Navigation device and navigation method

Abstract

The objective of the present disclosure is to provide a navigation device and a navigation method capable of presenting an appropriate meeting place depending on whether a vehicle or a pedestrian is scheduled to arrive first. A navigation device according to the present disclosure comprises: a destination setting unit that sets a meeting point where the driver of a vehicle and a pedestrian outside the vehicle are to meet; and a meeting point setting determination unit that determines whether or not to change the meeting point on the basis of a scheduled time when the vehicle is to arrive at the meeting point and a scheduled time when the pedestrian is to arrive at the meeting point, wherein when the meeting point setting determination unit determines to change the meeting point, the destination setting unit re-sets a new meeting point depending on whether the vehicle or the pedestrian is scheduled to arrive at the meeting point first.

Description

Navigation device and navigation method

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a navigation device and a navigation method that present a meeting place for a vehicle driver and a pedestrian.

[0002] Conventionally, when a vehicle driver and a pedestrian are meeting, if the pedestrian arrives at the meeting place first and then moves to another location, a technology has been disclosed in which the pedestrian's new location is reset as the meeting place (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-46399

[0004] If the pedestrian arrives at the meeting place first, the vehicle that arrives later can stop in a place where it can temporarily stop and let the pedestrian in. On the other hand, if the vehicle arrives at the meeting place first and there is a certain amount of time between the vehicle's arrival and the pedestrian's arrival, the vehicle will not be able to wait for the pedestrian in a place where it can temporarily stop, so it will have to wait for the pedestrian in a place where it can park. In this way, the appropriate meeting place will differ depending on whether the vehicle or the pedestrian arrives first.

[0005] Although Patent Document 1 discloses a case where a pedestrian arrives at the meeting place first, it does not disclose a case where a vehicle arrives at the meeting place first. Therefore, Patent Document 1 does not present an appropriate meeting place depending on whether a vehicle or a pedestrian is scheduled to arrive first.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made to solve such problems, and aims to provide a navigation device and a navigation method that can present an appropriate meeting place depending on whether a vehicle or a pedestrian is scheduled to arrive first.

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, the navigation device according to the present disclosure includes a destination setting unit that sets a junction where a driver of a vehicle and a pedestrian outside the vehicle will meet, and a junction setting determination unit that determines whether to change the junction based on the estimated time the vehicle will arrive at the junction and the estimated time the pedestrian will arrive at the junction; if the junction setting determination unit determines that the junction should be changed, the destination setting unit resets a new junction depending on whether the vehicle or the pedestrian is scheduled to arrive at the junction first.

[0008] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to present an appropriate meeting place depending on whether a vehicle or a pedestrian is scheduled to arrive first.

[0009] The objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

[0010] Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a navigation device according to embodiment 1. Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the functions of a navigation device and a portable communication terminal according to embodiment 1. Fig. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of a navigation device and a portable communication terminal according to embodiment 1. Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of a navigation device and a portable communication terminal according to embodiment 2. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a navigation device according to embodiments 1 and 2. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a navigation device according to embodiments 1 and 2.

[0011] First Embodiment <Configuration> FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a navigation device 1 according to a first embodiment.

[0012] The navigation device 1 includes an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 2, an input unit 7, a communication unit 10, an output unit 11, and a map data recording unit 14.

[0013] The ECU 2 includes a memory 3 , a navigation processing unit 4 , an input control unit 5 , and an output control unit 6 .

[0014] The memory 3 stores programs and data handled by the navigation processing unit 4. The programs include programs for realizing the functions of the navigation processing unit 4, input control unit 5, and output control unit 6. The navigation processing unit 4 performs calculations related to navigation functions such as detecting the current location, displaying a map, searching for a destination, and providing route guidance.

[0015] The input control unit 5 controls the sensor 8 and the user interface 9 of the input unit 7. The output control unit 6 controls the display unit 12 and the audio output unit 13 of the output unit 11.

[0016] The input unit 7 has a sensor 8 and a user interface 9. The sensor 8 includes sensors for detecting the current location of the vehicle, such as a GPS (Global Positioning System), a vehicle speed sensor, and a gyro sensor. The sensor 8 may be provided outside the navigation device 1, in which case the input unit 7 has a function of acquiring information detected by the sensor 8. The user interface 9 acquires input operations made by the vehicle user to the navigation device 1 as signals.

[0017] The communication unit 10 communicates with the mobile communication terminal 30 via a communication network 40 (see FIG. 2).

[0018] The output unit 11 has a display 12 and an audio output device 13. The display 12 presents the current location information, searched route information, guidance information, and map information calculated and processed in the ECU 2 to the vehicle user as visual information. The audio output device 13 presents the current location information, searched route information, guidance information, and map information calculated and processed in the ECU 2 to the vehicle user as audio information.

[0019] The map data recording unit 14 stores map data for displaying map information on the display device 12, information such as addresses and facilities used in destination searches, and data for performing route searches or guidance.

[0020] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of functions of the navigation device 1 and the portable communication terminal 30 according to the first embodiment.

[0021] The navigation device 1 is a car navigation device installed in a vehicle or a portable communication terminal carried in the vehicle. The portable communication terminal 30 is a terminal carried by a pedestrian outside the vehicle.

[0022] When navigation device 1 is a mobile communication terminal carried in a vehicle, the "travel by car" mode may be selected from the "travel by foot" mode, the "travel by train or bus" mode, and the "travel by car" mode in a navigation application installed on the mobile communication terminal, and the mobile communication terminal may be operated as a car navigation device. Similarly, mobile communication terminal 30 may select the "travel by foot" mode from the above modes, and the mobile communication terminal 30 may be operated as a walking navigation device.

[0023] The navigation device 1 and the mobile communication terminal 30 are communicably connected via a communication network 40. The communication network 40 is a mobile phone network or an internet network.

[0024] The navigation device 1 includes a communication unit 21, a current location acquisition unit 22, a destination setting unit 23, a map information processing unit 24, a route calculation unit 25, a guidance unit 26, and a junction setting determination unit 27. The communication unit 21 corresponds to the communication unit 10 in Fig. 1. The current location acquisition unit 22, the destination setting unit 23, the map information processing unit 24, the route calculation unit 25, the guidance unit 26, and the junction setting determination unit 27 correspond to the navigation processing unit 4 in Fig. 1.

[0025] Communication unit 21 communicates with mobile communication terminal 30 via communication network 40 and acquires information about pedestrians from mobile communication terminal 30. The information about pedestrians includes the position of the pedestrian (the pedestrian's current location), the estimated time the pedestrian will arrive at the junction, and, if the junction has been set in mobile communication terminal 30, destination information about the junction. Communication unit 21 also transmits information about vehicles to mobile communication terminal 30. The information about vehicles includes the position of the vehicle (the vehicle's current location), the estimated time the vehicle will arrive at the junction, and, if the junction has been set in navigation device 1, destination information about the junction.

[0026] The current location acquisition unit 22 estimates the current location of the vehicle using the GPS signal, gyro signal, and the like acquired by the sensor 8 .

[0027] The destination setting unit 23 searches for and sets a place (a meeting point) where the user of the vehicle and the pedestrian are to meet. The user of the vehicle may be, for example, the driver of the vehicle or a passenger other than the driver.

[0028] The map information processing unit 24 performs processing to display the map data stored in the map data recording unit 14 or the map data acquired from the cloud on the display device 12. When acquiring the map data from the cloud, the communication unit 21 may acquire the map data from the cloud via the communication network 40. The map data acquired from the cloud may be stored in the map data recording unit 14.

[0029] The route calculation unit 25 calculates a route from the current location estimated by the current location acquisition unit 22 to the junction point set by the destination setting unit 23. At this time, the route calculation unit 25 also calculates the estimated time at which the vehicle will arrive at the junction point.

[0030] The guidance unit 26 guides the user of the vehicle along the route calculated by the route calculation unit 25 from the current location to the junction in real time.

[0031] The junction setting determination unit 27 determines whether to change the junction based on the estimated time when the vehicle will arrive at the junction (the estimated time calculated by the route calculation unit 25) and the estimated time when the pedestrian will arrive at the junction (the estimated time acquired by the communication unit 21 from the mobile communication terminal 30). Specifically, the junction setting determination unit 27 compares the estimated time when the vehicle will arrive at the junction with the estimated time when the pedestrian will arrive at the junction, and determines whether to change the junction in accordance with a predetermined condition corresponding to the time difference between the two. If the junction setting determination unit 27 determines to change the junction, it has the following functions: instructing the destination setting unit 23 to search for another junction; automatically setting the other junction found by the destination setting unit 23; or allowing the user of the vehicle to select whether to set the other junction as the new junction.

[0032] The mobile communication terminal 30 includes a communication unit 31, a current location acquisition unit 32, a destination setting unit 33, a map information processing unit 34, a route calculation unit 35, and a guidance unit 36.

[0033] The communication unit 31 communicates with the navigation device 1 via the communication network 40 and acquires information about the vehicle from the navigation device 1. The information about the vehicle includes the position of the vehicle, the estimated time the vehicle will arrive at the junction, and, if the junction has been set in the navigation device 1, destination information about the junction. The communication unit 31 also transmits information about pedestrians to the navigation device 1. The information about pedestrians includes the position of the pedestrian, the estimated time the pedestrian will arrive at the junction, and, if the junction has been set in the mobile communication terminal 30, destination information about the junction.

[0034] Current location acquisition unit 22 estimates the current location of mobile communication terminal 30 using GPS signals, gyro signals, signals received from base stations, etc. Mobile communication terminal 30 may have a function for acquiring GPS signals. Mobile communication terminal 30 may also be equipped with a gyro sensor and acquire gyro signals from the gyro sensor.

[0035] The destination setting unit 33 searches for and sets a place (a meeting point) where a pedestrian wants to meet a vehicle user.

[0036] The map information processing unit 34 performs processing to display the map data acquired from the cloud on a display (not shown) of the mobile communication terminal 30. At this time, the communication unit 31 may acquire the map data from the cloud via the communication network 40. The map data includes search data that the destination setting unit 33 uses when searching for a destination.

[0037] The route calculation unit 35 calculates a route from the current location estimated by the current location acquisition unit 32 to the junction point set by the destination setting unit 33. At this time, the route calculation unit 35 also calculates the estimated time at which the pedestrian will arrive at the junction point.

[0038] The guide unit 36 ​​guides the pedestrian along the route calculated by the route calculation unit 35 from the current location to the junction in real time.

[0039] 2 shows a configuration in which only the navigation device 1 is equipped with the junction setting determination unit 27, but this is not limiting. A configuration in which only the mobile communication terminal 30 is equipped with the junction setting determination unit may also be used, or a configuration in which the navigation device 1 is equipped with the junction setting determination unit 27 and the mobile communication terminal 30 is equipped with the junction setting determination unit may also be used.

[0040] <Operation> FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the navigation device 1 and the portable communication terminal 30 according to the first embodiment.

[0041] In step S101, a pedestrian outside a vehicle (hereinafter simply referred to as "pedestrian") operates the mobile communication terminal 30 that the pedestrian carries to set a predetermined meeting point (a place to meet) with the user of the vehicle equipped with the navigation device 1. Specifically, the pedestrian operates the mobile communication terminal 30 to input the name of a station, commercial facility, or the like, or to set the meeting point by selecting an arbitrary position on the map. The destination setting unit 33, in cooperation with the map information processing unit 34, sets the meeting point input by the pedestrian.

[0042] When the destination setting unit 33 sets the junction point, the communication unit 31 transmits destination information (information about the junction point) to the navigation device 1. The destination information includes the latitude and longitude of the junction point and the name of the junction point.

[0043] In step S102 , the destination setting unit 23 of the navigation device 1 sets a meeting point in cooperation with the map information processing unit 24 based on the destination information acquired from the mobile communication terminal 30 .

[0044] 3 shows a case where the mobile communication terminal 30 sets the junction point and transmits the destination information to the navigation device 1, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the navigation device 1 may set the junction point and transmit the destination information to the mobile communication terminal 30. Alternatively, the navigation device 1 and the mobile communication terminal 30 may each set the junction point.

[0045] In step S103, the route calculation unit 35 of the mobile communication terminal 30 uses the latitude and longitude included in the destination information to calculate the route from the current location of the mobile communication terminal 30 to the destination and the estimated time of arrival at the junction. Then, the guidance unit 36 ​​starts guidance from the current location of the mobile communication terminal 30 to the destination. Because the estimated time of arrival at the junction changes from moment to moment depending on the current location, the route calculation unit 35 calculates the estimated time of arrival at the junction at a predetermined interval. The communication unit 31 transmits the current location of the mobile communication terminal 30 and the estimated time of arrival at the junction to the navigation device 1.

[0046] In step S104, the route calculation unit 25 of the navigation device 1 uses the latitude and longitude included in the destination information to calculate the route from the current vehicle location to the destination and the estimated time of arrival at the junction. Then, the guidance unit 26 starts providing guidance from the current vehicle location to the destination. Because the estimated time of arrival at the junction changes from moment to moment depending on the current location, the route calculation unit 25 calculates the estimated time of arrival at the junction at a predetermined interval. The communication unit 21 transmits the current vehicle location and the estimated time of arrival at the junction to the mobile communication terminal 30.

[0047] The processes in steps S103 and S104 are performed at regular intervals (e.g., every 5 seconds). That is, each of the communication units 21 and 31 transmits the current location and the scheduled time at regular intervals (e.g., every 5 seconds).

[0048] In step S105, the junction setting determination unit 27 of the navigation device 1 compares the estimated time of arrival at the junction (the estimated time the pedestrian will arrive at the junction) periodically obtained by the communication unit 21 from the mobile communication terminal 30 with the estimated time of arrival at the junction calculated by the route calculation unit 25 (the estimated time the vehicle will arrive at the junction), and calculates the difference between the two (t minutes).

[0049] If the vehicle is scheduled to arrive at the junction at least a predetermined time (t1) earlier than the pedestrian (t≧t1, case 1), the process proceeds to step S106. If the pedestrian is scheduled to arrive at the junction at least a predetermined time (t1) earlier than the vehicle (t≧t1, case 2), the process proceeds to step S110. If the difference (t minutes) is less than the predetermined time (t1) (t<t1, other than cases 1 and 2), the process proceeds to step S112.

[0050] In step S106, the meeting point setting determination unit 27 determines whether the difference (t minutes) calculated in step S105 is less than 30 minutes. If the difference (t minutes) is less than 30 minutes, the process proceeds to step S107. On the other hand, if the difference (t minutes) is not less than 30 minutes, the process proceeds to step S108. Note that the "30 minutes" used in the determination in step S106 is just an example, and other times may be used.

[0051] In step S107, the junction setting determination unit 27 determines that the junction should be changed. The destination setting unit 23, in cooperation with the map information processing unit 24, searches for a place where the vehicle can safely stop for a short time, such as a roundabout or a shoulder of the road with sufficient space, near the currently set junction, and resets the searched place as a new junction. At this time, no operation by the vehicle user is required, so the destination setting unit 23 automatically sets the new junction. The communication unit 21 transmits destination information regarding the new junction to the mobile communication terminal 30.

[0052] In step S108, the junction setting determination unit 27 determines to change the junction. Because the vehicle is scheduled to arrive at the junction more than 30 minutes earlier than the pedestrian, the junction needs to be changed to a location where the vehicle can park. The destination setting unit 23 searches for parking lots near the junction in cooperation with the map information processing unit 24, and sets the parking lot closest to the junction as a candidate for the junction.

[0053] The parking lots searched for in step S108 may include not only coin parking lots and other parking-specific locations, but also facilities where parking spaces can be secured, such as convenience stores or commercial facilities. Also, since the parking lot closest to the junction point may not always be available, parking lot availability information may be obtained to search for the available parking lot closest to the junction point.

[0054] In step S109, the destination setting unit 23 resets the candidate junction as a new junction. In this case, no operation by the vehicle user is required, so the destination setting unit 23 automatically sets the new junction. The communication unit 21 transmits destination information regarding the new junction to the mobile communication terminal 30.

[0055] Note that a screen that allows the user of the vehicle to select whether to leave the current merging point as is or to set the candidate merging point as a new merging point may be displayed on the display 12. If the user of the vehicle selects to set the candidate merging point as a new merging point, the destination setting unit 23 confirms the candidate merging point as the new merging point.

[0056] As for whether to automatically set a new junction point as described above or to have the vehicle user select a new junction point, a setting that allows the vehicle user to select may be provided separately.

[0057] In step S110, the junction setting determination unit 27 determines whether the pedestrian has arrived at the junction. If the pedestrian has not arrived at the junction, the process returns to step S105. On the other hand, if the pedestrian has arrived at the junction, the process proceeds to step S111.

[0058] In step S111, the junction setting determination unit 27 determines to change the junction. The destination setting unit 23, in cooperation with the map information processing unit 24, searches for a location that is closest to the pedestrian's current location and where the vehicle can safely stop, and resets the searched location as a new junction. At this time, no operation by the vehicle user is required, so the destination setting unit 23 automatically sets the new junction. The communication unit 21 transmits destination information regarding the new junction to the mobile communication terminal 30.

[0059] In step S112, the merging point setting determination unit 27 determines whether or not the vehicle and the pedestrian have completed merging. If the merging has not completed, the process returns to step S105. On the other hand, if the merging has completed, the operation in FIG. 3 ends.

[0060] In this way, if the difference (t minutes) between the estimated arrival time of the vehicle and the estimated arrival time of the pedestrian at the junction point is less than the predetermined time (t1) (t<t1, other than Cases 1 and 2), the junction point is not changed. This makes it possible to avoid frequent re-setting of the junction point. For example, if the pedestrian is scheduled to arrive at the junction point three minutes earlier than the vehicle (t<t1, t=3), it is preferable for the pedestrian to wait for the vehicle's arrival, even if it is only about three minutes, so it is desirable not to change the junction point. Furthermore, if the vehicle is scheduled to arrive at the junction point three minutes earlier than the pedestrian (t<t1, t=3), if the junction point is changed while the vehicle user is driving thinking that they will arrive in three minutes, it is possible that the user will panic and experience problems while driving, so it is desirable not to change the junction point.

[0061] In step S105, the same threshold value (t1) is used to determine whether the vehicle is in case 1 or case 2, but this is not a limitation. For example, if the pedestrian is scheduled to arrive five minutes earlier than the vehicle, it may be acceptable to change the junction point. However, if the vehicle is scheduled to arrive five minutes earlier than the pedestrian, it may be better not to change the junction point for a vehicle that is not maneuverable. Furthermore, it is considered that pedestrians and vehicle users have different perceptions of waiting for the other party after arriving at the junction point. Therefore, the threshold value for case 1 may be set to t1, and the threshold value for case 2 may be set to t2, with different threshold values ​​for the two cases.

[0062] In step S113 , the destination setting unit 33 of the portable communication terminal 30 sets a meeting point in cooperation with the map information processing unit 34 based on the destination information acquired from the navigation device 1 .

[0063] In step S114, the route calculation unit 25 of the navigation device 1 calculates a route from the current vehicle location to the destination and an estimated time of arrival at the junction using the latitude and longitude of the new junction reset in the processing of step S107, step S109, or step S111. Then, the guidance unit 26 starts guidance from the current vehicle location to the destination. The route calculation unit 25 calculates the estimated time of arrival at the junction at predetermined intervals. The communication unit 21 transmits the current vehicle location and the estimated time of arrival at the junction to the mobile communication terminal 30.

[0064] In step S115, the route calculation unit 35 of the mobile communication terminal 30 calculates the route from the current location of the mobile communication terminal 30 to the destination and the estimated time of arrival at the junction, using the latitude and longitude of the junction set in the processing of step S113. Then, the guidance unit 36 ​​starts guidance from the current location of the mobile communication terminal 30 to the destination. The route calculation unit 35 calculates the estimated time of arrival at the junction at predetermined intervals. The communication unit 31 transmits the current location of the mobile communication terminal 30 and the estimated time of arrival at the junction to the navigation device 1.

[0065] The processes of steps S114 and S115 are performed at regular intervals (e.g., every 5 seconds). That is, each of the communication units 21 and 31 transmits the current location and the scheduled time at regular intervals (e.g., every 5 seconds).

[0066] In step S116, the junction setting determination unit 27 determines whether the junction (rendezvous) between the vehicle and the pedestrian has been completed. If the junction has not been completed, the process returns to step S105. On the other hand, if the junction has been completed, the operation in FIG. 3 ends.

[0067] According to the first embodiment, it is possible to present an appropriate junction (meeting place) depending on whether the vehicle or the pedestrian is scheduled to arrive first. This allows the pedestrian to be picked up by the vehicle smoothly at the junction while taking into consideration the surrounding area.

[0068] Second Embodiment Configuration A navigation device and a portable communication terminal according to a second embodiment are similar to the navigation device 1 and the portable communication terminal 30 according to the first embodiment, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted here (see FIGS. 1 and 2).

[0069] <Operation> Figure 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of navigation device 1 and mobile communication terminal 30 according to embodiment 2, which is the operation performed after step S109 in Figure 3. In embodiment 2, a case will be described in which the merging point determined in the processing of step S109 in Figure 3 is used as a temporary waiting location for the vehicle, and the vehicle and pedestrian merge at the originally set merging point.

[0070] In step S201, the junction setting determination unit 27 of the navigation device 1 sets the new junction confirmed in step S109 of FIG. 3 as a waiting point (W) for the vehicle.

[0071] In step S202, the destination setting unit 23 works with the map information processing unit 24 to search for a location where the vehicle can safely stop for a short time, such as a roundabout or a shoulder of the road with sufficient space, near the currently set junction point (the originally set junction point), and resets the searched location as the new junction point (M). Note that if the currently set junction point is a location where the vehicle can safely stop for a short time, the currently set junction point is set as the junction point (M).

[0072] If the vehicle has arrived at the waiting point (W), it is desirable for the vehicle to depart from the waiting point (W) taking into consideration the time required to reach the junction point (M) with the pedestrian. Also, if the vehicle has not yet arrived at the waiting point (W), staying at the waiting point (W) is not good for the environment even though the stay time there is short. Therefore, the stay time (Tw) at the waiting point (W) is set to, for example, 5 minutes or more.

[0073] In step S203, the junction setting determination unit 27 compares the difference (T) between the estimated time for the vehicle to arrive at the junction (M) from the current location via the waiting point (W) and the estimated time for the pedestrian to arrive at the junction (M) from the current location.

[0074] If the vehicle arrives T minutes earlier than the pedestrian (where T>Tw), the junction setting determination unit 27 determines that it is better to wait at the waiting point (W). In this case, the process proceeds to step S204.

[0075] On the other hand, if the vehicle arrives T minutes (where T≦Tw) earlier than the pedestrian, the process proceeds to step S209. If the vehicle arrives T minutes (where T≦Tw) earlier than the pedestrian, there is no need for the vehicle to wait at the waiting point (W), and going via the waiting point (W) would be a wasteful detour that would be considered unfriendly to the environment.

[0076] In step S204, the junction setting determination unit 27 determines whether the vehicle has arrived at the waiting point (W). If the vehicle has not arrived at the waiting point (W), the process proceeds to step S205. On the other hand, if the vehicle has arrived at the waiting point (W), the process proceeds to step S206.

[0077] In step S205, the destination setting unit 23 keeps the destination of the vehicle at the waiting point (W).

[0078] In step S206, the destination setting unit 23 sets the destination of the vehicle to the junction (M).

[0079] In step S207, the meeting point setting determination unit 27 determines whether the difference (T) calculated in step S203 is greater than 0. If the difference (T) is greater than 0, the process of step S207 is repeated. If the difference (T) becomes 0 or less, the process proceeds to step S208.

[0080] In step S208, the guidance unit 26 notifies the user of the vehicle of the departure. The notification of departure may be made by a screen display using the display device 12 or by voice using the voice output device 13.

[0081] In step S209, the destination setting unit 23 sets the destination of the vehicle to the junction (M).

[0082] In step S210, the junction setting determination unit 27 determines whether the vehicle has arrived at the waiting point (W). If the vehicle has not arrived at the waiting point (W), the process proceeds to step S211. On the other hand, if the vehicle has arrived at the waiting point (W), the process proceeds to step S207.

[0083] In step S211, the route guidance unit 26 notifies the user of the vehicle of the change of destination.

[0084] <Effects> According to the second embodiment, it is possible to present an appropriate junction (meeting place) depending on whether the vehicle or the pedestrian is scheduled to arrive first. This allows the pedestrian to board the vehicle smoothly at the junction while taking into consideration the surrounding area. Furthermore, convenience is improved by notifying the departure from the waiting area to the junction.

[0085] <Hardware Configuration> The functions of the communication unit 21, current location acquisition unit 22, destination setting unit 23, map information processing unit 24, route calculation unit 25, navigation and guidance unit 26, and junction setting determination unit 27 in the navigation device 1 described in embodiment 1 are realized by processing circuits. That is, the navigation device 1 includes a processing circuit for communicating with the mobile communication terminal 30, acquiring the current location of the vehicle, setting a junction, searching for or displaying map data, calculating a route, providing navigation and guidance, and determining whether or not to change the junction. The processing circuit may be dedicated hardware, or may be a processor (also referred to as a CPU, central processing unit, processing unit, arithmetic unit, microprocessor, microcomputer, or DSP (Digital Signal Processor)) that executes a program stored in a memory.

[0086] 5, the processing circuit 50 may be, for example, a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or a combination thereof. The functions of the current location acquisition unit 22, the destination setting unit 23, the map information processing unit 24, the route calculation unit 25, the navigation unit 26, and the junction setting determination unit 27 may be realized individually by the processing circuit 50, or all of the functions may be realized together by a single processing circuit 50.

[0087] When the processing circuit 50 is the processor 60 shown in FIG. 6 , the functions of the communication unit 21, the current location acquisition unit 22, the destination setting unit 23, the map information processing unit 24, the route calculation unit 25, the navigation unit 26, and the junction setting determination unit 27 are realized by software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware. The software or firmware is written as a program and stored in a memory 61 (corresponding to the memory 3 in FIG. 1 ). The processor 60 realizes each function by reading and executing the program recorded in the memory 61. That is, the navigation device 1 includes the memory 61 for storing a program that results in the execution of the steps of communicating with the mobile communication terminal 30, acquiring the current vehicle location, setting a junction, searching for or displaying map data, calculating a route, providing navigation, and determining whether to change the junction. It can also be said that these programs cause the computer to execute the procedures or methods of the communication unit 21, current location acquisition unit 22, destination setting unit 23, map information processing unit 24, route calculation unit 25, navigation unit 26, and junction setting determination unit 27. Here, the memory may be, for example, a non-volatile or volatile semiconductor memory such as a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), a flash memory, an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), or an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a magnetic disk, a flexible disk, an optical disk, a compact disk, a digital versatile disk (DVD), or any other storage medium that will be used in the future.

[0088] It should be noted that with regard to each function of the communication unit 21, current location acquisition unit 22, destination setting unit 23, map information processing unit 24, route calculation unit 25, guidance unit 26, and junction setting determination unit 27, some functions may be realized by dedicated hardware, and other functions may be realized by software or firmware.

[0089] Thus, the processing circuitry can implement each of the above-described functions through hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof.

[0090] Although the hardware configuration of the navigation device 1 has been described above, the hardware configuration of the mobile communication terminal 30 is similar.

[0091] Within the scope of the present disclosure, the embodiments can be freely combined, modified, or omitted as appropriate.

[0092] Although the present disclosure has been described in detail, the above description is illustrative in all respects and is not restrictive. It is understood that countless variations not illustrated can be envisioned.

[0093] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 navigation device, 2 ECU, 3 memory, 4 navigation processing unit, 5 input control unit, 6 output control unit, 7 input unit, 8 sensor, 9 user interface, 10 communication unit, 11 output unit, 12 display, 13 audio output unit, 14 map data recording unit, 21 communication unit, 22 current location acquisition unit, 23 destination setting unit, 24 map information processing unit, 25 route calculation unit, 26 guidance and guiding unit, 27 junction setting and determination unit, 30 mobile communication terminal, 31 communication unit, 32 current location acquisition unit, 33 destination setting unit, 34 map information processing unit, 35 route calculation unit, 36 guidance and guiding unit, 40 communication network, 50 processing circuit, 60 processor, 61 memory.

Claims

1. A navigation device comprising: a destination setting unit that sets a junction where a driver of a vehicle and a pedestrian outside the vehicle will meet; and a junction setting determination unit that determines whether to change the junction based on the scheduled time of arrival of the vehicle at the junction and the scheduled time of arrival of the pedestrian at the junction, wherein when the junction setting determination unit determines to change the junction, the destination setting unit resets the junction depending on whether the vehicle or the pedestrian is scheduled to arrive at the junction first.

2. The navigation device of claim 1, wherein the destination setting unit resets, if the vehicle is scheduled to arrive at the junction point before the pedestrian, a location where the vehicle can be parked as a new junction point, and, if the pedestrian is scheduled to arrive at the junction point before the vehicle, resets, as a new junction point, a location that is closest to the pedestrian's current location and where the vehicle can stop.

3. The navigation device of claim 2, wherein the destination setting unit resets the new junction when the vehicle is scheduled to arrive at the junction at a predetermined time or more earlier than the pedestrian, and resets the new junction when the pedestrian is scheduled to arrive at the junction at a predetermined time or more earlier than the vehicle.

4. A navigation device as described in claim 2, wherein, when the vehicle is scheduled to arrive at the junction point before the pedestrian, the destination setting unit resets the new junction point according to the time difference between the scheduled arrival time of the vehicle at the junction point and the scheduled arrival time of the pedestrian at the junction point.

5. The navigation device of claim 1, wherein the destination setting unit, when the vehicle is scheduled to arrive at the junction before the pedestrian, sets a location where the vehicle can wait before arriving at the junction as a waiting location, and resets the junction after the vehicle arrives at the waiting location.

6. The navigation device according to claim 5, further comprising a guidance section for providing guidance on a route to the junction, wherein the guidance section provides guidance for departing to the junction.

7. A navigation method comprising: setting a junction point where a driver of a vehicle and a pedestrian outside the vehicle are to meet; determining whether to change the junction point based on a scheduled time of arrival of the vehicle and a scheduled time of arrival of the pedestrian at the junction point; and, if it is determined that the junction point should be changed, resetting a new junction point depending on whether the vehicle or the pedestrian is scheduled to arrive at the junction point first.

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