Navigation device, navigation method, and navigation program

• US 8,712,677 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2010
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Miura, Naoki, Nonomura, Junichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): LOUIE, WAE LENNY
• Application Number:
  US12/858,871
• Publication Number:
  US 20110060493A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,350 Days
• Field of Search: 701/29, 701/123, 701/209, 701408-410, 701/416, 701/428, 701/465
• US Class Current: 701/123
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3667 Display of a road map G01C21/3614 takes precedence; guidance using 3D or perspective road maps G01C21/3635
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence

Abstract

Navigation devices, methods, and programs acquire a reference position related to the traveling of a host vehicle and acquire a host vehicle condition at the reference position. The devices, methods, and programs accesses a travel information storage unit that stores travel sequences. The stored data for each travel sequences includes at least one position along the travel sequence, operation information that specifies a vehicle operation at each stored position, and vehicle condition information that specifies a vehicle condition at each stored position. The devices, methods, and programs identify a stored sequence of travel having a stored position that corresponds to the acquired host vehicle reference position and stored vehicle condition information that corresponds to the acquired host vehicle condition, acquire the stored operation information of the identified stored sequence of travel, generate display information based on the acquired operation information, and display the generated display information.

Claims

1. A navigation device for a host vehicle that communicates with a travel information storage unit that stores travel sequences, stored data for each past travel sequence including:

at least one position along the travel sequence, operation information that specifies a vehicle operation at each stored position, and vehicle condition information that specifies a vehicle condition at each stored position, the vehicle condition being at least one of a state of charge of a vehicle battery and a number of occupants, the navigation device comprising;

a controller that;

acquires a reference position related to a traveling of the host vehicle;

acquires a vehicle condition of the host vehicle at the reference position, the vehicle condition being at least one of a state of charge of a battery of the host vehicle and a number of occupants of the host vehicle;

identifies a stored sequence of travel having a stored position that corresponds to the acquired reference position of the host vehicle and having stored vehicle condition information that corresponds to the acquired vehicle condition of the host vehicle;

acquires the stored operation information of the identified stored sequence of travel;

generates display information based on the acquired operation information; and

causes the generated display information to be displayed on a display.

2. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the controller:

acquires a travel route for the host vehicle originating from the reference position; and

identifies the stored sequence of travel by identifying a sequence of travel having the stored vehicle condition information that corresponds to the acquired vehicle condition of the host vehicle and having stored positions that correspond to the acquired travel route.

3. The navigation device according to claim 2, wherein:

the stored data for each travel sequence includes fuel consumption information that is associated with each stored position; and

the controller identifies the stored sequence of travel by identifying a sequence of travel having the least fuel consumption from the reference position to an end point of the acquired travel route.

4. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein:

the vehicle condition information is the state of charge of the vehicle battery; and

the stored vehicle condition information corresponds to the acquired vehicle condition of the host vehicle when the state of charge of the vehicle battery is within a predetermined amount of a state of charge of the battery of the host vehicle.

5. The navigation device according to claim 4, wherein the state of charge of the vehicle battery is within the predetermined amount of the state of charge of the battery of the host vehicle when the state of charge of the vehicle battery is within 3% of the state of charge of the battery of the host vehicle.

6. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the specified vehicle operation includes either hybrid driving mode or electric driving mode.

7. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the specified vehicle operation includes at least one of:

an operation amount of an accelerator;

an operation amount of a brake;

an eco level that represents an engine speed or a throttle opening;

a status of an eco lamp.

8. The navigation device according to claim 1, further comprising the travel information storage unit, wherein the stored travel sequences are based on prior travel by the host vehicle.

9. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein:

the information storage unit is located in a remote information center; and

the stored travel sequences are based on prior travel by a plurality of vehicles.

10. A navigation method for a host vehicle, the method comprising:

acquiring a reference position related to a traveling of the host vehicle;

acquiring a vehicle condition of the host vehicle at the reference position, the vehicle condition being at least one of a state of charge of a battery of the host vehicle and a number of occupants of the host vehicle;

accessing a travel information storage unit that stores past travel sequences, stored data for each travel sequence including;

at least one position along the travel sequence, operation information that specifies a vehicle operation at each stored position, and vehicle condition information that specifies a vehicle condition at each stored position, the vehicle condition being at least one of a state of charge of a vehicle battery and a number of occupants;

identifying a stored sequence of travel having a stored position that corresponds to the acquired reference position of the host vehicle and having stored vehicle condition information that corresponds to the acquired vehicle condition of the host vehicle;

acquiring the stored operation information of the identified stored sequence of travel;

generating display information based on the acquired operation information; and

causing the generated display information to be displayed on a display.

11. The navigation method according to claim 10, further comprising:

acquiring a travel route for the host vehicle originating from the reference position; and

identifying the stored sequence of travel by identifying a sequence of travel having the stored vehicle condition information that corresponds to the acquired vehicle condition of the host vehicle and having stored positions that correspond to the acquired travel route.

12. The navigation method according to claim 11, wherein:

the stored data for each travel sequence includes fuel consumption information that is associated with each stored position; and

the method further comprises identifying the stored sequence of travel by identifying a sequence of travel having the least fuel consumption from the reference position to an end point of the acquired travel route.

13. The navigation method according to claim 10, wherein:

the vehicle condition information is the state of charge of the vehicle battery; and

the stored vehicle condition information corresponds to the acquired vehicle condition of the host vehicle when the state of charge of the vehicle battery is within a predetermined amount of a state of charge of the battery of the host vehicle.

14. The navigation method according to claim 13, wherein the state of charge of the vehicle battery is within the predetermined amount of the state of charge of the battery of the host vehicle when the state of charge of the vehicle battery is within 3% of the state of charge of the battery of the host vehicle.

15. The navigation method according to claim 10, wherein the specified vehicle operation includes at least one of:

either hybrid driving mode or electric driving mode;

an operation amount of an accelerator;

an operation amount of a brake;

an eco level that represents an engine speed or a throttle opening;

a status of an eco lamp.

16. The navigation method according to claim 10, wherein the stored travel sequences are based on prior travel by the host vehicle.

17. The navigation method according to claim 10, wherein:

the information storage unit is located in a remote information center; and

the stored travel sequences are based on prior travel by a plurality of vehicles.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a computer-executable program, the program comprising:

instructions for acquiring a reference position related to a traveling of a host vehicle;

instructions for acquiring a vehicle condition of the host vehicle at the reference position, the vehicle condition being at least one of a state of charge of a battery of the host vehicle and a number of occupants of the host vehicle;

instructions for accessing a travel information storage unit that stores past travel sequences, stored data for each travel sequence including;

at least one position along the travel sequence, operation information that specifies a vehicle operation at each stored position, and vehicle condition information that specifies a vehicle condition at each stored position, the vehicle condition being at least one of a state of charge of a vehicle battery and a number of occupants;

instructions for identifying a stored sequence of travel having a stored position that corresponds to the acquired reference position of the host vehicle and having stored vehicle condition information that corresponds to the acquired vehicle condition of the host vehicle;

instructions for acquiring the stored operation information of the identified stored sequence of travel;

instructions for generating display information based on the acquired operation information; and

instructions for causing the generated display information to be displayed on a display.