Navigation system and navigation method

Abstract

To search for a route that is easy to travel.SOLUTION: A navigation system 1 comprises: a map information storage unit 12 in which map information including road information is stored; a sight line movement information storage unit 171 which stores sight line movement information indicating the movement of a driver's sight line during traveling for each prescribed road section; a route search unit 26 that searches for a route to the destination on the basis of the map information stored in the map information storage unit 12; and a route guidance unit 27 that shows the route to the destination having been searched by the route search unit 26. When searching for a route, the route search unit 26 sets the cost that indicates the difficulty of traveling a prescribed road section having the sight line movement information to be higher than for a prescribed road section without the sight line movement information on the basis of the sight line movement information stored in the sight line movement information storage unit 171.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a navigation system and a navigation method. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART There is known a technique for analyzing driving skills based on biological information such as the driver's line of sight (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-144239 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] So-called navigation systems search for and guide routes based on map information. However, when actually driving along a route searched for from map information, there are cases where visibility is poor due to surrounding buildings, or it is difficult to see the surrounding roads due to heavy pedestrian traffic.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above, and aims to search for a route that is easy to travel. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, the navigation system of the present disclosure comprises a map information storage unit that stores map information including road information, a gaze movement information storage unit that stores gaze movement information that indicates the movement of the driver's gaze while traveling for each specified section of the road, a route search unit that searches for a route to a destination based on the map information stored in the map information storage unit, and a route guidance unit that provides guidance on the route to the destination searched by the route search unit, and the route search unit searches for a route based on the gaze movement information stored in the gaze movement information storage unit by setting a cost that indicates the difficulty of traveling for the specified section of the road that has the gaze movement information higher than that for the specified section of the road that does not have the gaze movement information.

[0007] The navigation method according to the present disclosure includes a route search step of searching for a route to a destination based on map information including road information, and a route guidance step of guiding the route to the destination searched by the route search step, wherein the route search step is performed by a navigation system that searches for a route for each predetermined section of a road based on gaze movement information that indicates the movement of the driver's gaze while traveling, by setting a cost indicating the difficulty of traveling for the predetermined section of the road having the gaze movement information higher than that for the predetermined section of the road that does not have the gaze movement information. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to obtain an effect of being able to search for a route that is easy to travel. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of a navigation system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the calculation of costs in a route search. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing in the navigation control device according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of a navigation system and a navigation method according to the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments.

[0011] [Embodiment] <Navigation system> FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of a navigation system according to an embodiment. When searching for a route to a destination, the navigation system 1 sets a cost indicating the difficulty of travel in a predetermined section of a road that has gaze movement information indicating the driver's gaze movement higher than a predetermined section of a road that does not have gaze movement information. The navigation system 1 may be mounted on a vehicle or may be portable and carried in the vehicle. The navigation system 1 may be configured as a portable terminal, a device installed in the vehicle, or a combination of several devices. The navigation system 1 includes a GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) receiver 11, a map information storage unit 12, a gaze sensor 14, an operation unit 15, an additional information storage unit 17, a display unit 19, and a navigation control device 20.

[0012] The GNSS receiving unit 11 is configured with a GNSS receiver that receives GNSS signals from GNSS satellites, etc. The GNSS receiving unit 11 outputs the received GNSS signals to the position information acquiring unit 21.

[0013] The map information storage unit 12 stores map information. The map information includes, for example, road information indicating a road map including intersections. The map information storage unit 12 outputs the stored map information to a map information acquisition unit 22 of the navigation control device 20. The map information storage unit 12 may be a storage device such as an external server that acquires map information via a communication function.

[0014] Roads are represented by nodes and links, with nodes being junctions and intersections, and sections connecting adjacent nodes being links. The smallest unit of a road is a link. A road is made up of multiple links. Adjacent links are connected via nodes. In this embodiment, one link corresponds to a given section.

[0015] A predetermined section of a road is a section between adjacent nodes, in other words, a link. A predetermined section of a road is, for example, a section between adjacent intersections.

[0016] The gaze sensor 14 is a camera that captures images so as to detect the gaze of the vehicle driver. The gaze sensor 14 may be disposed on the dashboard, for example. The gaze sensor 14 is a camera that captures images of the eyes of the vehicle driver, for example. The gaze sensor 14 may be a group of multiple cameras. The gaze sensor 14 is configured, for example, by a visible light camera or a near-infrared camera. The gaze sensor 14 may be configured, for example, by a combination of a visible light camera and a near-infrared camera. In this embodiment, the gaze sensor 14 constantly captures images while the vehicle accessory power is ON. The gaze sensor 14 outputs the captured images to the gaze detection unit 24 of the navigation control device 20.

[0017] The gaze sensor 14 can detect movement of the driver's gaze between the area where the route guidance image is displayed and the area where the scenery around the vehicle is visible. The gaze sensor 14 can detect movement of the driver's gaze between the display unit 19 where the route guidance image is displayed and the windshield where the scenery around the vehicle is visible.

[0018] The operation unit 15 can accept various operations for the navigation system 1. The operation unit 15 is configured, for example, by a physical operation means for the navigation system 1 or a touch panel arranged on the display unit 19. For example, the operation unit 15 can accept an operation to input a destination. For example, the operation unit 15 can accept an operation to select a candidate route from among the searched routes. For example, the operation unit 15 can accept an operation to start route guidance. The operation unit 15 outputs operation information to the operation acceptance unit 25 of the navigation control device 20.

[0019] The additional information storage unit 17 is a storage device that stores, as additional information, information indicating the difficulty of traveling on a road in association with a predetermined section of the road. The additional information storage unit 17 includes a line-of-sight movement information storage unit 171 and a driving change information storage unit 172. The additional information storage unit 17, the line-of-sight movement information storage unit 171, and the driving change information storage unit 172 may be external storage devices connected via a communication unit (not shown).

[0020] The line-of-sight movement information storage unit 171 stores line-of-sight movement information indicating the movement of the driver's line of sight while driving for each predetermined section of a road. The line-of-sight movement information storage unit 171 stores the line-of-sight movement information in association with the predetermined section of a road in the map information stored in the map information storage unit 12.

[0021] The gaze movement information is information indicating the number of times the driver's gaze has moved back and forth between the area where the route guidance image is displayed and the area where the scenery around the vehicle is visible. The gaze movement information is information indicating the number of times the driver's gaze has moved between the display unit 19 and the windshield. In this embodiment, the gaze movement information is information indicating that the driver has moved their gaze more than usual.

[0022] While driving a vehicle, the driver's line of sight constantly moves forward and left and right to ensure safety. If the driver is unable to find a right or left turn, the driver's line of sight moves more than usual between the area where the route guidance image is displayed and the area where the scenery around the vehicle is visible. Therefore, for example, if the number of times the driver's line of sight moves is equal to or greater than a reference value, it is determined that the driver has moved their line of sight more than usual, and line of sight movement information associated with a predetermined section of road is stored in the line of sight movement information storage unit 171.

[0023] The reference value for the number of shifts is, for example, the average value of the number of shifts of the gaze while the vehicle is traveling. The average value of the number of shifts of the gaze may be, for example, the average value of the number of shifts of the gaze calculated for each predetermined section for all predetermined sections. The average value of the number of shifts of the gaze may be, for example, the average value of the number of shifts of the gaze for multiple predetermined sections including the most recent one, or for the most recent predetermined period. The reference value for the number of shifts may be the average value for each driver, or the average value for multiple drivers.

[0024] The driving change information storage unit 172 stores driving change information that indicates changes in the driving state of the vehicle for each predetermined section of the road. The driving change information storage unit 172 stores the driving change information in association with the predetermined section of the road in the map information stored in the map information storage unit 12.

[0025] The driving change information is at least one of information indicating a change in vehicle speed (hereinafter referred to as "vehicle speed change information") or information indicating a change in the duration of a direction indication by a turn signal (hereinafter referred to as "direction indication change information").

[0026] The vehicle speed change information is information indicating that the vehicle has decelerated in an unusual manner, and is stored in association with a predetermined section of the road.

[0027] The direction indication change information is information indicating that a direction different from normal has been indicated, and is stored in association with a predetermined section of a road.

[0028] The vehicle decelerates before a right or left turn point, but if the driver cannot find the right or left turn point, the vehicle may decelerate more than usual, the distance traveled before decelerating and turning right or left may be longer than usual, or the distance traveled before turning right or left after turning on the turn signal may be longer than usual. Therefore, for example, if the deceleration ratio is equal to or greater than a predetermined percentage of a reference value for the deceleration ratio, it is determined that the vehicle has decelerated unusually, and vehicle speed change information associated with the predetermined section of the road is stored in the driving change information storage unit 172. For example, if the length of the distance traveled after decelerating is equal to or greater than a predetermined percentage of the reference value for the distance traveled after decelerating, it is determined that the vehicle has decelerated unusually, and vehicle speed change information associated with the predetermined section of the road is stored in the driving change information storage unit 172. For example, if the distance traveled before turning right or left after turning on the turn indicator is equal to or greater than a predetermined percentage of the reference value of the distance traveled with the turn indicator turned on, it is determined that an unusual direction indication has been made, and direction indication change information associated with a predetermined section of the road is stored in the driving change information storage unit 172.

[0029] The display unit 19 is, for example, a display device specific to the navigation system 1, or a display device shared with other systems including car audio. The display unit 19 is, for example, a display including a liquid crystal display (LCD) or an organic electro-luminescence (EL) display. In this embodiment, the display unit 19 is a touch panel display. In other words, the display unit 19 functions as the operation unit 15 and is capable of inputting various operations. When the navigation system 1 is installed in a vehicle, the display unit 19 is disposed in front of the driver of the vehicle, on a dashboard, an instrument panel, a center console, or the like. The display unit 19 displays a route guidance image based on a video signal output from a display control unit 29 of the navigation control device 20.

[0030] <Navigation control device> The navigation control device 20 may be implemented as one of the functions of a navigation system for a vehicle. In this embodiment, the navigation control device 20 is implemented as a function of a navigation system installed in a vehicle. The navigation control device 20 is, for example, an arithmetic processing device configured with a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or the like. The navigation control device 20 executes instructions included in a program stored in a storage unit (not shown). When searching for a route to a destination, the navigation control device 20 sets a cost indicating the difficulty of traveling in a predetermined section of a road having gaze movement information indicating the movement of the driver's gaze higher than a predetermined section of a road not having gaze movement information, and searches for a route. The navigation control device 20 includes a position information acquisition unit 21, a map information acquisition unit 22, a vehicle information acquisition unit 23, a gaze detection unit 24, an operation reception unit 25, a route search unit 26, a route guidance unit 27, and a display control unit 29.

[0031] The position information acquisition unit 21 acquires position information indicating the current position of the vehicle. In this embodiment, the position information acquisition unit 21 acquires the vehicle position information based on the GNSS signal acquired by the GNSS receiver 11. The position information acquisition unit 21 outputs the acquired position information to the route guidance unit 27.

[0032] The map information acquisition unit 22 acquires map information from the map information storage unit 12. More specifically, the map information acquisition unit 22 acquires map information relating to the route from the current position of the vehicle to the destination from the map information storage unit 12, based on the current position of the vehicle and the location information of the destination acquired by the location information acquisition unit 21.

[0033] The vehicle information acquisition unit 23 acquires vehicle information from the vehicle via a CAN (Controller Area Network), etc. The vehicle information acquisition unit 23 acquires vehicle information for each predetermined section of the road.

[0034] The vehicle information is, for example, at least one of information indicating the vehicle speed and information on the operation of a turn signal.

[0035] The vehicle information acquisition unit 23 transmits vehicle information to a server device (not shown) via a communication unit (not shown). More specifically, for example, when an unusual driving change occurs, the vehicle information acquisition unit 23 transmits driving change information associated with a predetermined section of road to a server device (not shown) via the communication unit (not shown). For example, when the deceleration ratio in a predetermined section of road is equal to or greater than a predetermined percentage of a reference value for the deceleration ratio, the vehicle information acquisition unit 23 transmits vehicle speed change information associated with the predetermined section of road as driving change information. For example, when the length of the distance traveled while decelerating in a predetermined section of road is equal to or greater than a predetermined percentage of a reference value for the distance traveled while decelerating, the vehicle information acquisition unit 23 transmits vehicle speed change information associated with the predetermined section of road as driving change information. For example, when the distance traveled until turning right or left with the turn signal turned on in a predetermined section of road is equal to or greater than a predetermined percentage of a reference value for the distance traveled with the turn signal turned on, the vehicle information acquisition unit 23 transmits turn indication change information associated with the predetermined section of road as driving change information. In the server device, the driving change information storage unit 172 stores driving change information associated with a predetermined section of a road based on the driving change information collected from each vehicle.

[0036] The gaze detection unit 24 detects the movement of the gaze of the vehicle driver based on the sensor data from the gaze sensor 14. The gaze detection unit 24 detects the movement of the gaze of the vehicle driver for each predetermined section of the road based on the sensor data from the gaze sensor 14. More specifically, the gaze detection unit 24 detects the number of times the driver's gaze moves back and forth between the area where the route guidance image is displayed and the area where the scenery around the vehicle is visible for each predetermined section of the road. The gaze detection unit 24 detects the number of times the driver's gaze moves between the display unit 19 and the windshield. For example, if the number of gaze movements is equal to or greater than a reference value, the gaze detection unit 24 transmits gaze movement information associated with the predetermined section of the road to a server device (not shown) via a communication unit (not shown). The server device stores the gaze movement information associated with the predetermined section of the road in the gaze movement information storage unit 171 based on the gaze movement information collected from each vehicle.

[0037] Although the driving change information and the line of sight movement information are collected from each vehicle by a server device (not shown), they may be stored for each vehicle.

[0038] The operation reception unit 25 acquires operation information of an operation accepted by the operation unit 15. For example, the operation reception unit 25 acquires destination input operation information indicating an operation to input a destination, and outputs a control signal. For example, the operation reception unit 25 acquires selection operation information indicating an operation to select a candidate route from among the searched routes, and outputs a control signal. For example, the operation reception unit 25 acquires guidance start operation information indicating an operation to start route guidance, and outputs a control signal.

[0039] The route search unit 26 searches for a route from the current position of the vehicle to the destination based on the map information acquired by the map information acquisition unit 22.

[0040] The route search unit 26 searches for a route, for example, based on the gaze movement information stored in the gaze movement information storage unit 171, by setting a cost indicating the difficulty of traveling on a specified section of a road having gaze movement information higher than that of a specified section of a road not having gaze movement information.

[0041] For example, the route search unit 26 may search for a route by setting a cost indicating the difficulty of traveling higher depending on the number of round trips of the line of sight than for a predetermined section of a road that does not have line of sight movement information.

[0042] For example, the route search unit 26 may further search for a route by setting a cost indicating the difficulty of traveling on a specified section of a road having driving change information higher than that of a specified section of a road not having driving change information, based on the driving change information stored in the driving change information storage unit 172.

[0043] The route search unit 26 includes a search unit 261 that searches for a route, and a cost calculation unit 262 that calculates the cost.

[0044] The search unit 261 searches for a route from the current position of the vehicle to the destination based on the vehicle's position information and the destination's position information. More specifically, the search unit 261 identifies, for each node from the current position to the destination, links connected to the node as selectable candidate roads. The search unit 261 then compares costs, such as distance and required time, that indicate the difficulty of traveling on the identified candidate roads, and selects the candidate road with the lowest cost. The search unit 261 repeats these processes for each node to search for a route to the destination. The method for searching for a route is not limited and may be any known route search method.

[0045] The search unit 261 further selects a candidate road with a low cost based on the cost calculated by the cost calculation unit 262.

[0046] The cost calculation unit 262 sets the cost based on the line-of-sight movement information stored in the line-of-sight movement information storage unit 171. Based on the line-of-sight movement information stored in the line-of-sight movement information storage unit 171, the cost calculation unit 262 sets the cost indicating the difficulty of traveling in a predetermined section of a road having line-of-sight movement information to be higher than the cost of a predetermined section of a road not having line-of-sight movement information.

[0047] The cost calculation unit 262 sets the cost indicating the difficulty of traveling higher than a predetermined section of a road that does not have line-of-sight movement information, depending on the number of round trips of the line of sight.

[0048] The cost calculation unit 262 sets a cost for each candidate road based on the line-of-sight movement information stored in the line-of-sight movement information storage unit 171.

[0049] The cost calculation unit 262 may further set the cost based on the driving change information stored in the driving change information storage unit 172. The cost calculation unit 262 further sets, based on the driving change information stored in the driving change information storage unit 172, a cost indicating the difficulty of driving in a predetermined section of a road having driving change information higher than a predetermined section of a road not having driving change information.

[0050] The cost calculation unit 262 sets the cost for each candidate road based on the driving change information stored in the driving change information storage unit 172.

[0051] An example of a route search will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining the calculation of costs in a route search. Three links are connected to node P1. There are three candidate roads at node P1: candidate road R1, candidate road R2, and candidate road R3. The gaze movement information storage unit 171 stores gaze movement information indicating that the gaze movement of the vehicle driver is greater than a reference value in a predetermined section of candidate road R1 and a predetermined section of candidate road R3. The driving change information storage unit 172 stores driving change information indicating that an unusual deceleration occurred in a predetermined section of candidate road R3. The cost calculation unit 262 calculates the cost of candidate road R1 to be higher than the cost of candidate road R2. The cost calculation unit 262 calculates the cost of candidate road R3 to be higher than the cost of candidate road R1. The search unit 261 selects candidate road R2, which has the lowest cost, at node P1.

[0052] The route guidance unit 27 provides route guidance from the current position of the vehicle to the destination. More specifically, the route guidance unit 27 provides route guidance along the route searched by the route search unit 26. The method of providing route guidance is not limited and any known route guidance method can be used.

[0053] The display control unit 29 displays the route candidates searched by the route search unit 26 on the display unit 19. The display control unit 29 displays the route candidates, for example, as a list or by superimposing them on a map image. The user can select a route from the route candidates displayed on the display unit 19.

[0054] The display control unit 29 displays the route guided by the route guidance unit 27. The display control unit 29 causes the display unit 19 to display an image of route guidance along the route guided by the route guidance unit 27.

[0055] <Processing in the navigation control device> Next, information processing in the navigation system 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing in the navigation control device according to the embodiment. The processing of the flowchart shown in Fig. 3 is executed for each node from the current position to the destination in the route search processing by the route search unit 26. In other words, the processing of the flowchart shown in Fig. 3 shows processing at one node in the route search processing. In this flowchart, for simplicity of explanation, explanation of costs such as distance and required time is omitted.

[0056] The navigation control device 20 identifies candidate roads for the route (step S101). More specifically, the navigation control device 20 uses the search unit 261 to identify links connected to the node as candidate roads for the route. The navigation control device 20 proceeds to step S102. The processing from step S102 onwards is executed for each identified candidate road.

[0057] The navigation control device 20 determines whether or not the candidate road has line-of-sight movement information (step S102). More specifically, the navigation control device 20 determines whether or not line-of-sight movement information for a predetermined section of a road included in one of the candidate roads identified by the search unit 261 is stored in the line-of-sight movement information storage unit 171. If the navigation control device 20 determines that the candidate road has line-of-sight movement information (Yes in step S102), the process proceeds to step S103. If the navigation control device 20 does not determine that the candidate road has line-of-sight movement information (No in step S102), the process proceeds to step S104.

[0058] If it is determined that the candidate road has line-of-sight movement information (Yes in step S102), the navigation control device 20 adds the cost of the candidate road (step S103). More specifically, the navigation control device 20 sets, using the cost calculation unit 262, a cost indicating the difficulty of traveling in a predetermined section of a road having line-of-sight movement information, higher than that of a predetermined section of a road not having line-of-sight movement information, based on the line-of-sight movement information stored in the line-of-sight movement information storage unit 171. The navigation control device 20 proceeds to step S104.

[0059] The navigation control device 20 determines whether or not there is driving change information for the candidate road (step S104). More specifically, the navigation control device 20 determines whether or not driving change information for a predetermined section of a road included in the candidate road is stored in the driving change information storage unit 172 for one of the candidate roads identified by the search unit 261. If the navigation control device 20 determines that there is driving change information for the candidate road (Yes in step S104), the process proceeds to step S105. If the navigation control device 20 does not determine that there is driving change information for the candidate road (No in step S104), the process proceeds to step S106.

[0060] If it is determined that the candidate road has driving change information (Yes in step S104), the navigation control device 20 adds the cost of the candidate road (step S105). More specifically, the cost calculation unit 262 of the navigation control device 20 sets a cost indicating the difficulty of driving a predetermined section of a road having driving change information higher than a predetermined section of a road not having driving change information, based on the driving change information stored in the driving change information storage unit 172. The navigation control device 20 proceeds to step S106.

[0061] The navigation control device 20 determines the cost of the candidate road (step S106). More specifically, the navigation control device 20 determines the cost of the candidate road by adding the cost added in step S103 and the cost added in step S105 using the cost calculation unit 262. The navigation control device 20 proceeds to step S107.

[0062] The navigation control device 20 determines whether or not there is a next candidate road (step S107). More specifically, the navigation control device 20 determines whether or not there is any candidate road among the candidate roads identified in step S101 for which the processing from step S102 onwards has not been executed. If the navigation control device 20 determines that there is a next candidate road (Yes in step S107), it returns to step S102 and executes the processing again. If the navigation control device 20 does not determine that there is a next candidate road (No in step S107), it proceeds to step S108.

[0063] If it is determined that there is no next candidate road (No in step S107), the navigation control device 20 selects the candidate road with the lowest cost (step S108). More specifically, the navigation control device 20 selects the candidate road with the lowest cost based on the costs of the candidate roads identified in step S101. The navigation control device 20 then ends the processing of this flowchart, in other words, the candidate road selection processing for the node.

[0064] By performing this process for each node until the destination, a route is searched for.

[0065] Then, the user performs an operation to select a route from the route candidates displayed on the display unit 19 and an operation to start route guidance via the operation unit 15.

[0066] <Effects> As described above, in this embodiment, a route can be searched for by setting a cost indicating the difficulty of traveling for a predetermined section of a road having gaze movement information indicating the movement of the driver's gaze while traveling higher than for a predetermined section of a road not having gaze movement information. According to this embodiment, a route that is easy to travel can be searched for. According to this embodiment, it is possible to make it less likely that a route including an intersection where it is difficult to determine the right or left turn points due to poor visibility caused by surrounding buildings or difficulty in checking surrounding roads due to heavy pedestrian traffic is selected. According to this embodiment, it is possible to make it less likely that a route that is likely to result in taking the wrong turn is selected.

[0067] In this embodiment, a route can be searched for by setting a cost indicating the difficulty of traveling in a predetermined section of a road that has traveling change information indicating a change in the vehicle's traveling state higher than a predetermined section of a road that does not have traveling change information. According to this embodiment, it is possible to make it difficult for the driver to select a route that is expected to be difficult for the driver to find a right or left turn point. According to this embodiment, it is possible to make it difficult for the driver to select a route that is likely to result in taking a wrong turn.

[0068] In this embodiment, a route can be searched for by setting a cost indicating the difficulty of traveling higher than for a predetermined section of road that does not have gaze movement information, depending on the number of times the driver's gaze moves back and forth between the area where the route guidance image is displayed and the area where the scenery around the vehicle is visible. This embodiment makes it possible to distinguish between gaze movements made by the driver when checking right or left turn points and gaze movements made when simply looking at the surrounding scenery. This embodiment makes it possible to more appropriately calculate costs and search for routes.

[0069] In this embodiment, a route can be searched for by calculating costs based on at least one of information indicating a change in vehicle speed and information indicating a change in the duration of a direction indication by a direction indicator.

[0070] The components of the navigation system shown in the figure are conceptual functional components and do not necessarily have to be physically configured as shown. In other words, the specific form of each device is not limited to that shown, and all or part of them may be functionally or physically distributed or integrated in any unit depending on the processing load and usage status of each device.

[0071] The configuration of the navigation system is realized, for example, as software, by a program loaded into memory. In the above embodiment, the functional blocks are described as being realized by the cooperation of these hardware and software. In other words, these functional blocks can be realized in various forms, using only hardware, only software, or a combination of both.

[0072] The components described above include those that can be easily imagined by a person skilled in the art and those that are substantially the same. Furthermore, the configurations described above can be combined as appropriate. Furthermore, various omissions, substitutions, or modifications of the configurations are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

[0073] The method of storing the line-of-sight movement information in the line-of-sight movement information storage unit 171 and the method of storing the driving change information in the driving change information storage unit 172 are merely examples, and are not limited thereto. [Explanation of symbols]

[0074] 1. Navigation system 11 GNSS receiver 12 Map information storage unit 14 Eye gaze sensor 15 Control section 17 Additional information storage unit 171 Gaze movement information storage unit 172 Driving change information storage unit 19 Display section 20 Navigation control device 21 Location information acquisition unit 22 Map information acquisition unit 23 Vehicle information acquisition unit 24 Gaze detection unit 25 Operation reception section 26 Route search section 261 Search Department 262 Cost Calculation Department 27 Route Guidance Section 29 Display control unit

Claims

1. a map information storage unit that stores map information including road information; a gaze movement information storage unit that stores gaze movement information indicating the movement of the driver's gaze while traveling for each predetermined section of a road; a route search unit that searches for a route to a destination based on the map information stored in the map information storage unit; a route guidance unit that provides guidance on a route to the destination searched by the route search unit; Equipped with the route search unit searches for a route by setting a cost indicating the difficulty of traveling in the predetermined section of the road having the line-of-sight movement information higher than that of the predetermined section of the road not having the line-of-sight movement information, based on the line-of-sight movement information stored in the line-of-sight movement information storage unit. Navigation system.

2. a driving change information storage unit that stores driving change information indicating changes in the driving state of the vehicle for each predetermined section of the road; Equipped with The route search unit further searches for a route by setting a cost indicating the difficulty of traveling in the predetermined section of the road having the traveling change information higher than that of the predetermined section of the road not having the traveling change information, based on the traveling change information stored in the traveling change information storage unit. The navigation system of claim 1 .

3. The line of sight movement information is information indicating the number of times the driver's line of sight moves back and forth between an area where a route guidance image is displayed and an area where a scenery around the vehicle is visible, the route search unit searches for a route by setting a cost indicating difficulty of travel higher than that of the predetermined section of the road not having the line-of-sight movement information, according to the number of times the line of sight is returned and returned.

3. The navigation system according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The route search unit has a cost calculation unit that calculates the cost, and selects a candidate road with the lowest cost based on the calculated cost.

3. The navigation system according to claim 1 or 2.

5. a route search step of searching for a route to a destination based on map information including road information; a route guidance step of providing guidance on a route to the destination searched for by the route search step; Including, the route searching step searches for a route by setting a cost indicating the difficulty of traveling for a predetermined section of a road having line-of-sight movement information higher than that for a predetermined section of a road not having line-of-sight movement information, based on line-of-sight movement information indicating a movement of the line of sight of a driver while the road is traveling; A navigation method implemented by a navigation system.

Images