Car navigation system

• US 7,333,889 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2005
• Issued: 02/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Hashizume, Masayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin; Gary
• Application Number:
  US11/229,601
• Publication Number:
  US 20060069500A1
• Time in Patent Office: 882 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701/209, 701/210, 701/211, 340/995.1, 340/995.13, 340/995.19, 340/995.2, 340/995.21
• US Class Current: 701/211
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3641 Personalized guidance, e.g. limited guidance on previously travelled routes
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096827 where the route is computed onboard

Abstract

A car navigation system changes from a normal guidance mode to a simplifying guidance mode when determining that part or all of sections in a guidance route is familiar or specific to an occupant. The simplifying guidance mode provides no audio guidance or simplified audio guidance with respect to route-related information compared to the normal guidance mode, while traffic-related information is provided using the same audio guidance as in the normal guidance mode.

Claims

1. A car navigation system provided in a vehicle, the car navigation system comprising:

a traffic-related information acquisition unit for acquiring traffic-related information about vehicular traffic;

a setting unit for setting a destination;

a route retrieval unit for retrieving a guidance route from a departure place to the set destination;

a route guidance unit for providing (i) route-related information about the retrieved guidance route using display guidance and audio guidance, and (ii) traffic-related information about the retrieved guidance route using display guidance and audio guidance when the traffic-related information about the retrieved guidance route is acquired by the traffic-related information acquisition unit;

a determination unit for determining whether or not part or all of sections in the retrieved guidance route is specific to an occupant of the vehicle; and

a route-related information editing unit for editing, of route-related information to be provided by the route guidance unit, route-related information about part or all of sections in the retrieved guidance route that is determined to be specific to the occupant,

wherein the route guidance unit uses the edited route-related information to perform audio guidance for part or all of sections in the retrieved guidance route that is determined to be specific to the occupant.

2. The car navigation system according to claim 1,

wherein the route-related information editing unit edits route-related information so as to omit audio guidance for part or all of sections in the retrieved guidance route that is determined to be specific to the occupant.

3. The car navigation system according to claim 1,

wherein the route-related information editing unit edits route-related information so as to perform audio guidance simpler than audio guidance using route-related information before editing.

4. The car navigation system according to claim 3,

wherein the route-related information editing unit edits route-related information so as to make an occurrence frequency of audio guidance smaller than an occurrence frequency of audio guidance using route-related information before editing.

5. The car navigation system according to claim 3,

wherein the route-related information editing unit edits route-related information so as to omit a less important part of audio guidance using route-related information before editing.

6. The car navigation system according to claim 3,

wherein the route-related information editing unit edits route-related information so as to simplify a sentence of the audio guidance using route-related information before editing.

7. The car navigation system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a history information storage unit for storing history information containing at least one of (i) a history about a departure place and a destination of a guidance route and (ii) a history about a vehicular swept path,

wherein the determination unit functions based on the stored history information.

8. The car navigation system according to claim 7,

wherein, when the retrieved guidance route includes a departure place and a destination indicating a count greater than or equal to a specified value, the determination unit determines that a section from the departure place to the destination is a route specific to or frequented by the occupant.

9. The car navigation system according to claim 7,

wherein, when a vehicular swept path indicating a count greater than or equal to a specified value overlaps with the retrieved guidance route, the determination unit determines that an overlapping section is a route specific to or frequented by the occupant.

10. The car navigation system according to claim 7, further comprising:

a route learning unit for learning a route frequently traveled by the vehicle based on the history about a vehicular swept path,

wherein, when part or all of sections in the retrieved guidance route corresponds to a route for learning by the route learning unit, the determination unit determines that the route for learning is a route specific to or frequented by the occupant.

11. The car navigation system according to claim 1,

wherein, when traffic congestion information is acquired as the traffic-related information, the route guidance unit notifies at least a place of traffic congestion occurrence and a length of a traffic congested area.

12. The car navigation system according to claim 11, further comprising:

a detail map display designation unit for designating display of a detail map for the place of traffic congestion occurrence and its vicinity; and

a detail map display control unit for controlling display of the detail map when receiving an instruction from the detail map display designation unit.

13. The car navigation system according to claim 11, further comprising:

a bypass route retrieval designation unit for designating retrieval of a bypass route to bypass the traffic congested area,

wherein the route guidance unit uses display guidance and audio guidance, with respect to retrieval of the bypass route,

wherein the route retrieval unit retrieves the bypass route when the bypass route retrieval designation unit designates retrieval of the bypass route after display guidance and audio guidance about retrieval of the bypass route, and

wherein the route guidance unit uses display guidance and audio guidance about the bypass route.

14. The car navigation system according to claim 1,

wherein a route specific to the occupant signifies a route frequented by the occupant or a route pre-registered by the occupant.

15. A car navigation system provided in a vehicle, the car navigation system comprising:

a traffic-related information acquisition unit for acquiring traffic-related information about vehicular traffic;

a setting unit for setting a destination;

a route retrieval unit for retrieving a guidance route from a departure place to the set destination;

a route guidance unit for providing (i) route-related information about the retrieved guidance route using display guidance and audio guidance, and (ii) traffic-related information about the retrieved guidance route using display guidance and audio guidance when the traffic-related information about the retrieved guidance route is acquired by the traffic-related information acquisition unit;

a determination unit for determining whether or not part or all of sections in the retrieved guidance route is specific to an occupant of the vehicle; and

a route-related information creating unit for creating route-related information about part or all of sections in the retrieved guidance route that is determined to be specific to the occupant,

wherein the route guidance unit uses the created route-related information to perform audio guidance for part or all of sections in the retrieved guidance route that is determined to be specific to the occupant.

16. The car navigation system according to claim 15,

wherein the route-related information creating unit creates route-related information so as to perform audio guidance simpler than audio guidance using route-related information present before creating.

17. The car navigation system according to claim 16,

wherein the route-related information creating unit creates route-related information so as to make an occurrence frequency of audio guidance smaller than an occurrence frequency of audio guidance using route-related information present before creating.

18. The car navigation system according to claim 16,

wherein the route-related information creating unit creates route-related information so as to perform audio guidance high in a level of importance.

19. The car navigation system according to claim 16,

wherein the route-related information creating unit creates route-related information so that audio guidance using the created route-related information is simpler than audio guidance using route-related information present before creating.

20. The car navigation system according to claim 15, further comprising:

a history information storage unit for storing history information containing at least one of (i) a history about a departure place and a destination of a guidance route and (ii) a history about a vehicular swept path,

wherein the determination unit functions based on the stored history information.

21. The car navigation system according to claim 20,

wherein, when the retrieved guidance route includes a departure place and a destination indicating a count greater than or equal to a specified value, the determination unit determines that a section from the departure place to the destination is a route specific to or frequented by the occupant.

22. The car navigation system according to claim 20,

wherein, when a vehicular swept path indicating a count greater than or equal to a specified value overlaps with the retrieved guidance route, the determination unit determines that an overlapping section is a route specific to or frequented by the occupant.

23. The car navigation system according to claim 20, further comprising:

a route learning unit for learning a route frequently traveled by the vehicle based on the history about a vehicular swept path,

wherein, when part or all of sections in the retrieved guidance route corresponds to a route for learning by the route learning unit, the determination unit determines that the route for learning is a route specific to or frequented by the occupant.

24. The car navigation system according to claim 15,

wherein, when traffic congestion information is acquired as the traffic-related information, the route guidance unit notifies at least a place of traffic congestion occurrence and a length of a traffic congested area.

25. The car navigation system according to claim 24, further comprising:

a detail map display designation unit for designating display of a detail map for the place of traffic congestion occurrence and its vicinity; and

a detail map display control unit for controlling display of the detail map when receiving an instruction from the detail map display designation unit.

26. The car navigation system according to claim 24, further comprising:

a bypass route retrieval designation unit for designating retrieval of a bypass route to bypass the traffic congested area,

wherein the route guidance unit uses display guidance and audio guidance, with respect to retrieval of the bypass route,

wherein the route retrieval unit retrieves the bypass route when the bypass route retrieval designation unit designates retrieval of the bypass route after display guidance and audio guidance about retrieval of the bypass route, and

wherein the route guidance unit uses display guidance and audio guidance about the bypass route.

27. The car navigation system according to claim 15,

wherein a route specific to the occupant signifies a route frequented by the occupant or a route pre-registered by the occupant.

28. A car navigation system provided in a vehicle, the car navigation system comprising:

a traffic-related information acquisition unit for acquiring traffic-related information about vehicular traffic;

a setting unit for setting a destination;

a route retrieval unit for retrieving a guidance route from a departure place to the set destination;

a route guidance unit for providing (i) route-related information about the retrieved guidance route, and (ii) traffic-related information about the retrieved guidance route when the traffic-related information about the retrieved guidance route is acquired by the traffic-related information acquisition unit; and

a guidance mode selection unit for selecting one of two guidance modes of a normal mode and an audio route guidance simplifying and omitting mode,

wherein the normal mode provides both traffic-related information and route-related information using both display guidance and audio guidance, and

wherein the audio route guidance simplifying and omitting mode provides

(i) traffic-related information using both display guidance and audio guidance, and

(ii) route-related information only using display guidance or using the display guidance and audio guidance that is simpler than the audio guidance used in the normal mode with respect to the route-related information, and

wherein the route guidance unit performs guidance according to a guidance mode selected by the guidance mode selection unit.

29. The car navigation system according to claim 28, further comprising:

a history information storage unit for storing history information containing at least one of (i) a history about a departure place and a destination of a guidance route and (ii) a history about a vehicular swept path; and

a determination unit for determining whether or not part or all of sections in the retrieved guidance route is a route frequented by an occupant of the vehicle based on the stored history information,

wherein, when part or all of sections in the retrieved guidance route is determined to be a route frequented by the occupant, the guidance mode selection unit selects the audio route guidance simplifying and omitting mode as a guidance mode for part or all of sections in the retrieved guidance route that is determined to be a route frequented by the occupant.

30. The car navigation system according to claim 29,

wherein, when the retrieved guidance route includes a departure place and a destination indicating a count greater than or equal to a specified value, the determination unit determines that a section from the departure place to the destination is a route specific to or frequented by the occupant.

31. The car navigation system according to claim 29,

wherein, when a vehicular swept path indicating a count greater than or equal to a specified value overlaps with the retrieved guidance route, the determination unit determines that an overlapping section is a route specific to or frequented by the occupant.

32. The car navigation system according to claim 29, further comprising:

a route learning unit for learning a route frequently traveled by the vehicle based on the history about a vehicular swept path,

wherein, when part or all of sections in the retrieved guidance route corresponds to a route for learning by the route learning unit, the determination unit determines that the route for learning is a route specific to or frequented by the occupant.

33. The car navigation system according to claim 29, further comprising:

a guidance mode designation unit for designating one of (i) the normal mode and (ii) the audio route guidance simplifying and omitting mode,

wherein, when the determination unit determines that part or all of sections in the retrieved guidance route is not a route frequented by the occupant, the guidance mode selection unit selects the one designated by the guidance mode designation unit.

34. The car navigation system according to claim 28, further comprising:

a guidance mode designation unit for designating one of (i) the normal mode and (ii) the audio route guidance simplifying and omitting mode,

wherein the guidance mode selection unit selects the one designated by the guidance mode designation unit.

35. The car navigation system according to claim 28,

wherein, when the audio route guidance simplifying and omitting mode is selected and when the route guidance unit provides route-related information using display guidance and audio guidance, the route guidance unit uses the audio guidance so as to make an occurrence frequency of audio guidance smaller than an occurrence frequency of audio guidance in the normal mode with respect to the route-related information.

36. The car navigation system according to claim 28,

wherein, when the audio route guidance simplifying and omitting mode is selected and when the route guidance unit provides route-related information using display guidance and audio guidance, the route guidance unit uses the audio guidance so as to omit a less important part of the audio guidance in the normal mode with respect to the route-related information.

37. The car navigation system according to claim 28,

wherein, when the audio route guidance simplifying and omitting mode is selected and when the route guidance unit provides route-related information using display guidance and audio guidance, the route guidance unit uses the audio guidance so as to simplify the audio guidance in the normal mode with respect to the route-related information.

38. The car navigation system according to claim 28,

wherein, when traffic congestion information is acquired as the traffic-related information, the route guidance unit notifies at least a place of traffic congestion occurrence and a length of a traffic congested area.

39. The car navigation system according to claim 38, further comprising:

a detail map display designation unit for designating display of a detail map for the place of traffic congestion occurrence and its vicinity; and

a detail map display control unit for controlling display of the detail map when receiving an instruction from the detail map display designation unit.

40. The car navigation system according to claim 38, further comprising:

a bypass route retrieval designation unit for designating retrieval of a bypass route to bypass the traffic congested area,

wherein the route guidance unit uses display guidance and audio guidance, with respect to retrieval of the bypass route,

wherein the route retrieval unit retrieves the bypass route when the bypass route retrieval designation unit designates retrieval of the bypass route after display guidance and audio guidance about retrieval of the bypass route, and

wherein the route guidance unit uses display guidance and audio guidance about the bypass route.

41. A car navigation system provided in a vehicle, the car navigation system comprising:

a traffic-related information acquisition unit for acquiring traffic-related information about vehicular traffic;

a setting unit for setting a destination;

a route retrieval unit for retrieving a guidance route from a departure place to the set destination;

a route guidance unit for providing (i) route-related information about the retrieved guidance route using display guidance and audio guidance, and (ii) traffic-related information about the retrieved guidance route using display guidance and audio guidance when the traffic-related information about the retrieved guidance route is acquired by the traffic-related information acquisition unit;

a determination unit for determining whether or not part or all of sections in the retrieved guidance route is specific to an occupant of the vehicle; and

a route-related information simplifying unit for simplifying route-related information about part or all of sections in the guidance route that is determined to be specific to the occupant,

wherein the route guidance unit uses the simplified route-related information to perform audio guidance at least for part or all of sections in the retrieved guidance route that is determined to be specific to the occupant.

42. The car navigation system according to claim 41,

wherein the route-related information simplifying unit simplifies the route-related information by editing the route-related information.

43. The car navigation system according to claim 41,

wherein the route-related information simplifying unit simplifies the route-related information by anew creating route-related information.

44. A method for a navigation system provided in a vehicle,

the navigation system including:

a traffic-related information acquisition unit for acquiring traffic-related information about vehicular traffic; and

a setting unit for setting a destination,

the method comprising;

retrieving a guidance route from a departure place to the set destination;

providing (i) route-related information about the retrieved guidance route using display guidance and audio guidance, and (ii) traffic-related information about the retrieved guidance route using display guidance and audio guidance when the traffic-related information about the retrieved guidance route is acquired by the traffic-related information acquisition unit;

determining whether or not part or all of sections in the retrieved guidance route is specific to an occupant of the vehicle; and

simplifying route-related information about part or all of sections in the guidance route that is determined to be specific to the occupant,

wherein the simplified route-related information is used to perform audio guidance at least for part or all of sections in the retrieved guidance route that is determined to be specific to the occupant.