Route guiding apparatus and medium

• US 6,421,606 B1
• Filed: 08/14/2000
• Issued: 07/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Murata, Kenichi, Asai, Goro, Igarashi, Fusaki, Hashimoto, Takahiro, Kakihara, Masaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PIPALA, EDWARD J
• Application Number:
  US09/637,928
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701/201, 701/206, 701/208, 701/209, 701/204, 701/207, 701/300, 701/302
• US Class Current: 701/209
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3423 Multimodal routing, i.e. combining two or more modes of transportation, where the modes can be any of, e.g. driving, walking, cycling, public transport
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3688 Systems comprising multiple parts or multiple output devices (not client-server), e.g. detachable faceplates, key fobs or multiple output screens
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/123 indicating the position of vehicles, e.g. scheduled vehicles; Managing passenger vehicles circulating according to a fixed timetable, e.g. buses, trains, tramstransmission of navigation instructions to vehicles G08G1/0968

Abstract

A route guiding apparatus provides information for a route using public transportation as an alternative to a vehicular route. In addition to searching for a vehicular route from a current location to a destination, it is determined whether the current location and the destination are within a zone in which public transportation can be used. When the current location and the destination are determined to be within a public transportation zone, a route using public transportation is searched for. Subsequently, the cost of the route using public transportation and the cost of the vehicular route are compared. When the cost of the public transportation route falls within a predetermined limit, the apparatus indicates the public transportation route. The route costs are calculated considering factors such as required travel time and ticket fees. The apparatus may also recommend public transportation when no parking is available near the destination, or based on traffic information concerning the vehicular route.

Claims

1. A route guiding apparatus for searching and indicating a route for reaching a destination, comprising:

a calculation means for calculating a cost associated with a route using a public transportation service and a cost associated with a route using a vehicle only; and

a control means for indicating said route using the public transportation service when the cost of said route using the public transportation service is smaller than the cost of said route using the vehicle only by at least a predetermined value;

wherein said cost includes at least one of a time and a financial expense.

2. The route guiding apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein

said calculation means calculates, for said route using vehicle only, an estimated arrival time via a static route and an estimated arrival time via a dynamic route; and

said control means indicates said route using public transportation service when the estimated arrival time via said dynamic route is later than the estimated arrival time via said static route by at least a predetermined interval of time.

3. The route guiding apparatus defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a memory means for storing in advance a zone in which public transportation service can be used;

wherein

said control means indicates said route using public transportation service when a current location is located within said zone in which public transportation service can be used.

4. The route guiding apparatus defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a memory means for storing in advance a zone in which public transportation service can be used;

wherein

said control means indicates said route using public transportation service when said destination is located within said zone in which public transportation service can be used.

5. The route guiding apparatus defined in claim 1, further comprising:

an acquiring means for acquiring information concerning vacancy in a parking lot near said destination;

wherein

said control means indicates said route using public transportation service when there is no vacancy in said parking lot near said destination.

6. The route guiding apparatus defined in claim 1, further comprising:

an acquiring means for acquiring traffic advisory information concerning said route using vehicle only;

wherein

said control means indicates said route using public transportation service when there exists a traffic advisory related to said route using vehicle only.

7. The route guiding apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein

said control means indicates said route using public transportation service when there exists a plurality of public transportation services that can be used.

8. The route guiding apparatus defined in claim 1, further comprising:

an acquiring means for acquiring information concerning vacancy in a parking lot usable for making a transfer from vehicle to public transportation service;

wherein

said control means indicates said route using public transportation service based on said information concerning vacancy in a parking lot usable for the transfer.

9. The route guiding apparatus defined in claim 8, further comprising:

a selection means for selecting between a route guiding mode based on said information concerning vacancy in a parking lot usable for the transfer, and a route guiding mode ignoring said vacancy information;

wherein

in said route guiding mode ignoring said information concerning vacancy in a parking lot usable for the transfer, said route using public transportation service is indicated without depending on said information concerning vacancy in a parking lot usable for the transfer.

10. The route guiding apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein

said control means indicates a return route from said destination using public transportation service based on information concerning a closing time of a parking lot used when transferring from the vehicle to public transportation service.

11. The route guiding apparatus defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a portable terminal device storing route guiding information supplied from said control means.

12. The route guiding apparatus defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a memory means for storing data related to said route using public transportation service as link information and node information;

wherein

said calculation means calculates the cost of said route using public transportation service based on said link information and said node information.

13. The route guiding apparatus defined in claim 12, wherein

said node information includes a node denoting a location of a parking lot near a boarding site of said public transportation service;

and

said link information includes a link connecting a node denoting said boarding site and said node denoting said parking lot location.

14. The route guiding apparatus defined in claim 12, wherein

said public transportation service is a railway;

said node information includes nodes denoting locations of stations of said railway; and

said link information includes a link connecting between said nodes denoting the locations of said stations.

15. The route guiding apparatus defined in claim 12, wherein

said public transportation service is a railway;

said node information includes a node denoting a location of a station of said railway, and a node denoting a location of a parking lot near said station; and

said link information includes a link connecting between said nodes.

16. The route guiding apparatus defined in claim 15, wherein said node denoting said station location is a node denoting an exit of said station.

17. The route guiding apparatus defined in claim 12, wherein said public transportation service is a railway;

said node information includes a first node denoting a location of a platform of a station of said railway, a second node denoting a location of a parking lot near said station, and a third node denoting a location of an exit of said station; and

said link information includes a link connecting said second node and said third node, and a link connecting said first node and said third node.

18. The route guiding apparatus defined in claim 12, wherein

said public transportation service is a railway;

and

when a plurality of railway lines exist, said node information and said link information are configured for each of said lines.

19. The route guiding apparatus defined in claim 12, wherein

said public transportation service is a railway;

said node information includes a node denoting a location of a station of said railway, and a node denoting a location on a road near said station; and

said link information includes a link connecting said nodes.

20. The route guiding apparatus defined in claim 19, wherein

said node denoting said station location is a node denoting an exit of said station.

21. The route guiding apparatus defined in claim 11, wherein

said memory means stores data related to a walking routes as said link information and said node information;

and

said calculation means calculates said route using public transportation service and a walking route based on said link information and said node information related to walking routes.

22. The route guiding apparatus defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a location detection means for detecting a current location;

a memory means for storing map data;

a traveling mode detection means for detecting a current traveling mode; and

a correction means for correcting said detected current location by collating with said map data in accordance with said traveling mode.

23. The route guiding apparatus defined in claim 22, wherein

said correction means performs said correction by using map data corresponding to said traveling mode, from among said map data.

24. The route guiding apparatus defined in claim 22, wherein

said correction means performs said correction by using a different algorithm for each of a plurality of said traveling modes.

25. The route guiding apparatus defined in claim 24, wherein

when said traveling mode is a railway, said algorithm employs a railway operation schedule.

26. The route guiding apparatus defined in claim 24, wherein

when said traveling mode is walking, said algorithm does not perform said correction.

27. The route guiding apparatus defined in claim 11, wherein

said portable terminal device is configured to be detachable from a vehicle;

and

said route guiding apparatus further comprises means for prohibiting detachment of said portable terminal device from said vehicle during vehicle traveling.

28. The route guiding apparatus defined in claim 11, wherein

said portable terminal device is configured to be detachable from a vehicle;

and

said route guiding apparatus further comprises means for urging a driver to detach said portable terminal device from said vehicle when the driver dismounts said vehicle.

29. The route guiding apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein

the units employed by said calculation means when calculating the cost of said route using public transportation service and the cost of said route using vehicle only are units of time.

30. The route guiding apparatus defined in claim 29, wherein

said calculation means calculates the cost of said route using vehicle only based on a vehicle velocity designated according to a road type.

31. The route guiding apparatus defined in claim 29, wherein

said calculation means calculates the cost of said route using public transportation service based on a degree of easiness of travel.

32. The route guiding apparatus defined in claim 29, wherein

said calculation means calculates the cost of said route using public transportation service based on a waiting time.

33. A computer-readable medium on which is recorded a program for searching for a route leading to a destination, in which processing performed by a computer through execution of said program includes the following steps of:

(a) searching for a route using a vehicle only to reach said destination;

(b) calculating a cost of said route using the vehicle only;

(c) searching for a route using a public transportation service;

(d) calculating a cost of said route using the public transportation service; and

(e) outputting said route using the public transportation service when the cost of said route using the public transportation service is smaller than the cost of said route using the vehicle only by at least a predetermined value;

wherein said cost includes at least one of a time and a financial expense.

34. The computer-readable medium defined in claim 33, wherein

in said step (c), said search is performed by using link information and node information associated with said route using public transportation service.

35. The computer-readable medium defined in claim 33, further comprising the following steps of:

(f) detecting a current location;

(g) determining a current traveling mode; and

(h) correcting said current location by collating with map data in accordance with said traveling mode.

36. The computer-readable medium defined in claim 33, wherein

in said step (b) and said step (d), said costs are calculated in units of time.

37. The computer-readable medium defined in claim 33, wherein

in said step (b), said cost is calculated in units of time based on a vehicle velocity designated according to a road type.

38. A route guiding method for searching and indicating a route for reaching a destination, comprising the steps of:

searching for a route using a vehicle only to reach said destination;

calculating a cost of said route using the vehicle only;

searching for a route using a public transportation service;

calculating a cost of said route using the public transportation service; and

indicating said route using the public transportation service when the cost of said route using the public transportation service is smaller than the cost of said route using the vehicle only by at least a predetermined value;

wherein said cost includes at least one of a time and a financial expense.