Route information display device and route information display method

Abstract

A route information display device is provided which calculates a branch point in routes to a plurality of inputted destinations, and uses the branch point to control information modes. A route information display device according to the present invention includes: a departure point input unit ( 1012 ) that detects a current location of the user; a multiple destination input unit ( 1004 ) that accepts input of a plurality of destinations; a route search unit ( 1005 ) that searches for respective routes from the current location to the plurality of destinations; a branch point calculation unit ( 1007 ) that calculates a branch point of the respective searched routes; and a route information display unit ( 1011 ) that displays information regarding routes to the branch point and information regarding routes beyond the branch point in different modes, wherein the route information display device supports easy comprehension of information by the user by calculating a branch point of a plurality of inputted destinations and providing information in consideration of the branch point.

1 . A route information display device comprising:
 a departure point input unit operable to accept input of a departure point;   a multiple destination input unit operable to accept input of a plurality of different destination points;   a route search unit operable to search for routes from the departure point to the respective destinations as point sequences;   a branch point calculation unit operable to calculate a last point among points that are shared by the respective routes as a branch point;   a route information display unit operable to display information regarding the route using the branch point;   a destination selection unit operable to select one of the destinations inputted to said multiple destination input unit;   a branch point candidate selection unit operable to select, as a branch point candidate, a point included in a route from the departure point to the destination selected by said multiple destination selection unit;   a branch point route search unit operable to search for a route from the branch point selected by said branch point candidate selection unit to a destination inputted to said destination input unit other than the destination selected by said destination selection unit; and   a branch point selection unit operable to select a branch point from the route searched out by said branch point route search unit,   wherein said route information display unit is operable to display information regarding the route using the branch point selected by said branch point selection unit.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The route information display device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a route comparison unit operable to compare, using route costs, the route searched out by said branch point route search unit with the route from the departure point to the destination which has been searched out by said route search unit,   wherein said branch point selection unit is operable to select from the branch point candidates a branch point having a route cost that is within a predetermined range, according to said route comparison unit, and   said display unit is operable to display information regarding the route using the branch point selected by said branch point selection unit.   
     
     
         4 . The route information display device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a destination estimated arrival time acquisition unit operable to acquire estimated times of arrival at the respective destinations inputted to said destination input unit,   wherein said branch point selection unit is operable to select a branch point from the branch point candidates based on the route searched out by said branch point route search unit and the destination estimated times of arrival.   
     
     
         5 . The route information display device according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein said destination estimated arrival time acquisition unit is operable to acquire the estimated times from an external information providing service via a network.   
     
     
         6 . The route information display device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a destination classification judgment unit operable to judge classifications of destinations inputted to said destination input unit,   wherein said branch point selection unit is operable to select the branch point by setting the destinations as branch point candidates according to similarities/differences of the classifications of the destinations classified by said destination classification judgment unit.   
     
     
         7 . The route information display device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a destination duration-of-stay judgment unit operable to judge a duration of stay for each classification of the destinations inputted to said destination input unit,   wherein said branch point selection unit is operable to select the branch point according to the durations of stay judged by said destination duration-of-stay judgment unit.   
     
     
         8 . The route information display device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a travel history accumulation unit operable to accumulate a point and a transit time history of the point,   wherein said branch point selection unit is operable to judge, using said travel history accumulation unit, whether a history that passes through the destinations inputted to said destination input unit exists, and to select the branch point according to whether the pass-through exists.   
     
     
         9 . The route information display device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a traffic regulation accumulation unit operable to accumulate information regarding a traffic regulation of a route,   wherein said branch point selection unit is operable to correct the location of the selected branch point based on the traffic regulation indicated by the information accumulated in said traffic regulation accumulation unit.   
     
     
         10 - 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A route information display method comprising:
 a departure point input step of accepting input of a departure point;   a multiple destination input step of accepting input of a plurality of different destination points;   a route search step of searching for routes from the departure point to the respective destinations as point sequences;   a branch point calculation step of calculating a last point among points that are shared by the respective routes as a branch point;   a display step of displaying information regarding the route using the branch point;   a destination selection step of selecting one of the destinations inputted in said multiple destination input step;   a branch point candidate selection step of selecting, as a branch point candidate, a point included in a route from the departure point to the destination selected in said destination selection step;   a branch point route search step of searching for a route from the branch point selected in said branch point candidate selection step to a destination inputted in said multiple destination input step other than the destination selected in said destination selection step; and   a branch point selection step of selecting a branch point from the route searched out in said branch point route search step,   wherein in said route information display step, information regarding the route is displayed using the branch point selected in said branch point selection step.   
     
     
         26 . A program stored on a computer-readable medium that causes the computer to execute a route information display method, the method comprising:
 a departure point input step of accepting input of a departure point;   a multiple destination input step of accepting input of a plurality of different destination points;   a route search step of searching for routes from the departure point to the respective destinations as point sequences;   a branch point calculation step of calculating a last point among points that are shared by the respective routes as a branch point;   a display step of displaying information regarding the route using the branch point;   a destination selection step of selecting one of the destinations inputted in said multiple destination input step;   a branch point candidate selection step of selecting, as a branch point candidate, a point included in a route from the departure point to the destination selected in said destination selection step;   a branch point route search step of searching for a route from the branch point selected in said branch point candidate selection step to a destination inputted in said multiple destination input step other than the destination selected in said destination selection step; and   a branch point selection step of selecting a branch point from the route searched out in said branch point route search step,   wherein in said route information display step, information regarding the route is displayed using the branch point selected in said branch point selection step.