Navigation device and navigation method

Abstract

To provide a navigation device and navigation method which allow for presenting appropriate routes to a user who wants to use media.SOLUTION: A navigation device according to an embodiment comprises an acquisition unit, generation unit, and display processing unit. The acquisition unit acquires radio wave information indicative of a radio wave environment for each medium using a radio wave. The generation unit generates a route to a destination with a good radio wave environment for each medium based on the radio wave information. The display processing unit displays the route generated for each medium by the generation unit on a display.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] In recent years, in addition to the route guidance function, technologies have been proposed for navigation devices that provide content using radio wave media such as television, radio, and the Internet within the vehicle cabin. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-23129 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, conventional navigation devices do not take into account the radio wave environment of the media when generating a route to a destination, which means that they cannot present an appropriate route to a user who wants to travel along a route while enjoying media content.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above, and has as its object to provide a navigation device and a navigation method that can present an appropriate route to a user who wants to use media. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, a navigation device according to the present invention includes an acquisition unit, a generation unit, and a display processing unit. The acquisition unit acquires radio wave information indicating the radio wave environment for each medium that uses radio waves as a medium. The generation unit generates a route to a destination with a good radio wave environment for each medium based on the radio wave information. The display processing unit displays the route for each medium generated by the generation unit on a display unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, an appropriate route can be presented to a user who wants to use media. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overview of a navigation method according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the navigation device according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of display processing by the display processing unit. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of display processing by the display processing unit. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the process executed by the navigation device according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of a navigation device and a navigation method disclosed in the present application will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below.

[0010] First, an overview of a navigation method according to an embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an overview of a navigation method according to an embodiment. The navigation method according to an embodiment is executed by a navigation device 1 shown in Fig. 1.

[0011] As shown in Fig. 1, in the navigation method according to the embodiment, the navigation device 1 first acquires radio wave information indicating the radio wave environment for each medium that uses radio waves as a medium (step S1). In Fig. 1, the radio wave information is map information that visualizes the radio wave environment for each medium on a map. In the example shown in Fig. 1, the radio wave information indicates the level of the radio wave environment in each area by color.

[0012] The radio wave information is not limited to the example shown in FIG. 1, and may be list information in which each area is associated with radio wave intensity.

[0013] The term "media" includes media that transmit and receive radio waves two-way, such as telecommunications, and media that transmit radio waves one-way, such as broadcasting. Examples of media include terrestrial digital television broadcasting, radio (FM, AM), and internet lines connected to various servers.

[0014] Next, the navigation device 1 according to the embodiment generates routes to the destination with good radio wave environments for each medium based on the acquired radio wave information (step S2). In the example shown in Fig. 2, routes with good radio wave environments, routes with good television wave environments, and routes with good internet wave environments are shown.

[0015] A "route with a good radio wave environment" is, for example, a route where the average radio wave strength along the route is above a predetermined threshold, a route where the average radio wave strength along the route is the highest, or a route where there is a section along the route where the average radio wave strength along the route is above a predetermined threshold for a predetermined distance or more.

[0016] The navigation device 1 may exclude routes with a good radio wave environment if the travel distance or required time to the destination is equal to or exceeds a predetermined threshold.

[0017] Next, the navigation device 1 displays the generated routes for each media on the display unit 100 (step S3). In the example shown in Fig. 1, the navigation device 1 simultaneously displays routes based on the radio wave environments of radio, television, and the Internet on the display unit 100.

[0018] In this way, the navigation method according to the embodiment can present an appropriate route to a user who wants to travel along a route while enjoying media content.

[0019] When routes for a plurality of media are displayed simultaneously, the navigation device 1 according to the embodiment can display the routes for each media in a different display mode, which will be described in detail later with reference to FIG.

[0020] Furthermore, when one route is selected from among multiple media routes, the navigation device 1 according to the embodiment can display the media with the best radio wave environment for each section of the route, and this point will also be described later with reference to FIG. 4.

[0021] Next, the configuration of the navigation device 1 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the navigation device 1 according to the embodiment. As shown in Fig. 2, the navigation device 1 according to the embodiment is connected to a display unit 100, an operation unit 200, and a server 300. Note that Fig. 2 shows a case where the display unit 100 and the operation unit 200 are configured separately from the navigation device 1, but they may also be configured integrally with the navigation device 1.

[0022] The display unit 100 is, for example, a liquid crystal display, and displays the route generated by the navigation device 1. The display unit 100 may be configured as a touch panel display.

[0023] The operation unit 200 is an operating member for inputting various information to the navigation device 1. The operation unit 200 may be configured as a physical button or the like, or may be configured as a display component of the display unit 100 configured as a touch panel display. The operation unit 200 receives, for example, an operation from the user to request route generation, a selection operation to select a generated route, and the like.

[0024] The server 300 is a server device that provides the above-mentioned radio wave information 31. For example, the server 300 generates the radio wave information by linking the location information when the vehicle actually travels with the radio wave environment. Alternatively, the server 300 may be configured as a device managed by a broadcasting or communications carrier and provide radio wave information created by the broadcasting or communications carrier.

[0025] 2, the navigation device 1 according to the embodiment includes a control unit 2 and a storage unit 3. The control unit 2 includes an acquisition unit 21, a reception unit 22, a generation unit 23, and a display processing unit 24. The storage unit 3 stores radio wave information 31.

[0026] Here, the navigation device 1 includes a computer having, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), data flash, input / output ports, and various other circuits.

[0027] The CPU of the computer functions as the acquisition unit 21, the reception unit 22, the generation unit 23, and the display processing unit 24 of the control unit 2, for example, by reading and executing a program stored in the ROM.

[0028] In addition, at least one or all of the acquisition unit 21, reception unit 22, generation unit 23 and display processing unit 24 of the control unit 2 can be configured using hardware such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array).

[0029] The storage unit 3 corresponds to, for example, a RAM or a data flash. The RAM or data flash can store radio wave information 31, information on various programs, etc. The navigation device 1 may also acquire the above-mentioned programs and various information via another computer or portable recording medium connected via a wired or wireless network.

[0030] Next, each function of the control unit 2 (acquisition unit 21, reception unit 22, generation unit 23, and display processing unit 24) will be described.

[0031] The acquisition unit 21 acquires various types of information. For example, the acquisition unit 21 acquires radio wave information from the server 300 and stores it as radio wave information 31 in the storage unit 3. The acquisition unit 21 also acquires location information based on a signal from a satellite positioning system (not shown).

[0032] The reception unit 22 receives various requests. For example, the reception unit 22 receives a route generation request for generating a route to a destination based on information input to the operation unit 200, and a selection operation for selecting one route from the routes displayed on the display unit 100. The reception unit 22 also receives a designation request for the route to be generated. The designation requests include a distance priority request for a route that prioritizes the distance to the destination, a toll priority request for a route that prioritizes toll roads, a general request for a route that prioritizes general roads, and a radio wave priority request for a route that prioritizes the radio wave environment.

[0033] When the receiving unit 22 receives a route generation request and a request to specify radio wave priority, the generating unit 23 generates a route to the destination with a good radio wave environment for each medium based on the radio wave information 31.

[0034] Specifically, the generation unit 23 first extracts route candidates to the destination. Next, the generation unit 23 divides the extracted route candidates into sections of a predetermined distance unit. Next, the generation unit 23 determines the medium with the best radio wave environment for each section.

[0035] This determination is made based on the magnitude relationship of the radio wave environment index calculated based on the values ​​of an S meter, multipath characteristics, and USN (Ubiquitous Sensor Networks), which are parameters related to the radio wave environment.

[0036] Then, the generation unit 23 counts the number of sections determined to have the best radio wave environment for each medium in the route candidates, and classifies media with many such sections (long distances) as media of that route candidate.

[0037] The generation unit 23 then performs the same process on each route candidate, classifying each route candidate into one of the media. Next, the generation unit 23 determines, for each media, one route candidate from among the multiple route candidates thus classified as the route for that media.

[0038] For example, the generation unit 23 determines the route candidate with the largest number of sections determined to have the best radio wave environment as the route of the media.

[0039] In addition, the method of determining the route of a medium from among the route candidates classified as media is not limited to the number of sections, but may be determined based on the number of consecutive sections (continuous distance) with the best radio wave environment, the average value of the radio wave environment index, etc.

[0040] The generation unit 23 generates (determines) a route for each medium, and outputs information about the generated route for each medium to the display processing unit 24.

[0041] The display processing unit 24 displays the route for each medium generated by the generating unit 23 on the display unit 100. Here, the display mode of the route on the display unit 100 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0042] Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of display processing by the display processing unit 24. As shown in Fig. 3, the display processing unit 24 simultaneously displays the routes for each medium in different display modes. In the example shown in Fig. 3, the routes for each medium are displayed using different line types.

[0043] Specifically, the "television" route is indicated by a solid line, the "radio" route is indicated by a dashed line, and the "internet" route is indicated by a dashed line.

[0044] In this way, the display processing unit 24 displays the route for each medium in a different display mode, so that the user can easily distinguish the route for each medium even when multiple routes for different media are displayed at the same time.

[0045] Although FIG. 3 shows an example of the line type as a display mode, other display modes may be used, such as line thickness, number of lines (double lines, etc.), line color, or a combination thereof.

[0046] Furthermore, information regarding the indicator of the radio wave environment may be expressed by a display mode. For example, the display processor 24 may make the line thicker as the indicator becomes higher (as the radio wave environment becomes better).

[0047] When a user selects one of the media types shown in Fig. 3, the display processing unit 24 may display details of the radio wave environment regarding the path of the selected media type. This point will be described with reference to Fig. 4.

[0048] Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the display processing of the display processing unit 24. In Fig. 4, it is assumed that the route of "radio" shown in Fig. 3 is selected. In other words, it is assumed that the receiving unit 22 receives a selection operation to select the media "radio" to be displayed on the display unit 100.

[0049] In such a case, as shown in Fig. 4, the display processing unit 24 displays only the "radio" route and does not display the "television" and "internet" routes shown in Fig. 3. In other words, the display processing unit 24 switches the media routes displayed on the display unit 100 in response to the selection operation received by the receiving unit 22. This makes it easy to understand which route the user is selecting.

[0050] When one route is selected by a selection operation, the display processing unit 24 displays the media with the best radio wave environment for each section of the selected route in a different display mode.

[0051] In the example shown in Figure 4, the display processing unit 24 displays information about the media with the best radio wave environment for each section, based on the information about the media with the best radio wave environment for each section used in the processing of the generation unit 23 described above, regarding the route display of "radio."

[0052] For example, in the route of "radio" shown in Fig. 4, the display processing unit 24 indicates the "television" section with a solid line, the "radio" section with a dashed line, and the "internet" section with a dashed line. Note that each section shown in Fig. 4 represents a plurality of sections used in the processing of the generation unit 23 described above as one section.

[0053] This allows the user to easily determine which section of the selected route has a good radio wave environment for which media.

[0054] Next, the processing procedure of the processing executed by the navigation device 1 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the processing executed by the navigation device 1 according to the embodiment.

[0055] 5, first, the receiving unit 22 receives a route generation request from a user (step S101), and then receives a radio wave priority request to generate a route that prioritizes radio waves (step S102).

[0056] Next, the acquisition unit 21 acquires the radio wave information 31 for each medium (step S103).

[0057] Next, the generation unit 23 generates a route to the destination with a good radio wave environment for each medium based on the radio wave information 31 (step S104).

[0058] Next, the display processing unit 24 displays the generated paths for each medium on the display unit 100 in different display modes (step S105), and the process ends.

[0059] As described above, the navigation device 1 according to the embodiment includes an acquisition unit 21, a generation unit 23, and a display processing unit 24. The acquisition unit 21 acquires radio wave information 31 indicating the radio wave environment for each medium that uses radio waves as a medium. The generation unit 23 generates a route to a destination with a good radio wave environment for each medium based on the radio wave information 31. The display processing unit 24 displays the route for each medium generated by the generation unit 23 on the display unit 100. This makes it possible to present an appropriate route to a user who wishes to use the media.

[0060] Further advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shown and described above. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. [Explanation of symbols]

[0061] 1. Navigation devices 2. Control section 3 Storage section 21 Acquisition Department 22 Reception 23 Generation part 24 Display processing section 31 Radio wave information 100 Display 200 Operation section 300 servers

Claims

1. an acquisition unit that acquires radio wave information indicating radio wave environments for a plurality of different types of media that use radio waves as a medium; a generation unit that generates a route to a destination with a good radio wave environment for each of the media based on the radio wave information; a display processing unit that displays the route for each medium generated by the generation unit on a display unit; Equipped with The display processing unit The route for each of the media is simultaneously displayed in a different display mode. A navigation device comprising:

2. An acquisition unit that acquires radio wave information indicating radio wave environments for a plurality of different types of media that use radio waves as a medium; a generation unit that generates a route to a destination with a good radio wave environment for each of the media based on the radio wave information; a display processing unit that displays the paths for each medium generated by the generation unit on a display unit; a reception unit that receives a selection operation for selecting the media to be displayed on the display unit; Equipped with The display processing unit Switching the path of the media displayed on the display unit in response to the selection operation received by the reception unit. A navigation device comprising:

3. The display processing unit When one of the routes is selected by the selection operation, the media with the best radio wave environment is displayed in different display modes for each section of the selected route.

3. The navigation device according to claim 2, wherein:

4. A navigation method executed by a navigation device, comprising: an acquisition step of acquiring radio wave information indicating radio wave environments for a plurality of different types of media using radio waves as a medium; a generating step of generating a route to a destination with a good radio wave environment for each of the media based on the radio wave information; a display processing step of displaying the path for each medium generated by the generation step on a display unit; Including, The display processing step includes: The route for each of the media is simultaneously displayed in a different display mode. A navigation method characterized by:

5. A navigation method executed by a navigation device, comprising: an acquisition step of acquiring radio wave information indicating radio wave environments for a plurality of different types of media using radio waves as a medium; a generating step of generating a route to a destination with a good radio wave environment for each of the media based on the radio wave information; a display processing step of displaying the paths for each of the media generated in the generating step on a display unit; a receiving step of receiving a selection operation for selecting the media to be displayed on the display unit; Including, The display processing step includes: Switching the path of the media displayed on the display unit in response to the selection operation received in the receiving step. A navigation method characterized by:

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