Navigation apparatus
First Claim
1. A navigation apparatus comprising:
- a storage unit for storing the location of a destination;
a route setting unit for determining a route to a parking lot located near the destination;
a time calculation unit for calculating a predicted driving time needed to drive to the parking lot, a predicted walking time needed to walk from the parking lot to the destination, and a predicted total time, the predicted total time being a sum of the predicted driving time and the predicted walking time;
a congestion information unit for detecting current traffic congestion along the route in an area near the destination; and
a search unit for searching for an alternative parking lot having a shorter predicted total time when the congestion information unit detects traffic congestion in the area near the destination, where the shorter predicted total time associated with the alternative parking lot is (1) a total time predicted to drive to the alternative parking lot and walk from the alternative parking lot to the destination and (2) determined to be less than the predicted total time required to reach the destination by driving to the parking lot in view of the detected traffic congestion and then walking from the parking lot to the destination,wherein the route setting unit determines a route to the alternative parking lot.
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Accused Products
Abstract
When a vehicle is traveling along a route toward a parking lot located near a destination facility, if traffic congestion along the route is detected, the navigation apparatus searches for an alternative parking lot that allows a user to reach the destination facility earlier than can by using the original parking lot. If such an alternative parking lot is detected, the predicted driving time and the predicted walking time are displayed together with a route to the parking lot. When traffic congestion is encountered when transporting a passenger by vehicle, the navigation apparatus determines a quicker way for the passenger to reach the destination facility. If the navigation apparatus detects that the passenger can reach the destination facility earlier if the passenger disembarks the vehicle and walks to the destination facility, the navigation apparatus presents information indicating a best point at which the passenger should disembark the vehicle.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A navigation apparatus comprising:
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a storage unit for storing the location of a destination; a route setting unit for determining a route to a parking lot located near the destination; a time calculation unit for calculating a predicted driving time needed to drive to the parking lot, a predicted walking time needed to walk from the parking lot to the destination, and a predicted total time, the predicted total time being a sum of the predicted driving time and the predicted walking time; a congestion information unit for detecting current traffic congestion along the route in an area near the destination; and a search unit for searching for an alternative parking lot having a shorter predicted total time when the congestion information unit detects traffic congestion in the area near the destination, where the shorter predicted total time associated with the alternative parking lot is (1) a total time predicted to drive to the alternative parking lot and walk from the alternative parking lot to the destination and (2) determined to be less than the predicted total time required to reach the destination by driving to the parking lot in view of the detected traffic congestion and then walking from the parking lot to the destination, wherein the route setting unit determines a route to the alternative parking lot. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A navigation apparatus comprising:
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a storage unit for storing a location of a destination; a route setting unit for determining a route to at least one parking lot located near the destination; a time calculation unit for calculating a predicted driving time needed to drive to each parking lot, a predicted walking time needed to walk from each parking lot to the destination, and a predicted total time for each parking lot, the predicted total time being a sum of the predicted driving time and the predicted walking time; a selection unit for selecting an initial parking lot that has a shortest predicted total time, the navigation apparatus providing route guidance along an initial route to the initial parking lot and from the initial parking lot to the destination; and a search unit for searching for an alternative parking lot associated with a shorter predicted total time to the destination than the initial route associated with the initial parking lot when traffic congestion subsequently develops along the initial route, the navigation apparatus then providing alternative route guidance to the alternative parking lot and from the alternative parking lot to the destination. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A navigation apparatus comprising:
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a storage unit for storing the location of a destination; a route setting unit for determining a route to the destination; a time calculation unit for calculating a predicted driving time needed to drive to a parking lot on the route and a predicted walking time needed to walk from the parking lot to the destination; a congestion information unit for determining current traffic congestion along the route in an area near the destination; and a display that (1) displays driving route guidance from a current location to the parking lot, (2) displays walking route guidance from the parking lot to the destination, the driving route guidance being distinguishable from the walking route guidance as shown on the display, and (3) visually distinguishes areas along or in the vicinity of the route that are associated with congestion from non-congested areas.
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12. A navigation apparatus comprising:
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a storage unit for storing the location of a destination; a route setting unit for determining a route to the destination; a time calculation unit for calculating a predicted driving time needed to drive to two or more parking lots on the route, a predicted walking time needed to walk from each parking lot to the destination, and a predicted total time for each parking lot, the predicted total time being a sum of the predicted driving time and the predicted walking time associated with the parking lot; and a display for displaying a sub-screen for each parking lot simultaneously for side-by-side visual comparison, each sub-screen showing (1) driving route guidance for guiding driving from a current location to the corresponding parking lot, and (2) walking route guidance for guiding walking from the corresponding parking lot to the destination, the driving route guidance being distinguishable from the walking route guidance as shown in the sub-screen. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification