Automobile navigation apparatus and method for setting detours in the same

• US 6,118,389 A
• Filed: 02/27/1996
• Issued: 09/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd. (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd. (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Kamada, Tadashi, Ishizaki, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): SWARTHOUT, BRENT
• Application Number:
  US08/607,773
• Time in Patent Office: 1,659 Days
• Field of Search: 340/995, 340/990, 340/988, 364/449.1, 364/449.2, 364/449.3, 364/449.4, 364/449.5, 701/208, 701/209, 701/210, 701/211, 701/201
• US Class Current: 340/995.21
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3415 Dynamic re-routing, e.g. recalculating the route when the user deviates from calculated route or after detecting real-time traffic data or accidents

Abstract

An automobile navigating apparatus capable of setting a detour for a route to a desired destination. A memory device stores link information about links that constitute a map. Based on the link information, a route calculating section sets a route running from a start point to a desired destination by using evaluation values assigned to the links. The route thus set is shown on a display device in a highlighted manner. At the same time, directions to the desired destination along the route are instructed verbally. When a detour switch is operated, a detour for the route is calculated by a detour calculating section. In the detour calculation, the detour calculating section lowers the evaluation value for the link concerned along the previously set route to prevent the same from being set again.

Claims

1. An automobile navigating apparatus for a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

map storage means for storing link information of links which form a map;

route setting means for setting a destination route from a starting point to a destination based on said link information, said apparatus performing navigation based on said set destination route;

directing means for directing setting of a detour of said destination route at a user-chosen timing; and

route resetting means for resetting said destination route from a present position of a vehicle to said destination during direction of setting of said detour by said directing means,

wherein said route resetting means has identifying means for identifying a link along said destination route within a predetermined range from said present position of said vehicle to lower an evaluation value assigned to said identified link.

2. An automobile navigating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said map storage means stores said link information in layers having a higher map and a plurality of lower maps contained in said higher map, said link information about said plurality of lower maps being more detailed than link information about said higher map, and said route resetting means newly sets said route to said destination by using said link information about said lower map containing said present position of said automobile.

3. An automobile navigating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said route resetting means sets said detour through computation of link evaluation values using a Dijkstra method.

4. An automobile navigating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a voice generator which uses voice instructions for guiding a vehicle into an intersection.

5. An automobile navigating apparatus for a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

map storage means for storing link information of links which form a map;

route setting means for setting a destination route from a starting point to a destination based on said link information, said apparatus device performing navigation based on said set destination route;

directing means for directing setting of a detour of said destination route at a user-chosen timing; and

route resetting means for resetting said destination route from a present position of a vehicle to said destination during direction of setting of said detour by said directing means,

wherein said map storage means also stores link information about a link that goes by way of at least one of a service area and a parking area and said route resetting means has link identifying means for identifying a link that goes by way of at least one of said service area and said parking area to lower an evaluation value for said identified link.

6. An automobile navigating apparatus for an automobile, said automobile navigating apparatus comprising:

map storage means for storing link information about links constituting a map;

route setting means for setting a route from a start point to a desired destination by using evaluation values assigned to said links based on said link information to navigate an automobile along said route;

detecting means for detecting a timing at which a detour for said route is set; and

route resetting means for newly setting a route from a current position of said automobile to said desired destination by lowering evaluation values for links along said route to said desired destination;

wherein said route resetting means has identifying means for identifying a link along said route within a predetermined range from said current position of said automobile to lower an evaluation value assigned to said identified link; and

said map storage means also stores link information about a link that goes by way of at least one of a service area and a parking area and said route resetting means has link identifying means for identifying a link that goes by way of at least one of said service area and said parking area to lower an evaluation value for said identified link.

7. An automobile navigating apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said route resetting means has identifying means for identifying a link along said route within a predetermined range from said current position of said automobile to lower an evaluation value assigned to said identified link.

8. An automobile navigating apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said route resetting means has an evaluation value lowering means for lowering, when resetting said route to said desired destination, an evaluation value for a link along a route that turns left or right at an intersection.

9. An automobile navigating apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said route setting means has a passing point setting means for setting said route from said start point to said desired destination by going by way of a previously set passing point and said route resetting means has determining means for determining whether said current position of said automobile has passed said previously set passing point and, if said previously set passing point has been passed, newly sets a route from said current position to said desired destination without going by way of said previously set passing point.

10. An automobile navigating apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said map storage means stores said link information in layers having a higher map and a plurality of lower maps contained in said higher map, said link information about said plurality of lower maps being more detailed link than link information about said higher map, and said route resetting means newly sets said route to said desired destination by using said link information about said lower map containing said current position of said automobile.

11. A method of setting a detour in a vehicle navigation system using map link information to determine a path of travel for a vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:

determining a first route based on said map link information;

setting said first route as a path of travel;

determining, based on said map link information, a forward point in a forward direction on said first route which satisfies predetermined criteria;

determining that a current point of said vehicle is one of before a passing point and after said passing point;

modifying evaluation criteria associated with map link information in said first route between said current point in said first route and said forward point;

determining a second route by determining a route from said current point to said passing point when said current point is before said passing point, and determining a route from said current point to a destination point when said current point is after said passing point.

12. The method of claim 11, said forward point determining step comprising a step of selecting a point a predetermined distance from said current point.

13. The method of claim 11, said forward point determining step comprising a step of selecting a point a predetermined number of intersections from said current point.

14. The method of claim 11, said forward point determining step comprising a step of selecting a point at an intersection most proximate a predetermined distance from said current point.

15. The method of claim 11, said modifying step comprising a step of lowering evaluation values of points in front of an intersection where said first route turns.

16. A method of setting a detour in a vehicle navigation system using map link information to determine a path of travel for a vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:

determining a first route based on said map link information;

setting said first route as a path of travel;

determining, based on said map link information, a forward point in a forward direction on said first route which satisfies predetermined criteria;

modifying evaluation criteria associated with map link information in said first route between a current position of said vehicle in said first route and said forward point by lowering evaluation values of points identified as one of a service area and a parking area; and

determining a second route using said modified evaluation criteria.

17. A method of setting a detour in a vehicle navigation system using map link information to determine a path of travel for a vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:

determining a first route based on said map link information;

setting said first route as a path of travel;

determining, based on said map link information, a forward point in a forward direction on said first route which satisfies predetermined criteria;

modifying evaluation criteria associated with map link information in said first route between a current position of said vehicle in said first route and said forward point; and

determining a second route using said modified evaluation criteria;

calculating a degree of similarity of said first and second routes;

setting said second route as said path of travel when said degree of similarity is below a predetermined level; and

determining a failure when said degree of similarity is not above said predetermined level.