Route processing device, route processing method, and program

Abstract

To make it easy to select a route in which a communication speed recommended for content usage can be used.SOLUTION: A route processing device according to the present disclosure includes search condition acquisition means for acquiring the starting point and destination of a route to be searched and the recommended communication speed of content to be used, search condition output means for outputting the starting point and the destination to a route search server, route information acquisition means for acquiring a route from the starting point to the destination from the route search server and further acquiring the maximum communication speed of a wireless network available in each of sections that constitute the route, and route display means for displaying sections where the maximum communication speed is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed of the content when the route is displayed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a route processing device, a route processing method, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle route selection device that preferentially selects a route in which there are many wireless LAN (Local Area Network) access points on the route to the destination.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In order to use content such as streaming via a wireless network while the vehicle is running, it is desirable to travel on a route where a wireless network with a communication speed recommended for content use is available at least in part of the route.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a route processing device and the like that facilitate selection of a route in which a communication speed recommended for content use is available at least in part.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] In one aspect of the present disclosure, a route processing apparatus includes: a search condition acquisition unit that acquires a departure point, a destination, and a recommended communication speed of content to be used for a route to be searched; a search condition output unit that outputs the departure point and the destination to a route search server; a route information acquisition unit that acquires a route from the departure point to the destination from the route search server, and further acquires a maximum communication speed of a wireless network available in each section constituting the route; and a route display unit that displays a section in which the maximum communication speed is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed of the content in the display of the route.

[0007] In one aspect of the present disclosure, a route processing method includes: acquiring a departure point, a destination, and a recommended communication speed of content to be used for a route to be searched; outputting the departure point and the destination to a route search server; acquiring a route from the departure point to the destination from the route search server; further acquiring a maximum communication speed of a wireless network available in each section constituting the route; and displaying a section in which the maximum communication speed is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed of the content in the display of the route.

[0008] In one aspect of the present disclosure, a program causes a computer to execute: a process of acquiring a departure point, a destination, and a recommended communication speed of content to be used for a route to be searched; a process of outputting the departure point and the destination to a route search server; a process of acquiring a route from the departure point to the destination from the route search server, and further acquiring a maximum communication speed of a wireless network available in each section constituting the route; and a process of displaying a section in which the maximum communication speed is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed of the content in the display of the route.

Advantages of the Invention

[0009] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to achieve an effect of facilitating the selection of a route that can be used at least in part at a communication speed recommended for the use of content.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] When using content such as streaming and games via a wireless network while a vehicle is in motion, there is a recommended communication speed of the wireless network to be used for content utilization. Hereinafter, the communication speed recommended for content utilization is referred to as the "recommended communication speed". In order to use the above-described content while the vehicle is in motion, it is desirable to travel on a route having a section in which the maximum communication speed of the wireless network available during travel is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed of the content. Therefore, in the route displayed for traveling from a departure point to a destination point, the route processing device 10 in each embodiment displays a section in which the maximum communication speed of the wireless network available in that section is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed among the sections constituting the route.

[0012] The content is content used while traveling on a route. The content is, for example, content received and played via a wireless network such as 4K / 8K TV broadcasting. Alternatively, the content is content that transmits and receives information wirelessly such as an online game and XR (Extended Reality / Cross Reality). XR is a general term encompassing VR (Virtual Reality), AR (Augmented Reality), MR (Mixed Reality), SR (Substitutional Reality), and the like. However, the content is not limited to the above as long as it is content used via a wireless network.

[0013] <First Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the route processing device 10. The route processing device 10 includes a search condition acquisition unit 110, a search condition output unit 120, a route information acquisition unit 130, and a route display unit 140. The hardware of the route processing device 10 will be further described later. For example, it may be a tablet terminal with a touch panel that realizes the above functions as an installed application, or a device that can be carried during vehicle driving such as a smartphone. Alternatively, the route processing device 10 may be a server using cloud computing or a network.

[0014] The search condition acquisition unit 110 acquires the departure location, the destination, and the recommended communication speed of the content to be used. The search condition acquisition unit 110 may acquire the recommended communication speed along with the departure location and the destination, or may acquire the type of content and refer to a database or the like to acquire the recommended communication speed of the content type. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the recommended communication speed of the content type. FIG. 2 shows the communication speeds in two directions, the download direction and the upload direction, as the recommended communication speed. However, the recommended communication speed is not limited to the communication speeds in two directions, and may be the communication speed in either one direction, or the total communication speed in both the download and upload directions. The database used by the search condition acquisition unit 110 may store other information of the content. FIG. 2 shows the real-time nature and connection time of the content as other information of the content.

[0015] The source from which the search condition acquisition unit 110 acquires the above conditions is not limited. For example, in the case where the route processing device 10 is a tablet terminal equipped with a touch panel, the search condition acquisition unit 110 may acquire the departure location, the destination, and the type of content input by the user operating the touch panel. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an input screen on the touch panel. In FIG. 3, the respective addresses are input as the departure location and the destination. Further, the type of content with a star mark set in the selection column indicates the type of content to be used. In the case of FIG. 3, as the content to be used, the 4K video movie "XX" and the online game A are selected. The search condition acquisition unit 110 refers to the information in FIG. 2 and acquires the recommended communication speed of the content type selected in FIG. 3. Alternatively, in the case where the route processing device 10 is equipped with a wireless communication device, the search condition acquisition unit 110 may acquire the departure location, the destination, and the recommended communication speed of the content from another device via the wireless communication device.

[0016] The search condition output unit 120 outputs the departure place and the destination to the route search server. The connection means between the search condition output unit 120 and the route search server is not limited. For example, when the route processing device 10 includes a wireless communication device, the search condition output unit 120 may output the departure place and the destination to the route search server via the wireless communication device. Alternatively, when the route processing device 10 and the route search server are mounted on a vehicle and are connected to each other via an in-vehicle communication path, the search condition output unit 120 may output the departure place and the destination to the route search server via the in-vehicle communication path. The search condition output unit 120 may have the function of a route search server and search for a route from the departure place and the destination using the function of the route search server.

[0017] A route search server is a server that searches for and outputs a route from a starting point to a destination. The route searched by the route search server is, at least in part, where a wireless network is available. However, the wireless network may have multiple areas with different maximum communication speeds. Therefore, the route search server outputs the maximum communication speed of the available wireless network in each section that makes up the route from the starting point to the destination. A section is the range between points obtained by dividing the route at multiple points, and is set for the route searched by the route search server. The section is not limited to the following, but for example, it is a range obtained by dividing the route at each intersection, or a range obtained by dividing corresponding to units such as 10 m or 100 m. The route search server may obtain the maximum communication speed and output it using any method. For example, the route search server may save in advance the maximum communication speed of the available wireless network in each section that makes up the route, and obtain and output the saved maximum communication speed. Alternatively, the route search server may, after searching for the route, obtain and output the maximum communication speed of the available wireless network in each section that makes up the route from another device. For example, the route search server may obtain and output the maximum communication speed of the wireless network in each section from a communication management server that manages the wireless network. The route search server may be a hardware device such as a computer, or a server that operates as software such as a virtual computer or cloud computing.

[0018] The route information acquisition unit 130 acquires a route from the starting point to the destination from the route search server. Further, the route information acquisition unit 130 acquires the maximum communication speed of the available wireless network in the sections that make up the route. When there are multiple routes, the route information acquisition unit 130 may acquire the maximum communication speed of the available wireless network in each section that makes up each route.

[0019] Alternatively, the route information acquisition unit 130 may acquire a route from the departure point to the destination from a route search server, and acquire the maximum communication speed of the available wireless network in each section constituting the acquired route from another server. For example, after acquiring the route from the departure point to the destination from the route search server, the route information acquisition unit 130 may acquire the maximum communication speed of the wireless network in each section constituting the route from a communication management server that manages the wireless network. The connection means between the route information acquisition unit 130 and the communication management server is not limited. For example, the route information acquisition unit 130 may acquire the maximum communication speed of the wireless network in each section via a wireless communication device.

[0020] The route display unit 140 displays a section where the maximum communication speed is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed of the content in the display of the route. The route display unit 140 may further display a section where the maximum communication speed is less than the recommended communication speed of the content. For example, in the display of the route, the route display unit 140 may display the section where the maximum communication speed is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed of the content as a display different from that of other sections. For example, the route display unit 140 may set the display color of the section where the maximum communication speed is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed to a color different from that of other sections. Alternatively, the route display unit 140 may make the line thickness of the section indicating that the maximum communication speed is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed thicker than that of other sections. Alternatively, the route display unit 140 may display the section where the maximum communication speed is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed with a double line and display other sections with a single line.

[0021] The display destination where the route display unit 140 displays the route and the section is not limited. For example, when the route processing device 10 includes a display, the route display unit 140 may display a section where the maximum communication speed is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed of the content in the display of the route on the display. Alternatively, when the route processing device 10 is connected to a display, the route display unit 140 may display a section where the maximum communication speed is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed of the content in the display of the route on the connected display.

[0022] With reference to the drawings, an example of the display of the route and the section where the maximum communication speed is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed of the content will be described. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a starting point, a destination, an area where the maximum communication speed is less than the recommended communication speed, and an area where the maximum communication speed is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed. In FIG. 4, the lower right area is the area where the maximum communication speed is less than the recommended communication speed. The upper left area is the area where the maximum communication speed is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed. The overlapping area of the two central areas is the area where the communication speed will be either one depending on the communication situation. Further, the road with the widest road width at the bottom is the arterial road. It is assumed that the vehicle can reach the destination faster by traveling on the arterial road than on other roads.

[0023] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the first example of the route. In FIG. 5, the arrow from the starting point to the destination is the first example of the route. In the first example of the route, the thick-line section is the section where the maximum communication speed is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed. The thin-line section is the section where the maximum communication speed is less than the recommended communication speed. The section with a line of medium thickness is the section where the maximum communication speed is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed or less than the recommended communication speed depending on the communication situation. The same applies to FIGS. 6 and 7. The first example of the route is a route that uses many arterial roads. However, in about a quarter of the section of the first example of the route, the maximum communication speed is less than the recommended communication speed, and in more than half of the section, the maximum communication speed is less than the recommended communication speed depending on the communication situation. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the second example of the route. The second example of the route uses fewer arterial road sections than the first example, but the section where the maximum communication speed is less than the recommended communication speed is reduced. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the third example of the route. The third example of the route has a longer overall length than the first and second examples. However, the third example of the route has more sections where the maximum communication speed is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed than the second example.

[0024] Referring to such a display, the user can easily select an available route with the communication speed recommended for content usage. For example, if the user wants to increase the content usage time, the user may select the third example of the route in FIG. 7 as the route to travel. On the other hand, if the user wants to reach the destination quickly even if the content usage time is short, the user may select the first example of the route in FIG. 5. Alternatively, if the user wants to increase the content usage time to a certain extent but also wants to reach the destination quickly, the user may select the second example of the route in FIG. 6 as the route to travel.

[0025] FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the route processing device 10. The search condition acquisition unit 110 acquires the departure place, destination, and recommended communication speed of the content to be used for the route to be searched (step S201). The search condition output unit 120 outputs the departure place and destination to the route search server (step S202). The route information acquisition unit 130 acquires the route from the departure place to the destination from the route search server, and further acquires the maximum communication speed of the available wireless network in each section constituting the route (step S203). The route display unit 140 displays, in the display of the route, the section where the maximum communication speed is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed of the content (step S204).

[0026] As described above, the route processing device 10 includes a search condition acquisition unit 110, a search condition output unit 120, a route information acquisition unit 130, and a route display unit 140. The search condition acquisition unit 110 acquires the departure place, destination, and recommended communication speed of the content to be used for the route to be searched. The search condition output unit 120 outputs the departure place and destination to the route search server. The route information acquisition unit 130 acquires the route from the departure place to the destination from the route search server. Further, the route information acquisition unit 130 acquires the maximum communication speed of the available wireless network in each section constituting the route. The route display unit 140 displays, in the display of the route, the section where the maximum communication speed is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed of the content.

[0027] A user may want to use content while moving in a vehicle. For example, when moving by car, a passenger may wish to enjoy the content. With the above configuration, the route processing device 10 displays a section where the maximum communication speed is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed of the content. Therefore, the user can easily select a route that enables the use of the communication speed recommended for content utilization by using the route processing device 10.

[0028] (Modification example) Among route search servers, there is a server that can output the standard travel time for each section in setting the sections that make up a route. The route search server may output a travel time considering the travel date or time of travel. Furthermore, for content such as games, there is content for which the usage time of continuously using a wireless network is determined, such as the connection time per match for the online games A and B shown in FIG. 2. When using such content for which the usage time of continuous use is determined, it is desirable for the user to be able to determine a section where the wireless network can be used for a longer time than the required connection time. Therefore, the route processing device 10 may obtain and display the travel time for each section set by the route search server from the route search server. An example of the operation in this case will be described. The route information acquisition unit 130 acquires the travel time for each section that makes up the route from the route search server when acquiring the route. Then, the route display unit 140 displays the travel time for each section that makes up the route.

[0029] When streaming content or using content such as games, at least the content usage time is required as the available time of the wireless network. Alternatively, even when downloading and playing content such as movies, there is the usage time required to download the content as the usage time of the wireless network. Therefore, in order to use such content, a route considering the required usage time of the wireless network is desirable. A route suitable for using such content is a route in which the total travel time of sections where the maximum communication speed of the available wireless network is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed is equal to or longer than the usage time of the wireless network required to use the content. Therefore, the route processing device 10 may display a route in which the total travel time of sections where the maximum communication speed of the available wireless network is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed is longer than the usage time of the wireless network required to use the content, using the obtained travel time for each section. An example of the operation in this case will be described. The search condition acquisition unit 110 acquires the usage time of the wireless network required to use the content. Similar to the acquisition of the recommended communication speed, the search condition acquisition unit 110 may acquire the usage time, or may acquire the type of content and acquire the usage time of the acquired content type by referring to a database such as that shown in FIG. 2. The route information acquisition unit 130 acquires the travel time for each section constituting the route from the route search server, in the same manner as described above. Among the sections constituting the route, the total travel time of the sections where the maximum communication speed is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed becomes the usage time of the wireless network available for using the content in that route. Therefore, the route display unit 140 displays a route in which the total travel time of the sections identified as having a maximum communication speed equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed among the sections constituting the route is equal to or longer than the usage time of the wireless network required to use the content.

[0030] When there are multiple routes in which the total running time of the section where the maximum communication speed is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed is equal to or longer than the usage time of the content, the user may want to know the total running time of the section where the maximum communication speed is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed when selecting a route. Therefore, the route display unit 140 may display the total running time of the section where the maximum communication speed in the route is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed. Further, when the user uses the content, the user may want to know over which section the content will be used. Therefore, the route display unit 140 may display the range of the usage time of the wireless network required to use the content, superimposed on the section where the maximum communication speed in the route is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed. For example, the route display unit 140 may display the range from the first section where the maximum communication speed in the route is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed to the section where the total running time of the sections exceeds the usage time of the wireless network required to use the content.

[0031] The user may desire to have fewer interruptions when using the content. Therefore, the route display unit 140 may display at least one of the number of sections where the maximum communication speed in the route is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed and the number of sections where the maximum communication speed in the route is lower than the recommended communication speed. However, when the sections where the maximum communication speed in the route is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed are continuous, the state where the maximum communication speed is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed continues within the range of the continuous sections. That is, within the range where the sections where the maximum communication speed is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed are continuous, the user does not need to interrupt the use of the content. Therefore, the route display unit 140 may display the range determined to be where the sections where the maximum communication speed is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed are continuous. However, the range determined to be where the sections where the maximum communication speed is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed are continuous may include the case where there is one section where the maximum communication speed is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed. The route display unit 140 may display the number of ranges determined to be where the sections where the maximum communication speed is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed are continuous.

[0032] When there are multiple available communication carriers in an interval, the available communication speeds may vary for each communication carrier. And the user may also use multiple communication carriers. Therefore, the route display unit 140 may display information on the communication carriers in each interval. An example of the operation in this case will be described. The route information acquisition unit 130 acquires information on the communication carriers in addition to the maximum communication speed of the wireless network in each interval constituting the route. For example, the route information acquisition unit 130 may acquire information on the communication carriers in each interval constituting the route from a route search server. In this case, the route search server may store in advance information on the communication carriers in each interval constituting the route, or may acquire information on the communication carriers from another device such as a communication management server of the communication carrier and output it. However, the route information acquisition unit 130 may acquire information on the communication carriers in each interval constituting the route from a device different from the route search server. For example, the route information acquisition unit 130 may acquire information on the communication carriers in each interval constituting the route from the communication management server of the communication carrier. When there are multiple available communication carriers in an interval, the communication speed of a specific communication carrier may be acquired. For example, when the route processing device 10 is a smartphone, the route information acquisition unit 130 may acquire information on the communication carrier from the built-in SIM card (Subscriber Identity Module Card) and acquire the communication speed of that communication carrier.

[0033] And the route display unit 140 displays information on the communication carriers in at least each interval where the maximum communication speed is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed. When there are multiple communication carriers, the route display unit 140 may display the intervals in each communication carrier where the maximum communication speed in the route is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed. Further, the route display unit 140 may display the total travel time of the intervals in each communication carrier where the maximum communication speed in the route is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed. The route display unit 140 may also display information on the communication carriers in each interval where the maximum communication speed in the route is less than the recommended communication speed.

[0034] During the course of driving on a route, the user may want to know when the vehicle has entered a section where the maximum communication speed is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed, and when it has entered a section where the maximum communication speed is lower than the recommended communication speed. Therefore, the route display unit 140 may display information about the section in which the vehicle is currently driving during the actual driving of the vehicle equipped with the route processing device 10. An example of the operation corresponding to such a case will be described.

[0035] For example, when the vehicle is driving on a route and enters a section where the maximum communication speed is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed, the route display unit 140 may display information indicating that the vehicle has entered a section where the maximum communication speed is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed. The operation in this case will be described. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the route processing device 11 in a modified example in this case. The route processing device 11 includes a position information acquisition unit 150 in addition to the configuration of the route processing device 10. The position information acquisition unit 150 acquires position information indicating the current position of the route processing device 11. For example, when driving on a route using a navigation device mounted on the vehicle, the navigation device acquires information on the current position of the vehicle using GPS (Global Positioning System). Therefore, the position information acquisition unit 150 may acquire the position information from the navigation device. Alternatively, a smartphone acquires position information using GPS. Therefore, when the route processing device 11 is a smartphone, the position information acquisition unit 150 may acquire the position information. Then, when the current position is in a section where the maximum communication speed is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed, the route display unit 140 may display information indicating that the vehicle has entered a section where the maximum communication speed is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed. The user may start using the content with reference to the displayed information.

[0036] Furthermore, when the current position enters a section where the maximum communication speed is less than the recommended communication speed, the route display unit 140 may display information indicating that the current position has entered such a section. The user may interrupt the use of the content with reference to the displayed information. When interrupting the use of the content in a section where the maximum communication speed is less than the recommended communication speed, the user may want to know the travel time until the next section where the maximum communication speed is greater than or equal to the recommended communication speed. The travel time until the next section where the maximum communication speed is greater than or equal to the recommended communication speed is the travel time of the section where the current maximum communication speed during travel is less than the recommended communication speed. As already described, the route display unit 140 may display the travel time of the section. Therefore, the user can know the travel time until the next section where the maximum communication speed is greater than or equal to the recommended communication speed by referring to the travel time in the section where the maximum communication speed is less than the recommended communication speed.

[0037] The route processing device 10 may operate using the time of departure from the departure location. In this case, the search condition acquisition unit 110 acquires the departure time in addition to the departure location, destination, and the recommended communication speed of the content. The search condition output unit 120 outputs the departure location, destination, and departure time to the route search server. The route information acquisition unit 130 acquires the route from the departure location to the destination from the route search server, and further acquires the maximum communication speed of the available wireless network in each section constituting the route. However, the maximum communication speed in this case is the maximum communication speed at the time of traveling each section in the route from the departure location to the destination starting at the departure time. In this case, the route information acquisition unit 130 may acquire the maximum communication speed for each time unit such as 30 minutes or 1 hour as the maximum communication speed. The route display unit 140 displays the section where the maximum communication speed is greater than or equal to the recommended communication speed of the content in the display of the route.

[0038] The search condition output unit 120 may output conditions different from those used in the previous description to the root search server. For example, the search condition output unit 120 may output the recommended communication speed to the root search server. Then, the route information acquisition unit 130 may acquire, from the root search server, a route whose maximum communication speed is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed in at least a part of the section. In this way, the route information acquisition unit 130 may request another device such as the root search server to select a route whose maximum communication speed is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed in at least a part of the section.

[0039] <Hardware Configuration> Next, the hardware configurations of the route processing apparatuses 10 and 11 of each embodiment will be described. Each component of the route processing apparatuses 10 and 11 may be configured by a hardware circuit. Alternatively, in the route processing apparatuses 10 and 11, each component may be configured using a plurality of devices connected via a network. For example, the route processing apparatuses 10 and 11 may be configured using cloud computing and a tablet terminal. Alternatively, in the route processing apparatuses 10 and 11, a plurality of components may be configured by one piece of hardware. Alternatively, the route processing apparatuses 10 and 11 may be configured as a computer including a processor, a memory, and an interface. The processor is, for example, a central processing unit (CPU: Central Processing Unit). The memory is, for example, a read-only memory (ROM: Read Only Memory) and a random access memory (RAM: Random Access Memory). The interface is, for example, a network interface.

[0040] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a computer 600 which is an example of the hardware configuration of the route processing apparatuses 10 and 11. The computer 600 includes a CPU 610, a ROM 620, a RAM 630, a storage device 640, and a network interface 650.

[0041] The CPU 610 reads a program from at least one of the ROM 620 and the storage device 640. Then, based on the read program, the CPU 610 controls the RAM 630, the storage device 640, and the network interface 650. And the CPU 610 controls these components to realize the functions of the search condition acquisition unit 110, the search condition output unit 120, the route information acquisition unit 130, the route display unit 140, and the position information acquisition unit 150. In this way, the computer 600 may realize functions as a combination of hardware and software. The route processing devices 10 and 11 may be provided with a display for displaying routes and the like.

[0042] The CPU 610 may operate by reading a program included in a recording medium 690 that stores a program in a computer-readable manner, such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory. Alternatively, the CPU 610 may receive a program from an external device (not shown) via the network interface 650, save it in the RAM 630 or the storage device 640, and operate based on the saved program.

[0043] The ROM 620 stores programs and fixed data executed by the CPU 610. The ROM 620 is, for example, a programmable ROM (P-ROM) or a flash ROM. The RAM 630 temporarily stores programs and data executed by the CPU 610. The RAM 630 is, for example, a dynamic RAM (D-RAM). The storage device 640 stores data and programs that the computer 600 stores long-term. The storage device 640 may operate as a temporary storage device for the CPU 610. The storage device 640 is, for example, a hard disk device or a solid state drive (SSD).

[0044] The ROM 620 and the storage device 640 are non - transitory recording media. On the other hand, the RAM 630 is a transitory recording media. And the CPU 610 is operable based on the programs stored in the ROM 620, the storage device 640, and the RAM 630. That is, the CPU 610 is operable using either the non - transitory recording media or the transitory recording media. When realizing each function, the CPU 610 may use at least one of the RAM 630 and the storage device 640 as a temporary storage medium for programs and data.

[0045] The network interface 650 relays data exchange with an external device such as a route search server via a network. The network interface 650 is, for example, a wireless LAN card. The network interface 650 is not limited to wireless and may use wired communication.

[0046] The computer 600 configured in this way executes the operations of each component in the route processing devices 10 and 11, and realizes the functions as the route processing devices 10 and 11.

[0047] <System Example> FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the configuration of a route providing system 20 that uses the route processing device 10. FIG. 12 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the operation of the route providing system 20. The route providing system 20 includes a route processing device 10, a route search server 30, and a communication management server 40. The route processing device 10, the route search server 30, and the communication management server 40 are connected via a network such as the Internet. The route providing system 20 may include a route processing device 11.

[0048] The route search server 30 acquires the departure point and the destination, and searches for a route from the departure point to the destination. Further, the route search server 30 acquires, from the communication management server 40, the maximum communication speed of each section included in the route. The communication management server 40 is a device that manages a wireless network in the area that becomes the route, and stores the maximum communication speed in each section that constitutes the route. The communication management server 40 is, for example, a management server of a communication carrier.

[0049] The search condition acquisition unit 110 of the route processing device 10 acquires the departure point and the destination of the route to be searched, and the recommended communication speed of the content to be used in at least a part of the route. Then, the search condition output unit 120 outputs the departure point and the destination to the route search server 30. The route search server 30 searches for a route from the departure point to the destination. Further, the route search server 30 requests the communication management server 40 for the maximum communication speed of the available wireless network in each section that constitutes the searched route. The communication management server 40 outputs the maximum communication speed in each section to the route search server 30. The route search server 30 outputs the route and the maximum communication speed of the available wireless network in each section that constitutes the route to the route information acquisition unit 130. The route information acquisition unit 130 acquires the route from the departure point to the destination from the route search server, and further acquires the maximum communication speed of the available wireless network in each section that constitutes the route. The route display unit 140 displays, in the display of the route, a section where the maximum communication speed is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed of the content.

[0050] Some or all of the above embodiments may be described as follows in the following supplementary notes, but are not limited thereto.

[0051] (Supplementary Note 1) Search condition acquisition means for acquiring the departure point and the destination of the route to be searched and the recommended communication speed of the content to be used, Search condition output means for outputting the departure point and the destination to the route search server, Route information acquisition means for acquiring a route from a departure point to a destination from a search server and further acquiring the maximum communication speed of a wireless network available in each section constituting the route; Route display means for displaying, in the display of the route, a section where the maximum communication speed is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed of the content; A route processing device comprising:

[0052] (Appendix 2) The route information acquisition means acquires the travel time in each section constituting the route from a route search server, The route display means displays the travel time in each section constituting the route. The route processing device according to Appendix 1.

[0053] (Appendix 3) The search condition acquisition means acquires the usage time of a wireless network required for using the content, The route display means displays a route in which the total travel time of sections specified as sections where the maximum communication speed is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed among the sections constituting the route is equal to or longer than the usage time of the wireless network required for using the content. The route processing device according to Appendix 2.

[0054] (Appendix 4) The route display means displays the total travel time of sections where the maximum communication speed in the route is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed. The route processing device according to Appendix 3.

[0055] (Appendix 5) The route display means displays, superimposed on a section where the maximum communication speed in the route is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed, the range of the usage time of the wireless network required for using the content. The route processing device according to Appendix 3 or 4.

[0056] (Appendix 6) The route display means displays at least one of the number of sections in the route where the maximum communication speed is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed and the number of sections in the route where the maximum communication speed is less than the recommended communication speed. The route processing device according to any one of Appendices 1 to 5.

[0057] (Appendix 7) The route display means displays a range determined to have consecutive sections where the maximum communication speed is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed. The route processing device according to any one of Appendices 1 to 6.

[0058] (Appendix 8) The route information acquisition means acquires information on communication carriers for each section of the route. The route display means displays information on communication carriers at least in sections where the maximum communication speed is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed. The route processing device according to any one of Appendices 1 to 7.

[0059] (Appendix 9) When there are multiple communication carriers, the route display means displays, for each communication carrier, the sections in the route where the maximum communication speed is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed. The route processing device according to Appendix 8.

[0060] (Appendix 10) It further includes position information acquisition means for acquiring position information indicating the current position. When the current position enters a section where the maximum communication speed is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed during traveling on the route, the route display means displays information indicating that it has entered a section where the maximum communication speed is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed. The route processing device according to any one of Appendices 1 to 9.

[0061] (Appendix 11) When the current position enters a section where the maximum communication speed is less than the recommended communication speed, the route display means displays information indicating that it has entered a section where the maximum communication speed is less than the recommended communication speed. The route processing device described in Supplementary Note 10.

[0062] (Supplementary Note 12) The search condition acquisition means acquires the departure time, The search condition output means outputs the departure time, The route information acquisition means acquires the maximum communication speed at the time of traveling through a section in the route from the departure place to the destination starting from the departure place at the departure time. The route processing device according to any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 11.

[0063] (Supplementary Note 13) Acquire the departure place, destination, and recommended communication speed of the content to be used for the route to be searched, Output the departure place and destination to the route search server, Acquire the route from the departure place to the destination from the route search server, and further acquire the maximum communication speed of the available wireless network in each section constituting the route, In the display of the route, display the sections where the maximum communication speed is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed of the content. Route processing method.

[0064] (Supplementary Note 14) The process of acquiring the departure place, destination, and recommended communication speed of the content to be used for the route to be searched, The process of outputting the departure place and destination to the route search server, The process of acquiring the route from the departure place to the destination from the route search server, and further acquiring the maximum communication speed of the available wireless network in each section constituting the route, The process of displaying the sections where the maximum communication speed is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed of the content in the display of the route, A program that causes a computer to execute.

[0065] In addition, some or all of the configurations described in Supplementary Notes 2 to 12 subordinate to the above-described Supplementary Note 1 (routing processing device) may be subordinate to Supplementary Note 13 (routing processing method) and Supplementary Note 14 (program) in the same subordinate relationship as Supplementary Notes 2 to 12. Furthermore, not limited to Supplementary Notes 1, 13, and 14, within the scope not departing from the above-described respective embodiments, similarly for various hardware, software, various recording means for recording software, or systems, some or all of the configurations described as supplementary notes may be made subordinate.

[0066] As described above, the invention of the present application has been described with reference to the embodiments. However, the invention of the present application is not limited to the above-described embodiments. Various changes that can be understood by those skilled in the art can be made to the configuration and details of the invention of the present application within the scope of the invention of the present application.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0067] 10 Routing processing device 11 Routing processing device 20 Route providing system 30 Route search server 40 Communication management server 110 Search condition acquisition unit 120 Search condition output unit 130 Route information acquisition unit 140 Route display unit 150 Location information acquisition unit 600 Computer 610 CPU 620 ROM 630 RAM 640 Storage device 650 Network interface 690 Recording medium

Claims

1. Search condition acquisition means for acquiring the departure location, destination of the route to be searched, and the recommended communication speed of the content to be used; Search condition output means for outputting the departure location and the destination to a route search server; Route information acquisition means for acquiring the route from the departure location to the destination from the route search server, and further acquiring the maximum communication speed of the wireless network available in each section constituting the route; Route display means for displaying, in the display of the route, a section where the maximum communication speed is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed of the content; A route processing apparatus comprising the above.

2. The route information acquisition means acquires the travel time in each section constituting the route from the route search server, The route display means displays the travel time in each section constituting the route, The route processing apparatus according to Claim 1.

3. The search condition acquisition means acquires the usage time of the wireless network required for using the content, The route display means displays a route in which the total travel time of sections specified as sections where the maximum communication speed is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed among the sections constituting the route is equal to or longer than the usage time of the wireless network required for using the content. The route processing apparatus according to Claim 2.

4. The route display means displays the total travel time of a section where the maximum communication speed in the route is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed, The route processing apparatus according to Claim 3.

5. The route display means superimposes and displays the range of the usage time of the wireless network required for using the content on a section where the maximum communication speed in the route is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed. The route processing apparatus according to Claim 3.

6. The route display means displays at least one of the number of sections where the maximum communication speed in the route is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed and the number of sections where the maximum communication speed in the route is less than the recommended communication speed. The route processing apparatus according to Claim 1.

7. The route display means displays a range determined to be a range where sections with a maximum communication speed equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed are continuous. The route processing apparatus according to Claim 1.

8. The route information acquisition means acquires information on communication carriers in each section of the route, The route display means displays information on the communication carrier in at least a section where the maximum communication speed is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed. The route processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. Acquire the departure point, destination of the route to be searched, and the recommended communication speed of the content to be used, Output the departure point and the destination to a route search server, Acquire the route from the departure point to the destination from the route search server, and further acquire the maximum communication speed of the available wireless network in each section constituting the route, In the display of the route, display a section where the maximum communication speed is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed of the content. Route processing method.

10. A process of acquiring the departure point, destination of the route to be searched, and the recommended communication speed of the content to be used, A process of outputting the departure point and the destination to a route search server, A process of acquiring the route from the departure point to the destination from the route search server, and further acquiring the maximum communication speed of the available wireless network in each section constituting the route, A process of displaying, in the display of the route, a section where the maximum communication speed is equal to or higher than the recommended communication speed of the content, A program for causing a computer to execute.

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