Pedestrian information providing system, storage unit for the same, and pedestrian information processing unit

• US 6,119,065 A
• Filed: 03/09/1998
• Issued: 09/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Kambe, Nobuhiro, Shimada, Takanori, Abe, Akihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US09/029,845
• Time in Patent Office: 918 Days
• Field of Search: 701/201, 701/202, 701/208, 701/209, 701/211, 701/300, 340/944
• 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 21/3446 Details of route searching algorithms, e.g. Dijkstra, A*, arc-flags, using precalculated routes
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/005 including pedestrian guidance indicator
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/008 Touring maps or guides to public transport networks
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means

Abstract

A system for providing information on a route for pedestrians. The system comprises a storage unit, which stores a data on area divided to a non-pedestrian area and a pedestrian area, a data on street, i.e. a region where pedestrians can walk in each of the areas, a data of block where pedestrians cannot walk in each of the areas, an index for searching the block or the street from an address or a name, and a table describing areas belonging to each section on a map, and a pedestrian information processing unit, which comprises an input/output control unit for receiving input from a user, a pedestrian map data searching unit for acquiring a pedestrian map data suitable for inputting from the storage unit, and a pedestrian route searching unit for searching a route for pedestrians using the acquired data. The system can quickly provide the user with pedestrian route information suitable for pedestrians and walking conditions.

Claims

1. A pedestrian information providing system, comprising:

a storage unit for storing pedestrian map data for storing data of an area divided to a non-pedestrian area where pedestrians cannot walk freely and a pedestrian area where pedestrians can walk freely, a data of street where pedestrian can walk in each of said areas, a data of block where pedestrians cannot walk in each of said areas, an index for searching said block or said street from an address or a name, and a table where said areas belonging to each section on a map are described; and

a pedestrian information processing unit, comprising an input/output means for receiving input from a user, a pedestrian map data searching means for acquiring a pedestrian map data suitable for inputting from said storage unit, a pedestrian route searching means for searching a route for pedestrians using said data acquired, wherein a pedestrian map data required is acquired from said storage unit upon an input instruction from said user and an information to be presented is generated.

2. A pedestrian information providing system according to claim 1, wherein said data of area comprises an area ID, an area ID of an adjacent area, a data of entrance and exit to and from the adjacent area, IDs of blocks and streets belonging to the areas, and a data indicating positions of the areas on a map, said data of block comprises a block ID, a block name, an ID of the belonging area, an ID of the street, to which an entrance of the block is connected, an address of the block, and a data showing position of a block on a map, said data of street comprises street ID, street name ID of the belonging area, attribute data peculiar to the street, connecting information between streets, address of street, and data showing positions of the starting point and the end point of the street on a map.

3. A pedestrian information providing system according to claim 2, wherein said data of said street comprise, geographic information of the street, information on attached facilities provided on roadside, and time-related information to indicate conditions varying over time of the street as inherent attribute data.

4. A pedestrian information providing system according to claim 2, wherein, in case said block is a building, the data of said block comprises 3-dimensional information for displaying said building 3-dimensionally.

5. A pedestrian information providing system according to claim 1, wherein a part of said block has an element of an area in it.

6. A pedestrian information providing system according to claim 1, wherein said pedestrian map data searching means comprises an address corresponding data searching means for searching data of block or street using an index from the inputted address.

7. A pedestrian information providing system according to claim 1, wherein said pedestrian map data searching means comprises a name corresponding data searching means for searching data of block or street using an index from the inputted name.

8. A pedestrian information providing system according to claim 1, wherein said pedestrian map data searching means comprises a latitude/longitude corresponding data searching means for searching a block corresponding to a latitude/longitude data for calculating a section on a map from an inputted latitude/longitude data, searches an area belonging to said section using said table, searches an area corresponding to said latitude/longitude data from said area, and searches a block corresponding to said latitude/longitude data.

9. A pedestrian information providing system according to claim 1, wherein said storage unit stores a town table describing various types of objects included in each area and blocks where the objects are present as classified for each area, and there is provided a nearest information searching means where said pedestrian map data searching means searches a block where the inputted objects are present by extending object area to be searched to adjacent area using said town table.

10. A pedestrian information providing system according to claim 1, wherein said pedestrian route searching means comprises an attribute determining means for determining attribute of a route to be selected according to categories of pedestrian, time zone or weather inputted.

11. A pedestrian information providing system according to claim 10, wherein said attribute determining means determines said attribute using a neural net.

12. A pedestrian information providing system according to claim 10, wherein said pedestrian route searching means comprises a point-to-point route searching means for searching an optimal route from a departure point to a destination by giving consideration on the attribute determined by said attribute determining means.

13. A pedestrian information providing system according to claim 12, wherein said pedestrian map data searching means searches an optimal route between areas from the area of the departure point to an area of the destination, and then searches an optimal route of a street in each area along said optimal route by giving consideration on the attributes determined by said attribute determining means.

14. A pedestrian information providing system according to claim 10, wherein said pedestrian route searching means comprises a route searching means between a plurality of geographical points for searching an optimal route to go round from the departure point to a plurality of destinations by giving consideration on the attributes determined by said attribute determining means.

15. A pedestrian information providing system according to claim 10, wherein a transportation means data relating to lines and schedule of transportation means are stored in said storage unit, and said pedestrian route searching means comprises a route searching means for searching a route using transportation means for searching the nearest station of the departure point and the destination, searches an optimal route from the departure point and the destination to said nearest station by giving consideration on the attributes determined by said attribute determining means, and searches an optimal line from the station nearest to the departure point to the station nearest to the destination using said transportation means data.

16. A pedestrian information providing system according to claim 1, wherein said pedestrian information processing unit comprises a scheduling means for searching an optimal route after determining an order to visit destinations, for which visiting time is already determined, a visiting order to all destinations including a destination, for which visiting time is not determined, is determined, and an optimal route for visiting said destinations is searched.

17. A pedestrian information providing system according to claim 1, wherein said pedestrian information processing unit comprises a time simulation means for calculating time required from a departure point to a destination when a searched route is followed.

18. A pedestrian information providing system according to claim 1, wherein said pedestrian information processing unit comprises a transportation means determining means, whereby a route from a departure point to a destination using all transportation means is searched, and by comparing the time required form the departure point to the destination through each of these routes, a transportation means to be used is determined.

19. A pedestrian information providing system according to claim 1, wherein there is provided a pedestrian map data generating means for preparing said pedestrian map data from a road map.

20. A pedestrian information providing system according to claim 1, wherein there is provided a pedestrian map data generating means for preparing said pedestrian map data from a street map.

21. A pedestrian information providing system according to claim 1, wherein said pedestrian route searching means searches with priority a contour street on outer periphery of the pedestrian area as a route for pedestrians.

22. A pedestrian information providing system according to claim 21, wherein streets of a pedestrian area are divided to contour streets and streets within the area and are stored in said storage unit, and said contour streets are sequentially arranged clockwise or counterclockwise from a starting point.

23. A pedestrian information providing system according to claim 1, wherein said pedestrian route searching means provides guidance on a searched route by associating with advancing direction of vehicles.

24. A pedestrian information providing system according to claim 1, wherein a route searched by said pedestrian route searching means is converted to a route guidance information in icons displayed by characters.

25. A pedestrian information providing system according to claim 1, wherein a route searched by said pedestrian route searching means is display after its original shape is deformed.

26. A pedestrian information providing system according to claim 25, wherein said deforming processing is performed using a polynomial function.

27. A pedestrian information providing system according to claim 25, wherein said deforming processing is performed by calculating moving average of coordinates of the searched route.

28. A pedestrian information providing system according to claim 1, wherein guidance is provided for a route in a premise searched by said pedestrian route searching means using a side view of the premise as seen from said route.

29. A pedestrian information providing system according to claim 28, wherein graphic information and attribute information relating to each of facilities in the premise are stored in said storage unit.

30. A pedestrian information providing system according to claim 1, wherein there is provided a pedestrian map data generating means for preparing street information in a premise using a Voronoi diagram.

31. A pedestrian information providing system according to claim 1, wherein said pedestrian route searching means searches a route in a premise by broken line function approximation using a map data of the premise.

32. A pedestrian information providing system according to one of claim 28, wherein said premise is a premise of an underground shopping center, a building, or a station.

33. A pedestrian information providing system according to claim 19, wherein said pedestrian map data generating means picks up a region of pedestrian area and contour street of said region from a road map, generates data of the pedestrian area by incorporating information of street block in said pedestrian area from a street map, and corrects the data of said contour street to follow said street block.

34. A pedestrian information providing system according to claim 33, wherein said pedestrian map data generating means searches position after correction of said contour street using convex closure method.

35. A pedestrian information providing system according to claim 33, wherein said pedestrian map data generating means searches position after correction of said contour street by sequentially connecting vertexes of a street block where perpendicular lines to the nearest contour street can be drawn without crossing borderline of the street block.

36. A pedestrian information providing system according to claim 33, wherein said pedestrian map data generating means searches position after correction of said contour street by sequentially connecting borderlines of the outermost street block, which cross a straight line extending from the center of said pedestrian area.

37. A pedestrian information providing system according to claim 1, wherein said pedestrian route searching means provides an enlarged view of an intersection along the searched route by overlapping said enlarged view on a map to show said route.

38. A pedestrian information providing system according to claim 35, wherein vertexes or borderlines of said street block to find out a position after correction are limited to vertexes or borderlines within a predetermined distance from said contour street, and said distance is changed according to road width of said contour street.

39. A pedestrian information providing system according to claim 19, wherein said pedestrian map data generating means forms as many nodes as equal to number of links connected to said nodes from each node on a basic road on a road map, each of said formed nodes is connected only with two adjacent links forming different internal angles within said link, and a pedestrian area is generated by following the formed nodes.

40. A pedestrian information providing system according to claim 19, wherein said pedestrian map data generating means performs route searching for all bearings from an arbitrary node on a road map, and a pedestrian area is generated by grouping nodes and links of all roads where each of tips of the route searching passes through until the basic road is reached.

41. A pedestrian information providing system according to claim 19, wherein said pedestrian map data generating means calculates flow rate ot pedestrians in each link with the pedestrian area, and in case there is a link where said flow rate exceeds a predetermined value, said link is considered as a street going over a non-pedestrian area, and a non-pedestrian area is generated within said pedestrian area.

42. A storage unit for storing a pedestrian map data used in a pedestrian information providing system, which comprises a storage unit for storing a pedestrian map data, and a pedestrian information processing unit for acquiring pedestrian map data required from said storage unit for storing pedestrian map data and for generating information to be offered,

said storage unit comprising a data of an area divided to a non-pedestrian area where pedestrians cannot walk freely and a pedestrian area where pedestrians can walk freely, a data of street where pedestrians can walk within each of said areas, a data of block where pedestrians cannot walk in each of said areas, an index for searching said block or said street from an address or a name, and a table describing said areas belonging to each section on a map.

43. A pedestrian information processing unit used for a pedestrian information providing system, which comprises a storage unit for storing a pedestrian map data, and a pedestrian information processing unit for acquiring a pedestrian map data required from said storage unit for storing pedestrian map data and for generating information to be offered,

said pedestrian information processing unit comprising an input/output control means for receiving input from a user, a pedestrian map data searching means for acquiring a pedestrian map data suitable for inputting from said storage unit, and a pedestrian route searching means for searching a route for pedestrians using said data acquired, and a pedestrian map data required is acquired from said storage unit according to input instruction from said user and an information to be offered is generated.