Navigation server and navigation system

• US 8,788,194 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2010
• Issued: 07/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2010
• 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, Ishido, Yuichiro, Nogawa, Tadafumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Edwards, Jerrah
• Application Number:
  US13/579,352
• Publication Number:
  US 20120310525A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,376 Days
• Field of Search: 701/423, 701/533, 701/430, 701/414, 701/425, 701/123, 701/416
• US Class Current: 701/423
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3415 Dynamic re-routing, e.g. recalculating the route when the user deviates from calculated route or after detecting real-time traffic data or accidents
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3453 Special cost functions, i.e. other than distance or default speed limit of road segments
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3469 Fuel consumption; Energy use; Emission aspects
• 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 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0137 for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096833 where different aspects are considered when computing the route
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096844 where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data

Abstract

Disclosed is a navigation system which creates “environment contribution information” in accordance with a deviation (δ(k)) between the total cost (C1(k)) of a first route (RT1(k)) which is searched by using a traffic information indicating the amount of cost required to pass through each link and the total cost (C2(k)) of a second route (RT2(k)) which is searched without using the traffic information. The traffic information used in searching the first route (RT1(k)) to a target position (TP(k)) of a vehicle (2) is used in searching a route to a shared target position by a navigation device (200).

Claims

1. A navigation server comprising:

a first database configured to store a map information which indicates alignments of roads and a traffic information which indicates an amount of cost required to pass through each link serving as a constituent element of the roads and is used in searching a route by a navigation device mounted in a vehicle;

a first support arithmetic processing element configured to recognize a route searched by using the traffic information stored in the first database to join a present position and a target position of the vehicle as a first route according to communications with the navigation device, and recognize a route searched by using the map information but without using the traffic information stored in the first database to join the present position and the target position of the vehicle as a second route according to communications with the navigation device;

a second support arithmetic processing element configured to create an environment contribution information indicating a reduction effect of the cost on the basis of a deviation between a total cost of the first route recognized by the first support arithmetic processing element and a total cost of the second route recognized by the first support arithmetic processing element; and

a second database configured to store the environment contribution information created by the second support arithmetic processing element in a state accessible via a network,

wherein the first support arithmetic processing element is configured to determine, before the vehicle has arrived at the target position ahead, whether the target position of the vehicle is altered or not according to communications with the navigation device and recognize a new first route and a new second route to join a present position and an altered target position of the vehicle in a case where it is determined that the target position of the vehicle is altered, and

the second support arithmetic processing element is configured to create the environment contribution information on the basis of a deviation between a total cost of the new first route and a total cost of the new second route, and on the basis of the previously calculated deviation between the total cost of the previous first route and the total cost of the previous second route to the unaltered target position of the vehicle and which is determined according to a travel distance of the vehicle until the target position is altered.

2. A navigation system comprising a navigation server according to claim 1 and a navigation device mounted in a vehicle,

the navigation device including

a first arithmetic processing element configured to recognize a present position and a target position of the vehicle and send them to the navigation server;

and

a second arithmetic processing element configured to recognize the traffic information stored in the first database according to communications with the navigation server and search a route from the present position to the target position of the vehicle by using the traffic information.