Navigation system

Abstract

To provide a detection function in a navigation system capable of confirming whether a previously designated point is reached when a garbage collection agency, a postal service agency, and a courier perform business.SOLUTION: The presence or absence of navigation is determined depending on whether guidance position coordinates exist within a first detection area composed of a circle with a predetermined radius with a vehicle as the center and within a second detection area composed of a circle in which a radius with a vehicle as the center is longer than that of the first detection area. At this time, all the position coordinates that should be detected from the n-th to the (n+m)-th do not penetrate the first detection area although all the position coordinates that should be detected from the n-th to the (n+m)-th (m≥1) penetrate the second detection area. When position coordinates that should be detected in the (n+m+1)-th penetrate the first detection area, it is regarded that all the position coordinates that should be detected from ten n-th to the (n+m)-th are reached, it is determined that position coordinates that should be detected in the (n+m+1)-th are reached, and required processing is executed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention is a technology for detecting (or considering as having arrived) arrival at a position necessary for giving a predetermined instruction in a navigation system. For example, when a garbage collector, a postal or delivery carrier conducts business, it relates to a navigation system capable of confirming whether or not a designated point has been reached.

Background Art

[0002] In a vehicle navigation system, when detecting the current position of a vehicle, the main effort is placed on improving the detection accuracy by map matching processing that compares the vehicle's travel route with map information. In addition, as in Patent Document 1, it is known that the accuracy of map matching processing improves as the travel route to be matched becomes longer, and as in Patent Document 2, a navigation system utilizing AI technology is known.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, in a conventional navigation system, as a method for confirming whether or not a designated point has been reached, a parking point (destination) is set in the navigation system in advance, and the vehicle is made to travel toward the parking point. In the case of this method, if a parking point is set at a location where the vehicle cannot enter, the vehicle cannot reach the parking point. Therefore, on the navigation system, unless it is artificially treated as having arrived, it is set as the navigation point closest to the destination, and a notification is sent indicating that the vehicle has arrived near the destination. For this reason, it was not suitable for use in a navigation system that circulates a large number of parking points (destinations) at once, such as garbage collection or postal delivery, over a short distance of several meters to several tens of meters.

[0005] Therefore, in order to solve this problem, the inventor focused on the positional relationship between the vehicle and the target point and the flow of navigation processing, and divided the detection area into a first detection area that can be detected in normal navigation and a second detection area that is wider than the first detection area. Even if detection is not possible in the area of the first detection area, when detection is possible in the second detection area under specific conditions, it was found that this problem can be solved by considering that a predetermined instruction has been given, and the present invention was completed. The present invention aims to be used in a navigation system that circulates a large number of parking points (destinations) at once, such as garbage collection or postal delivery.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0006] The invention according to claim 1 is a navigation system that provides guidance instructions necessary for a user driving a vehicle based on navigation information and specific instruction information stored in a navigation file. The navigation information is composed only of position coordinates at positions on the driving route along which the vehicle travels and where navigation is required. The specific instruction information is composed only of specific position coordinates, which are position coordinates at positions necessary to give a predetermined instruction to the vehicle, and the position coordinates are sorted in the order of detection. Whether or not to perform navigation is determined by whether or not the specific position coordinates exist within a first detection area composed of a circle with a predetermined radius centered on the vehicle and a second detection area composed of a circle with a radius wider than that of the first detection area centered on the vehicle. When the specific position coordinates to be detected at the nth time (where the number of specific position coordinates ≥ n ≥ 1) enter the second detection area and the specific position coordinates to be detected at the nth time enter the first detection area, it is determined that the specific position coordinates to be detected at the nth time have been reached, and necessary processing is executed. When the specific position coordinates to be detected at the nth time (where the number of specific position coordinates ≥ n ≥ 1) enter the second detection area but the specific position coordinates to be detected at the nth time do not enter the first detection area and the position coordinates to be detected at the (n + 1)th time (where the number of specific position coordinates ≥ n + 1 ≥ 1) enter the first detection area, it is regarded that the specific position coordinates to be detected at the nth time have been reached, necessary processing is executed, and it is determined that the position coordinates to be detected at the (n + 1)th time have been reached and necessary processing is executed. This is a navigation system.

[0007] According to the present invention, the information stored in the navigation file is only the position coordinates of the positions where navigation is required, and the specific instruction information is only the position coordinates at the positions necessary to give a predetermined instruction to the vehicle. Map data dedicated to navigation is not used. Therefore, there is no need to add new information such as updating map data that changes over time, and it is possible to provide guidance instructions necessary for a user driving a vehicle. In particular, even in the case of a commercial vehicle that travels on complex routes or passes the same location multiple times, as long as the position coordinates are set appropriately, it can be used as a navigation system. Then, starting from the position coordinates to be detected first, it is determined whether the first and second detection areas are entered in order, and the necessary processing is performed when each is entered. At this time, when the position coordinates of the nth point (the number of position coordinates ≥ n ≥ 1) to be detected next enter the first detection area, it is determined that the position coordinates to be detected nth have been reached, and the necessary processing (for example, announcing that the destination has been reached, etc.) is executed. For example, when the position coordinates to be detected third enter the first detection area, it is determined that the position coordinates to be detected third have been reached, and the system and voice announce that the destination has been reached. Also, although the position coordinates to be detected at the nth (the number of position coordinates ≥ n ≥ 1) enter the second detection area, the position coordinates to be detected at the nth do not enter the first detection area, and when the position coordinates to be detected at the (n + 1)th (the number of position coordinates ≥ n + 1 ≥ 1) enter the first detection area, it is regarded that the position coordinates to be detected at the nth have been reached, the necessary processing is executed, and it is determined that the position coordinates to be detected at the (n + 1)th have been reached and the necessary processing is executed. That is, the search for the position coordinates to be detected at the nth is terminated, it is determined that the position coordinates to be detected at the (n + 1)th have been reached, and the necessary processing is executed. For example, although the position coordinates to be detected third enter the second detection area, the position coordinates to be detected third do not enter the first detection area, and when the position coordinates to be detected fourth enter the first detection area, the search for the position coordinates to be detected third is terminated, it is determined that the position coordinates to be detected fourth have been reached, and the necessary processing is executed. As a result, when a point that cannot be entered by the vehicle is set as the target point, even if it cannot be detected in the first detection area, when it can be detected in the second detection area, it can be regarded that a predetermined instruction has been given, and it is not necessary to continue searching for the position coordinates, and the search for the next point becomes possible.

[0008] In the navigation system, there are a receiving terminal that receives probe information (GPS information) from the outside, a separation distance calculation unit that extracts the position information (latitude and longitude) of the vehicle from the probe information and obtains the separation distance from the coordinates for guiding instructions, and a guidance unit that determines the content of the guidance instructions and gives guidance instructions to the user driving the vehicle.

[0009] The method for determining whether the target position information exists in the first detection area and the second detection area is determined on the coordinates. The first detection area and the second detection area are provided centered on the vehicle, and it is determined whether the position coordinates are located in each area.

[0010] The invention according to claim 2 is such that all the specific position coordinates to be detected from the nth (the number of specific position coordinates ≥ n ≥ 1) to the (n + m)th (the number of specific position coordinates ≥ n + m ≥ 1) have respectively entered the second detection area, but all the specific position coordinates to be detected from the nth to the (n + m)th have not entered the first detection area, and when the specific position coordinate to be detected at the (n + m + 1)th (the number of specific position coordinates ≥ n + m + 1 ≥ 1) has entered the first detection area, it is regarded that all the specific position coordinates to be detected from the nth to the (n + m)th have been reached, the necessary processing is executed, and it is determined that the specific position coordinate to be detected at the (n + m + 1)th has been reached and the necessary processing is executed. This is the navigation system according to claim 1.

[0011] In the invention according to claim 2, when all the position coordinates to be detected from the nth to the (n + m)th have not entered the first detection area that has entered the second detection area, and the position coordinate to be detected at the (n + m + 1)th has entered the first detection area, a batch process is performed in which it is regarded that all the position coordinates to be detected from the nth to the (n + m)th have been reached, and it is determined that the position coordinate to be detected at the (n + m + 1)th has been reached and the necessary processing is executed. Thereby, when a point that cannot be entered by the vehicle is set as the target point, even if it cannot be detected in the first detection area continuously, when it can be detected in the second detection area, it can be regarded that a predetermined instruction has been given, and it is not necessary to continue searching for the position coordinates, and it becomes possible to search for the next point.

[0012] Note that the present invention is premised on sequentially searching for the position coordinates stored in the specific instruction information. For example, after searching for the first position coordinate, the second position coordinate is searched. Even if the position coordinate to be searched for the 10th time enters the second detection area or the first detection area, when searching for the second position coordinate, it is not determined that the position coordinate to be searched for the 10th time has been reached.

Advantages of the Invention

[0013] According to the present invention, since the information stored in the navigation file is only the position coordinates of the positions where navigation is required, there is no need to add new information such as updating map data that changes over time, and it is possible to give the guidance instructions necessary for the user driving the vehicle. In particular, even in the case of a complex route or a work vehicle that visits the same point many times, as long as the position coordinates are appropriately set, it can be used as a navigation system. Furthermore, when a point that cannot be entered by the vehicle is set as the target point, even if it cannot be detected in the first detection area, when it can be detected in the second detection area, it can be regarded that a predetermined instruction has been given, and there is no need to continue searching for the position coordinates, and the search for the next point becomes possible.

[0014] In particular, according to the invention described in claim 2, when a point that cannot be entered by the vehicle is set as the target point, continuously, even if it cannot be detected in the first detection area, when it can be detected in the second detection area, it can be regarded that a predetermined instruction has been given, and there is no need to continue searching for the position coordinates, and automatic search for the next point becomes possible.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0015]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0016] (Embodiment 1) The navigation system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention is also used in a route where a U-turn is required. This navigation system is composed of an arithmetic unit, a storage device, an input device, an output device, and a control device, and is equipped with a navigation terminal introduced with a stable OS.

[0017] The navigation terminal is equipped with a navigation program. The navigation program has functions of extracting vehicle position information (latitude and longitude) from GPS information, reading the latitude and longitude (guidance position coordinates) of the position for giving a guidance instruction from a navigation file, and judging the content of the guidance instruction at the guidance position coordinates and giving necessary guidance.

[0018] The navigation file stores guidance position coordinates along the order of giving guidance instructions. At least three position coordinates (the position coordinates of the departure point, the arrival point, and the guidance position coordinates) are stored. The navigation file is stored in a CSV (Comma Separated Value) file for easy management.

[0019] The navigation file can be created on the navigation terminal or on a terminal other than the navigation terminal (for example, a desktop terminal installed in another place).

[0020] In this case, it is necessary to store the navigation file in the navigation terminal. However, for example, a method of having the navigation terminal read the navigation file stored in an external media, or a method of having the navigation terminal read the navigation file via a network line, whether wired or wireless, may also be used.

[0021] Note that in the navigation system according to the first embodiment, the method for determining the content of the guidance instruction and the method for giving the guidance instruction are not the main parts of the present invention, so detailed description is omitted. However, taking the position coordinates of the point where the guidance instruction is given as the end, the route to reach that point as the axis, the position coordinates of the point where the guidance instruction is given as the end, the route beyond that point as the refraction axis, obtaining the angle formed by the two axes, and determining the content of the navigation guidance instruction from the angle, the content of the guidance instruction at the point where the guidance instruction is given, the content of the guidance instruction at the next point, and a method of giving the guidance instruction based on the separation distance between the point where the guidance instruction is given and the next point are mentioned.

[0022] The flowchart that briefly explains the process flow is shown in FIG. 2, and based on this, the specific process flow will be described. Note that there are multiple guidance position coordinates, and the guidance instructions are searched in order from the beginning. For example, after searching for the first guidance position coordinate, search for the second guidance position coordinate. After searching for the second guidance position coordinate, search for the third guidance position coordinate. At this time, for example, even if the tenth guidance position coordinate enters the first detection area (described later) during the search for the second guidance position coordinate, in this system, since the tenth guidance position coordinate has not been searched, no processing is performed, and the search for the second guidance position coordinate continues. The first detection area is composed of a circle (the area of the solid-line circle in FIG. 1) on the coordinate axis centered on the vehicle, where the actual distance corresponds to the threshold value of the first detection area (e.g., a diameter of 5 m, etc.). The second detection area is composed of a circle (the area of the dashed-line circle in FIG. 1) on the coordinate axis centered on the vehicle, where the actual distance corresponds to the threshold value of the second detection area (e.g., a diameter of 50 m, etc.). When the guidance instruction coordinates approach the second detection area, it is determined that the vehicle has reached the vicinity of the point at the guidance position coordinates. Until it enters the second detection area, it is determined that the vehicle has not reached the point at the guidance position coordinates. After that, when entering the first detection area, it is determined that the vehicle has reached the point at the guidance position coordinates, necessary instructions are given to the driver, and necessary processing on the navigation system is performed.

[0023] On the premise that the search for the guidance position coordinates up to the (n - 1)-th one has been completed, the flow when searching for the n-th (where the number of guidance position coordinates ≥ n ≥ 1) guidance position coordinates will be described.

[0024] When the guidance position coordinates to be detected at the n-th time enter the second detection area and the first detection area, it is determined that the vehicle has reached the guidance position coordinates to be detected at the n-th time, and necessary processing is executed. In this embodiment, it is notified to the driver that the vehicle has reached the point corresponding to the n-th guidance position coordinates, the search for the n-th guidance position coordinates is terminated, and the search for the (n + 1)-th guidance position coordinates is started.

[0025] When the guidance position coordinates to be detected at the n-th time enter the second detection area but do not enter the first detection area, and the guidance position coordinates to be detected at the (n + 1)-th time enter the first detection area, it is considered that the vehicle has already reached the guidance position coordinates to be detected at the n-th time, the search for the guidance position coordinates to be detected at the n-th time is terminated, and it is determined that the vehicle has reached the position coordinates to be detected at the (n + 1)-th time.

[0026] That is, when the n-th guidance position coordinate to be detected enters the second detection area, the search for the n-th guidance position coordinate is continued, and a determination is made as to whether the (n + 1)-th guidance position coordinate has entered the first area.

[0027] Then, during the search for the n-th guidance position coordinate, when it is determined that the (n + 1)-th guidance position coordinate to be detected has entered the first detection area, the search for the n-th guidance position coordinate to be detected is terminated, and it is determined that the (n + 1)-th position coordinate to be detected has been reached.

[0028] In this embodiment, the driver is informed that the point corresponding to the (n + 1)-th guidance position coordinate has been reached, the search for the (n + 1)-th guidance position coordinate is terminated, and the search for the (n + 2)-th guidance position coordinate is started.

[0029] Conversely, even when the n-th guidance position coordinate does not enter the second detection area and the (n + 1)-th guidance position coordinate enters the first detection area, as long as the search for the n-th guidance position coordinate is being performed, the processing of the (n + 1)-th guidance position coordinate is not performed.

[0030] (Embodiment 2) The above is the description of the navigation system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. However, when the continuously detected guidance position coordinates enter the second detection area but do not enter the first detection area, the flow when the next guidance position coordinate enters the first detection area will be described as the navigation system according to Embodiment 2.

[0031] The basic processing flow is the same as that of Embodiment 1. On the premise that the search for the guidance position coordinates up to the (n - 1)-th has been completed, the flow when searching for the n-th (where the number of guidance position coordinates ≧ n ≧ 1) guidance position coordinate will be described.

[0032] When the guiding position coordinates to be detected at the n-th position enter the second detection area but do not enter the first detection area, the search for the n-th guiding position coordinates is performed, and the determination as to whether the guiding position coordinates at the (n + 1)-th position have entered the first area is started.

[0033] After that, during the search for the guiding position coordinates to be detected at the n-th position, if the guiding position coordinates to be detected at the (n + 1)-th position enter the second detection area, the search for the guiding position coordinates at the n-th and (n + 1)-th positions is performed, and the determination as to whether the guiding position coordinates at the (n + 2)-th position have entered the first area is started.

[0034] After that, when the guiding position coordinates to be detected at the n-th and (n + 1)-th positions enter the second detection area but do not enter the first detection area, and when the guiding position coordinates to be detected at the (n + 2)-th position enter the first detection area, it is regarded that the guiding position coordinates to be detected at the n-th and (n + 1)-th positions have already been reached, the search for the guiding position coordinates to be detected at the n-th and (n + 1)-th positions is terminated, and it is determined that the position coordinates to be detected at the (n + 2)-th position have been reached. In this embodiment, it is notified to the driver that the point corresponding to the guiding position coordinates at the (n + 2)-th position has been reached, the search for the guiding position coordinates at the n-th and (n + 1)-th positions is ended, and the search for the guiding position coordinates at the (n + 3)-th position is started.

[0035] With this configuration, when a point where the vehicle cannot enter is set as the target point, even if it cannot be detected in the first detection area, when it can be detected in the second detection area, it can be regarded that a predetermined instruction has been given, without continuing to search for the position coordinates, the search for the next point becomes possible, and it can function as automatic detection in a navigation system for navigating a destination (waypoint) that is close or a complex area in the specified order.

[0036] (Specific Example) An example of actually using this function to detect a plurality of complex areas where the destination (waypoint) is close in the specified order will be described with reference to FIG. 3. Figure 3 shows that after detecting the point of

[0001] in the first region and performing processing there, it is on the way towards the point of

[0002] . At this time, the point of

[0004] has entered the second detection region, but since the points of

[0002] and

[0003] have not been detected, the processing at the point of

[0004] is not executed. After that, when the next detection target

[0002] is detected in the first region, the point of

[0003] is set as the next detection target and the search is performed. Near the arrival of the point of

[0003] , the point of

[0005] also enters the first region. However, at this stage, since the next detection target

[0004] has not been detected,

[0005] is not a detection target.

[0037] When

[0003] is detected, the point of

[0004] is set as the next detection target and the search is performed. According to Figure 3, since the point of

[0004] is provided outside the range of the first region, it cannot be automatically detected, but it has already been detected in the second region. Regarding the point of

[0004] , in the case of garbage collection or home delivery, it is assumed that the vehicle is parked at the nearest place and then moves to

[0004] on foot or the like. It can be regarded as a location. When the point of

[0005] is detected during the search for the point of

[0004] , it is regarded as having been formally detected for

[0004] which has already reached the second region (mock detection). Moreover, for the point of

[0005] , the detection process is performed, and the point of

[0006] is set as the next detection target.

[0038] On the way from the point of

[0005] to the point of

[0006] , the point of

[0007] enters the first region, but since the point of

[0006] has not been detected,

[0007] is not treated as a detected object. After that, when the next detection target

[0006] is detected in the first region, the point of

[0007] is set as the next detection target. After detecting

[0007] which is the next detection target in the first region, it represents the state where the point of

[0008] is set as the next detection target, but the description is omitted for

[0008] and after.

Claims

1. In a navigation system that provides guidance instructions necessary for a user driving a vehicle based on navigation information and specific instruction information stored in a navigation file, the navigation information is composed only of position coordinates at positions on the driving route along which the vehicle travels and where navigation is required, the specific instruction information is composed only of specific position coordinates which are position coordinates at positions necessary to issue a predetermined instruction to the vehicle, and the position coordinates are sorted in the order of detection, it is determined whether navigation is required based on whether the specific position coordinates exist within a first detection area composed of a circle with a predetermined radius centered on the vehicle and a second detection area composed of a circle with a radius wider than that of the first detection area and centered on the vehicle, when the specific position coordinates to be detected at the nth position (number of specific position coordinates ≥ n ≥ 1) enter the second detection area and the specific position coordinates to be detected at the nth position enter the first detection area, it is determined that the specific position coordinates to be detected at the nth position have been reached, and necessary processing is executed, a navigation system which, when the specific position coordinates to be detected at the nth position (number of specific position coordinates ≥ n ≥ 1) enter the second detection area but do not enter the first detection area, and the position coordinates to be detected at the (n + 1)th position (number of specific position coordinates ≥ n + 1 ≥ 1) enter the first detection area, regards that the specific position coordinates to be detected at the nth position have been reached, executes necessary processing, and determines that the position coordinates to be detected at the (n + 1)th position have been reached and executes necessary processing.

2. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein when all of the specific position coordinates to be detected from the nth position (number of specific position coordinates ≥ n ≥ 1) to the (n + m)th position (number of specific position coordinates ≥ n + m ≥ 1) enter the second detection area respectively, but all of the specific position coordinates to be detected from the nth position to the (n + m)th position do not enter the first detection area, and the specific position coordinates to be detected at the (n + m + 1)th position (number of specific position coordinates ≥ n + m + 1 ≥ 1) enter the first detection area, it is regarded that all of the specific position coordinates to be detected from the nth position to the (n + m)th position have been reached, necessary processing is executed, and it is determined that the specific position coordinates to be detected at the (n + m + 1)th position have been reached and necessary processing is executed.

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