Route guidance method and route guidance device

Abstract

Provided is a drive assistance method executed by a route guidance device (40) that executes route guidance on the basis of first map information indicating a first route to a destination using a map of a first format and second map information indicating a second route to the destination using a map of a second format different from the first format. The drive assistance method includes: outputting confirmation information for confirming whether or not to switch to route guidance based on the first route, upon receiving an operation of selecting the first map information while the second map information is displayed on a screen mounted in a vehicle; switching the object to be displayed on the screen to the first map information and switching route guidance being executed to the route guidance based on the first route, upon receiving an instruction to switch to the route guidance based on the first route; and switching the object to be displayed on the screen to the first map information and continuing the route guidance based on the second route that is being executed, upon receiving an instruction not to switch to the route guidance based on the first route.

Description

Route guidance method and route guidance device

[0001] The present invention relates to a route guidance method and a route guidance device.

[0002] In a driving assistance system mounted on a vehicle, when guiding a travel route to a destination, a plurality of pieces of map information of different formats are sometimes appropriately switched and used. For example, when a vehicle travels on a general road, the driving assistance system displays map information in a format specialized for regional information display, and guides a route searched using the displayed map information. Further, when the vehicle enters an expressway, the driving assistance system switches to displaying high-precision format map information used for automatic driving route travel support, and performing route guidance searched using the displayed map information. As described above, by switching the displayed map information and route guidance according to the type of road on which the vehicle is traveling, appropriate driving assistance can be provided to the user according to the travel situation.

[0003] International Publication No. 2021 / 186600

[0004] However, the above-mentioned driving assistance system has a problem in that after the map information and the route guidance are switched, it is not possible to return only the display of the map information to the information before the switching while continuing the route guidance after the switching.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a route guidance method and a route guidance device that can switch only the display of map information to another format while continuing the ongoing route guidance, when displaying map information indicating a predetermined route and executing route guidance based on this route.

[0006] A route guidance method according to one aspect of the present invention includes displaying second map information on a screen mounted on a vehicle and performing route guidance based on the second route, and when an operation to select first map information as the display target on the screen is received, confirmation information is output to confirm whether or not to switch the currently running route guidance to route guidance based on the first route, and when an instruction to switch to route guidance based on the first route is received in response to the confirmation information, the display target on the screen is switched to the first map information and the currently running route guidance is switched to route guidance based on the first route, and when an instruction not to switch to route guidance based on the first route is received, the display target on the screen is switched to the first map information and the currently running route guidance based on the second route is continued.

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, when displaying map information indicating a predetermined route and performing route guidance based on this route, it is possible to switch only the display of the map information to another format while continuing the ongoing route guidance.

[0008] Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a driver assistance system using a route guidance device according to this embodiment. Figure 2 is a flowchart showing the processes performed by the route guidance device. Figure 3 is an example of confirmation information displayed on the input / output device of the route guidance device.

[0009] The following description will refer to the drawings and explain the route guidance device and route guidance method according to this embodiment, using the case where they are used in a driver assistance system as an example.

[0010] Referring to Figure 1, the configuration of the driver assistance system 1 according to this embodiment will be described. The driver assistance system 1 is a system that guides the vehicle X to its destination using a map and provides driving assistance. The vehicle X is a vehicle equipped with an autonomous driving function. The driver assistance system 1 is mounted on the vehicle X and mainly consists of a storage device 10, a position detection device 20, a driver assistance device 30, and a route guidance device 40. The storage device 10 may be provided on an external server (not shown) that is communicatively connected to the route guidance device 40.

[0011] The storage device 10 includes a first map information storage unit 11 and a second map information storage unit 12. The first map information storage unit 11 stores first map information in a format specialized for regional information. The second map information storage unit 12 stores second map information in a format with higher precision than the first map information. The second map information is high-precision map information used to realize autonomous driving. For example, the second map information is map information that includes high-precision three-dimensional data, and is map information that is defined in detail, including the position of white lines on roads, the coordinates of lanes, etc.

[0012] The position detection device 20 detects the current position of vehicle X by, for example, receiving GNSS signals from multiple satellites for the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and calculating position information. One example of GNSS is GPS (Global Positioning System).

[0013] The driver assistance device 30 includes a first control device 31. The first control device 31 is a microcomputer (controller) mainly composed of a CPU, memory, and input / output interface. The memory has a computer program (application) installed that causes the information terminal to function as the driver assistance device 30 in the driver assistance system 1. By executing the computer program, the first control device 31 realizes one or more functions of the driver assistance device 30.

[0014] The first control device 31 includes a determination unit 311 and a support processing unit 312. The determination unit 311 determines whether or not the operating conditions for driving assistance have been met. In this embodiment, there are two types of roads: a first type and a second type. A first type road is a general road, and a second type road is an expressway. One of the operating conditions for driving assistance is that vehicle X is traveling on a second type road. The determination unit 311 determines the type of road on which vehicle X is traveling based on the current position of vehicle X detected by the position detection device 20, or a signal transmitted from a transmitter (not shown) installed on the road. If the determination unit 311 determines that vehicle X has entered a second type road, it determines that the operating conditions for driving assistance have been met.

[0015] The support processing unit 312 performs driving assistance when the determination unit 311 determines that the conditions for operating driving assistance have been met. Driving assistance is a function that assists the driver's driving operations by automatically executing one or more vehicle controls from among multiple vehicle controls such as steering control, braking force control, driving force control, and shift control. For example, if both driving force and braking force control, as well as steering control, are executed by the support processing unit 312, both accelerator and brake operations, as well as steering operations, are automated. As a result, in addition to automatic driving along the driving path, route driving assistance including lane changes to maintain the driving path is performed.

[0016] The route guidance device 40 comprises an input / output device 41 and a second control device 42. The input / output device 41 is, for example, a touch panel display. The input / output device 41 has a screen and, under the control of the second control device 42, displays necessary information on the screen and inputs the operations performed by the user on the screen according to the displayed information.

[0017] The second control device 42 is a microcomputer (controller) mainly composed of a CPU, memory, and input / output interface. The memory contains a computer program (application) that enables the information terminal to function as a route guidance device 40 in the driver assistance system 1. By executing the computer program, the second control device 42 realizes one or more functions of the route guidance device 40.

[0018] The second control device 42 includes a first route generation unit 421, a first route guidance unit 422, a second route generation unit 423, a second route guidance unit 424, and a switching unit 425.

[0019] The first route generation unit 421 generates a first route from the current location of vehicle X to the destination using logic corresponding to the first map information, and superimposes the generated first route onto the first map information. The first route guidance unit 422 performs route guidance based on the first route. The second route generation unit 423 generates a second route from the current location of vehicle X to the destination using logic corresponding to the second map information, and superimposes the generated second route onto the second map information. As described above, since the first map information and the second map information have different formats, the route search logic in the first route generation unit 421 and the second route generation unit 423 are also different. That is, the routes are searched using different logic for the first route and the second route. The second route guidance unit 424 performs route guidance based on the second route. The first route guidance unit 422 and the second route guidance unit 424 perform route guidance by displaying information or outputting voice.

[0020] The switching unit 425 displays the first map information generated by the first route generation unit 421 on the input / output device 41 and sets the system to execute route guidance based on the first route. When the switching unit 425 detects that the operating conditions for driver assistance by the driver assistance device 30 have been met, it switches the display target on the input / output device 41 to the second map information and switches the currently executed route guidance to route guidance based on the second route.

[0021] Furthermore, when the user performs an operation to select the first map information as the display target on the input / output device 41, the switching unit 425 accepts this operation and outputs confirmation information to confirm whether or not to switch the currently running route guidance to route guidance based on the first route. If the user instructs to switch to route guidance based on the first route in response to the outputted confirmation information, the switching unit 425 accepts this instruction, switches the display target on the input / output device 41 to the first map information, and switches the currently running route guidance to route guidance based on the first route. If the user instructs not to switch to route guidance based on the first route, the switching unit 425 accepts this instruction, switches the display target on the input / output device 41 to the first map information, and continues the currently running route guidance based on the second route.

[0022] Next, the route guidance process performed in the driver assistance system 1 according to this embodiment will be described. Figure 2 shows the process performed by the route guidance device 40 when route guidance is performed while the vehicle X is on a public road.

[0023] In the route guidance device 40, when an application for using the driver assistance system 1 is activated by user operation, the first control device 31 and the second control device 42 start the process of acquiring the current position of vehicle X from the position detection device 20 at predetermined time intervals (S1).

[0024] After the application is launched, when the user sets a destination in the input / output device 41 (S2: YES), the first route generation unit 421 searches for a route from the vehicle X's current location to the destination using logic corresponding to the first map information, and generates a first route based on the search results. The first route generation unit 421 overlays the generated first route onto the first map information and displays the first map information with the first route overlaid on the input / output device 41. The first route guidance unit 422 also starts route guidance based on the first route (S3).

[0025] While the route guidance device 40 is providing route guidance, the determination unit 311 of the driver assistance device 30 monitors whether the operating conditions for driver assistance have been met. In this embodiment, the determination unit 311 determines that the operating conditions for driver assistance for automated driving have been met when it detects that vehicle X has entered a highway, based on the position of vehicle X detected by the position detection device 20.

[0026] When the switching unit 425 detects that the conditions for operating the driving assistance have been met by the determination unit 311 (S4: YES), it outputs a suggestion screen information to the input / output device 41 indicating a suggestion to switch the display target to the second map information. If the user approves the suggestion, the switching unit 425 decides to switch the display target to the input / output device 41 from the first map information to the second map information.

[0027] Here, the second route generation unit 423 searches for a route from the vehicle X's current location to the destination using logic corresponding to the second map information, and generates a second route based on the search results. At this time, the second route generation unit 423 generates the second route by inheriting information such as the destination coordinates used by the first route generation unit 421. This eliminates the need for the user to set the destination again, saving time and effort. The logic for searching for a route according to the second map information may differ from the logic for searching for a route according to the first map information. The second route generation unit 423 overlays the generated second route onto the second map information, generates confirmation screen information including the second map information with the second route overlaid, and displays it on the input / output device 41.

[0028] When the user initiates a route guidance operation on the displayed confirmation screen information, the second route guidance unit 424 starts route guidance based on the second route. As a result, the displayed object switches to the second map information, and the route guidance switches to the second route (S5).

[0029] When route guidance based on the second map information and the second route is being output, if the user selects the first map information as the display target for the input / output device 41 (S6: YES), the switching unit 425 outputs confirmation information (S7). The output confirmation information is for confirming whether or not to switch the currently running route guidance to route guidance based on the first route.

[0030] Figure 3 shows an example of confirmation information P displayed on the input / output device 41. The confirmation information P shown in Figure 3 includes text information D of the confirmation content, "Do you want to resume the route guidance from before the switch?", and a "Yes" button E for the user to input their intention to approve the confirmation. "Route guidance from before the switch" in text information D refers to route guidance based on the first route.

[0031] At this point, if the user presses the "Yes" button E in response to the outputted confirmation information, the system is instructed to switch to route guidance based on the first route (S8: YES). When instructed to switch to route guidance based on the first route, the switching unit 425 switches the display target on the input / output device 41 to the first map information and sends an instruction to switch the currently running route guidance to route guidance based on the first route. As a result, the first route generation unit 421 displays the first map information on the input / output device 41, and the first route guidance unit 422 executes route guidance based on the first route (S9).

[0032] Furthermore, if the user does not press the "Yes" button E within a predetermined time, the switching unit 425 determines that it has been instructed not to switch to route guidance based on the first route (S8: NO). When the switching unit 425 determines that it has been instructed not to switch to route guidance based on the first route, it switches the display target to the input / output device 41 to the first map information and sends an instruction to continue the route guidance based on the second route that is currently being executed. As a result, the first route generation unit 421 displays the first map information on the input / output device 41, and the second route guidance unit 424 continues route guidance based on the second route (S10).

[0033] Furthermore, if the user does not select the first map information as the display target for the input / output device 41 in step S6 (S6: NO), the process returns to step S6 again.

[0034] According to the above embodiment, the route guidance method is a route guidance method executed by a route guidance device that performs route guidance based on first map information that shows a first route to a destination using a map of a first format, and second map information that shows a second route to a destination using a map of a second format different from the first format. The route guidance method displays the second map information on a screen mounted on the vehicle and performs route guidance based on the second route. When the device receives an operation to select the first map information as the display target on the screen, it outputs confirmation information to confirm whether or not to switch the currently running route guidance to route guidance based on the first route. When the device receives an instruction to switch to route guidance based on the first route in response to the confirmation information, it switches the display target on the screen to the first map information and switches the currently running route guidance to route guidance based on the first route. When the device receives an instruction not to switch to route guidance based on the first route, it switches the display target on the screen to the first map information and continues the currently running route guidance based on the second route.

[0035] According to this, when displaying map information indicating a predetermined route and performing route guidance based on this route, it is possible to switch only the display of the map information to another format while continuing the ongoing route guidance based on the received operation.

[0036] Furthermore, prior to executing route guidance based on the second route, the first map information may be displayed on the screen and route guidance based on the first route may be executed. When the conditions for switching to displaying the second map information are met, the display target on the screen may be switched to the second map information, and the currently running route guidance may be switched to route guidance based on the second route. This allows the map information and route guidance to be automatically switched as appropriate according to the driving situation.

[0037] Furthermore, the first route and the second route may be routes found using different logic. This allows for the search of a route suitable for the map information being used.

[0038] Furthermore, the second map information is map information used by the driver assistance system that provides driving assistance for the vehicle, and when the operating conditions for driver assistance by the driver assistance system are met, it may be determined that the conditions for switching to displaying the second map information have been met. This makes it possible to automatically switch the map information to be output to the user as appropriate, according to the operating status of the driver assistance by the driver assistance system.

[0039] Furthermore, if the system detects that the road the vehicle is traveling on has changed from a regular road to a highway, it may determine that the conditions for activating driver assistance by the driver assistance system have been met. This allows the system to switch the displayed information to a second map for driver assistance such as autonomous driving when driving on a highway.

[0040] As described above, embodiments of the present invention have been presented, but the statements and drawings that constitute part of this disclosure should not be understood as limiting the invention. Various alternative embodiments, examples, and operational techniques will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.

[0041] 1: Driving support system, 10: Storage device, 11: First map information storage unit, 12: Second map information storage unit, 20: Position detection device, 30: Driving support device, 31: First control device, 40: Route guidance device, 41: Input / output device, 42: Second control device, 311: Determination unit, 312: Support processing unit, 421: First route generation unit, 422: First route guidance unit, 423: Second route generation unit, 424: Second route guidance unit, 425: Switching unit

Claims

1. A route guidance method performed by a route guidance device that performs route guidance based on first map information showing a first route to a destination using a map of a first format, and second map information showing a second route to the destination using a map of a second format different from the first format, wherein the second map information is displayed on a screen mounted on a vehicle and route guidance based on the second route is performed, and when an operation is received to select the first map information as the display target on the screen, confirmation information is output to confirm whether or not to switch the currently performed route guidance to route guidance based on the first route, and when an instruction to switch to route guidance based on the first route is received in response to the confirmation information, the display target on the screen is switched to the first map information and the currently performed route guidance based on the first route is switched, and when an instruction not to switch to route guidance based on the first route is received, the display target on the screen is switched to the first map information and route guidance based on the second route is continued.

2. The route guidance method according to claim 1, wherein, prior to executing route guidance based on the second route, the first map information is displayed on the screen and route guidance based on the first route is executed, and when the condition for switching the display to the second map information is met, the display target on the screen is switched to the second map information and the route guidance currently being executed is switched to route guidance based on the second route.

3. The route guidance method according to claim 1, wherein the first route and the second route are routes searched using different logic.

4. The route guidance method according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the second map information is map information used by a driver assistance device that provides driving assistance for the vehicle, and when the operating conditions for the driver assistance by the driver assistance device are met, it is determined that the display switching conditions for the second map information have been met.

5. The route guidance method according to claim 4, wherein when it is detected that the road on which the vehicle is traveling has changed from an ordinary road to an expressway, it is determined that the conditions for operating the driving assistance by the driving assistance device have been met.

6. A route guidance device that displays either first map information showing a first route to a destination using a first type of map, or second map information showing a second route to the destination using a second type of map, on a screen mounted on a vehicle, and performs route guidance based on the first or second route, comprising: an input / output device that receives operations and has the screen; a controller, the controller displays the first map information on the screen and performs route guidance based on the first route, when a condition for switching the display to the second map information is met, switches the display target on the screen to the second map information and switches the currently running route guidance to route guidance based on the second route, when it receives an operation to return the display target on the screen to the first map information, outputs confirmation information to confirm whether or not to switch the currently running route guidance to route guidance based on the first route, and when it receives an instruction to switch to route guidance based on the first route in response to the confirmation information, switches the display target on the screen to the first map information and switches the currently running route guidance to route guidance based on the first route, A route guidance device that, upon receiving an instruction not to switch to route guidance based on the first route, switches the display target on the screen to the first map information and continues route guidance based on the second route that is currently being executed.

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