieving a route alternative to the walking route block, while the alternative route guiding means compares the route data between the alternative route and guided route. When the alternative route is more favorable than the guided route, the alternative route guiding means sends alternative route information indicating presence of the alternative route to the mobile terminal device, displays the guided route on a display means, and indicates the presence of the alternative route.

Claims

1. A navigation system having a route search server provided with route searching means for referring to route search network data on the basis of a route search request that includes a departure location and a destination point and for searching for a guidance route that includes a route that makes use of transportation facilities;

and a mobile terminal device provided with display means for displaying a guidance route searched by said route search means and GPS receiving means for detecting a current position, wherein

said route search server has an operation service information database in which the current position of each bus operating on a bus line is acquired and stored, and alternative route search means for evaluating and providing guidance for an alternative route that uses a bus, the navigation system characterized in that

in the case that a walking route interval is included in said guidance route, said route search means refers to said operation service information database on the basis of the current position of said mobile terminal device, and searches for an alternative route that substitutes for said walking route interval by specifying a bus that a user of said mobile terminal device can board; and

said alternative route guidance means compares route data of said alternative route and said guidance route, transmits alternative route information that shows the presence of an alternative route to said mobile terminal device in the case that an alternative route is a more advantageous route than the guidance route, and displays the guidance route on said display means to provide notification of an alternative route.

2. The navigation system according to claim 1, characterized in that said route search means searches for a bus stop in a predetermined range of a mobile terminal device on the basis of the current position of the mobile terminal device when a search is made for said alternative route, refers to said operation service information database, specifies a bus that a user of said mobile terminal device can board, and searches for said alternative route.

3. The navigation system according to claim 1, characterized in that said alternative route guidance means compares the route data of said guidance route and said alternative route and determines whether the alternative route is more advantageous than the guidance route in relation to any one among the time of arrival at a destination point, the route fare, and the number of transfers.

4. The navigation system according to claim 1, characterized in that said navigation system does not provide guidance about the availability of said alternative route in the case that the bus riding distance in said alternative route is less than a predetermined distance.

5. The navigation system according to claim 1, characterized in that said navigation system does not provide guidance about the availability of said alternative route in the case that said mobile terminal device is not in a walking route interval or in the case that a route search that includes a bus line is set to be a route search condition.

6. The navigation system according to claim 1, characterized in that said navigation system references said operation service information database, calculates the scheduled time until said bus specified for the user of said mobile terminal device arrives at the next scheduled bus stop, and does not provide guidance about the availability of said alternative route in the case that the scheduled time is less than a predetermined time.

7. A route search server having route search means for connecting via a network to a mobile terminal device having display means for displaying a guidance route and GPS receiving means for detecting the current position, referring to a route search network data on the basis of a route search request that includes a departure point and a destination point, and searching for a guidance route that includes the use of transportation facilities, wherein

said route search server has an operation service information database for acquiring and storing the current position of each bus operating along a bus line, and alternative route guidance means for evaluating and providing guidance along an alternative route that uses a bus, the route search server characterized in that

in the case that a walking route interval is included in said guidance route, said route search means refers to said operation service information database on the basis of the current position of said mobile terminal device, specifies a bus that can be boarded by the user of said mobile terminal device, and searches for an alternative route for substituting said walking route interval;

and

said alternative route guidance means compares the route data of said alternative route and said guidance route, transmits the alternative route information indicating the availability of an alternative route to said mobile terminal device in the case that the alternative route is a more advantageous route than the guidance route, displays the guidance route on said display means, and provides guidance about the availability of an alternative route.

8. The route search server according to claim 7, characterized in that said route search means searches for a bus stop in a predetermined range of a mobile terminal device on the basis of the current position of the mobile terminal device when a search is made for said alternative route, refers to said operation service information database, specifies a bus that a user of said mobile terminal device can board, and searches for said alternative route.

9. The route search server according to claim 7, characterized in that said alternative route guidance means compares the route data of said guidance route and said alternative route and determines whether the alternative route is more advantageous than the guidance route in relation to any one among the time of arrival at a destination point, the route fare, and the number of transfers.

10. The route search server according to claim 7, characterized in that said route search server does not provide guidance about the availability of said alternative route in the case that the bus riding distance in said alternative route is less than a predetermined distance.

11. The route search server according to claim 7, characterized in that said route search server does not provide guidance about the availability of said alternative route in the case that said mobile terminal device is not in a walking route interval or in the case that a route search that includes a bus line is set to be a route search condition.

12. The route search server according to claim 7, characterized in that said route search server references said operation service information database, calculates the scheduled time until said bus specified for the user of said mobile terminal device arrives at the next scheduled bus stop, and does not provide guidance about the availability of said alternative route in the case that the scheduled time is less than a predetermined time.

13. A mobile terminal device that connects via a network to a route search server provided with route searching means for referring to route search network data on the basis of a route search request that includes a departure location and a destination point and searching for a guidance route that includes a route that makes use of transportation facilities, and comprises display means for displaying a guidance route searched by said route search means and GPS receiving means for detecting the current position, wherein

said route search server has an operation service information database for acquiring and storing the current position of each bus operating along a bus line, and alternative route guidance means for evaluating and providing guidance along an alternative route that uses a bus, the mobile terminal device characterized in that

said route search means, in the case that a walking route interval is included in said guidance route, refers to said operation service information database on the basis of the current position of said mobile terminal device, specifies a bus that can be boarded by the user of said mobile terminal device, and searches for an alternative route for substituting said walking route interval;

said alternative route guidance means compares the route data of said alternative route and said guidance route, and transmits the alternative route information indicating the availability of an alternative route to said mobile terminal device in the case that the alternative route is a more advantageous route than the guidance route; and

said mobile terminal device displays the guidance route on said display means and provides guidance about the availability of an alternative route.

14. A route guidance method in a route search server having route search means for connecting via a network to a mobile terminal device having display means for displaying a guidance route and GPS receiving means for detecting the current position, referring to a route search network data on the basis of a route search request that includes a departure point and a destination point, and searching for a guidance route that includes the use of transportation facilities, wherein

said route search server has an operation service information database for acquiring and storing the current position of each bus operating along a bus line, and alternative route guidance means for evaluating and providing guidance along an alternative route that uses a bus, the route guidance method characterized in comprising:

a step in which, in the case that a walking route interval is included in said guidance route, said route search means refers to said operation service information database on the basis of the current position of said mobile terminal device, specifies a bus that can be boarded by the user of said mobile terminal device, and searches for an alternative route for substituting said walking route interval; and

a step in which said alternative route guidance means compares the route data of said alternative route and said guidance route, and transmits the alternative route information indicating the availability of an alternative route to said mobile terminal device in the case that the alternative route is a more advantageous route than the guidance route.