Route guidance device, control method, program, and storage medium

Abstract

To provide a route guidance device capable of appropriately introducing favorable facilities to stop by.SOLUTION: Once a destination is set, a system controller 20 of a navigation device 1 provided herein searches for stop-by candidate facilities having given relevance to the destination by referring to a determination table 32 or determination table 32A. The navigation device 1 then notifies a user of a search result for the stop-by candidate facilities using a display unit 40 or a voice output unit 50.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a technology for guiding facilities to stop by. [Background Art]

[0002] Conventionally, there has been known a technology for providing guidance regarding facilities to stop by separately from a destination. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a navigation device in which a user specifies a desired genre for interchangeable facilities such as convenience stores and gas stations, uses the specified genre as a keyword to search for corresponding points within a predetermined distance range from a guidance route, and sets one of the searched points as a waypoint (stop-by point). [Prior Art Documents] [Patent Documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-132923 [Summary of the Invention] [Problem to be Solved by the Invention]

[0004] In Patent Document 1, the user needs to set the genre and keyword of the facility that the user wants to pass through in advance. Furthermore, when waypoints are automatically searched in a case where the user has not set the genre or keyword of the facility that the user wants to pass through, the search is performed targeting all facilities, which causes a problem that the processing time increases.

[0005] The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and a main object of the present invention is to provide a route guidance device capable of suitably guiding facilities that are preferable to stop by. [Means for Solving the Problem]

[0006] The invention according to claim 1 is: A route guidance device provided in or installed on a moving body, comprising: A storage unit that stores attribute information regarding the presence or absence of facilities at the destination, A search unit that searches for potential stopover points to visit when heading to a set destination, A notification unit that notifies the user about the aforementioned potential stopover locations, Equipped with, The search unit searches for facilities that have the equipment lacking at the destination facility, based on the attribute information, as potential stopover locations. The notification unit will not provide notification regarding the candidate stopover location if the candidate stopover location is within a predetermined distance from the destination. This is a route guidance device characterized by the following features.

[0007] The invention described in claim 8 is, A control method performed by a route guidance device provided on or installed in a moving object, A search process to find potential stopover points to visit when heading to a set destination, A notification process for informing the user about the aforementioned potential stopover locations, It has, The search process searches for facilities that have the equipment lacking at the destination facility, based on attribute information regarding the presence or absence of equipment at the facility set as the destination, as candidate stopover locations. The notification step is a control method characterized in that no notification is given regarding the candidate stopover location if the candidate stopover location is within a predetermined distance from the destination.

[0008] The invention described in claim 9 is, A program executed by a computer of a route guidance device installed on or attached to a mobile vehicle, A search unit that searches for potential stopover points to visit when heading to a set destination, Notification unit that notifies the user about the aforementioned potential stopover locations. The computer is made to function as follows: The search unit searches for facilities that have the equipment lacking at the destination facility, based on attribute information regarding the presence or absence of equipment at the facility set as the destination, as candidate stopover locations. The notification unit is a program characterized by not providing notification regarding the candidate stopover location if the candidate stopover location is within a predetermined distance from the destination. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a schematic configuration of the navigation system. [Figure 2] This is a specific example of the data structure of the determination table in the first embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a flowchart for searching for and guiding visitors to potential stopover locations. [Figure 4] This is an example of a display according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] This is a specific example of the data structure of the determination table in the second embodiment. [Figure 6] This is an example of a display according to the second embodiment. [Figure 7] This is a schematic configuration of the route search system in a modified form. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a route guidance device provided on or installed on a mobile body includes a search unit that searches for candidate locations to stop at when heading towards a set destination, and a notification unit that notifies the user of the results of the search unit's search, wherein the search unit determines the locations to search based on their relevance to the destination.

[0011] The route guidance device described above includes a search unit and a notification unit. The search unit searches for candidate stop-off points when traveling to a set destination. The notification unit notifies a user of the search result obtained by the search unit. The search unit determines the points to be searched based on the relevance to the destination. According to this aspect, when a destination is set, the route guidance device searches for candidate stop-off points based on the relevance to the destination and notifies the user of the search result. Accordingly, the route guidance device can appropriately select candidate stop-off points and notify the user thereof.

[0012] In one aspect of the route guidance device described above, the route guidance device includes a storage unit that stores correspondence information in which a facility set as a destination is associated with a point that is recommended to be stopped at before arriving at the facility, and the search unit searches for a point associated with the set destination in the correspondence information. Accordingly, the route guidance device can appropriately search for a point related to the destination and notify the user of the search result.

[0013] In another aspect of the route guidance device described above, the route guidance device includes a storage unit that stores attribute information of a facility set as a destination, and the search unit determines the point to be searched based on the attribute information corresponding to the set destination. This aspect also allows the route guidance device to appropriately search for a point related to the destination and notify the user of the search result.

[0014] In another aspect of the route guidance device described above, the attribute information is information related to the presence or absence of a predetermined facility, and the search unit searches for a point having a facility that is insufficient at the destination based on the attribute information. Here, the facility corresponds to various facilities such as restrooms, daily goods / grocery sections, parking lots, eating spaces, and restaurants. Accordingly, the route guidance device can search for a point having a facility that is insufficient at the destination and notify the user thereof.

[0015] In another embodiment of the above-described route guidance device, the search unit searches for the location based on the estimated arrival time of the destination. Generally, whether or not a location is necessary for the user may vary depending on the arrival time of the destination. Therefore, in this embodiment, the route guidance device can suitably inform the user of locations at the destination that have insufficient facilities.

[0016] In another embodiment of the above-described route guidance device, the route guidance device further comprises an acquisition unit that acquires traffic information around the destination, and the search unit searches for the location based on the traffic information. In this embodiment, the route guidance device can search for a suitable location for a toilet break, etc., when traffic congestion occurs and notify the user.

[0017] In another embodiment of the above-described route guidance device, the route guidance device further includes a history recording unit that records historical information regarding the places visited when the destination of the moving object is set, and the notification unit, based on the history information, determines that the set destination was not visited at any of the locations searched by the search unit when it was previously set as a destination, and therefore does not provide notification regarding the search results of the search unit. This embodiment effectively prevents the route guidance device from unnecessarily notifying the user about locations that were not visited when heading to the same destination in the past.

[0018] In another embodiment of the above-described route guidance device, the notification unit provides notification regarding the search results of the search unit before the moving object arrives at the destination. In this embodiment, the route guidance device can notify the user of suitable stops before arriving at the destination.

[0019] In another embodiment of the above-described route guidance device, the search unit begins searching for locations when the destination is specified. In this embodiment, the route guidance device can automatically search for potential stops when a destination is specified and inform the user of the search results.

[0020] In another embodiment of the above-described route guidance device, the route guidance device further includes an input receiving unit that receives input specifying whether or not to start searching for the facilities when the destination is specified. In this embodiment, the route guidance device can suitably switch on and off the function of automatically searching for and notifying potential stops when a destination is specified, based on user input.

[0021] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a server device that communicates with a route guidance device comprises: a receiving unit that receives information about a destination from the route guidance device; a search unit that searches for candidate locations to visit when heading to the destination; and a transmitting unit that transmits information about the search results of the search unit to the route guidance device, wherein the search unit determines the locations to search based on their relevance to the destination. According to this embodiment, when the server device receives information about a destination from the route guidance device, it searches for candidate locations to visit based on their relevance to the destination and transmits the search result information to the route guidance device. This allows the server device to suitably inform the user of candidate locations to visit via the route guidance device.

[0022] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a control method performed by a route guidance device provided on or installed on a mobile body comprises a search step of searching for candidate locations to stop at when heading toward a set destination, and a notification step of notifying a user of the search results in the search step, wherein the search step determines the locations to search based on their relevance to the destination. By performing this control method, the route guidance device can suitably select candidate locations to stop at and notify the user.

[0023] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a program is executed by a computer of a route guidance device that provides route guidance to a destination, which is provided on or installed in a mobile vehicle. The program includes a search unit that searches for facilities located within a predetermined range from a set destination before arriving at the destination, and a notification unit that notifies the user of the results of the search unit's search. If the facility does not exist, the notification unit notifies the user that the facility does not exist. By executing this program, the route guidance device can suitably select and notify the user of potential stops. Preferably, the program is stored in a storage medium. [Examples]

[0024] Hereinafter, preferred first and second embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0025] <First Example> (1) Navigation system configuration Figure 1 shows a schematic configuration of a navigation device 1 to which the route guidance device of the present invention is applied. When a destination is set, the navigation device 1 searches for facilities associated with the destination and automatically notifies the search results. As shown in Figure 1, the navigation device 1 comprises an autonomous positioning device 10, a GPS receiver 18, a system controller 20, a data storage unit 31, a communication device 38, a display unit 40, an audio output unit 50, and an input device 60.

[0026] The autonomous positioning device 10 includes an acceleration sensor 11 for detecting the acceleration of the vehicle, an angular velocity sensor 12 such as a vibration gyroscope for detecting the angular velocity of the vehicle when the vehicle changes direction, and a distance sensor 13 for measuring vehicle speed pulses consisting of pulse signals generated in conjunction with the rotation of the vehicle's wheels.

[0027] The GPS receiver 18 receives radio waves 19 from multiple GPS satellites that carry downlink data including positioning data. The positioning data is used to detect the absolute position of the vehicle from latitude and longitude information, etc.

[0028] The system controller 20 includes an interface 21, a CPU 22, a ROM 23, and a RAM 24, and controls the entire navigation device 1. For example, the system controller 20 performs route searching to a destination specified by the user and route guidance based on the searched route. In this embodiment, when a destination is set, the system controller 20 automatically searches for potential stops (also called "potential stop locations") and notifies the user of the search results regarding potential stop locations via the display unit 40 and the voice output unit 50. Potential stop locations are facilities that have a predetermined relationship with the destination, such as surrounding facilities of the destination that have equipment not present at the destination. The system controller 20 is an example of the "search unit," "history recording unit," "acquisition unit," "input reception unit," "notification unit," and computer that executes the program in this invention. Potential stop locations are an example of "potential stops" in this invention.

[0029] Interface 21 performs interface operations with the autonomous positioning device 10 and the GPS receiver 18. Interface 21 then inputs their output data to the system controller 20. The CPU 22 controls the entire system controller 20. ROM 23 has a non-volatile memory (not shown) that stores control programs for controlling the system controller 20. RAM 24 stores various data, such as route data pre-set by the user via the input device 60, in a readable format, and also provides a working area to the CPU 22.

[0030] The system controller 20, data storage unit 31, display unit 40, audio output unit 50, and input device 60 are interconnected via a bus line 30.

[0031] The data storage unit 31 is composed of a storage medium such as an HDD or flash memory, and stores various data used for navigation processing, such as map data. The map data includes road data represented by links corresponding to roads and nodes corresponding to road connections (intersections), and facility information for each facility that can be set as a destination. In this embodiment, the data storage unit 31 also stores a determination table 32 that the system controller 20 refers to when determining candidate facilities to be notified to the user from the set destination. A specific example of the data structure of the determination table 32 will be described later with reference to Figure 2. The determination table 32 is an example of "correspondence information" in the present invention.

[0032] The communication device 38 receives traffic congestion information distributed from the VICS (Vehicle Information Communication System) center and traffic congestion information distributed from a server device (not shown) that distributes traffic congestion information. The communication device 38 may also receive information to be stored in the data storage unit 31 as map data from a server device (not shown) based on the control of the system controller 20.

[0033] The display unit 40 displays various display data on a display device such as a display under the control of the system controller 20. Specifically, the system controller 20 reads map data from the data storage unit 31. The display unit 40 displays an image based on the map data read from the data storage unit 31 by the system controller 20 on a display screen such as a display. The display unit 40 includes a graphics controller 41 that controls the entire display unit 40 based on control data sent from the CPU 22 via the bus line 30, a buffer memory 42 that temporarily stores immediately displayable image information consisting of memory such as VRAM (Video RAM), a display control unit 43 that controls the display of the display 44 based on image data output from the graphics controller 41, and a display 44.

[0034] The audio output unit 50 is configured to include a D / A converter 51 that performs D / A conversion of audio digital data sent from RAM 24 or the like via the bus line 30 under the control of the system controller 20, an amplifier (AMP) 52 that amplifies the audio analog signal output from the D / A converter 51, and a speaker 53 that converts the amplified audio analog signal back into sound and outputs it inside the vehicle.

[0035] The input device 60 consists of keys, switches, buttons, remote controls, voice input devices, etc., for inputting various commands and data. The input device 60 is positioned around the front panel of the main unit of the in-vehicle electronic system installed in the vehicle, or around the display 44. If the display 44 is a touch panel, the touch panel provided on the display screen of the display 44 also functions as an input device 60.

[0036] It should be noted that the configuration of the navigation device 1 to which the present invention can be applied is not limited to the configuration shown in Figure 1. For example, the navigation device 1 may include a head-up display that allows the driver to view a virtual image via the vehicle's windshield or combiner, in place of or in addition to the display 44.

[0037] (2) Example data structure for the judgment table Next, we will explain a specific example of the data structure of the judgment table 32.

[0038] Figure 2(A) is a first specific example showing the data structure of the determination table 32. In the example in Figure 2(A), the determination table 32 includes the items "Destination Category" and "Stopover Candidate Category". Here, "Destination Category" indicates each category when classifying facilities that can be set as destinations, and "Stopover Candidate Category" indicates the category of facilities that should be set as stopover candidate facilities when a destination belonging to the corresponding destination category is set.

[0039] Here, we will explain a specific example of referring to the determination table 32 shown in Figure 2(A). For example, if a facility belonging to the "campsite" category is set as the destination, the system controller 20 refers to the first record of the determination table 32 shown in Figure 2(A) and determines that a facility whose category is "supermarket" should be set as a candidate stopover facility. In this case, the system controller 20 refers to the facility information of the map data stored in the data storage unit 31 and searches for a supermarket that is, for example, within a predetermined distance from the destination or within a predetermined distance from the set route to the destination. The system controller 20 then considers the searched facility as a candidate stopover facility and notifies the user to recommend stopping at that facility. In this way, the system controller 20 can encourage the user to stop at a supermarket that is suitable for purchasing items necessary for barbecuing and other activities at the campsite before reaching the campsite.

[0040] Similarly, when a facility belonging to the "ryokan" (Japanese inn) category is set as the destination, the system controller 20 refers to the second record in the determination table 32 and determines that a facility whose category is "convenience store" should be set as a candidate stopover facility. Therefore, the system controller 20 searches for convenience stores around the destination or along the route and notifies the user to recommend stopping at one of the found convenience stores. This allows the system controller 20 to encourage the user to stop at a convenience store that is suitable for purchasing items needed inside the ryokan before reaching the ryokan itself.

[0041] As shown in the example in Figure 2(A), each destination category is associated with a list of preferred stopover categories, which are categories of facilities that are desirable to visit when heading to a facility belonging to the corresponding destination category. The determination table 32 shown in Figure 2(A) is created in advance, for example, by a personal method, and stored in the data storage unit 31. Preferably, Figure 2(A) may also be associated with information specifying the content to be notified for each combination of "destination category" and "preferred stopover category". Specific examples of notification content will be described later with reference to Figure 4.

[0042] Figure 2(B) is a second specific example showing the data structure of the determination table 32. In the example in Figure 2(B), the determination table 32 includes the items "Destination" and "Candidate Stopover Facilities". Here, "Destination" registers facilities that can be set as destinations, and "Candidate Stopover Facilities" registers facilities that should be set as candidate stopover facilities if the facility indicated in "Destination" is set as the destination.

[0043] Here, we will explain a specific example of referring to the judgment table 32 shown in Figure 2(B). For example, when "A Land," a large amusement facility where parking lot congestion frequently occurs, is set as the destination, the system controller 20 refers to the first record in the judgment table 32 and considers "Roadside Station B," a facility where toilet breaks are possible, as a candidate stopover facility and notifies that "Roadside Station B" should be the stopover location. This allows the system controller 20 to take into account the occurrence of parking lot congestion at "A Land" and appropriately encourage a toilet break at "Roadside Station B." Similarly, when "E Farm," a facility without a parking lot, is set as the destination, the system controller 20 refers to the third record in the judgment table 32 and considers "F Factory," which is the departure point for the shuttle bus to E Farm and has a parking lot, as a candidate stopover facility and notifies that "F Factory" should be the stopover location. As a result, the system controller 20 can take into account that "E Farm" is a facility without a parking lot and appropriately encourage the shuttle bus to stop at "F Factory," which is the departure point for the shuttle bus and has a parking lot.

[0044] As shown in the example in Figure 2(B), each specific facility that can be set as a destination is associated with a list of recommended stopover facilities that are facilities that should be visited on the way to that destination. The determination table 32 shown in Figure 2(B) is created in advance, for example, by a personal method, and stored in the data storage unit 31. Preferably, Figure 2(B) may also be associated with information specifying the content to be notified for each combination of "destination" and "recommended stopover facilities".

[0045] The data storage unit 31 may store both a determination table 32 having the data structure shown in Figure 2(A) and a determination table 32 having the data structure shown in Figure 2(B). In this case, the system controller 20 will, for example, preferentially refer to the determination table 32 in Figure 2(B) to search for potential stopover facilities. If the set destination is not registered in the determination table 32 shown in Figure 2(B), the system controller 20 will then refer to the determination table 32 shown in Figure 2(A) based on the category of the set destination. In this case, by referring to the determination table 32 shown in Figure 2(A), the system controller 20 will recognize the category of facilities that should be set as potential stopover facilities and will consider the relevant facilities around the destination or along the route to the destination as potential stopover facilities.

[0046] (3) Processing flow Figure 3 is a flowchart outlining the process for guiding users to potential stopover facilities. The system controller 20 executes the process shown in the flowchart in Figure 3 each time it detects that a destination has been set.

[0047] First, when the system controller 20 receives input specifying a destination, it performs a route search to the destination specified by the user (step S101). Then, the system controller 20 refers to the determination table 32 and searches for candidate stopover facilities based on the destination (step S102). Here, when the system controller 20 refers to the determination table 32 in Figure 2(A), it recognizes the category of the destination based on the facility information contained in the map data of the data storage unit 31, and then refers to the determination table 32 in Figure 2(A) to identify the category of candidate stopover facilities from that category. Then, the system controller 20 searches for facilities belonging to the identified category within the search range of the destination or the area around the route. Also, when the system controller 20 refers to the determination table 32 in Figure 2(B), it searches for facilities associated with the set destination in the determination table 32 from the facility information contained in the map data of the data storage unit 31.

[0048] The system controller 20 then determines whether the relevant candidate stopover facility was identified through the search in step S102 (step S103). If the relevant candidate stopover facility was identified through the search in step S102 (step S103; Yes), the system controller 20 provides guidance to the candidate stopover facility (step S104). In this case, the system controller 20, for example, displays and / or provides audio output to notify the existence of the searched candidate stopover facility, and accepts input to set the searched candidate stopover facility as a stopover destination. The system controller 20 does not have to display and / or provide audio output to notify the existence of the searched candidate stopover facility, and does not have to accept input to set the searched candidate stopover facility as a stopover destination.

[0049] On the other hand, if the system controller 20 cannot identify a suitable stopover candidate facility through the search in step S102 (step S103; No), it terminates the flowchart processing.

[0050] (4) Display example Figure 4 shows an example of the display shown on the display 44 when guiding the user to potential stopover facilities in step S104 of Figure 3.

[0051] In the example in Figure 4, after the route to the destination is set, the system controller 20 refers to the determination table 32 in Figure 2(B) and determines the candidate stopover facility "Roadside Station B" from the destination "Land A". The system controller 20 then displays the current location, the location of the destination "Land A", the route to the destination, and the location of the candidate stopover facility "Roadside Station B" on the map, and also displays a pop-up window 70 prompting the user to set the candidate stopover facility "Roadside Station B" as a stopover point.

[0052] Here, the system controller 20 displays in the pop-up window 70 that the destination "Land A" is expected to have parking lot congestion and that it is recommended to take a restroom break at the suggested stopover facility "Roadside Station B". In this case, the system controller 20 determines the content to be displayed in the pop-up window 70 by referring to information indicating the content to be reported, for example, in each record of the judgment table 32. The system controller 20 also displays a button in the pop-up window 70 for the user to input whether or not to set the suggested stopover facility "Roadside Station B" as a stopover point. If the "YES" button in the pop-up window 70 is selected, the system controller 20 searches for a route that includes "Roadside Station B" as a stopover point and starts guiding the user along that route. On the other hand, if the "NO" button in the pop-up window 70 is selected, the system controller 20 clears the display in the pop-up window 70 and provides route guidance to the destination.

[0053] As shown in the example in Figure 4, the system controller 20 guides the user to potential stopover facilities, which are facilities with toilets associated in the determination table 32, based on destination information (i.e., information indicating that parking lot congestion is likely to occur). This allows the system controller 20 to appropriately guide the user to facilities that are preferable for them to visit as potential stopover facilities.

[0054] <Second Example> In the second embodiment, the navigation device 1 has a determination table 32A that records attributes such as the presence or absence of specific equipment for each facility that can be set as a destination, instead of the determination table 32 illustrated in Figures 2(A) and (B). The navigation device 1 then refers to the determination table 32A, takes into account the attributes of the recognized destination, and determines which facilities should be searched as candidate facilities to stop by.

[0055] Figure 5 shows an example of the data structure of the determination table 32A stored in the data storage unit 31 in the second embodiment. The determination table 32A includes the following items: "Destination", "Category", "Handling of daily necessities and food", "Surrounding facilities that handle daily necessities and food", "Toilets", "Surrounding facilities with toilets", "Restaurants", "Parking lots", "Eating and drinking spaces where outside food and drinks are allowed", and "Parking lot congestion".

[0056] The "Destination" field records facilities that can be set as destinations, and the "Category" field records the category of the facility recorded in "Destination". Additionally, "Handling of Daily Necessities / Food" records whether the facility recorded in "Destination" handles daily necessities / food, and "Nearby Facilities Handling Daily Necessities / Food" records whether there are facilities handling daily necessities / food around the facility recorded in "Destination". Furthermore, "Toilets" records whether the facility recorded in "Destination" has toilets, and "Nearby Facilities with Toilets" records whether there are facilities with toilets around the facility recorded in "Destination". Additionally, "Restaurants", "Parking Lots", and "Outdoor Dining Spaces" record whether there are restaurants, parking lots, and outdoor dining spaces attached to the facility recorded in "Destination", respectively. Finally, "Parking Congestion" records whether or not traffic congestion is statistically likely to occur in the parking lot attached to the facility recorded in "Destination".

[0057] Thus, the determination table 32A records attribute information regarding the presence or absence of each facility (i.e., facilities for handling daily necessities, toilet facilities, restaurants, parking lots, etc.) at the facility recorded in "Destination," as well as attribute information such as the presence or absence of alternative facilities with each facility in the vicinity of the target facility and the presence or absence of parking lot congestion.

[0058] In the judgment table 32A shown in Figure 5, each item other than "Destination" and "Category" is divided into three categories based on the characteristics of each item described above. Specifically, "Handling of daily necessities and food," "Toilets," "Restaurants," "Parking lots," and "Eating and drinking spaces where outside food and drinks are allowed" are classified as "Featured Facilities 1," "Parking lot congestion" is classified as "Featured Facilities 2," and "Surrounding facilities that handle daily necessities and food" and "Surrounding facilities with toilets" are classified as "Availability of alternative facilities."

[0059] The information corresponding to the determination table 32A may be pre-integrated as part of the facility information for each facility included in the map data stored by the data storage unit 31. The determination table 32A according to the second embodiment is an example of "attribute information" in the present invention.

[0060] Next, the process performed by the navigation device 1 in the second embodiment will be described. In the second embodiment, the system controller 20 executes the flowchart in Figure 3, similar to the first embodiment. At this time, when the system controller 20 searches for candidate stopover facilities in step S102, it searches for candidate stopover facilities by referring to the determination table 32A.

[0061] In the first example, the system controller 20 refers to the determination table 32A and, if the facility set as the destination does not have a predetermined feature equipment 1, and the "Availability of alternative facilities" item corresponding to that feature equipment 1 is "○", it searches for nearby facilities that have that feature equipment 1 as potential stopover facilities. Also, if the destination facility does not have a predetermined feature equipment 1, and the "Availability of alternative facilities" item corresponding to that feature equipment 1 is not found in the determination table 32A, the system controller 20 searches for nearby facilities that have that feature equipment 1 as potential stopover facilities.

[0062] Here, we will illustrate the case where the facility set as the destination does not have a predetermined characteristic facility 1, and the item "Availability of alternative facilities" corresponding to that characteristic facility 1 is "○". For example, if a facility (e.g., "J Campground") is set as the destination in the judgment table 32A where "Handling of daily necessities and food" is "×" and "Nearby facilities that handle daily necessities and food" is "○", the search target for potential stopover facilities will be set to nearby facilities that handle daily necessities and food (e.g., supermarkets, etc.). Similarly, if a facility (e.g., "K Falls") is set as the destination in the judgment table 32A where "Toilets" is "×" and "Nearby facilities with toilets" is "○", the system controller 20 will set the search target for potential stopover facilities to nearby facilities belonging to the category of facilities with toilets.

[0063] Next, we will illustrate the case where the destination facility does not have characteristic equipment 1, and the item "Availability of alternative facilities" corresponding to characteristic equipment 1 is not in the determination table 32A. For example, if the destination is a facility where "Parking" is marked with "×" in the determination table 32A (for example, "J Campground"), the system controller 20 will set the targets for searching for potential stopover facilities to nearby parking lots or nearby facilities with parking lots.

[0064] In the second example, if the destination is a facility where both "restaurant" and "outdoor dining space" are marked with "×" in the determination table 32A (for example, "K Falls"), the system controller 20 sets the search target for potential stopover facilities to nearby facilities belonging to the restaurant category.

[0065] In this case, preferably, the system controller 20 sets the search targets for potential stopover facilities to nearby facilities belonging to the restaurant category only when the estimated arrival time at the destination falls within a predetermined time period (for example, during typical lunch or dinner hours). If the estimated arrival time at the destination falls outside of the predetermined time period, the system controller 20 determines the search targets for potential stopover facilities according to, for example, the first example or the third example described later. In this way, the system controller 20 may determine the search targets for potential stopover facilities by taking into account the estimated arrival time at the destination.

[0066] Similarly, when the destination is set to a facility where "restaurants" and "handling of daily necessities and food" are marked as "×" and "space for eating outside" is marked as "○" (for example, "J Campground"), and the estimated time of arrival at the destination is within a predetermined time frame, the system controller 20 sets the target for searching for potential stopover facilities to nearby facilities that handle food (for example, supermarkets, etc.).

[0067] In the third example, when a facility with "Parking congestion" marked as "○" in the determination table 32A (for example, "Shopping Center N") is set as the destination, the system controller 20 determines that nearby facilities belonging to the category of facilities with toilets should be searched as potential stopover locations.

[0068] The system controller 20 may determine the candidate stopover facilities based on any of the first to third examples, or it may determine the candidate stopover facilities based on all of the first to third examples. In this case, if the system controller 20 searches for multiple candidate stopover facilities in step S102, it may guide the passenger to all of the searched candidate stopover facilities, or it may guide the passenger to one candidate stopover facility selected based on a predetermined rule. In addition, although the determination table 32A shown in Figure 5 generated a record for each individual facility that could be set as a destination, instead of this, or in addition to this, records may be generated for each category of facility that could be set as a destination, similar to the determination table 32 shown in Figure 2(A).

[0069] Figure 6 shows an example of the display shown on the display 44 when guiding passengers to potential stopover facilities in the second embodiment.

[0070] In the example shown in Figure 6, the system controller 20, having set "K Falls" as the destination, displays a recommendation for a stopover, "P Mart," a facility with toilets, based on the fourth record in the determination table 32A. Specifically, the system controller 20 determines that "K Falls" is a facility where "toilets" is marked as "×" but "nearby facilities with toilets" is marked as "○". Based on the first example described above, it searches for nearby facilities belonging to the category of facilities with toilets and designates "P Mart" as a stopover option. The system controller 20 then displays the current location, the location of the destination "K Falls," the location of the stopover option "P Mart," and the set route on the map, and also displays a pop-up window 71 overlaid on the map. In addition, the system controller 20 displays in the pop-up window 71 that there are no toilets at the destination "K Falls" and displays a button to specify whether or not to set "P Mart" as a stopover. If the "YES" button on the pop-up window 71 is selected, the system controller 20 will perform a route search with "P Mart" as a stopover and begin guiding the user along that route. On the other hand, if the "NO" button on the pop-up window 71 is selected, the system controller 20 will clear the display on the pop-up window 71 and provide route guidance to the destination.

[0071] As described above, when a destination is set, the system controller 20 of the navigation device 1 according to the first and second embodiments searches for candidate stopover facilities that have a predetermined relationship with the destination by referring to the determination table 32 or determination table 32A. The navigation device 1 then notifies the user of the search results for candidate stopover facilities using the display unit 40 or the voice output unit 50. In this way, the navigation device 1 can suitably notify the user of candidate stopover facilities that have a relationship with the destination.

[0072] <Variation> The following describes preferred modifications of the first and second embodiments. These modifications may be applied in combination to the embodiments described above.

[0073] (Variation 1) In the first and second embodiments, a portion of the processing performed by the navigation device 1 may be performed by a server device that communicates with the navigation device 1 via a network.

[0074] Figure 7 shows the configuration of a modified route guidance system. In the example shown in Figure 7, the route guidance system includes a navigation device 1 and a server device 3 that stores a determination table 32. The server device 3 has map data and, when a route search request including information such as the current location and destination is received from the navigation device 1, it searches for a route to the destination and supplies the search result information to the navigation device 1.

[0075] In the configuration example shown in Figure 7, for example, the navigation device 1 sends a route search request to the server device 3, which includes information such as the current location and destination. The server device 3 then executes the flowchart shown in Figure 3 based on the received route search request. At this time, if the server device 3 determines in step S103 that there is a suitable candidate stopover facility, it sends information to the navigation device 1 to guide the user to that candidate stopover facility (for example, facility information about the candidate stopover facility).

[0076] The server device 3 may store a determination table 32A instead of the determination table 32. In this case, the server device 3 performs a search process for candidate facilities to visit based on the determination table 32A described in the second embodiment. In this modified example, the CPU and other components of the server device 3 are examples of the "receiving unit," "searching unit," and "transmitting unit" in the present invention.

[0077] Furthermore, in the configuration example shown in Figure 7, the server device 3 may automatically generate a determination table 32 by receiving information about the vehicle's status (also called "probe information") from multiple in-vehicle devices such as the navigation device 1 traveling on the road, and analyzing the received probe information. For example, if the server device 3 determines, based on the probe information, that a vehicle has arrived at its initially set destination (also called the "initial destination"), then set another facility as its destination and traveled to that facility, and then arrived back at the initial destination, the server device 3 will determine that it is preferable for the vehicle to stop at the aforementioned other facility in order to stay at the initial destination. In this case, the server device 3 adds a new record to the determination table 32 in Figure 2(B), with the initial destination as "destination" and the aforementioned other facility as "candidate stopover facility". In this case, the probe information received from the navigation device 1 may include information such as the destination setting history. In this way, the server device 3 can suitably automatically generate a determination table 32.

[0078] (Modification 2) In the flowchart of Figure 3, the navigation device 1 performed route searching to the destination and simultaneously searched for and guided users to potential stopover facilities. Alternatively, the navigation device 1 may perform the process of searching for and guiding users to potential stopover facilities after route searching to the destination is complete and route guidance to the destination has begun, but no later than before arriving at the destination.

[0079] (Variation 3) In the flowchart of Figure 3, the navigation device 1 may decide in step S104 whether or not to provide guidance to potential stopover facilities based on the vehicle's travel history.

[0080] In this case, the system controller 20, for example, when it has guided the user to a potential stopover facility using the flowchart in Figure 3, determines whether the user actually stopped at the potential stopover facility and stores the determination result in the data storage unit 31 as history information, associating it with the destination and the potential stopover facility. At this time, the system controller 20 determines that the user has stopped at the potential stopover facility if it has determined, for example, based on location information from the output of the GPS receiver 18, that the user has stopped at the location indicated by the location information of the potential stopover facility stored in the map data for a predetermined period of time or longer. When the system controller 20 executes the flowchart in Figure 3 again, it refers to the history information mentioned above before executing step S104. If the system controller 20 determines that the potential stopover facility to be guided is a facility that was previously announced as a potential stopover facility for the same destination but was not visited by the user, it terminates the flowchart processing without guiding the user to the potential stopover facility in step S104. In this way, the navigation device 1 can effectively suppress unnecessary announcements of potential stopover facilities that the user does not need.

[0081] (Modification 4) Navigation device 1 may receive input from input device 60 for setting the on / off status of the guidance function for potential stopover facilities, corresponding to steps S102 to S104 in Figure 3, and store the information of said setting in data storage unit 31.

[0082] In this case, when the navigation device 1 executes the flowchart in Figure 3, it refers to the setting information stored in the data storage unit 31 and executes steps S102 to S104 only if the guidance function for potential stopover facilities is set to ON. On the other hand, if the navigation device 1 has set the guidance function for potential stopover facilities to OFF, it does not execute steps S102 to S104.

[0083] (Variation 5) In the second embodiment, the navigation device 1 does not need to provide guidance regarding a facility found as a potential stopover if that facility is within walking distance of the destination (for example, within 500m). This effectively prevents the navigation device 1 from providing guidance regarding unnecessary potential stopover facilities.

[0084] (Experimental variation 6) The navigation device 1 may determine potential stopover facilities to search for based on traffic information regarding the route to the destination.

[0085] For example, if the navigation device 1 determines, based on traffic information received by the communication device 38 from a VICS center or the like, that there is congestion on the route to the destination, it searches for facilities with toilets around the route as potential stopover locations, regardless of whether there are toilets at the destination. The navigation device 1 then notifies the user of the searched potential stopover locations and recommends them as places to stop. In this way, the navigation device 1 can appropriately notify the user of potential stopover locations that would be useful to them. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0086] 1. Navigation system 3 Server equipment 10. Self-propelled positioning device 12 GPS receivers 20 System Controllers 22 CPU 31 Data Storage Unit 38 Communication equipment 40 display units 44 displays 50 Audio Output Units 60 Input devices

Claims

1. In a route guidance device provided with or installed on a moving object, A storage unit that stores attribute information regarding the presence or absence of facilities at the destination, A search unit that searches for potential stopover points to visit when heading to a set destination, A notification unit that notifies the user about the aforementioned potential stopover locations, Equipped with, The search unit searches for facilities that have the equipment lacking at the destination facility, based on the attribute information, as potential stopover locations. The notification unit will not provide notification regarding the candidate stopover location if the candidate stopover location is within a predetermined distance from the destination. A route guidance device characterized by the following features.

2. The route guidance device according to claim 1, characterized in that the search unit searches for candidate stopover locations based on the estimated arrival time of the destination.

3. The system further includes an acquisition unit that acquires traffic information around the aforementioned destination, The route guidance device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the search unit searches for the candidate stopover locations based on the traffic information.

4. The system further includes a history recording unit that records historical information regarding the places visited when the destination of the aforementioned mobile body is set. The route guidance device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the notification unit does not provide notification regarding the search results of the search unit if it determines, based on the history information, that the set destination was not visited by the candidate stopover locations searched by the search unit when it was previously set as a destination.

5. The route guidance device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the notification unit provides notification regarding the search results of the search unit before the moving object arrives at the destination.

6. The route guidance device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the search unit starts searching for candidate stopover locations when the destination is specified.

7. The route guidance device according to claim 6, further comprising an input receiving unit that receives input specifying whether or not to start searching for candidate stopover locations when the destination is specified.

8. A control method performed by a route guidance device provided on or installed in a moving object, A search process to find potential stopover points to visit when heading to a set destination, A notification process for informing the user about the aforementioned potential stopover locations, It has, The search process searches for facilities that have the equipment lacking at the destination facility, based on attribute information regarding the presence or absence of equipment at the facility set as the destination, as candidate stopover locations. The notification process does not provide notification regarding the candidate stopover location if the candidate stopover location is within a predetermined distance from the destination. A control method characterized by the following:

9. A program executed by a computer of a route guidance device installed on or attached to a mobile vehicle, A search unit that searches for potential stopover points to visit when heading to a set destination, Notification unit that notifies the user about the aforementioned potential stopover locations. The computer is made to function as follows: The search unit searches for facilities that have the equipment lacking at the destination facility, based on attribute information regarding the presence or absence of equipment at the facility set as the destination, as candidate stopover locations. The notification unit will not provide notification regarding the candidate stopover location if the candidate stopover location is within a predetermined distance from the destination. A program characterized by the following features.

10. A storage medium storing the program described in claim 9.

Images