Abstract: Route search systems, methods, and programs acquire movement paths of a plurality of users, and acquire difference values for a plurality of characteristics. The difference values each indicate a difference between a characteristic of a reference route and a characteristic of the movement paths of the plurality of users. Systems, methods, and programs classify the movement paths of each of the users into a plurality of types such that movement paths with a plurality of similar difference values belong to a same type, set a cost of a road for each of the types; and search for a route on the basis of the set cost.

Abstract: Route search systems, methods, and programs acquire movement paths of a plurality of users, and classify, on the basis of a plurality of characteristics of the movement paths of the plurality of users, the movement paths of each of the users into a plurality of types such that movement paths with a plurality of similar characteristics belong to a same type. The systems, methods, and programs set a cost for each of the types and each attribute of a road on the basis of the plurality of movement paths of each of the types, classify, on the basis of a plurality of characteristics of a movement path of a route searcher, the route searcher into one of the types, and search for a route on the basis of the cost which is set for the type of the route searcher.

Abstract: Navigation systems, methods, and programs output on an output device information on a set normal travel route when a guidance route for providing guidance to a user is not set. The systems, methods, and programs set a reference route satisfying a predetermined first setting condition as the normal travel route, and when the user travels along a temporary route that shares a start point and an end point with the reference route and is different from the reference route, specify a temporary travel factor that is a factor in which the user travels along the temporary route. The systems, methods, and programs set a second setting condition that varies depending on a content of the specified temporary travel factor, and change the normal travel route from the reference route to the temporary route, based on the second setting condition.

Abstract: Route search systems, methods, and programs acquire movement paths of a plurality of users, and classify, on the basis of a plurality of characteristics of the movement paths of the plurality of users, the movement paths of each of the users into a plurality of types such that movement paths with a plurality of similar characteristics belong to a same type. The systems, methods, and programs set a cost for each of the types and each attribute of a road on the basis of the plurality of movement paths of each of the types, classify, on the basis of a plurality of characteristics of a movement path of a route searcher, the route searcher into one of the types, and search for a route on the basis of the cost which is set for the type of the route searcher.

Abstract: Route search systems, methods, and programs acquire movement paths of a plurality of users, and acquire difference values for a plurality of characteristics. The difference values each indicate a difference between a characteristic of a reference route and a characteristic of the movement paths of the plurality of users. Systems, methods, and programs classify the movement paths of each of the users into a plurality of types such that movement paths with a plurality of similar difference values belong to a same type, set a cost of a road for each of the types; and search for a route on the basis of the set cost.

Abstract: Route setting systems, methods, and programs set a guide route from a departure location to a destination location, display the set guide route on a display superimposed on a map image, receive an operation by a user designating a location on the displayed map image, acquire a road status of a road in the vicinity of the designated location, and select a pass-through road on the basis of the acquired road status. The pass-through road is a road by which the guide route will pass from the road in the vicinity of the designated location. The systems methods, and programs change the set guide route to a route that leads from the departure location to the destination location by way of the selected pass-through road.

Abstract: Navigation systems, methods, and programs output on an output device information on a set normal travel route when a guidance route for providing guidance to a user is not set. The systems, methods, and programs set a reference route satisfying a predetermined first setting condition as the normal travel route, and when the user travels along a temporary route that shares a start point and an end point with the reference route and is different from the reference route, specify a temporary travel factor that is a factor in which the user travels along the temporary route. The systems, methods, and programs set a second setting condition that varies depending on a content of the specified temporary travel factor, and change the normal travel route from the reference route to the temporary route, based on the second setting condition.

Abstract: Route setting systems, methods, and programs set a guide route from a departure location to a destination location, display the set guide route on a display superimposed on a map image, receive an operation by a user designating a location on the displayed map image, acquire a road status of a road in the vicinity of the designated location, and select a pass-through road on the basis of the acquired road status. The pass-through road is a road by which the guide route will pass from the road in the vicinity of the designated location. The systems methods, and programs change the set guide route to a route that leads from the departure location to the destination location by way of the selected pass-through road.

Abstract: From a mobile communication device, road information about either a preliminarily registered point or an arbitrary point on a route from a present position to a destination is transmitted to and received in a network navigation center via a cellular phone base station and a general telephone network. Based on that road information, the network navigation center retrieves traffic information about the registered point or the arbitrary point on the route, and then transmits the retrieved traffic information to the mobile communication device via the general telephone network and the cellular phone base station. The traffic information includes traffic congestion area data about the registered point or the arbitrary point on the route, which is displayed on a display in the mobile communication device wherein the user is informed of future traffic information like traffic congestion.

Abstract: From a mobile communication device (12), road information (RI) about either a preliminarily registered point or an arbitrary point on a route from a present position to a destination is transmitted to and received in a network navigation center (10) via a cellular phone base station (14) and a general telephone network (16). Based on that road information RI, the network navigation center (10) retrieves traffic information (TI) about the registered point or the arbitrary point on the route, and then transmits the retrieved traffic information (TI) to the mobile communication device (12) via the general telephone network (16) and the cellular phone base station (14). The traffic information (TI) is comprised of traffic congestion area data about the registered point or the arbitrary point on the route, which displayed on a display (43) in the mobile communication device (12); whereby the user is informed of future traffic information like traffic congestion.

Abstract: The present invention prevents execution of a detour route search, responsive to and in accordance with received VICS data, where certain conditions are not met. To this end, the system of the invention calculates a time RT1 required for a vehicle to move from its present location to a first point where the vehicle must turn to the right or left to follow a previously determined guidance route and also calculates a time CT required to conduct a route re-search based on the received VICS data. If RT1.ltoreq.CT the system then performs a route re-search based on the received VICS data. On the other hand, if RT1<CT execution of the route re-search is prohibited.

Abstract: Lane change guidance information is output based on data for the next guide intersection on a route calculated in advance and on detection of the driving lane in which the vehicle is currently driven. The system includes present position detection, direction of advance determination for guide intersections along the preset route, driving lane determination, and guidance information output for instructing the driver when direction to be taken at a guide intersection does not match the current driving lane, whereby adequate guidance information is provided the driver regarding lane changes when the vehicle is driven on a road having two or more lanes.

Abstract: The vehicle navigation system suggests route to a destination and repeats searching for a new optimal route in response to changes in traffic conditions near the present position of the vehicle. The system includes a present position calculator 4A for calculating the present position of the vehicle, an information storage unit 3 for storing road data 3B for searching, a traffic information receiver 4F for acquiring traffic information 5, a route searcher 4B for searching for the optimal route from the present position to the destination based on a navigation program 3A, the road data, and the acquired traffic information, and an area setter 4C for setting a given range near the present position of the vehicle, whereby the route searcher selects and acquires traffic information corresponding to the road data within the set area, and searches for the optimal route by first changing road data based on the acquired traffic information.