Navigation system and computer-readable information recorded medium in which navigation control program is recorded

• US 6,574,552 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2001
• Issued: 06/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
• Original Assignee: Poineer Corporation
• Inventors: Yano, Kenichiro, Yamashita, Motoyuki, Koga, Koji, Takayanagi, Motohiko
• Primary Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US09/955,189
• Publication Number:
  US 20020035430A1
• Time in Patent Office: 622 Days
• Field of Search: 701/21, 701/25, 701/26, 701/200, 701/201, 701/207, 701/209, 701/211, 340/988, 340/990, 340/995, 231/78.R
• US Class Current: 701/209
• 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 1/096827 where the route is computed onboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096838 where the user preferences are taken into account or the user selects one route out of a plurality
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096866 where the complete route is shown to the driver

Abstract

A navigation system is provided with: an operation section that selects a scheduled route along which a vehicle is scheduled to move; a system controller that searches for a different route while the vehicle is moving along the scheduled route, the different route serving to reach a destination for which the mobile unit moves along the scheduled route, and compares the searched different route with the scheduled route for movement of the vehicle from a current position of the vehicle onward; and a display section that gives notice of a comparison result obtained by the controller.

Claims

1. A navigation system comprising:

a route selecting device for selecting a scheduled route along which a mobile body is scheduled to move;

a searching device for searching for a different route while said mobile body is moving along said scheduled route, said different route serving to reach a destination for which said mobile body moves along said scheduled route;

a comparing device for comparing said searched different route with said scheduled route for movement of said mobile body from a current position of said mobile body onward; and

a notifying device for notifying a comparison result obtained by said comparing device.

2. The navigation system according to claim 1, further comprising

a reselecting device for reselecting one of said scheduled route and said different route as a new scheduled route for said movement of said mobile body from said current position onward, based on notice given by said notifying device.

3. The navigation system according to claim 1, further comprising

an acquiring device for acquiring traffic congestion information about traffic congestion along said scheduled route, from an external source,

wherein said searching device starts searching for said different route upon acquisition of a new piece of said traffic congestion information.

4. The navigation system according to claim 1, further comprising

a time measuring device for measuring time,

wherein said searching device starts searching for said different route every time a preset time elapses.

5. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein said notifying device gives notice of a time which is required to reach said destination if said mobile body moves along said different route.

6. The navigation system according to claim 1, further comprising

a detecting device for detecting a diverging point at which said scheduled route and said different route diverge,

wherein said notifying device gives notice of said comparison result upon arrival of said mobile body at a point which is away from said diverging point by a preset distance.

7. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein said notifying device gives notice of said comparison result only upon determination, based on said comparison result, that said different route can bring said mobile unit to said destination earlier than said scheduled route if said mobile body moves along said different route.

8. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein said notifying device gives said notice at least visually or audibly.

9. An information recorded medium wherein a navigation control program is recorded so as to be read by a computer, said computer included in a navigation system for navigating a mobile body, said navigation control program causing said computer to function as

a selecting device for selecting a scheduled route along which a mobile body is scheduled to move;

a searching device for searching for a different route while said mobile body is moving along said scheduled route, said different route serving to reach a destination for which said mobile body moves along said scheduled route;

a comparing device for comparing said searched different route with said scheduled route for movement of said mobile body from a current position of said mobile body onward; and

a notifying device for notifying a comparison result obtained by said comparing device.

10. The information recorded medium according to claim 9, wherein said navigation control program further causes said computer to as

a reselecting device for reselecting one of said scheduled route and said different route as a new scheduled route for said movement of said mobile body from said current position onward, based on notice given by said notifying device.

11. The information recorded medium according to claim 9, wherein said navigation control program further causes said computer to function as an acquiring device for acquiring traffic congestion information about traffic congestion along said scheduled route, from an external source, and

said searching device starts searching for said different route upon acquisition of a new piece of said traffic congestion information.

12. The information recorded medium according to claim 9, wherein said navigation control program further causes said computer to function as a time measuring device for measuring time, and

said searching device starts searching for said different route every time a preset time elapses.

13. The information recorded medium according to claim 9, wherein said notifying device gives notice of a time which is required to reach said destination if said mobile body moves along said different route.

14. The information recorded medium according to claim 9, wherein said navigation control program further causes said computer to function as a detecting device for detecting a diverging point at which said scheduled route and said different route diverge, and

said notifying device gives notice of said comparison result upon arrival of said mobile body at a point which is away from said diverging point by a preset distance.

15. The information recorded medium according to claim 9, wherein said notifying device gives notice of said comparison result only upon determination, based on said comparison result, that said different route can bring said mobile body to said destination earlier than said scheduled route if said mobile body moves along said different route.