Abstract: A route calculation device is disclosed. The route calculation device sets a recommended route leading from a departure point through via-points and sets an order of the via-points in the recommended route, through: (1) calculating multiple optimum routes from an origin point of a departure side route to multiple unarranged via-points and selecting one unarranged via-point that constitutes one optimum route that has minimum cost among the multiple optimum routes; (2) determining the place of the one unarranged via-point in the order so that the recommended route passes through the one unarranged via-point one via-point later than the origin point, adding the one optimum route to the departure side route, and setting the origin point to the one unarranged via-point; and (3) calculating, when the number of unarranged via-points becomes one, the optimum route between the origin point and the last one unarranged via-point.

Abstract: A navigation system for providing a destination of a trip and for use in a vehicle includes a position detector for detecting a current position of the vehicle, a condition detector for detecting a combination of a plurality of predetermined vehicle conditions when the vehicle is stopping at a stop location, a first determination unit for determining that the stop location is one of a stop-by place of the trip and the destination of the trip based on the combination of the plurality of the predetermined vehicle conditions detected by the condition detector, a storage unit for storing at least the destination of the trip based on a determination result by the first determination unit and an information provision unit for providing destination information regarding the trip at least based on the destination stored in the storage unit.

Abstract: When a vehicle deviates from a guide route at a first branch point, the state of the first branch point is memorized. Afterward, when a second branch point becomes a target for a route guide and the state of the second branch point is similar to the memorized state, a user of the vehicle is provided with a guide for preventing deviation from the guide route at the second branch point with a manner of the guide changed. This procedure allows learning of tendency of the user with respect to a state apt to cause the user to mistake a guide route. A guide to help prevent a user from deviating from a guide route at a branch point can be thus performed appropriately.

Abstract: A route calculation device is disclosed. The route calculation device sets a recommended route leading from a departure point through via-points and sets an order of the via-points in the recommended route, through: (1) calculating multiple optimum routes from an origin point of a departure side route to multiple unarranged via-points and selecting one unarranged via-point that constitutes one optimum route that has minimum cost among the multiple optimum routes; (2) determining the place of the one unarranged via-point in the order so that the recommended route passes through the one unarranged via-point one via-point later than the origin point, adding the one optimum route to the departure side route, and setting the origin point to the one unarranged via-point; and (3) calculating, when the number of unarranged via-points becomes one, the optimum route between the origin point and the last one unarranged via-point.

Abstract: A navigation system, having a route calculation unit for providing a navigation route from a start point to a destination based on an evaluation of a plurality of cost parameters by an evaluation function, includes a storage unit for storing a weighting factor determination relation for determining a weighting factor of the cost parameter based on a travel situation of predetermined type identified in a specific length of time and a weighting factor determination unit for determining the weighting factor based on the weighting factor determination relation and the travel situation derived from an actual state of traveling.

Abstract: When a vehicle deviates from a guide route at a first branch point, the state of the first branch point is memorized. Afterward, when a second branch point becomes a target for a route guide and the state of the second branch point is similar to the memorized state, a user of the vehicle is provided with a guide for preventing deviation from the guide route at the second branch point with a manner of the guide changed. This procedure allows learning of tendency of the user with respect to a state apt to cause the user to mistake a guide route. A guide to help prevent a user from deviating from a guide route at a branch point can be thus performed appropriately.

Abstract: A navigation system is mounted in a vehicle positioned in a facility, whose on-site passage data is unavailable for the system. In this case, the system determines whether a facility exit is learned. When the facility exit is learned, the system defines, as a facility exit coordinates, the learned coordinates. When the facility exit is not learned, the system defines, as the facility coordinates, a guidance coordinates, which is used to terminate a route guidance when the facility is designated as a destination. The system then retrieves a route using the defined facility exit coordinates as a departure position. Even when the on-site passage data is unavailable, defining the facility exit allows the system to highly accurately retrieve a route passing through the actual facility exit.

Abstract: A navigation system, having a route calculation unit for providing a navigation route from a start point to a destination based on an evaluation of a plurality of cost parameters by an evaluation function, includes a storage unit for storing a weighting factor determination relation for determining a weighting factor of the cost parameter based on a travel situation of predetermined type identified in a specific length of time and a weighting factor determination unit for determining the weighting factor based on the weighting factor determination relation and the travel situation derived from an actual state of traveling.

Abstract: A navigation system for providing a destination of a trip and for use in a vehicle includes a position detector for detecting a current position of the vehicle, a condition detector for detecting a combination of a plurality of predetermined vehicle conditions when the vehicle is stopping at a stop location, a first determination unit for determining that the stop location is one of a stop-by place of the trip and the destination of the trip based on the combination of the plurality of the predetermined vehicle conditions detected by the condition detector, a storage unit for storing at least the destination of the trip based on a determination result by the first determination unit and an information provision unit for providing destination information regarding the trip at least based on the destination stored in the storage unit.

Abstract: A navigation system having a travel situation detection function for providing a navigation route of a travel between a start point and an end point includes a storage unit and an inference engine. The storage unit stores a travel purpose determiner that suitably determines a travel purpose according to a travel situation of a predetermined type having time specificity, and the inference engine infers the end point of the travel based on the travel purpose that results from an application of a detected travel situation by the travel situation detection function to the travel purpose determiner.

Abstract: A vehicle travel-route guidance apparatus. The apparatus includes a map-storing device having internal intersection information that is furnished for executing a right-hand turn or a left-hand turn to bypass an intersection. The guidance apparatus further includes a device that determines whether searched links or nodes have internal intersection information associated therewith, either during, or after, link/node cost evaluation during a destination route search by the control unit. The guidance apparatus also includes a device for relatively changing an evaluation value of the link/node to preferentially include the link/node in a destination route when the control unit searches for a destination route by evaluation-value calculation, thereby ensuring that the most desirable destination route is chosen.