Abstract: An acquisition unit acquires pieces of information including information related to a vehicle, information related to the environment inside and outside the vehicle, and information related to a driver on board the vehicle. A determination unit determines priorities of the pieces of information acquired by the acquisition unit on the basis of a service or the like used by the driver among services or the likes provided using information accumulated in a server device. A selection unit selects a piece of information to be transmitted to the server device from among the pieces of information acquired by the acquisition unit on the basis of the priorities determined by the determination unit. A communication unit transmits the piece of information selected by the selection unit to the server device.

Abstract: A navigation system having a central device which uses a link shape compression unit to compress information of altitude changes of a road link obtained from a three-dimensional road map, and calculates a geometry parameter based on variation of energy of a vehicle travelling on the road link. An on-board terminal device estimates the vehicle's average travelling pattern by using a travel-pattern-estimation unit based on the geometry parameter calculated by the central device, a link-travelling time estimated from statistically-stored traffic information, and a link length. The on-board terminal device further calculates fuel consumption of the vehicle travelling on each road link based on the estimated travelling pattern and parameters of the vehicle by using a fuel-consumption calculation unit, and then, searches a fuel-efficient route by using the fuel consumption as a link cost. The on-board terminal device has a vehicle-type selector for selecting a type of the vehicle.

Abstract: A central device uses a link shape compression unit to compress information of shape of ups and downs of a road link obtained from a three-dimensional road map, and calculates a geometry parameter based on variation of energy of a vehicle travelling on the road link. An on-board terminal device estimates the vehicle's average travelling pattern by using a travel-pattern-estimation unit based on the geometry parameter calculated by the central device, a link-travelling time estimated from statistically-stored traffic information, and a link length. The on-board terminal device further calculates fuel consumption of the vehicle travelling on each road link based on the estimated travelling pattern and parameters of the vehicle by using a fuel-consumption calculation unit, and then, searches a fuel-efficient route by using the fuel consumption as a link cost. The on-board terminal device has a vehicle-type selector for selecting a type of the vehicle.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to predict energy consumptions of a vehicle, using geographic characteristic values which are independent from particular driving patterns and vehicle parameters and unique to respective links. A navigation server predicts energies which are consumed when a vehicle runs on links. The navigation server calculates geographic characteristic values of respective links, the geography of the each link affecting the consumption energy with the geographic characteristic values, the calculation being based on energy consumptions collected from probe vehicles, and calculates predicted energy consumption of each link selected as a processing target, based on the geographic characteristic values. A navigation terminal obtains these predicted energy consumptions and performs route search with the obtained predicted energy consumptions as costs.

Abstract: A navigation device includes: a position detecting unit; a remaining energy level detecting unit; a storage unit that stores map information including position information of a charging point of a drive energy; an energy consumption amount calculation unit that calculates a consumption amount of the drive energy when a vehicle travels along any link included based upon the map information; a route calculation unit that calculates a route from a current position to a destination point; and a route guidance unit. The route calculation unit calculates a recommended route with a minimum attainment cost among routes in which the remaining level does not fall below a predetermined threshold level based upon the map information, the remaining level on departure of the vehicle detected by the remaining energy level detecting unit, and the consumption amount calculated by the energy consumption amount calculation unit.

Abstract: A statistic DB creation processing section creates a statistic traffic DB, based on past actual traffic data (probe DB or VICS DB), and stores it in a statistic DB storage section. A reference-link-candidate extraction processing section extracts a complement target link (temporal missing link) from the statistic traffic DB, and further extracts complementary-reference-link-candidates for the complement target link, according to plural extraction rules to extract complementary-reference-link-candidates.

Abstract: A route searching method is provided which allows drivers having mutually similar traveling purposes and preferences to find highly convenient routes by sharing their route searching know-how. A center apparatus (1) collects probe data received from an in-vehicle terminal apparatus (5). A preference parameter creating unit (14) calculates, based on the probe data, road usage frequencies according to preference items such as vehicle type, driver age and gender, and travel purpose which can be factors for route selection and stores the calculated road usage frequencies as preference parameters in a preference parameter database (15). A route searching unit (513) included in the in-vehicle terminal apparatus (5) requests the center apparatus (1) to transmit a preference parameter similar to user attribute information (519), adjusts link costs according to the preference parameter received from the center apparatus, and determines a minimum-cost route to a destination.

Abstract: A car navigation system solves the problem that the emission test cycle fuel consumption rate indicates the energy consumption per unit distance covered following a prescribed emission test cycle procedure, and therefore, cannot produce a highly accurate prediction value reflecting the landform and the traffics along a route. So, the test cycle characteristic values independent of the vehicle model for vehicle energy consumption in a specified running condition are calculated, and the vehicle energy consumption parameter of the engine or the motor is estimated from the basic vehicle specifications such as the vehicle weight, the power supply type, the emission test cycle fuel consumption rate, the test cycle characteristic values in the emission test cycle and the vehicle characteristics. Using the basic vehicle specifications and the energy consumption parameter, the energy consumption is predicted taking the landform and traffics into consideration.

Abstract: A route to a destination in which required travel time barely varies depending on weather is searched for without referring to weather forecast or weather information.

Abstract: There is provided a method and a device for accurately estimating traffic information of a link having no traffic information even if different types of roads are mixed. The device finds a parameter characterizing a damping curve of a quantity of change of relative speed based on stored traffic information for links on a city center side on a minimum-time cost route connecting the city center and suburbs, finds a quantity of change of relative speed of the link having no observed traffic information and estimates its traffic information based on the damping curve. The device also calculates a ratio of quantities of change of relative speed of two links whose road types change as a speed change similarity ratio and estimates traffic information of the link of a second road type from known traffic information of the link of a first road type by using that ratio.

Abstract: There is provided a method and a device for accurately estimating traffic information of a link having no traffic information even if different types of roads are mixed. The device finds a parameter characterizing a damping curve of a quantity of change of relative speed based on stored traffic information for links on a city center side on a minimum-time cost route connecting the city center and suburbs, finds a quantity of change of relative speed of the link having no observed traffic information and estimates its traffic information based on the damping curve. The device also calculates a ratio of quantities of change of relative speed of two links whose road types change as a speed change similarity ratio and estimates traffic information of the link of a second road type from known traffic information of the link of a first road type by using that ratio.

Abstract: There is provided a method and a device for accurately estimating traffic information of a link having no traffic information even if different types of roads are mixed. The device finds a parameter characterizing a damping curve of a quantity of change of relative speed based on stored traffic information for links on a city center side on a minimum-time cost route connecting the city center and suburbs, finds a quantity of change of relative speed of the link having no observed traffic information and estimates its traffic information based on the damping curve. The device also calculates a ratio of quantities of change of relative speed of two links whose road types change as a speed change similarity ratio and estimates traffic information of the link of a second road type from known traffic information of the link of a first road type by using that ratio.

Abstract: A navi-server which is provided with information from a traffic information providing center, and presents and provides information made on the information to a terminal is characterized by being equipped with a first storage means storing the information provided from the traffic information providing center; a traffic jam statistical making means which makes traffic jam statistical information including traffic jam information in a predetermined point and a predetermined zone as well as a reliability of the traffic jam information, based on information stored in the first storage means; and a second storage means storing information made by the traffic jam statistical making means, wherein the navi-server presents and provides the information stored in the second storage means to the terminal, based on a request of the terminal and at a predetermined timing.

Abstract: A navigation device includes: a position detecting unit; a remaining energy level detecting unit; a storage unit that stores map information including position information of a charging point of a drive energy; an energy consumption amount calculation unit that calculates a consumption amount of the drive energy when a vehicle travels along any link included based upon the map information; a route calculation unit that calculates a route from a current position to a destination point; and a route guidance unit. The route calculation unit calculates a recommended route with a minimum attainment cost among routes in which the remaining level does not fall below a predetermined threshold level based upon the map information, the remaining level on departure of the vehicle detected by the remaining energy level detecting unit, and the consumption amount calculated by the energy consumption amount calculation unit.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to predict energy consumptions of a vehicle, using geographic characteristic values which are independent from particular driving patterns and vehicle parameters and unique to respective links. A navigation server predicts energies which are consumed when a vehicle runs on links. The navigation server calculates geographic characteristic values of respective links, the geography of the each link affecting the consumption energy with the geographic characteristic values, the calculation being based on energy consumptions collected from probe vehicles, and calculates predicted energy consumption of each link selected as a processing target, based on the geographic characteristic values. A navigation terminal obtains these predicted energy consumptions and performs route search with the obtained predicted energy consumptions as costs.

Abstract: A car navigation system solves the problem that the emission test cycle fuel consumption rate indicates the energy consumption per unit distance covered following a prescribed emission test cycle procedure, and therefore, cannot produce a highly accurate prediction value reflecting the landform and the traffics along a route. So, the test cycle characteristic values independent of the vehicle model for vehicle energy consumption in a specified running condition are calculated, and the vehicle energy consumption parameter of the engine or the motor is estimated from the basic vehicle specifications such as the vehicle weight, the power supply type, the emission test cycle fuel consumption rate, the test cycle characteristic values in the emission test cycle and the vehicle characteristics. Using the basic vehicle specifications and the energy consumption parameter, the energy consumption is predicted taking the landform and traffics into consideration.

Abstract: A traffic information system includes: a past information database for storing past information, which is collected for road links in a predetermined area, of a past mobile object on a road; a current information database for storing running information, which is collected for the road links in the predetermined area, of a current mobile object; link correlation analyzing means in which correlations of traffic information among each road link in the predetermined area are calculated from the past information stored in the past information database, and output as link correlation information among the road links; combination calculating means for calculating weighting information for obtaining the current information as a sum of the link correlation information; and traffic information estimating means for calculating estimated traffic information for a link where the current information is not collected based on the link correlation information and the weighting information.

Abstract: A server device 1 included in the route-search system 7 comprises a guided-navigation-route-search section 130 for searching a route starting from a departure point and reaching a destination; and a preparatory-route-search section 140 for searching a preparatory route in view of a possible deviation of the vehicle from a navigation route. The server device 1 transmits information on the navigation route and the preparatory route to the navigation device 2. When detecting the deviation of the vehicle, the navigation device 2 selects one of preparatory routes having nodes closest to the current position of the vehicle. The navigation device 2 searches a supplementary route connecting the current position of the vehicle to the nodes, and combines the preparatory route with the supplementary route to create a new route for continuing navigating the vehicle to the destination.

Abstract: A statistic DB creation processing section creates a statistic traffic DB, based on past actual traffic data (probe DB or VICS DB), and stores it in a statistic DB storage section. A reference-link-candidate extraction processing section extracts a complement target link (temporal missing link) from the statistic traffic DB, and further extracts complementary-reference-link-candidates for the complement target link, according to plural extraction rules to extract complementary-reference-link-candidates.

Abstract: A central device uses a link shape compression unit to compress information of shape of ups and downs of a road link obtained from a three-dimensional road map, and calculates a geometry parameter based on variation of energy of a vehicle travelling on the road link. An on-board terminal device estimates the vehicle's average travelling pattern by using a travel-pattern-estimation unit based on the geometry parameter calculated by the central device, a link-travelling time estimated from statistically-stored traffic information, and a link length. The on-board terminal device further calculates fuel consumption of the vehicle travelling on each road link based on the estimated travelling pattern and parameters of the vehicle by using a fuel-consumption calculation unit, and then, searches a fuel-efficient route by using the fuel consumption as a link cost. The on-board terminal device has a vehicle-type selector for selecting a type of the vehicle.