Vehicle navigation server for obtaining traffic information for mesh unit on travel route

• US 6,757,609 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2003
• Issued: 06/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Tsuge, Masakuni, Tsuda, Hiroyuki, Yofu, Toshihide, Washimi, Kouichi
• Primary Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US10/649,754
• Publication Number:
  US 20040044471A1
• Time in Patent Office: 308 Days
• Field of Search: 701/23-26, 701/200-202, 701/207-210, 340/988, 340/990, 340/995.1, 731/78.R, 342/357.13, 342/457, 342/463
• US Class Current: 701/209
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096822 where the segments of the route are transmitted to the vehicle at different locations and times
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096838 where the user preferences are taken into account or the user selects one route out of a plurality
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096844 where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096861 where the immediate route instructions are output to the driver, e.g. arrow signs for next turn
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096883 where input information is obtained using a mobile device, e.g. a mobile phone, a PDA

Abstract

A vehicle navigation server for providing traffic information, which is useful and has a suitable data amount, to a vehicle navigation device, so as to make the vehicle have a comfortable travel. The server calculates at least one proposed travel based on input data including a current or start position and a destination of the vehicle, and defines a map mesh consisting of mesh units on the proposed travel route. The server extracts traffic information relating to each mesh unit from a traffic information storage device in turn, where traffic information relating to the mesh unit which includes the start or current position is obtained first. The server monitors a total amount of extracted information, and terminates information extraction for the following mesh units when the total amount becomes equal to or larger than a predetermined value. The server then sends the traffic information to a vehicle navigation device.

Claims

1. A vehicle navigation server comprising:

a travel route calculating device for calculating at least one proposed travel route of a vehicle based on data input by a registrant to the server, the data including a current or start position and a destination of the vehicle;

a map mesh defining device for defining a map mesh consisting of mesh units, which contains the proposed travel route;

a traffic information extracting device for extracting traffic information relating to each mesh unit of the proposed travel route from a traffic information storage device, wherein the traffic information relating to the mesh unit which includes the start or current position of the vehicle is obtained first;

a data amount monitoring device for monitoring a total amount of extracted information, wherein the data amount monitoring device terminates information extraction when the total amount of extracted information becomes equal to or larger than a predetermined value; and

a data sending device for sending the extracted traffic information to a vehicle navigation device associated with the vehicle.

2. A vehicle navigation server as claimed in claim 1, wherein the traffic information sent to the vehicle navigation device is selectable from one or more information categories, and the traffic information belonging to at least one selected information category is sent to the vehicle navigation device.

3. A vehicle navigation server as claimed in claim 1, wherein the traffic information sent to the vehicle navigation device is a combination of detailed information about a section from the mesh unit which includes the current or start position of the vehicle to a predetermined one of the mesh units and simplified information about the remaining mesh units following the predetermined mesh unit.

4. A vehicle navigation server as claimed in claim 2, wherein the traffic information sent to the vehicle navigation device is a combination of detailed information about a section from the mesh unit which includes the current or start position of the vehicle to a predetermined one of the mesh units and simplified information about the remaining mesh units following the predetermined mesh unit.

5. A vehicle navigation server as claimed in claim 1, wherein the traffic information is extracted for each mesh unit in order from the mesh unit closest to the vehicle to the mesh unit furthest from the vehicle.

6. A vehicle navigation server as claimed in claim 2, wherein said at least one information category is selected in advance by a passenger of the vehicle.

7. A method of providing traffic information from a vehicle navigation server, the method comprising steps of:

calculating at least one proposed travel route of a vehicle based on data input by a registrant to the server, the data including a current or start position and a destination of the vehicle;

defining a map mesh having mesh units, the map mesh including a representation of the proposed travel route;

extracting traffic information relating to each mesh unit of the proposed travel route from a traffic information storage device in a manner such that traffic information relating to the mesh unit which includes the start or current position of the vehicle is obtained first;

monitoring a total amount of extracted traffic information;

terminating the information extraction when the total amount of extracted traffic information becomes equal to or larger than a predetermined value; and

sending the extracted traffic information to a vehicle navigation device associated with the vehicle.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising the step of selecting at least one category of traffic information, wherein the traffic information sent to the vehicle navigation device is at least from the selected category.

9. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the traffic information sent to the vehicle navigation device is a combination of information including information about a section from the mesh unit which includes the current or start position of the vehicle to a predetermined one of the mesh units and information about the remaining mesh units following the predetermined mesh unit.

10. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the traffic information is extracted for each mesh unit in order from the mesh unit closest to the vehicle to the mesh unit furthest from the vehicle.

11. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said at least one information category is selected in advance by a passenger of the vehicle.

12. A vehicle navigation apparatus comprising:

a travel route calculating means for calculating at least one proposed travel route of a vehicle based on data input by a registrant to the apparatus, the data including a current or start position and a destination of the vehicle;

a map mesh defining means for defining a map mesh consisting of mesh units, the map mesh containing information defining the proposed travel route;

a traffic information extracting means for extracting traffic information relating to each mesh unit of the proposed travel route from a traffic information storage device, the traffic information extracting means extracting traffic information in a manner such that traffic information relating to the mesh unit which includes the start or current position of the vehicle is obtained first;

a data amount monitoring means for monitoring a total amount of extracted information, wherein the data amount monitoring means terminates the information extraction when the total amount of extracted information becomes equal to or larger than a predetermined value; and

a data sending means for sending the extracted traffic information to a vehicle navigation device linked with the vehicle.

13. A vehicle navigation apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the traffic information sent to the vehicle navigation device is selectable from one or more information categories.

14. A vehicle navigation apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the traffic information sent to the vehicle navigation device is a combination of information including information about a section from the mesh unit which includes the current or start position of the vehicle to a predetermined one of the mesh units and information about the remaining mesh units following the predetermined mesh unit.

15. A vehicle navigation apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the traffic information is extracted for each mesh unit in order from the mesh unit closest to the vehicle to the mesh unit furthest from the vehicle.

16. A vehicle navigation apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the information category is selected in advance by a passenger of the vehicle.