Navigation server, navigation apparatus, and navigation system

• US 8,103,440 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2007
• Issued: 01/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Sengoku, Koji, Tsuge, Masakuni
• Primary Examiner(s): Refai, Ramsey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Racic, Milena
• Application Number:
  US12/373,848
• Publication Number:
  US 20100017110A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,656 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701/201, 701/202, 340/988, 340/991, 340/993, 340/994
• US Class Current: 701/200
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3469 Fuel consumption; Energy use; Emission aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means

Abstract

Provided is a navigation system which can contribute to guidance of a moving device such as a vehicle to a destination along a route appropriate from a viewpoint of energy economy. According to second information (VIN, L_j, OP_j) on a second probe car Q₂, an eco-index ECO_j is evaluated for each combination of a link identifier L_j and a vehicle identifier VIN according a first function f₁. According to the evaluation result, a second function f₂ is set. According to support request information (VIN) on a support subject car Q, an eco-index ECO_k is evaluated for an individual link identifier L_k according to the second function f₂. The evaluation result or the road traffic information decided according to the evaluation result is recognized by a navigation apparatus (200) mounted on the support subject car Q.

Claims

1. A navigation server which is configured to support an arithmetic processing performed by a navigation apparatus mounted in a mobile device serving as a support subject on the basis of communication with the mobile device, comprising:

a first function storing element which is configured to store a first function representing a correlation between a device identifier for identifying the mobile device, operation information representing an operation state of the mobile device, and an energy index representing an energy amount consumed by the mobile device;

a second function storing element which is configured to store a second function representing a correlation between the device identifier, a link identifier for identifying an individual link, and the energy index;

a first support processing element which is configured to;

recognize the device identifier of a first probe mobile device, the link identifier of an individual link where the first probe mobile device has passed, and the operation information detected by a probe device mounted in the first probe mobile device on the basis of communication with the first probe mobile device;

evaluate the energy index for each combination of the link identifier and the device identifier according to the first function on the basis of the recognition result; and

set or modify the second function on the basis of the evaluation result; and

a second support processing element which is configured to;

recognize the device identifier of the mobile device serving as the support subject;

evaluate the energy index for an individual link identifier according to the second function on the basis of the recognition result; and

enable the navigation apparatus mounted in the mobile device serving as the support subject to recognize the evaluation result or road traffic information defined according to the evaluation result on the basis of communication with the mobile device serving as the support subject.

2. The navigation server according to claim 1, wherein the second support processing element:

sets one or a plurality of support routes or recognizes a navigation route for guiding the mobile device serving as the support subject from a departure position to a destination position on the basis of communication with the mobile device serving as the support subject;

further recognizes the link identifier of an individual link which constitutes a part of or the entire part of the support route or the navigation route, or the link identifier of an

individual link in an area which includes a part of or the entire part of the support route or the navigation route; and

evaluates the energy index according to the second function on the basis of the link identifier and the device identifier of the mobile device serving as the support subject.

3. The navigation server according to claim 2, wherein the second support processing element:

comprehensively evaluates the energy index for each of the plurality of support routes or navigation routes on the basis of the evaluated energy index; and

enables the navigation apparatus to recognize the link identifier of an individual link constituting the support route or the navigation route having a peak comprehensive evaluation value as the road traffic information.

4. The navigation server according to claim 1, wherein the first support processing element:

recognizes environmental information representing an environmental state for each area; and

evaluates the energy index for an individual link according to the extended first function representing a correlation between the device identifier, the link identifier, the operation information, the energy index, and the environmental information, on the basis of the environmental information, the device identifier of the first probe mobile device, the link identifier of an individual link in each area, and the operation information.

5. The navigation server according to claim 1, wherein the first support processing element:

recognizes the device identifier of second probe mobile device, the link identifier of an individual link where the second probe mobile device has passed, the operation information of the second probe mobile device, and the energy index on the basis of communication with the second probe mobile device; and

sets or modifies the first function on the basis of the recognition result.

6. The navigation server according to claim 5 is further mounted with a device which operates in different modes according to the energy consumption amount by the second probe mobile device, wherein the first support processing element recognizes an index defined according to an operation history of the device serving as a control subject on the basis of communication with the second probe mobile device as the energy index.

7. The navigation server according to claim 6, wherein:

the second probe mobile device is mounted with an indicator which displays that the energy consumption amount by the second probe mobile device is in a low state or a lamp which lightens when the energy consumption amount is in a high state as the control subject device; and

the first support processing element recognizes a display frequency of the indicator or lightening frequency of the lamp as the energy index on the basis of communication with the second probe mobile device.

8. The navigation server according to claim 1, wherein the first support processing element recognizes a velocity and acceleration of the first probe mobile device or a positional transition history detected by the probe device as the operation information.

9. The navigation server according to claim 8, wherein the first support processing element evaluates the energy index by using a linear function or at least a quadratic function having a coefficient in relation to the device identifier and the velocity and acceleration or a velocity and acceleration defined according to the positional transition history, and the velocity or the acceleration as an independent variable.

10. A navigation system which is comprised of a navigation apparatus which is mounted in a mobile device serving as a support subject, and a navigation server which is configured to support an arithmetic processing performed by the navigation apparatus

on the basis of communication with the mobile device serving as the support subject, wherein:

the navigation server includes;

a first function storing element which is configured to store a first function representing a correlation between a device identifier for identifying the mobile device, operation information representing an operation state of the mobile device, and an energy index representing an energy amount consumed by the mobile device;

a second function storing element which is configured to store a second function representing a correlation between the device identifier, a link identifier for identifying an individual link, and the energy index;

a first support processing element which is configured to;

recognize the device identifier of a first probe mobile device, the link identifier of an individual link where the first probe mobile device has passed, and the operation information detected by a probe device mounted in the first probe mobile device on the basis of communication with the first probe mobile device;

evaluate the energy index for each combination of the link identifier and the device identifier according to the first function on the basis of the recognition result; and

set or modify the second function on the basis of the evaluation result; and

a second support processing element which is configured to;

recognize the device identifier of the mobile device serving as the support subject;

evaluate the energy index for an individual link identifier according to the second function on the basis of the recognition result; and

enable the navigation apparatus mounted in the mobile device serving as the support subject to recognize the evaluation result or road traffic information defined according to the evaluation result on the basis of communication with the mobile device serving as the support subject,

the navigation apparatus includes;

a first processing element which is configured to recognize a departure position and a destination position of the mobile device serving as the support subject; and

a second processing element which is configured to;

recognize a link identifier which is set by the navigation server for identifying an individual link constituting a support route formed by a plurality of links joining the departure position and the destination position or an individual link of a part of or the entire part of links in an area containing the support route, and an energy index which represents the energy amount consumed by the mobile device serving as the support subject on the basis of communication with the navigation server, and

output a navigation route joining the departure position and the destination position on the basis of the recognition result.