Navigation apparatus
First Claim
1. A navigation apparatus comprising:
- destination setting means for setting a destination;
route searching means for searching for an initial route to the destination set by said destination setting means, under a given condition;
detour calculation instruction means for instructing the calculation of a detour route; and
detour route searching means for searching for a detour route for returning to the initial route;
wherein when an instruction for a first calculation of a detour route is issued by said detour calculation instruction means with a detour distance along said initial route specified, said detour route searching means searches for a detour route while increasing the cost of a link corresponding to the detour distance specified by said detour calculation instruction means, whereas when an instruction for a second or subsequent calculation of a detour route is issued, said detour route searching means searches for a detour route after increasing the cost of each link corresponding to a detour route that has been found according to a previous instruction for the calculation of a detour route.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a navigation apparatus, when a first detour route for detouring around part of an initial route is present and the calculation of a second detour route is instructed, a route search processing unit determines whether the ratio of the distance of the first detour route to the total distance to be traveled when a vehicle returns to the initial route from the current position thereof via the first detour route and travels to a destination exceeds a preset value. If the ratio does not exceed the preset value, the route search processing unit increases cost of at least a link associated with the first detour route, and searches for the second detour route. If the ratio exceeds the preset value, the route search processing unit searches for a new route that links the current position of the vehicle and the destination.
44 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A navigation apparatus comprising:
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destination setting means for setting a destination;
route searching means for searching for an initial route to the destination set by said destination setting means, under a given condition;
detour calculation instruction means for instructing the calculation of a detour route; and
detour route searching means for searching for a detour route for returning to the initial route;
wherein when an instruction for a first calculation of a detour route is issued by said detour calculation instruction means with a detour distance along said initial route specified, said detour route searching means searches for a detour route while increasing the cost of a link corresponding to the detour distance specified by said detour calculation instruction means, whereas when an instruction for a second or subsequent calculation of a detour route is issued, said detour route searching means searches for a detour route after increasing the cost of each link corresponding to a detour route that has been found according to a previous instruction for the calculation of a detour route. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
wherein, when the second area included in the instruction screen is specified by said detour calculation instruction means, said detour route searching means searches for a detour route as though a second or subsequent calculation of a detour route has been instructed. -
4. A navigation apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said instruction screen display means prohibits the selection of a candidate of detour distance, included in the first area, that has already been selected in a state where an instruction for a second or subsequent calculation of a detour route is allowed.
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5. A navigation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising vehicle position detecting means for detecting a current position of a vehicle,
wherein, when a second or subsequent calculation of a detour route is instructed, said detour route searching means sequentially tracks each detour route that has been found according to a previous instruction for the calculation of a detour route from the current position of the vehicle to the initial route before executing a search for a detour route according to the instruction for a second or subsequent calculation of a detour route, and increases the cost of each link that constitutes each detour route that has been tracked. -
6. A navigation apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said detour route searching means increases the cost of each link by multiplying the original cost thereof by a multiplier value, the multiplier value increasing in order of a detour route including the link being a minor street, a main road, and a highway.
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7. A navigation apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the ratio is a ratio of a distance of a previous detour route found by a previous search for a detour route by said detour route searching means to a total distance to be traveled when the vehicle returns to the initial route via the previous detour route and travels to the destination.
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8. A navigation apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the ratio is a ratio of a distance of a previous detour route to a total distance to be traveled when the vehicle travels from a current position to the destination along the initial route.
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9. A navigation apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the ratio is a ratio of a distance of a previous detour route to a straight line distance from a current position of the vehicle to the destination.
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10. A navigation apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a ratio setting means for arbitrarily setting the ratio within a predetermined range.
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11. A navigation apparatus comprising:
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vehicle position detecting means for detecting a current position of a vehicle;
destination setting means for setting a destination;
route searching means for searching for an initial route to the destination set by said destination setting means, under a given condition;
recalculation instruction means for determining whether the current position of the vehicle detected by said vehicle position detecting means is off the initial route found by said route searching means, and for instructing the recalculation of a route if the current position of the vehicle is determined to be off the initial route; and
return route searching means for searching for a return route;
wherein, when a first recalculation is instructed by said recalculation instruction means, said return route searching means searches for a return route for returning to the initial route found by said route searching means, whereas when a second or subsequent recalculation is instructed, said return route searching means searches again for a route to the destination if a ratio of a return route that has previously been found exceeds a preset value while searching for a different return route for returning to the initial route if the ratio does not exceed the preset value. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of operating a navigation apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:
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setting a destination;
searching for an initial route to the destination; and
searching for a detour route around a portion of the initial route;
wherein, when a second or subsequent request for the calculation of a detour route is issued under predetermined conditions, a further detour route is searched for after increasing the costs of links corresponding to a previously searched detour route. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of operating a navigation apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:
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setting a destination;
searching for an initial route to the destination; and
searching for a return route when the vehicle is off the initial route;
wherein, when a second or subsequent request for the calculation of a return route is issued, either a route to the destination or a different return route for returning to the initial route is searched according to preset value. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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Specification