Route search device, server device and navigation device

• US 8,958,984 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2011
• Issued: 02/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Okude, Mariko, Hiruta, Tomoaki, Yamazaki, Jun
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALSOMIRI, MAJDI A
• Application Number:
  US13/213,220
• Publication Number:
  US 20120072107A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,278 Days
• Field of Search: 701/400, 701408-421, 701445-450, 701/527, 342/357.1, 342/357.07, 342/357.09, 342/357.13, 342/357.2, 342/357.22, 342/357.27, 342/357.31, 340/995.19, 455/456, 455/456.1, 455/456.2
• US Class Current: 701/416
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/343 Calculating itineraries, i.e. routes leading from a starting point to a series of categorical destinations using a global route restraint, round trips, touristic trips travelling salesman problem G06Q10/04; optimisation of routes G06Q10/047

Abstract

A route search device includes: map data; a derived route acquisition section that acquires a first derived route from an origin point to a destination; a route correction region acquisition section that acquires a route correction region; a place to be passed through setting section that sets a place to be passed through in the route correction region; a start point and end point setting section that sets a start point and an end point in the route correction region; a corrected route acquisition section that acquires a corrected route; and a route correction section that corrects the first derived route to a second derived route from the origin point to the destination, constituted by a route from the origin point to the start point, the corrected route, and a route from the end point to the destination.

Claims

1. A route search device, comprising:

map data of a road map;

a derived route acquisition section that acquires a first derived route for a mobile body from an origin point of the mobile body to a destination of the mobile body;

a route correction region acquisition section that acquires a route correction region corresponding to the first derived route;

a place to be passed through setting section that sets a place to be passed through in the route correction region;

a start point and end point setting section that sets a start point and an end point in the route correction region;

a corrected route acquisition section that acquires a corrected route, not included in the first derived route, from the start point and passing through the place to be passed through to arrive at the end point;

a route correction section that corrects the first derived route to a second derived route from the origin point to the destination, constituted by a route from the origin point to the start point, the corrected route, and a route from the end point to the destination; and

a pass through frequency storage section that stores, included in the map data, pass through frequencies by a plurality of mobile bodies that pass through at least one of a plurality of intersections and a plurality of roads;

wherein the place to be passed through setting section, by referring to the pass through frequency storage section, sets at least one of an intersection and a road whose pass through frequency is high as the place to be passed through.

2. A route search device according to claim 1, wherein:

the route correction region acquisition section acquires the route correction region in correspondence with a partial region upon the road map; and

the start point and end point setting section calculates a plurality of points of intersection between the external periphery of the route correction region and the first derived route, and determines and sets the start point and the end point respectively from among a plurality of ground points upon the first derived route that are closest to the plurality of points of intersection.

3. A route search device according to claim 1, wherein:

the route correction region acquisition section acquires the route correction region in correspondence with a partial region upon the road map; and

the start point and end point setting section, along with selecting, from among a plurality of intersections that are located in the vicinity of the external periphery of the route correction region, start point candidates for the start point in order of closeness to the origin point, also selects end point candidates for the end point from the plurality of intersections in order of closeness to the destination, then searches for a route section that is connected from a start point candidate among the start point candidates to an end point candidate among the end point candidates, and then sets the start point candidate and the end point candidate of the route section that has been found as the start point and the end point.

4. A server device, comprising:

a route search device according to claim 1;

a reception section that receives the first derived route, the route correction region, and a search condition for the first derived route via a communication network from a navigation device; and

a transmission section that transmits the corrected route to the navigation device; and

wherein;

the derived route acquisition section acquires the first derived route that has been received by the reception section; and

the route correction region acquisition section acquires the route correction region that has been received by the reception section.

5. A server device according to claim 4, wherein

the route correction region acquisition section acquires the corrected route on the basis of another search condition that is different from the search condition for the first derived route.

6. A server device, comprising:

a route search device according to claim 1;

a reception section that receives the origin point, the destination, the route correction region, and a search condition for the first derived route via a communication network from a navigation device; and

a transmission section that transmits the first derived route, the second derived route, and the corrected route to the navigation device;

wherein

the derived route acquisition section acquires the first derived route by searching and calculation on the basis of the origin point, the destination, the search condition for the first derived route, and the map data.

7. A navigation device, comprising:

a route search device according to claim 1;

a display unit that displays the road map, the first derived route, and the second derived route;

a current position information acquisition section that acquires current position information indicating a current position of the mobile body;

an input section for input by a user of the destination, the route correction region, and a search condition for the first derived route; and

a route guidance section that guides the mobile body using the second derived route; and

wherein;

when the mobile body is positioned at the origin point, the origin point is the current position acquired by the current position information acquisition section; and

the route correction region acquisition section acquires the route correction region inputted via the input section.

8. A navigation device according to claim 7, wherein

the display unit displays map information for the route correction region acquired by the route correction region acquisition section and route information for the corrected route, at a larger magnification than map information other than the route correction region and route information other than the corrected route.

9. A navigation device, comprising:

a route search device according to claim 1;

a current position information acquisition section that acquires current position information indicating a current position of the mobile body;

an input section for input by a user of the destination, the route correction region, and a search condition for the first derived route;

a transmission section that transmits the first derived route, the route correction region, and the search condition for the first derived route to a server device via a communication network;

a reception section that receives the corrected route from the server device; and

a route guidance section that guides the mobile body using the second derived route;

wherein;

when the mobile body is positioned at the origin point, the origin point is the current position acquired by the current position information acquisition section; and

the corrected route acquisition section acquires the corrected route received by the reception section.