Navigation server, navigation device, and navigation system

• US 9,243,919 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2011
• Issued: 01/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Sengoku, Koji, Nogawa, Tadafumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Jabr, Fadey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Troost, Aaron L
• Application Number:
  US13/988,805
• Publication Number:
  US 20130238243A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,552 Days
• Field of Search: 701 24- 26, 701/537
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance
• 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: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means

Abstract

Provided is a navigation system and the like capable of improving the utility value of the navigation route in response to a current request in consideration of a user position. In the navigation system of the present invention, when a current request Req(i)(i>1) including a current destination position p₂(i) that is the same as a previous destination position p₂(i−1), is made from a navigation device 200, a current support route R(i) is searched which has a location point p₁(i) that is on a previous support route R(i−1) and distant from the user position p₀(i) by a designated distance or more included in the request Req(i), as a starting point.

Claims

1. A navigation server for supporting a guidance of a user by a navigation device based on communication with the navigation device, comprising

a navigation server communication device in communication with the navigation device, and a navigation server processor and navigation server memory storing a navigation server program that, when executed by the navigation server processor, causes the navigation server processor to function as:

a first navigation server support arithmetic processing unit that searches for a support route for guiding the user to a destination position based on communication with the navigation device, on a condition that a request including a position of the user, the destination position, and an index expressing a number of times a route search request has been made is recognized; and

a second navigation server support arithmetic processing unit that makes the navigation device recognize a location point or a link included in the support route searched by the first navigation server support arithmetic processing unit based on communication with the navigation device,

wherein the first navigation server support arithmetic processing unit searches for a current support route having a location point which is on a previous support route and which is a designated distance or more distant from the position of the user included in a current request as a starting point, on a condition that the current request including the index at a value of two or more and the destination position that is the same as the previous support route is recognized, and the first navigation server support arithmetic processing unit searches for a current support route having the position of the user as the staring point, on a condition that the current request including the index at a value of one or the destination position that is different from the previous support route is recognized.

2. The navigation server according to claim 1, wherein the first navigation server support arithmetic processing unit recognizes a factor which affects a traveling form of the user, and sets the designated distance or the starting point of the current support route according to the factor.

3. A navigation device for guiding a user based on communication with the navigation server of claim 1, comprising

a navigation device communication device in communication with the navigation server, and a navigation device processor and navigation device memory storing a navigation device program that, when executed by the navigation device processor, causes the navigation device processor to function as:

a first navigation device arithmetic processing unit that searches for a first navigation route for guiding the user from the position of the user to the destination position and recognizes the position of the user, the destination position, and an index expressing a number of times a route search request has been made, and makes the navigation server recognize the request including the position of the user, the destination position, and the index; and

a second navigation device arithmetic processing unit that recognizes the location point or the link included in the support route searched by the navigation server according to the request, and searches and outputs a second navigation route for guiding the user to the destination position based on the recognition result.

4. The navigation device according to claim 3, wherein the first navigation device arithmetic processing unit searches for a navigation route connecting the user and the destination position independent of the support route, and makes the navigation server recognize the request further including an intermediate position included in the navigation route.

5. A navigation system comprising a navigation device and a navigation server for supporting a guidance of a user by the navigation device based on communication with the navigation device,

the navigation server comprising a navigation server communication device in communication with the navigation device, and a navigation server processor and navigation server memory storing a navigation server program that, when executed by the navigation server processor, causes the navigation server processor to function as:

a first navigation server support arithmetic processing unit that searches for a support route for guiding the user to a destination position based on communication with the navigation device, on a condition that a request including a position of the user, the destination position, and an index expressing a number of times a route search request has been made is recognized; and

a second navigation server support arithmetic processing unit that makes the navigation device recognize a location point or a link included in the support route searched by the first navigation server support arithmetic processing unit based on communication with the navigation device,

wherein the first support arithmetic processing unit searches for a current support route having a location point which is on a previous support route and which is a designated distance or more distant from the position of the user included in a current request as a starting point, on a condition that the current request including the index value at a value of two or more and the destination position that is the same as the previous support route is recognized, and the first navigation server support arithmetic processing unit searches for a current support route having the position of the user as the staring point, on a condition that the current request including the index at a value of one or the destination position that is different from the previous support route is recognized,

the navigation device comprising a navigation device communication device in communication with the navigation server, and a navigation device processor and navigation device memory storing a navigation device program that, when executed by the navigation device processor, causes the navigation device processor to function as;

a first navigation device arithmetic processing unit that searches for a first navigation route for guiding the user from the position of the user to the destination position and recognizes the position of the user, the destination position, and the index, and makes the navigation server recognize the request including the position of the user, the destination position, and the index; and

a second navigation device arithmetic processing unit that recognizes the location point or a link included in the support route searched by the navigation server according to the request, and searches and outputs a second navigation route for guiding the user to the destination position based on the recognition result.