Guide report device, system thereof, method thereof, program for executing the method, and recording medium containing the program

• US 7,860,647 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2005
• Issued: 12/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Increment P Corporation (Pioneer Corporation), Pioneer Corporation
• Original Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
• Inventors: Amano, Kouji
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Figueroa; Jaime
• Application Number:
  US11/630,518
• Publication Number:
  US 20080033640A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,010 Days
• Field of Search: 701/209, 701/200, 701/211, 701/210, 701/117, 701/207, 701/118, 701/119, 701/204, 701/208, 340/990, 340/995.1, 340/905, 340/907, 340/994, 340/99.13, 340/995.19
• US Class Current: 701/209
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3476 using point of interest [POI] information, e.g. a route passing visible POIs
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3682 output of POI information on a road map G01C21/3614, G01C21/3685 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3685 the POI's being parking facilities
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096827 where the route is computed onboard
• 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 1/096861 where the immediate route instructions are output to the driver, e.g. arrow signs for next turn
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096872 where instructions are given per voice
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096883 where input information is obtained using a mobile device, e.g. a mobile phone, a PDA
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096894 where input is assisted by the navigation device, i.e. the user does not type the complete name of the destination, e.g. using zip codes, telephone numbers, progressively selecting from initial letters
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/14 indicating individual free spaces in parking areas
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/10 Map spot or coordinate position indicators; Map reading aids optical projection apparatus per se G03B

Abstract

A navigation device 100 includes: a map information acquirer for acquiring map information; a current position acquirer for acquiring current position information about a current position of a mobile body; a destination acquirer for acquiring destination information about a destination; an information retriever for acquiring plural pieces of parking information about parking lots to park the mobile body based on the map information; a route setting section for setting travel routes from the current position to the parking lots and travel routes from the parking lots to the destination; and a display controller for controlling a terminal display section 140 to display any one of the parking lots and at least one of the travel routes based on the travel routes.

Claims

1. A guidance notifying device, comprising:

a map information acquirer for acquiring map information;

a current position acquirer for acquiring current position information about a current position of a mobile body;

a destination acquirer for acquiring destination information about a destination;

a facility information acquirer for acquiring plural pieces of facility information about accommodating facilities that accommodate the mobile body based on the map information;

a service information acquirer for acquiring service information about service content of the accommodating facilities;

a route setting section for setting first travel routes from the current position to the accommodating facilities and second travel routes from the accommodating facilities to the destination; and

a notification controller for controlling a notifier to notify one of the accommodating facilities and at least one of the first and the second travel routes based on the first and the second travel routes, wherein

the service information acquirer acquires entrance number information about the number of entrances of the accommodating facilities; and

the notification controller selects one of the accommodating facilities based on the entrance number information.

2. The guidance notifying device according to claim 1, wherein the facility information acquirer acquires facility information about accommodating facilities located within a predetermined distance from the destination.

3. The guidance notifying device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a public transportation information acquirer for acquiring public transportation information about a public transportation, wherein

the facility information acquirer acquires facility information about an accommodating facility located near a boarding/alighting zone of a first public transportation that has another boarding/alighting zone near the destination or an accommodating facility located near a boarding/alighting zone of a second public transportation that is transitable to the first public transportation, and

the route setting section sets a travel route including the public transportations.

4. The guidance notifying device according to claim 3, further comprising:

a transportation fee information acquirer for acquiring transportation fee information about a transportation fee of a public transportation that is required when traveling the travel route including the public transportation.

5. The guidance notifying device according to claim 3, further comprising:

transportation fee information acquirer for acquiring transportation fee information about a transportation fee of a public transportation that is required when traveling the travel route including the public transportation, and

the notification controller displays the transportation fee together with the accommodating facility and at least one of the first and second travel routes.

6. The guidance notifying device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a traffic information recognizer for recognizing traffic information about a traffic condition;

a statistical traffic information acquirer for acquiring statistical traffic information that is obtained by statistically processing traffic conditions in the past based on time factors; and

a traffic-jam-condition change recognizer for recognizing a change over time in the traffic condition based on the statistical traffic information, wherein

the route setting section sets a travel route in accordance with the traffic information and the change over time in the traffic condition.

7. The guidance notifying device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a travel distance computing section for computing a first travel distance about a distance of each of the first travel routes and a second travel distance about a distance of each of the second travel routes, wherein

the notification controller selects one of the accommodating facilities based on the first and second travel distances.

8. The guidance notifying device according to claim 7, wherein the notification controller selects an accommodating facility such that a total distance of the first and second travel distances becomes short.

9. The guidance notifying device according to claim 7, wherein the notification controller selects an accommodating facility such that the second travel distance becomes short.

10. The guidance notifying device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a time computing section for computing a first travel time required for traveling each of the first travel routes and a second travel time required for traveling each of the second travel routes, wherein

the notification controller selects one of the accommodating facilities based on the first and second travel times.

11. The guidance notifying device according to claim 10, wherein

the time computing section computes an estimated arrival time to arrive at the destination based on the first and second travel times, and

the notification controller selects an accommodating facility with an early estimated arrival time.

12. The guidance notifying device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a facility accommodation condition recognizer for acquiring accommodation condition information about accommodation conditions of the accommodating facilities, wherein

the notification controller selects one of the accommodating facilities based on the accommodation condition information.

13. The guidance notifying device according to claim 1, wherein

the service information acquirer acquires utilization fee information about utilization fees required for utilizing the accommodating facilities, and

the notification controller selects an accommodating facility requiring a low utilization fee.

14. The guidance notifying device according to claim 1, wherein

the service information acquirer acquires facility scale information about scales of the accommodating facilities, and

the notification controller selects an accommodating facility with a large scale.

15. The guidance notifying device according to claim 1, wherein

the service information acquirer acquires accommodation space information about a size of an accommodation space for accommodating a mobile body

the notification controller selects an accommodating facility with a large accommodation space with higher priority.

16. The guidance notifying device according to claim 1, wherein

the service information acquirer acquires available time information about available times of the accommodating facilities, and

the notification controller selects an accommodating facility with a long available time.

17. The guidance notifying device according to claim 1, wherein

the service information acquirer acquires accommodation method information about accommodation methods for accommodating a mobile body in the accommodating facilities, and

the notification controller gives priorities to accommodation methods for accommodating the mobile body in accommodation spaces of the accommodating facilities, the notification controller selecting an accommodating facility with an accommodation method to which a high priority is given.

18. The guidance notifying device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an additional service information acquirer for acquiring additional service information about additional service content of the accommodating facilities, wherein

the notification controller controls the notifier to notify the additional service information together with the accommodating facilities and at least one of the first and second travel routes.

21. A guidance notifying system, comprising:

a terminal unit including a guidance notifying device according to claim 1; and

a service server unit that is connected with the terminal unit via a network, the service server unit receiving service request information about reservation or cancellation of reservation of services of the accommodating facilities, the service request information transmitted from the terminal unit,

wherein the guidance notifying device includes;

a map information acquirer for acquiring map information;

a current position for acquirer for acquiring current position information about a current position of a mobile body;

a destination acquirer for acquiring destination information about a destination;

a facility information acquirer for acquiring plural pieces of facility information about accommodating facilities that accommodate the mobile body based on the map information;

a route setting section for setting first travel routes from the current position to the accommodating facilities and second travel routes from the accommodating facilities to the destination; and

a notification controller for controlling a notifier to notify one of the accommodating facilities and at least one of the first and the second travel routes based on the first and the second travel routes.

23. The guidance notifying system according to claim 21, wherein

the terminal unit includes:

an additional service information acquirer for acquiring additional service information about additional services provided by the accommodating facilities;

a service request information generator for generating service request information for requesting reservation or cancellation of reservation of the services provided by the accommodating facilities; and

a transmitter for transmitting the service request information.

25. The guidance notifying system according to claim 21, wherein

the service server unit includes a managing accommodation condition recognizer for recognizing accommodation condition information about an accommodation condition of an accommodating facility that is managed by the service server unit.

19. A guidance notifying system, comprising:

a server unit that stores map information in a storage section; and

a terminal unit including a guidance notifying device, the terminal unit acquiring the map information from the server unit via a network, wherein

the guidance notifying device includes;

a map information acquirer for acquiring map information;

a current position acquirer for acquiring current position information about a current position of a mobile body;

a destination acquirer for acquiring destination information about a destination;

a facility information acquirer for acquiring plural pieces of facility information about accommodating facilities that accommodate the mobile body based on the map information;

a service information acquirer for acquiring service information about service content of the accommodating facilities;

a route setting section for setting first travel routes from the current position to the accommodating facilities and second travel routes from the accommodating facilities to the destination; and

a notification controller for controlling a notifier to notify one of the accommodating facilities and at least one of the first and the second travel routes based on the first and the second travel routes, wherein

the service information acquirer acquires entrance number information about the number of entrances of the accommodating facilities; and

the notification controller selects one of the accommodating facilities based on the entrance number information.

20. The guidance notifying system according to claim 19, further comprising:

a service server unit that is connected with the server unit via a network, the service server unit receiving service request information about reservation or cancellation of reservation of services of the accommodating facilities, the service request information transmitted from the terminal unit.

22. The guidance notifying system according to claim 20, wherein

the terminal unit includes:

an additional service information acquirer for acquiring additional service information about additional services provided by the accommodating facilities;

a service request information generator for generating service request information for requesting reservation or cancellation of reservation of the services provided by the accommodating facilities; and

a transmitter for transmitting the service request information.

24. The guidance notifying system according to claim 20, wherein

the service server unit includes a managing accommodation condition recognizer for recognizing accommodation condition information about an accommodation condition of an accommodating facility that is managed by the service server unit.

26. A guidance notifying method, comprising:

acquiring map information, current position information about a current position of a mobile body, and destination information about a destination;

acquiring plural pieces of facility information about accommodating facilities for accommodating the mobile body based on the map information;

acquiring service information about service content of the accommodating facilities;

setting a first route from the current position to each of the accommodating facilities and a second route from each of the accommodating facilities to the destination; and

notifying with a notifier one of the accommodating facilities and at least one of the first travel route and the second travel route based on the first travel route and the second travel route,

wherein the acquiring of service information involves acquiring entrance number information about the number of entrances of the accommodating facilities; and

the notifying involves selecting one of the accommodating facilities based on the entrance number information.

27. A guidance notifying program for operating a computing unit as a guidance notifying device, wherein

the guidance notifying device includes:

a map information acquirer for acquiring map information;

a current position for acquirer for acquiring current position information about a current position of a mobile body;

a destination acquirer for acquiring destination information about a destination;

a facility information acquirer for acquiring plural pieces of facility information about accommodating facilities that accommodate the mobile body based on the map information;

a service information acquirer for acquiring service information about service content of the accommodating facilities;

a route setting section for setting first travel routes from the current position to the accommodating facilities and second travel routes from the accommodating facilities to the destination; and

a notification controller for controlling a notifier to notify one of the accommodating facilities and at least one of the first and the second travel routes based on the first and the second travel routes, wherein

the service information acquirer acquires entrance number information about the number of entrances of the accommodating facilities; and

the notification controller selects one of the accommodating facilities based on the entrance number information.

28. A guidance notifying program for operating a computing unit to perform a guidance notifying method,

the guidance notifying method includes:

acquiring map information, current position information about a current position of a mobile body, and destination information about a destination;

acquiring plural pieces of facility information about accommodating facilities for accommodating the mobile body based on the map information;

acquiring service information about service content of the accommodating facilities;

setting a first route from the current position to each of the accommodating facilities and a second route from each of the accommodating facilities to the destination; and

notifying with a notifier one of the accommodating facilities and at least one of the first travel route and the second travel route based on the first travel route and the second travel route, wherein

the acquiring of service information involves acquiring entrance number information about the number of entrances of the accommodating facilities; and

the notifying involves selecting one of the accommodating facilities based on the entrance number information.

29. A recording medium that stores a guidance notifying program in a manner readable by a computing unit, wherein

the guidance notifying program operates the computing unit to function as a guidance notifying device, and

the guidance notifying device includes:

a map information acquirer for acquiring map information;

a current position acquirer for acquiring current position information about a current position of a mobile body;

a destination acquirer for acquiring destination information about a destination;

a facility information acquirer for acquiring plural pieces of facility information about accommodating facilities that accommodate the mobile body based on the map information;

a service information acquirer for acquiring service information about service content of the accommodating facilities;

a route setting section for setting first travel routes from the current position to the accommodating facilities and second travel routes from the accommodating facilities to the destination; and

a notification controller for controlling a notifier to notify one of the accommodating facilities and at least one of the first and the second travel routes based on the first and the second travel routes, wherein

the service information acquirer acquires entrance number information about the number of entrances of the accommodating facilities; and

the notification controller selects one of the accommodating facilities based on the entrance number information.

30. A recording medium that stores a guidance notifying program in a manner readable by a computing unit, wherein

the guidance notifying program operates the computing unit to execute a guidance notifying method, and

the guidance notifying method includes:

acquiring map information, current position information about a current position of a mobile body, and destination information about a destination;

acquiring plural pieces of facility information about accommodating facilities for accommodating the mobile body based on the map information;

acquiring service information about service content of the accommodating facilities;

setting a first route from the current position to each of the accommodating facilities and a second route from each of the accommodating facilities to the destination; and

notifying with a notifier one of the accommodating facilities and at least one of the first travel route and the second travel route based on the first travel route and the second travel route, wherein

the acquiring of service information involves acquiring entrance number information about the number of entrances of the accommodating facilities, and

the notifying involves selecting one of the accommodating facilities based on the entrance number information.