Navigation apparatus and computer program

• US 8,111,172 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2008
• Issued: 02/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Morimoto, Kyomi, Hayashi, Seiji, Saitou, Yutaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yacob, Sisay
• Application Number:
  US12/314,052
• Publication Number:
  US 20090167565A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,161 Days
• Field of Search: 340/932.2, 340/933, 340/5.2, 340/309.16, 340/825.49, 340988-996, 340/10.1, 701/1, 701/200, 701/202, 701/207, 701/209, 701/211, 701/201, 701/208, 701/213, 701/214, 235/384, 194/214, 194/211, 194/902, 194/200, 283/102, 370/231, 705/4, 705/13
• US Class Current: 340/932.2
• 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 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096827 where the route is computed onboard
• 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 1/143 inside the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/147 where the parking area is within an open public zone, e.g. city centre

Abstract

A vehicle guidance device is configured such that, in a case where a vehicle is parked in an on-street parking zone, the vehicle guidance device specifies a parking meter from among the parking meters for the on-street parking zone in which the vehicle is parked, then provides guidance to the position where the specified parking meter is installed. In a case where an on-street parking zone is located in the vicinity of the vehicle'"'"'s current position while the vehicle is in motion, the vehicle guidance device provides guidance to the position of a parking meter for the on-street parking zone.

Claims

1. A vehicle guidance device for installation in a vehicle, comprising:

a meter position information acquisition unit that acquires information on the position of a parking meter for an on-street parking zone;

a guidance unit that provides guidance to the position of the parking meter based on the parking meter position information that is acquired by the meter position information acquisition unit; and

a parked vehicle detection unit that detects that the vehicle is parked in the on-street parking zone;

wherein, when the parked vehicle detection unit detects that the vehicle is parked in the on-street parking zone, the guidance unit provides guidance to the position of the parking meter for the on-street parking zone in which the vehicle is parked.

2. The vehicle guidance device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a parked position acquisition unit that acquires information on the position where the vehicle is parked;

wherein the guidance unit provides guidance to the position of the parking meter that is installed in the position that is closest to the position where the vehicle is parked.

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

a parked position acquisition unit that acquires information on the position where the vehicle is parked;

wherein the guidance unit provides guidance to the position of the parking meter that is installed next to a roadside strip in which the vehicle is parked.

4. The vehicle guidance device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a vehicle position acquisition unit that acquires information on the current position of the vehicle; and

a meter specification unit that specifies a parking meter that is located in the vicinity of the current position of the vehicle, based on the parking meter position information that is acquired by the meter position information acquisition unit;

wherein the guidance unit provides guidance to the position of the parking meter that is specified by the meter specification unit.

5. The vehicle guidance device according to claim 4, further comprising:

a guidance route setting unit that sets a guidance route from a departure point to a destination;

wherein the guidance unit provides guidance to the position of a parking meter that is installed on the guidance route that is set by the guidance route setting unit.

6. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a computer-executable program for vehicle guidance, the program comprising:

instructions for acquiring information on the position of a parking meter for an on-street parking zone; and

instructions for providing guidance to the position of the parking meter based on the acquired parking meter position information; and

instructions for detecting that the vehicle is parked in the on-street parking zone;

instructions for, when it is detected that the vehicle is parked in the on-street parking zone, providing guidance to the position of the parking meter for the on-street parking zone in which the vehicle is parked.

7. A vehicle guidance method, comprising:

acquiring information on the position of a parking meter for an on-street parking zone; and

providing guidance to the position of the parking meter based on the acquired parking meter position information; and

detecting that the vehicle is parked in the on-street parking zone;

when the parked vehicle detection unit detects that the vehicle is parked in the on-street parking zone, providing guidance to the position of the parking meter for the on-street parking zone in which the vehicle is parked.

8. The vehicle guidance method according to claim 7, further comprising:

acquiring information on the position where the vehicle is parked; and

providing guidance to the position of the parking meter that is installed in the position that is closest to the position where the vehicle is parked.

9. The vehicle guidance method according to claim 7, further comprising:

acquiring information on the position where the vehicle is parked; and

providing guidance to the position of the parking meter that is installed next to a roadside strip in which the vehicle is parked.

10. The vehicle guidance method according to claim 9, further comprising:

acquiring information on the current position of the vehicle;

specifying a parking meter that is located in the vicinity of the current position of the vehicle, based on the acquired parking meter position information; and

providing guidance to the position of the parking meter that is specified by the meter specification unit.

11. The vehicle guidance method according to claim 9, further comprising:

setting a guidance route from a departure point to a destination; and

providing guidance to the position of a parking meter that is installed on the set guidance route.