Navigation apparatus, navigation system, and navigation search method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A navigation apparatus, comprising:
- at least one memory that;
stores a plurality of traffic information tables, the traffic information tables including a length of time required to travel from a predefined one of a plurality of predefined traffic information service areas to each remaining one of the plurality of predefined traffic information service areas, or an arrival time at the each remaining one of the plurality of predefined traffic information service areas, during one of a plurality of first predefined time periods; and
stores, for each of a plurality of second predefined time periods, predicted traffic information associated with each of at least one link within each predefined traffic information service area; and
at least one controller that;
selects a traffic information table from the plurality of traffic information tables, wherein the selected traffic information table includes as the predefined one of the plurality of predefined traffic information service areas a predefined traffic information service area containing a starting point and the selected traffic information table corresponds to one of the plurality of first predefined time periods in which traveling will start; and
searches for a route from the starting point to a destination using the predicted traffic information, wherein the predicted traffic information is associated with each of the at least one link within any one of the plurality of predefined traffic information service areas and the predicted traffic information is acquired based on the length of time or the arrival time included in the selected traffic information table.
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Abstract
A navigation apparatus searches for a route from a starting point to a destination wherein, predicted traffic information is associated with each of at least one links within any one of a plurality of predefined areas based on a time at which, according to the predicted traffic information, a vehicle traveling the route is expected to arrive within that predefined area.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A navigation apparatus, comprising:
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at least one memory that; stores a plurality of traffic information tables, the traffic information tables including a length of time required to travel from a predefined one of a plurality of predefined traffic information service areas to each remaining one of the plurality of predefined traffic information service areas, or an arrival time at the each remaining one of the plurality of predefined traffic information service areas, during one of a plurality of first predefined time periods; and stores, for each of a plurality of second predefined time periods, predicted traffic information associated with each of at least one link within each predefined traffic information service area; and at least one controller that; selects a traffic information table from the plurality of traffic information tables, wherein the selected traffic information table includes as the predefined one of the plurality of predefined traffic information service areas a predefined traffic information service area containing a starting point and the selected traffic information table corresponds to one of the plurality of first predefined time periods in which traveling will start; and searches for a route from the starting point to a destination using the predicted traffic information, wherein the predicted traffic information is associated with each of the at least one link within any one of the plurality of predefined traffic information service areas and the predicted traffic information is acquired based on the length of time or the arrival time included in the selected traffic information table. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17)
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12. A method for searching for a route, comprising:
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producing a plurality of traffic information tables, wherein each of the produced traffic information tables includes a length of time required to travel from a predefined one of a plurality of predefined traffic information service areas to each remaining one of the plurality of predefined traffic information service areas, or an arrival time at the each remaining one of the plurality of predefined traffic information service areas, during one of a plurality of first predefined time periods; storing, for each of a plurality of second predefined time periods, predicted traffic information associated with each of at least one link within each predefined traffic information service area in a memory; selecting a traffic information table from the plurality of produced traffic information tables, wherein the selected traffic information table includes as the predefined one of the plurality of predefined traffic information service areas a predefined traffic information service area containing a starting point and the selected traffic information table corresponds to one of the plurality of first predefined time periods in which traveling will start; and searching for a route from the starting point to a destination using the predicted traffic information, wherein the predicted traffic information is associated with each of the at least one link within any one of the plurality of predefined traffic information service areas and the predicted traffic information is acquired based on the length of time or the arrival time included in the selected traffic information table. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A computer-readable storage medium storing a set of program instructions executable on a data processing device and usable for searching for a route, the set of program instructions comprising:
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instructions for producing a plurality of traffic information tables, wherein each of the produced traffic information tables includes a length of time required to travel from a predefined one of a plurality of predefined traffic information service areas to each remaining one of the plurality of predefined traffic information service areas, or an arrival time at the each remaining one of the plurality of predefined traffic information service areas, during one of a plurality of first predefined time periods; instructions for storing, for each of a plurality of second predefined time periods, predicted traffic information associated with each of at least one link within each predefined traffic information service area; instructions for storing the plurality of produced traffic information tables in the memory; instructions for selecting a traffic information table from the plurality of produced traffic information tables, wherein the selected traffic information table includes as the predefined one of the plurality of predefined traffic information service areas a predefined traffic information service area containing a starting point and the selected traffic information table corresponds to one of the plurality of first predefined time periods in which traveling will start; and instructions for searching for a route from the starting point to a destination using the predicted traffic information, wherein the predicted traffic information is associated with each of the at least one link within any one of the plurality of predefined traffic information service areas and the predicted traffic information is acquired based on the length of time or the arrival time included in the selected traffic information table.
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Specification