Navigation device traffic information reception method

• US 8,315,784 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2006
• Issued: 11/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Clarion Co., Ltd. (Faurecia SA)
• Original Assignee: Xanavi Informatics Corporation (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Endo, Yoshinori, Amaya, Shinichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Mawari, Redhwan k
• Application Number:
  US11/815,118
• Publication Number:
  US 20090043499A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,486 Days
• Field of Search: 701/209, 701/210, 701/117, 701/118, 701/119, 701/120, 701/408, 701/414, 455/414.3, 340/995.13, 340/995.19, 340/905, 340/907
• US Class Current: 701/117
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3492 employing speed data or traffic data, e.g. real-time or historical traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3691 Retrieval, searching and output of information related to real-time traffic, weather, or environmental conditions arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions G08G1/09
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096827 where the route is computed onboard
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/55 for traffic information

Abstract

Predicted traffic information of a plurality of time bands is downloaded once for a mesh area. Moreover, time band range of the predicted traffic information to be downloaded is increased as distance from current position to the mesh area increases. Furthermore, the time band range is increased for the morning and the evening. Moreover, as difference between the current time and departure time becomes larger, the time band range is increased.

Claims

1. A navigation device, comprising:

a connection unit configured to establish connection with a traffic information distribution server that stores, for each of a plurality of mesh areas, which are partitioned areas in a map, predicted traffic information after a current time; and

a download unit configured to download, from the traffic information distribution server, predicted traffic information for meshes within a mesh area;

wherein;

a time band of the predicted traffic information to be downloaded is associated with each of the meshes,

each time band has a variable time band range, which is a duration of the time band within which the predicted traffic information is downloaded, and

the time band range is determined as a function of predetermined conditions.

2. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein time band range of the predicted traffic information to be downloaded is determined as a function of the character of an area in which an associated mesh is situated.

3. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the time band range is determined for a particular time band as a function of distance from current position to a mesh with which the particular time band is associated.

4. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the time band range is determined as a function of date and time of date.

5. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the time band range is determined as a function of a searching condition in route searching.

6. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the time band range is determined as a function of the magnitude of the difference between a downloading time and a scheduled departure time.

7. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the time band range is determined as a function of the magnitude of the difference between a downloading time and a scheduled arrival time.