Route information display device and route information display method

• US 8,131,467 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2008
• Issued: 03/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Godo Kaisha IP Bridge 1 (IP Bridge, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Yoshioka, Mototaka, Ozawa, Jun
• Primary Examiner(s): Keith, Jack W
• Assistant Examiner(s): TISSOT, ADAM D
• Application Number:
  US12/048,049
• Publication Number:
  US 20080177462A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,454 Days
• Field of Search: 701/117, 701/200, 701/201, 701/204, 701208-210, 340/995.1, 34099512-99514, 340/995.27
• US Class Current: 701/437
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/343 Calculating itineraries, i.e. routes leading from a starting point to a series of categorical destinations using a global route restraint, round trips, touristic trips travelling salesman problem G06Q10/04; optimisation of routes G06Q10/047
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3484 Personalized, e.g. from learned user behaviour or user-defined profiles
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3611 using character input or menus, e.g. menus of POIs character input methods in general G06F3/0233
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3632 Guidance using simplified or iconic instructions, e.g. using arrows G01C21/365 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3635 Guidance using 3D or perspective road maps
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3641 Personalized guidance, e.g. limited guidance on previously travelled routes
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3655 Timing of guidance instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3673 Labelling using text of road map data items, e.g. road names, POI names
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3676 Overview of the route on the road map
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3682 output of POI information on a road map G01C21/3614, G01C21/3685 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence

Abstract

A route information display device calculates a branch point in routes to a plurality of inputted destinations, and uses the branch point to control information modes. A route information display device includes: a departure point input unit that detects a current location of the user; a multiple destination input unit that accepts input of a plurality of destinations; a route search unit that searches for respective routes from the current location to the plurality of destinations; a branch point calculation unit that calculates a branch point of the respective searched routes; and a route information display unit that displays information regarding routes to the branch point and information regarding routes beyond the branch point in different modes, wherein the route information display device supports easy comprehension of information by the user by calculating a branch point of a plurality of inputted destinations and providing information in consideration of the branch point.

Claims

1. A route information display device comprising:

a multiple destination input unit operable to accept input of a plurality of different destination and categories for each of the different destination;

a route search unit configured to search for and set as a travel route, a route from a departure point to a first destination among the different destinations;

a branch point candidate calculation unit configured to calculate, after the route is set by the route search unit, a plurality of branch point candidates located on the set route and including at least the first destination;

a branch point route search unit configured to search for a plurality of branch points routes from each of the plurality of branch point candidates to a second destination that is other than the first destination among the different destinations;

a destination category judgment unit configured to judge whether a category of the first destination and a category of the second destination are in a same category or a different category;

a branch point selection unit configured to select, as branch point to the second destination, a branch point candidate other than the first destination when it is judged that the category of the first destination as the branch point to the second destination are the same category, and to select the first destination as the branch point to the second destination when it is judged that the category of the first destination and the category of the second destination are different categories; and

a route information display unit configured to display a route to the first destination and a branch point route from the selected branch point candidate to the second destination,

wherein the destination category judgment unit is configured to store information indicating a category and a general duration of stay at a destination belonging to the category, and

the branch point selection unit is configured to select, as the branch point to the second destination, the branch point candidate that is other than the first destination, when an overtime is equal to or above a predetermined threshold, and to select the first destination as the branch point to the second destination when the overtime is below the predetermined threshold, the overtime being obtained by subtracting;

(i) an amount of time required by a route that branches at the branch point candidate other than the first destination and leads to the second destination, from (ii) an amount of time obtained by adding the general duration of stay stored in the destination category judgment unit for the category of the first destination to an amount of time required by a route that leads to the second destination via the first destination.

2. A route information display method performed by a route information display device including a multiple destination input unit, a route search unit, a branch point candidate calculation unit, a branch point route search unit, a destination category judgment unit, a branch point selection unit, and a route information display unit, the route information display method comprising:

accepting, by the multiple destination input unit, an input of a plurality of different destination and categories for each of the different destinations;

searching for and setting as a travel route, by the route search unit, a route from a departure point to a first destination among the different destinations;

calculating, by the branch point candidate calculation unit, after the route is set, a plurality of branch point candidates located on the set route and including at least the first destination;

searching, by the branch point search unit, for a plurality of branch point routes from each of the plurality of branch point candidates to second destination that is other than the first destination among the different destinations;

judging, by the destination category judgment unit, whether a category of the first destination and a category of the second destination are a same category or a different category;

selecting, by the branch point selection unit, as a branch point to the second destination, a branch point candidate other than the first destination when it is judged that category of the first destination and the category of the second destination are the same category, and selecting the first destination and the category of the branch point to the second destination when it is judged that the category of the first destination and the category of the second destination are different categories; and

displaying, by the route information display unit, a route to the first destination and a branch point route from the selected branch point candidate to the second destination,

wherein the route information display method further comprises;

obtaining, by the destination category judgment unit, a general duration of stay at a destination belonging to the category of the first destination, and

selecting, by the branch point selection unit, as the branch point to the second destination, the branch point candidate that is other than the first destination, when an overtime is equal to or above a predetermined threshold, and selecting the first destination as the branch point to the second destination when the overtime is below the predetermined threshold. the overtime being obtained by subtracting;

(i) an amount of time required by a route that branches at the branch point candidate other than the first destination and leads to the second destination, from (ii) an amount of time obtained by adding the general duration of stay stored in the destination category judgment unit for the category of the first destination to an amount of time required by a route that leads to the second destination via the first destination.

3. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a program that causes a computer to perform:

accepting an input of a plurality of different destinations and categories for each of the different destinations;

searching for and setting as a travel route, a route from a departure point to a first destination among the different destinations;

calculating, after the route is set, a plurality of branch point candidates located on the set route and including at least the first destination;

searching for a plurality of branch point routes from each of the plurality of branch point candidates to a second destination that is other than the first destination among the different destinations;

judging whether a category of the first destination and a category of the second destination are a same category or a different category;

selecting, as a branch point to the second destination, a branch point candidate other than the first destination when it is judged that the category of the first destination and the category of the second destination are the same category, and selecting the first destination as the branch point the second destination when it is judged that the category of the first destination and the category of the second destination are different categories; and

displaying a route to the first destination and a branch point route from the selected branch point candidate to the second destination,

wherein the program causes the computer to further perform steps comprising;

obtaining, a general duration of stay at a destination belonging to the category of the first destination, and

selecting, as the branch point to the second destination, the branch point candidate that is other than the first destination, when an overtime is equal to or above a predetermined threshold, and selecting the first destination as the branch point to the second destination when the overtime is below the predetermined threshold, the overtime being obtained by subtracting;

(i) an amount of time required by a route that branches at the branch point candidate other than the first destination and leads to the second destination, from (ii) an amount of time obtained by adding the general duration of stay stored in the destination category judgment unit for the category of the first destination to an amount of time required by a route that leads to the second destination via the first destination.