Navigation device and method therefor

• US 6,304,821 B1
• Filed: 09/28/2000
• Issued: 10/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Shimamoto, Yoshinobu
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Gary
• Application Number:
  US09/671,204
• Time in Patent Office: 383 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701/202, 701/207, 701/208, 701/209, 701/210, 731/78.R, 340/988, 340/990, 340/995
• US Class Current: 701/209
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3492 employing speed data or traffic data, e.g. real-time or historical traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096827 where the route is computed onboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096872 where instructions are given per voice

Abstract

A microcomputer 4 is provided which searches a recommended route which can be negotiated in a minimum time from a present position of a moving body detected by a GPS receiver 1 to a destination set by a operational device 3 by reference to obstacle time information played from a CD-ROM player 2.

Claims

1. A navigation device which comprises:

a position detection means which detects a present position of a moving body;

a setting means which sets a destination;

an information acquisition means which acquires obstacle time information relating to an obstacle on the route, said obstacle temporarily denying passage of said moving body on said route;

a route searching means which searches for a route, which can be negotiated in a minimum travel time from said present position of said moving body detected by said position detection means to said destination set by said setting means, by reference to said obstacle time information acquired from said information acquisition means; and

an indication means which indicates a recommended route searched for by said route searching means,

wherein said route searching means includes a waiting time, said waiting time being the period from an expected arrival time at an obstacle to a time when the obstacle will allow passage, in said minimum travel time from said present position to said destination when the expected arrival time of a moving body at said obstacle is in a timeframe in which the passage of the moving body will be temporarily denied.

2. A navigation device according to claim 1, wherein said information acquisition means reads information relating to an obstacle time from a recording medium.

3. A navigation device according to claim 1, wherein said information acquisition device receives a radio signal relating to said obstacle time information.

4. A navigation device according to claim 1, wherein said obstacle corresponds to a scheduled event, during which said moving body cannot pass said obstacle.

5. A navigation device according to claim 4, wherein said obstacle time information denotes a beginning and an end of a time range during which said scheduled event is scheduled to occur.

6. A navigation device according to claim 5, wherein said route searching means calculates said waiting time as the time period from the expected arrival time at said obstacle to the end of the time range denoted by said obstacle time information.

7. A navigation device according to claim 1, wherein said obstacle is a railway crossing.

8. A navigation device according to claim 1, wherein said information acquisition means receives said obstacle time information from the Internet.

9. A navigation method which comprises the steps of:

setting a destination and detecting a present position of a moving body;

acquiring obstacle time information relating to an obstacle on a route which is in a timeframe which will deny passage of said moving body on said route;

searching for a recommended route which can be negotiated in a minimum travel time from said present position of said moving body to said destination by reference to obstacle time information; and

indicating said recommended route,

wherein the step of searching for a recommended route includes a waiting time, said waiting time being the period from an expected arrival time at said obstacle to a time when the obstacle will allow passage, in the minimum travel time from said present position to said destination when the expected arrival time of said moving body at said obstacle is in a timeframe in which the passage of the moving body will be temporarily denied.

10. A navigation method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of reading information relating to an obstacle time from a recording medium.

11. A navigation method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of receiving a radio signal relating to said obstacle time information.

12. A navigation method according to claim 9, wherein said obstacle corresponds to a scheduled event, during which said moving body cannot pass said obstacle.

13. A navigation method according to claim 12, wherein said obstacle time information denotes a beginning and an end of a time range during which said scheduled event is scheduled to occur.

14. A navigation method according to claim 13, wherein the step of searching for a recommended route calculates said waiting time as the time period from the expected arrival time at said obstacle to the end of the time range denoted by said obstacle time information.

15. A navigation method according to claim 9, wherein said obstacle is a railway crossing.

16. A navigation method according to claim 9, wherein the step of acquiring obstacle time information receives obstacle time information from the Internet.

17. A navigation device comprising:

a determining device for determining an optimal route from a detected location of a moving body to a set destination chosen from a plurality of eligible routes according to a shortest travel time, wherein a travel time of each eligible route includes any waiting time during which said moving body is expected to be temporarily denied passage at a predetermined location in said eligible route based on timetable information for said predetermined location and an expected time of arrival for said moving body at said predetermined location; and

an output device for outputting said determined optimal route.

18. A navigation device according to claim 17, wherein said timetable information defines a time interval during which said moving body will be denied passage at said predetermined location, and

said waiting time is calculated as the period of time from said expected time of arrival to the end of said time interval, when said expected time of arrival falls within said time interval.

19. A navigation device according to claim 17, wherein said determining device retrieves said timetable information from a recording medium.

20. A navigation device according to claim 17, wherein said determining device retrieves said timetable information from the Internet via radio signals.

21. A navigation device according to claim 17, wherein said predetermined location includes a railroad crossing.

24. A navigation method according to claim 20, wherein said determining step retrieves said timetable information from a recording medium.

22. A navigation method comprising:

detecting a location of a moving body;

setting a destination;

determining an optimal route from said detected location to said destination chosen from a plurality of eligible routes according to a shortest travel time, wherein a travel time of each eligible route includes any waiting time during which said moving body is expected to be temporarily denied passage at a predetermined location in said eligible route based on timetable information for said predetermined location and an expected time of arrival for said moving body at said predetermined location; and

outputting said determined optimal route.

23. A navigation method according to claim 22, wherein said timetable information defines a time interval during which said moving body will be denied passage at said predetermined location, said determining step further including:

calculating said waiting time as the period of time from said expected time of arrival to the end of said time interval, when said expected time of arrival falls within said time interval.

25. A navigation method according to claim 22, wherein said determining step retrieves said timetable information from the Internet via radio signals.

26. A navigation method according to claim 22, wherein said predetermined location includes a railroad crossing.