U.S. patent application number 17/542584 was filed with the patent office on 2022-03-24 for information processing apparatus, output method, and non-transitory computer-readable recording medium.
This patent application is currently assigned to TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA. The applicant listed for this patent is TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA. Invention is credited to Hideki Kasezawa, Hajime Morikawa, Motohiro Nakamura, Norihiro Nakamura, Yoko Sakurai, Kensuke Takeuchi, Hiroaki Takeyama.
Application Number | 20220090936 17/542584 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | |
Filed Date | 2022-03-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220090936 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Takeyama; Hiroaki ; et
al. |
March 24, 2022 |
INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, OUTPUT METHOD, AND NON-TRANSITORY
COMPUTER-READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM
Abstract
An information processing apparatus includes an in-vehicle
device mounted on a vehicle. The in-vehicle device includes a
display device and a processor. The in-vehicle device outputs, on
the display device, weather information of a point designated by a
user on a map, displays a travel route along which the vehicle
travels on the map on the display device, and in a case where the
travel route is not included in the area including the point
designated by the user on the map among a plurality of areas
obtained by dividing the map and the processor determines that the
point designated by the user is within a predetermined range from
the travel route, outputs, on the display device, the weather
information of an area closest to the point designated by the user
among the areas including the travel route.
Inventors: |
Takeyama; Hiroaki;
(Nisshin-shi Aichi-ken, JP) ; Nakamura; Motohiro;
(Okazaki-shi Aichi-ken, JP) ; Nakamura; Norihiro;
(Toyokawa-shi Aichi-ken, JP) ; Kasezawa; Hideki;
(Okazaki-shi Aichi-ken, JP) ; Takeuchi; Kensuke;
(Okazaki-shi Aichi-ken, JP) ; Morikawa; Hajime;
(Nagoya-shi Aichi-ken, JP) ; Sakurai; Yoko;
(Toyohashi-shi Aichi-ken, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA |
Toyota-shi Aichi-ken |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI
KAISHA
Toyota-shi Aichi-ken
JP
|
Appl. No.: |
17/542584 |
Filed: |
December 6, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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16226160 |
Dec 19, 2018 |
11226210 |
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17542584 |
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International
Class: |
G01C 21/36 20060101
G01C021/36; G01C 21/32 20060101 G01C021/32; G01C 21/34 20060101
G01C021/34 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 10, 2018 |
JP |
2018-001846 |
Claims
1. An information processing apparatus comprising an in-vehicle
device mounted on a vehicle, the in-vehicle device including a
display device and a processor, wherein the in-vehicle device is
configured to divide a map into a plurality of areas such that a
plurality of mesh areas within the map are formed, receive, from
the display device that is touch enabled, a point designated by a
user on the map displayed on the display device, specify a mesh
area of the plurality of mesh areas for acquiring weather
information based on the point, the mesh area including the point
designated by the user on the map, output, on the display device,
weather information of the point designated by the user on the map,
display a travel route along which the vehicle travels on the map
of the display device, determine whether the point designated by
the user is within a predetermined range from the travel route, and
in a case where the travel route is not included in the mesh area
including the point designated by the user on the map among the
plurality of areas obtained by dividing the map, output, on the
display device, the weather information of a mesh area closest to
the point designated by the user among the plurality of mesh areas
including the travel route.
2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the in-vehicle device is configured to output, on the
display device, the weather information of the mesh area including
the point designated by the user in a case where the travel route
is included in the mesh area including the point designated by the
user on the map or in a case where the travel route is not included
in the mesh area including the point designated by the user on the
map and the processor determines that the point designated by the
user is not within the predetermined range from the travel
route.
3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2,
wherein the in-vehicle device is configured to determine that the
point designated by the user is within the predetermined range from
the travel route in a case where the point designated by the user
is included in any one of enlarged mesh areas which are on the
travel route and are enlarged at a predetermined magnification with
a center fixed and the point designated by the user is included in
any one of the enlarged mesh areas, and determine that the point
designated by the user is not within the predetermined range from
the travel route in a case where the point designated by the user
is not included in any one of the enlarged mesh areas.
4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3,
wherein the in-vehicle device is configured to select the mesh area
including the point designated by the user among the enlarged mesh
areas as the mesh area closest to the point designated by the user
among the plurality of mesh areas including the travel route.
5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4,
wherein the in-vehicle device is configured to select a mesh area
having a shortest distance among distances from respective centers
of the enlarged mesh areas to the point designated by the user as
the mesh area closest to the point designated by the user among the
plurality of mesh areas including the travel route in a case where
a plurality of mesh areas including the point designated by the
user is present among the enlarged mesh areas.
6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2,
wherein: the in-vehicle device is configured to determine that the
point designated by the user is within the predetermined range from
the travel route in a case where one or more mesh areas including
the travel route are included in predetermined peripheral mesh
areas which have the mesh area including the point designated by
the user as a center; and the in-vehicle device is configured to
determine that the point designated by the user is not within the
predetermined range from the travel route in a case where the one
or more mesh areas including the travel route are not included in
the predetermined peripheral mesh areas which have the mesh area
including the point designated by the user as the center.
7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6,
wherein the in-vehicle device is configured to select the mesh area
having a shortest distance among distances from respective centers
of the one or more mesh areas to the point designated by the user,
among the one or more mesh areas including the travel route, as the
mesh area closest to the point designated by the user among the
plurality of mesh areas including the travel route in a case where
the one or more mesh areas including the travel route are included
in the predetermined peripheral mesh areas.
8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein: the in-vehicle device is configured to output, on the
display device, the weather information in accordance with a time
slot during which the vehicle travels in the mesh area in a case of
outputting the weather information of the mesh area including the
point designated by the user; and the in-vehicle device is
configured to output, on the display device, the weather
information in accordance with the time slot during which the
vehicle travels in the mesh area closest to the point designated by
the user in a case of outputting the weather information of the
mesh area closest to the point designated by the user among the
plurality of mesh areas including the travel route.
9. An output method of weather information, the output method being
executed by an in-vehicle device which is mounted on a vehicle and
includes a display device and a processor, the output method
comprising: dividing a map into a plurality of areas such that a
plurality of mesh areas within the map are formed; receiving, from
the display device that is touch enabled, a point designated by a
user on the map displayed on the display device; specifying a mesh
area of the plurality of mesh areas for acquiring weather
information based on the point, the mesh area including the point
designated by the user on the map; outputting, on the display
device, weather information of the point designated by the user on
the map by the in-vehicle device; displaying a travel route along
which the vehicle travels on the map on the display device by the
in-vehicle device; determining whether the point designated by the
user is within a predetermined range from the travel route; and in
a case where the travel route is not included in the mesh area
including the point designated by the user on the map among the
plurality of areas obtained by dividing the map, outputting, on the
display device, the weather information of a mesh area closest to
the point designated by the user among the plurality of mesh areas
including the travel route, by the in-vehicle device.
10. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a
program to execute an output method of weather information by an
in-vehicle device which is mounted on a vehicle and includes a
display device and a processor, the program causing a control
process of the in-vehicle device to be executed, the control
process comprising: dividing a map into a plurality of areas such
that a plurality of mesh areas within the map are formed;
receiving, from the display device that is touch enabled, a point
designated by a user on the map displayed on the display device;
specifying a mesh area of the plurality of mesh areas for acquiring
weather information based on the point, the mesh area including the
point designated by the user on the map; outputting, on the display
device, the weather information of the point designated by the user
on the map; displaying a travel route along which the vehicle
travels on the map on the display device; determining whether the
point designated by the user is within a predetermined range from
the travel route; and in a case where the travel route is not
included in the mesh area including the point designated by the
user on the map among the plurality of areas obtained by dividing
the map, outputting, on the display device, the weather information
of a mesh area closest to the point designated by the user among
the plurality of mesh areas including the travel route.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No.
[0002] 16/226,160 filed on Dec. 19, 2018 which claims priority to
Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-001846 filed on Jan. 10, 2018,
each of which are incorporated herein by reference in their
entireties.
BACKGROUND
1. Technical Field
[0003] The present disclosure relates to an information processing
apparatus, an output method, and a non-transitory computer-readable
recording medium storing a program.
2. Description of Related Art
[0004] In car navigation devices mounted on vehicles, there is a
car navigation device that is capable of displaying weather
information in addition to guiding a travel route. For example,
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-148976
(JP 2003-148976 A) discloses a weather information display device
that is mounted on a vehicle and acquires weather information of a
point designated by a cursor, changes a shape of the cursor based
on the acquired weather information, and displays the changed shape
of the cursor on a map.
SUMMARY
[0005] By using a car navigation device or the like disclosed in JP
2003-148976 A, a user can refer to weather information on the
travel route displayed on the map. However, in a case of displaying
weather of the point designated by the user on the travel route,
the weather of the position which is not necessarily a point
intended by the user may be displayed. For example, in a case of a
device having a touch panel such as a car navigation device, the
weather information of the position which is not necessarily
intended by the user may be displayed for reasons of a case where
the position which is touched by the user slightly deviates from
the travel route, a case where it is hard to touch accurately the
point of which the user wants to know the weather information since
a scale of the map is too small, or the like.
[0006] The present disclosure provides an information processing
apparatus, an output method, and a non-transitory computer-readable
recording medium storing a program that can provide weather
information of a point according to a user's intention.
[0007] A first aspect of the present disclosure relates to an
information processing apparatus including an in-vehicle device
mounted on a vehicle. The in-vehicle device includes a display
device and a processor. The in-vehicle device is configured to
output, on the display device, weather information of a point
designated by a user on a map, display a travel route along which
the vehicle travels on the map of the display device, and in a case
where the travel route is not included in an area including the
point designated by the user on the map among a plurality of areas
obtained by dividing the map and the processor determines that the
point designated by the user is within a predetermined range from
the travel route, output, on the display device, the weather
information of an area closest to the point designated by the user
among the areas including the travel route.
[0008] In the information processing apparatus according to the
first aspect of the present disclosure, the in-vehicle device may
be configured to output, on the display device, the weather
information of the area including the point designated by the user
in a case where the travel route is included in the area including
the point designated by the user on the map or in a case where the
travel route is not included in the area including the point
designated by the user on the map and the processor determines that
the point designated by the user is not within the predetermined
range from the travel route.
[0009] In the information processing apparatus according to the
aspect of the present disclosure, the in-vehicle device may be
configured to determine that the point designated by the user is
within the predetermined range from the travel route in a case
where the point designated by the user is included in any one of
enlarged areas which are on the travel route and are enlarged at a
predetermined magnification with a center fixed and the point
designated by the user is included in any one of the enlarged
areas, and the in-vehicle device may be configured to determine
that the point designated by the user is not within the
predetermined range from the travel route in a case where the point
designated by the user is not included in any one of the enlarged
areas.
[0010] In the information processing apparatus according to the
aspect of the present disclosure, the in-vehicle device may be
configured to select the area including the point designated by the
user among the enlarged areas as the area closest to the point
designated by the user among the areas including the travel
route.
[0011] In the information processing apparatus according to the
aspect of the present disclosure, the in-vehicle device may be
configured to select an area having a shortest distance among
distances from respective centers of the enlarged areas to the
point designated by the user as the area closest to the point
designated by the user among the areas including the travel route
in a case where a plurality of areas including the point designated
by the user is present among the enlarged areas.
[0012] In the information processing apparatus according to the
aspect of the present disclosure, the in-vehicle device may be
configured to determine that the point designated by the user is
within the predetermined range from the travel route in a case
where one or more areas including the travel route are included in
predetermined peripheral areas which have the area including the
point designated by the user as a center and the in-vehicle device
may be configured to determine that the point designated by the
user is not within the predetermined range from the travel route in
a case where the one or more areas including the travel route are
not included in the predetermined peripheral areas which have the
area including the point designated by the user as the center.
[0013] In the information processing apparatus according to the
aspect of the present disclosure, the in-vehicle device may be
configured to select the area having the shortest distance among
distances from respective centers of the one or more areas to the
point designated by the user, among the one or more areas including
the travel route, as the area closest to the point designated by
the user among the areas including the travel route in a case where
the one or more areas including the travel route are included in
the predetermined peripheral areas.
[0014] In the information processing apparatus according to the
first aspect of the present disclosure, the in-vehicle device may
be configured to output, on the display device, the weather
information in accordance with a time slot during which the vehicle
travels in the area in a case of outputting the weather information
of the area including the point designated by the user, and the
in-vehicle device may be configured to output, on the display
device, the weather information in accordance with the time slot
during which the vehicle travels in the area closest to the point
designated by the user in a case of outputting the weather
information of the area closest to the point designated by the user
among the areas including the travel route.
[0015] A second aspect of the present disclosure relates to an
output method of weather information. The output method is executed
by an in-vehicle device which is mounted on a vehicle and includes
a display device and a processor. The output method includes
outputting, on the display device, weather information of a point
designated by a user on a map by the in-vehicle device, displaying
a travel route along which the vehicle travels on the map on the
display device by the in-vehicle device, and in a case where the
travel route is not included in an area including the point
designated by the user on the map among a plurality of areas
obtained by dividing the map and the processor determines that the
point designated by the user is within a predetermined range from
the travel route, outputting, on the display device, the weather
information of an area closest to the point designated by the user
among the areas including the travel route, by the in-vehicle
device.
[0016] A third aspect of the present disclosure relates to a
non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a program
to execute an output method of weather information by an in-vehicle
device which is mounted on a vehicle and includes a display device
and a processor. The program causes a control process of the
in-vehicle device to be executed. The control process includes
outputting, on the display device, the weather information of a
point designated by a user on a map, displaying a travel route
along which the vehicle travels on the map on the display device,
and in a case where the travel route is not included in the area
including the point designated by the user on the map among a
plurality of areas obtained by dividing the map and the processor
determines that the point designated by the user is within a
predetermined range from the travel route, outputting, on the
display device, the weather information of an area closest to the
point designated by the user among the areas including the travel
route.
[0017] According to the aspects of the present disclosure, it is
possible to provide the information processing apparatus, the
output method, and the non-transitory computer-readable recording
medium storing a program that can provide the weather information
at the point according to the user's intention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] Features, advantages, and technical and industrial
significance of exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure
will be described below with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which like numerals denote like elements, and
wherein:
[0019] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a weather
information providing system according to an embodiment;
[0020] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a functional block
configuration of an in-vehicle device;
[0021] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing
procedure when the in-vehicle device acquires and outputs weather
information;
[0022] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a specific example of a mesh
area and a travel route on a map;
[0023] FIG. 5A is a diagram for describing a method of specifying a
mesh area for acquiring weather information;
[0024] FIG. 5B is a diagram for describing the method of specifying
the mesh area for acquiring the weather information;
[0025] FIG. 6A is a diagram for describing a method of specifying a
mesh area for acquiring weather information;
[0026] FIG. 6B is a diagram for describing the method of specifying
the mesh area for acquiring the weather information;
[0027] FIG. 6C is a diagram for describing the method of specifying
the mesh area for acquiring the weather information;
[0028] FIG. 6D is a diagram for describing the method of specifying
the mesh area for acquiring the weather information;
[0029] FIG. 7A is a diagram for describing a method of specifying a
mesh area for acquiring weather information;
[0030] FIG. 7B is a diagram for describing the method of specifying
the mesh area for acquiring the weather information;
[0031] FIG. 8A is a diagram for describing a method of specifying a
mesh area for acquiring weather information;
[0032] FIG. 8B is a diagram for describing the method of specifying
the mesh area for acquiring the weather information; and
[0033] FIG. 8C is a diagram for describing the method of specifying
the mesh area for acquiring the weather information.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0034] Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with
reference to accompanying drawings. In the drawings, those denoted
by the same reference numerals have the same or similar
configuration.
[0035] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a weather
information providing system 1 according to an embodiment. As shown
in FIG. 1, the weather information providing system 1 includes a
server 10 and a vehicle 20. Although FIG. 1 shows a single vehicle
20, the weather information providing system 1 may also include a
plurality of vehicles 20. On the vehicle 20, an in-vehicle device
30 is mounted.
[0036] The server 10 is a device that provides weather information.
The weather information is, for example, current or future weather
(sunny, cloudy, rainy, snowy, and the like), temperature, humidity,
precipitation amount, snowfall amount, and the like. The server 10
manages the weather information in association with each of a
plurality of areas obtained by dividing a map (for example, a map
of Japan all over the country) and has a function of transmitting
the weather information to the in-vehicle device 30 in accordance
with a request from the in-vehicle device 30. More specifically,
the areas may be a plurality of mesh areas obtained by dividing the
map into a predetermined size (for example, 500 m.sup.2, 1
km.sup.2, 2 km.sup.2, or the like of an actual distance).
Hereinafter, it is assumed that the areas are the mesh areas.
[0037] For the vehicle 20, any vehicle which is capable of mounting
the in-vehicle device 30 may be used, for example, a vehicle such
as a private car, a bus, and a truck and a motorcycle.
[0038] The in-vehicle device 30 is an information processing
apparatus mounted on the vehicle, for example, a car navigation
device, a smartphone having a navigation function, and a tablet
terminal. Further, the in-vehicle device 30 has the navigation
function of displaying a position of the vehicle 20 and a travel
route along which the vehicle 20 travels on a map, and a function
of outputting the weather information of a point designated by a
user from a display or a speaker.
[0039] Here, in a case where the user wants to know the weather
information of the point on the travel route, a point slightly
deviating from the travel route may be designated depending on a
situation such as a case of touching position in touch panel
slightly deviates. Accordingly, in a case where a determination is
made that a designated point slightly deviates from the travel
route, the in-vehicle device 30 outputs the weather information on
the travel route closest to the designated point instead of the
weather information of the designated point. On the other hand, the
user may intentionally designate a point different from the travel
route when the user wants to know the weather information of any
point which is not related to the travel route. In this case, when
the weather information on the travel route is displayed, the
weather information desired by the user is not displayed.
Accordingly, in a case where the designated point greatly deviates
from the travel route, the in-vehicle device 30 outputs the weather
information of the designated point.
[0040] The in-vehicle device 30 may collectively download the
weather information corresponding to the mesh areas (or all mesh
areas) from the server 10 at the time of starting a vehicle engine,
at the time of starting a route guidance, or the like and may store
the weather information in a storage device (a memory or the like)
included in the in-vehicle device 30. In this case, even in a case
where the in-vehicle device 30 is not capable of communicating with
the server 10, for example, in a tunnel or the like, it is possible
to output the weather information. Further, the in-vehicle device
30 may acquire the weather information from the server 10 every
time the weather information is output. In this case, it is
possible to reduce an amount of communication data between the
server 10 and the in-vehicle device 30.
[0041] Functional Block Configuration
[0042] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a functional block
configuration of the in-vehicle device 30. The in-vehicle device 30
includes a communication unit 101, a user interface (UI) unit 102,
a route guidance unit 103, and an output unit 104. The
communication unit 101, the UI unit 102, the route guidance unit
103, and the output unit 104 are capable of being realized by a
processor, central processing unit (CPU), included in the
in-vehicle device 30 executing a program stored in the memory.
Further, the program is capable of being stored in a recording
medium. The recording medium storing the program may be a
non-transitory recording medium. The non-transitory recording
medium is not particularly limited, and may be a recording medium
such as a universal serial bus (USB) memory or a compact disc read
only memory (CD-ROM).
[0043] The communication unit 101 has a function of communicating
with the server 10 via wireless communication such as a wireless
local area network (LAN) and a mobile radio communication line.
[0044] The UI unit 102 has a function of displaying a screen such
as a map on a display, a touch panel, or the like of the in-vehicle
device 30 and a function of receiving an instruction of the user
from a manipulation button, the touch panel, or the like of the
in-vehicle device 30.
[0045] The route guidance unit 103 performs various kinds of
processing needed for realizing the navigation function. For
example, the route guidance unit 103 has a function of displaying
the position of the vehicle 20 (a current position) and the travel
route along which the vehicle 20 travels on the map displayed on
the UI unit 102. A map data used for the navigation function
includes information capable of specifying the same mesh area as
the mesh areas for which the server 10 manages the weather
information (an ID for uniquely specifying a mesh area, information
indicating a range for each mesh area, or the like).
[0046] The output unit 104 has a function of acquiring and
outputting the weather information at a point designated by the
user from the server 10 or the storage device of the in-vehicle
device 30 in a case where the point designated by the user is on
the travel route. More specifically, in a case where the travel
route is included in the mesh area including the point designated
by the user on the map, the output unit 104 outputs the weather
information corresponding to the mesh area including the point
designated by the user. The output unit 104 may display a
predetermined icon or a character corresponding to the weather
information on the display or may output a sound for reading the
weather information using the speaker.
[0047] Further, in a case where the point designated by the user
slightly deviates from the travel route, the output unit 104
outputs the weather information corresponding to the mesh area
closest to the point designated by the user among the mesh area
including the travel route. More specifically, the output unit 104
outputs the weather information corresponding to the mesh area
closest to the point designated by the user among the mesh areas
including the travel route, in a case where the travel route is not
included in the mesh area including the point designated by the
user and a determination is made that the point designated by the
user is within a predetermined range from the travel route.
[0048] Further, in a case where the point designated by the user
greatly deviates from the travel route, the output unit 104 outputs
the weather information corresponding to the mesh area including
the point designated by the user. More specifically, the output
unit 104 outputs the weather information corresponding to the mesh
area including the point designated by the user in a case where the
travel route is not included in the mesh area including the point
designated by the user and the CPU determines that the point
designated by the user is not within the predetermined range from
the travel route.
[0049] The output unit 104 may output the weather information by
displaying the weather information on a map screen displayed on the
display or the touch panel included in the in-vehicle device 30 or
may output the weather information by reading the weather
information with voice or the like.
[0050] Processing Procedure
[0051] Subsequently, in a case where the user designates the point
where the user wants to know the weather information, the
processing procedure which is performed by the in-vehicle device 30
will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the
processing procedure when the in-vehicle device 30 acquires and
outputs the weather information. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a
specific example of the mesh area and the travel route on the map.
In FIG. 4, an R1 shows an example of the travel route. In the
following description, an assumption is made that the in-vehicle
device 30 has started a route guidance of the travel route.
[0052] First, the output unit 104 specifies the point designated by
the user on the map (S101). For example, when the user designates a
point P1 in FIG. 4, the output unit 104 specifies the point P1 as
the point designated by the user.
[0053] Subsequently, the output unit 104 specifies a mesh area for
acquiring the weather information based on the point P1 designated
by the user on the map (S102). In the example of FIG. 4, an
assumption is made that the point P1 designated by the user is
within a predetermined range from the travel route R1 (slightly
deviates). In this case, the output unit 104 specifies a mesh area
E-6 closest to the point designated by the user among the mesh
areas including the travel route as the mesh area for acquiring the
weather information.
[0054] Subsequently, the output unit 104 acquires the weather
information of the mesh area specified in step S102 from the server
10 or the storage device included in the in-vehicle device 30
(S103). Subsequently, the output unit 104 outputs the weather
information acquired in step S103 by displaying the weather
information on the touch panel, reading out by voice, or the like
(S104).
[0055] Next, the processing procedure when the output unit 104
specifies the mesh area for acquiring the weather information will
be specifically described in step S102.
[0056] The output unit 104 determines whether or not the point
designated by the user on the map is included in any one of the
mesh areas including the travel route. For example, in the example
of FIG. 4, a determination is made whether or not the point P1 is
included in any one of the mesh areas including the travel route
(H-10, H-9, . . . , H-2, H-1, I-1). In a case where the point
designated by the user on the map is included in any one of the
mesh areas including the travel route, the output unit 104
specifies the mesh area as the mesh area for acquiring the weather
information. On the other hand, in a case where the point
designated by the user on the map is not included in any one of the
mesh areas including the travel route, the output unit 104 further
specifies the mesh area for acquiring the weather information by
the following specific methods. The following description will be
made assuming that an upper part of the mesh area shown in each
diagram is in the north direction.
[0057] Specific Method 1
[0058] In a specific method 1, the output unit 104 specifies the
mesh area for the acquiring weather information by using each area
of the mesh areas on the travel route, of which the center is fixed
(without changing the center) and which is enlarged at a
predetermined magnification (hereinafter may be referred to as an
"enlarged mesh area").
[0059] Specific Method 1-1
[0060] First, in a case where the point designated by the user on
the map is included in any one of the enlarged mesh areas, the
output unit 104 determines that the point designated by the user is
within the predetermined range from the travel route (the point
designated by the user slightly deviates from the travel route) and
specifies the mesh area including the point designated by the user
among a plurality of enlarged mesh areas as the mesh area for
acquiring the weather information. That is, the output unit 104
treats the mesh area including the point designated by the user
among the enlarged mesh areas as the mesh area closest to the point
designated by the user among the mesh areas including the travel
route.
[0061] Specific examples are shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B. FIG. 5A
shows an example in a case where a mesh area C-5, a mesh area D-6,
and a mesh area D-7 on a travel route R2 are enlarged in a vertical
direction and a horizontal direction at double magnification. FIG.
5B is an enlarged diagram of a part of FIG. 5A. For example, an
assumption is made that the user designates a point P2. As shown in
FIG. 5B, since the point P2 is included in the enlarged mesh area
C-5, the output unit 104 specifies the mesh area C-5 as the mesh
area for acquiring the weather information.
[0062] In addition, in a case where the point designated by the
user on the map is not included in any one of the enlarged mesh
areas, the output unit 104 determines that the point designated by
the user is not within the predetermined range from the travel
route (the point designated by the user greatly deviates from the
travel route) and specifies the mesh area including the point
designated by the user as the mesh area for acquiring the weather
information. For example, as shown in FIG. 5A, an assumption is
made that the user designates a point P3. In this case, since the
point P3 is not included in any one of the enlarged mesh areas C-5,
D-6, D-7, the output unit 104 specifies the mesh area C-7 including
a point P3 designated by the user as the mesh area for acquiring
the weather information.
[0063] Specific Method 1-2
[0064] In a case where a plurality of enlarged mesh areas including
the point designated by the user on the map is present in the
specific method 1-1, a method of specifying the mesh area from
which the output unit 104 acquires the weather information will be
described.
[0065] In this case, the output unit 104 specifies the mesh area
having the shortest distance among distances from the respective
centers of the enlarged mesh areas to the point designated by the
user as the mesh area for acquiring the weather information. That
is, the output unit 104 treats the mesh area having the shortest
distance among the distances from the respective centers of the
enlarged mesh areas to the point designated by the user as the mesh
area closest to the point designated by the user among the mesh
areas including the travel route.
[0066] For example, an assumption is made that the user designates
a point P4 as shown in FIG. 6A. In this case, the point P4 is
included in both the enlarged mesh area C-5 and the mesh area D-6,
and among the distances from the respective centers (C1, C2) of the
mesh areas (C-5, D-6) to the point P4, the distance from the center
C1 of the mesh area C-5 to the point P4 is closer. Accordingly, the
output unit 104 specifies the mesh area C-5 as the mesh area for
acquiring the weather information.
[0067] Specific Method 1-3
[0068] Next, in the specific method 1-2, in a case where the mesh
areas having the shortest distance from the respective centers of
the enlarged mesh areas to the point designated by the user is
present, the method of specifying the mesh area from which the
output unit 104 acquires the weather information will be
described.
[0069] In this case, the output unit 104 specifies the mesh area
having the shortest distance among distances from respective center
points of the mesh areas having the shortest distance to the point
designated by the user to a current point of the vehicle 20 as the
mesh area for acquiring the weather information. That is, the
output unit 104 treats the mesh area having the shortest distance
among the distances from the respective center points of the
enlarged mesh areas including the point designated by the user to
the current point of the vehicle 20 as the mesh area closet to the
point designated by the user among the mesh areas including the
travel route.
[0070] For example, an assumption is made that the user designates
a point P5 as shown in FIG. 6B. In this case, the point P5 is
included in both of the enlarged mesh areas (C-5, D-6) and the
distances from the respective centers (C3, C4) of the mesh areas
(C-5, D-6) to the point P5 are the same. On the other hand, among
the distances from the respective centers (C3, C4) of the mesh
areas (C-5, D-6) to the current point P6 of the vehicle 20, the
mesh area C-5 is closer. Accordingly, the output unit 104 specifies
the mesh area C-5 as the mesh area for acquiring the weather
information.
[0071] Specific Method 1-4
[0072] Next, in a case where the mesh areas having the shortest
distance from the respective center points of the enlarged mesh
areas including the point designated by the user to the current
point of the vehicle 20 is present in the specific method 1-3, the
method of specifying the mesh area from which the output unit 104
acquires the weather information will be described.
[0073] In this case, the output unit 104 specifies the mesh area on
a west side among the enlarged mesh areas including the point
designated by the user as the mesh area for acquiring the weather
information. That is, the output unit 104 treats the mesh area on
the west side among the enlarged mesh areas including the point
designated by the user as the mesh area closest to the point
designated by the user among the mesh areas including the travel
route.
[0074] For example, an assumption is made that the user designates
a point P7 as shown in FIG. 6C. In this case, the point P7 is
included in both the enlarged mesh areas (C-5, D-6) and the
distances from the respective centers (C5, C6) of the mesh areas
(C-5, D-6) to the point P7 are the same, and the distances from the
respective centers (C5, C6) of the mesh areas (C-5, D-6) to a
current point P8 of the vehicle 20 are the same. Accordingly, the
output unit 104 specifies the mesh area C-5 which is the mesh area
on the west side among the respective mesh area (C-5, D-6), as the
mesh area for acquiring the weather information.
[0075] Specific Method 1-5
[0076] In a case where it is not possible to select the mesh area
on the west side among the enlarged mesh areas including the point
designated by the user among the enlarged mesh areas in the
specific method 1-4, the method of specifying the mesh area from
which the output unit 104 acquires the weather information will be
described. In this case, the output unit 104 selects a mesh area on
a south side among the enlarged mesh areas including the point
designated by the user. That is, the output unit 104 treats the
mesh area on the south side among the enlarged mesh areas including
the point designated by the user as the mesh area closest to the
point designated by the user in the mesh areas including the travel
route.
[0077] For example, an assumption is made that the user designates
a point P9 as shown in FIG. 6D. In this case, the point P9 is
included in both the enlarged two mesh areas (D-5, D-6), the
distances from the respective centers (C7, C8) of the mesh areas
(D-5, D-6) to the point P9 are the same, and the distances from the
respective centers (C7, C8) of the mesh areas (D-5, D-6) to a
current point P10 of the vehicle 20 are the same. Further, since
the mesh area D-5 and the mesh area D-6 are arranged in a north and
a south directions side by side, the output unit 104 is not capable
of selecting the mesh area on the west side. Accordingly, the
output unit 104 specifies the mesh area D-6 which is the mesh area
on the south side among the two mesh areas (D-5, D-6) as the mesh
area for acquiring the weather information.
[0078] Specific Method 2
[0079] In the specific method 2, unlike the specific method 1,
among mesh areas of periphery of the mesh area including the point
designated by the user (hereinafter, referred to as a "peripheral
mesh area" for convenience), the output unit 104 specifies the mesh
area for acquiring the weather information based on a positional
relationship between the peripheral mesh area including the travel
route and the point designated by the user. Although the
description is made assuming that the number of the peripheral mesh
areas of periphery of the mesh area including the point designated
by the user areas is eight, the number of the peripheral mesh areas
is not limited to eight. The peripheral mesh areas may be 24 mesh
areas further including mesh areas of periphery of the eight
peripheral mesh areas or may further include mesh areas of
periphery of the 24 peripheral mesh areas. That is, the number of
"peripheries" of the peripheral mesh areas is not limited.
[0080] Specific Method 2-1
[0081] First, in a case where one or more peripheral mesh areas
including the travel route are included in the peripheral mesh
areas, the output unit 104 determines that the point designated by
the user is within the predetermined range from the travel route
(the point designated by the user slightly deviates from the travel
route) and specifies a peripheral mesh area having the shortest
distance among distances from the respective centers of the one or
more peripheral mesh areas to the point designated by the user,
among the one or more peripheral mesh areas including the travel
route as the mesh area for acquiring the weather information. That
is, the output unit 104 treats the peripheral mesh area having the
shortest distance among distances from the respective centers of
the one or more peripheral mesh areas including the travel route to
the point designated by the user as the mesh area closest to the
point designated by the user among the mesh areas including the
travel route.
[0082] A specific example is shown in FIG. 7A. In FIG. 7A, among
the peripheral mesh areas (C-5, C-6, C-7, D-5, D-7, E-5, E-6, E-7),
the peripheral mesh areas including a travel route R3 are the
peripheral mesh areas (D-5, E-5, E-6, E-7). In this case, the
output unit 104 specifies the peripheral mesh areas D-5 having the
shortest distance among distances from the respective centers of
the peripheral mesh areas (C9, C10, C11, C12) to a point P11
designated by the user as the mesh area for acquiring the weather
information.
[0083] Further, in a case where the one or more peripheral mesh
areas including the travel route are not included among the
peripheral mesh areas, the output unit 104 determines that the
point designated by the user is not within the predetermined range
from the travel route (the point designated by the user greatly
deviates from the travel route) and specifies the mesh area
including the point designated by the user as the mesh area for
acquiring the weather information. For example, as shown in FIG.
7B, an assumption is made that the user designates a point P12. In
this case, among the peripheral mesh areas (C-5, C-7, D-5, D-6,
D-7), there is no peripheral mesh area including a travel route R4.
Accordingly, the output unit 104 specifies the mesh area C-6
including the point P12 designated by the user as the mesh area for
acquiring the weather information.
[0084] Specific Method 2-2
[0085] Next, in the specific method 2-1, in a case where a
plurality of peripheral mesh areas having the shortest distance
from the respective centers of the peripheral mesh areas including
the travel route to the point designated by the user is present,
the method of specifying the mesh area from which the output unit
104 acquires the weather information will be described. In this
case, the output unit 104 specifies the peripheral mesh area having
the shortest distance between the center point of each of the
peripheral mesh areas and the current point of the vehicle 20 as
the mesh area for acquiring the weather information. That is, the
output unit 104 treats the peripheral mesh area having the shortest
distance between the center point of each of the peripheral mesh
areas and the current point of the vehicle 20 as the mesh area
closest from the point designated by the user among the mesh areas
including the travel route.
[0086] For example, an assumption is made that the user designates
a point P13 as shown in FIG. 8A. In this case, the distance from
the centers (C13, C14) of the peripheral mesh areas (C-5, D-6)
including the travel route R5 which are predetermined peripheral
mesh areas having the peripheral mesh area including the point P13
designated by the user as the center to the point P13 is the same.
Therefore, the output unit 104 specifies the peripheral mesh area
C-5 having a shorter distance between the centers (C13, C14) and
the current point P14 of the vehicle 20 among the two peripheral
mesh areas (C-5, D-6) as the mesh area for acquiring the weather
information.
[0087] Specific Method 2-3
[0088] Next, in the specific method 2-3, in a case where the
peripheral mesh areas having the shortest distance between the
respective center points of the peripheral mesh areas and the
current point of the vehicle 20 is present, the method of
specifying a mesh area from which the output unit 104 acquires
weather information will be described. In this case, the output
unit 104 specifies the peripheral mesh area through which the
vehicle 20 passes at the first in the travel route among the
peripheral mesh areas having the shortest distance between the
respective center points of the peripheral mesh areas and the
current point of the vehicle 20 as the mesh area for acquiring the
weather information. That is, in a case where the peripheral mesh
areas having the shortest distance between the respective center
points of the peripheral mesh areas and the current point of the
vehicle 20 is present, the output unit 104 treats the peripheral
mesh area through which the vehicle 20 passes at the first in the
travel route as the mesh area closest from the point designated by
the user among the mesh areas including the travel route.
[0089] For example, an assumption is made that the user designates
a point P15 as shown in FIG. 8B. In this case, the distance between
the centers (C15, C16) of the peripheral mesh areas (C-5, D-6)
including a travel route R6 and the point P15 are the same,
furthermore, the distance between the centers (C15, C16) of the
peripheral mesh areas (C-5, D-6) and the current point P16 of the
vehicle 20 is also the same. Accordingly, the output unit 104
specifies the peripheral mesh area D-6 through which the vehicle 20
passes at the first among the peripheral mesh area C-5 and the
peripheral mesh area D-6 as the mesh area for acquiring the weather
information.
[0090] Specific Method 2-4
[0091] In the specific method 2-3, the output unit 104 may specify
the peripheral mesh area on the west side as the mesh area for
acquiring the weather information instead of the peripheral mesh
area through which the vehicle 20 passes at the first in the travel
route. For example, as shown in FIG. 8B, the output unit 104 may
specify the peripheral mesh area C-5 as the mesh area for acquiring
the weather information.
[0092] Specific Method 2-5
[0093] In a case where it is not possible to select the peripheral
mesh area on the west side in the specific method 2-4, the output
unit 104 may select the peripheral mesh area on the south side. For
example, an assumption is made that the user designates a point P17
as shown in FIG. 8C. In this case, the distance between the centers
(C17, C18) of the peripheral mesh areas (D-5, D-6) and the point
P17 are the same, further, the distances between the centers (C17,
C18) of the peripheral mesh areas (D-5, D-6) and the current point
P18 of the vehicle 20 are also the same. Further, since the
peripheral mesh areas (D-5, D-6) are arranged in the north-south
direction side by side, the output unit 104 is not capable of
selecting the peripheral mesh area on the west side. Accordingly,
the output unit 104 specifies the peripheral mesh area D-6 on the
south side among the peripheral mesh areas (D-5, D-6) as the mesh
area for acquiring the weather information.
[0094] Modification Example
[0095] The output unit 104 may output the weather information in
accordance with the time slot during which the vehicle 20 travels
in the mesh area in a case where the output unit 104 outputs the
weather information of the mesh area including the point designated
by the user. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, an assumption is made
that the user designates a point in the mesh area E-6 and the
output unit 104 outputs the weather information of the mesh area
E-6. In this case, the output unit 104 may output the weather
information in accordance with the time slot during which the
vehicle 20 travels in the mesh area E-6 including the travel route
R1 among the weather information for each time in the mesh area
E-6.
[0096] Further, the output unit 104 may output the weather
information in accordance with the time slot during which the
vehicle 20 travels in the mesh area closest from the point
designated by the user in a case where the output unit 104 outputs
the weather information of the mesh area closest from the point
designated by the user among the mesh areas including the travel
route. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, an assumption is made that
the user designates a point in the mesh area D-7 and the output
unit 104 outputs the weather information of the mesh area E-6
closest to the point of the mesh area D-7. In this case, the output
unit 104 may output the weather information in accordance with the
time slot during which the vehicle 20 travels in the mesh area E-6
including the travel route R1 among the weather information for
each time in the mesh area E-6.
[0097] An order of the specific methods described in the specific
method 1-4 and the specific method 1-5 may be changed. That is, the
output unit 104 may specify the mesh area on the south side among
the enlarged mesh areas including the point designated by the user
as the mesh area for acquiring the weather information and may
select the mesh area on the west side in a case where it is not
possible to select the mesh area on the south side. Likewise, an
order of the specific methods described in the specific method 2-4
and the specific method 2-5 may be changed. That is, the output
unit 104 may specify the peripheral mesh area on the south side
among the peripheral mesh areas including the travel route as the
mesh area for acquiring the weather information and may select the
peripheral mesh area on the west side in a case where it is not
possible to select the peripheral mesh area on the south side.
[0098] The above-described embodiments are for facilitating
understanding of a gist of the present disclosure and are not
intended to limit the gist of the present disclosure. The flowchart
and sequence described in the embodiments, the arrangement,
material, condition, shape, size, and the like of each element
included in the embodiments are not limited to those exemplified
and can be appropriately modified. In addition, it is possible to
partially replace or combine the configurations shown in the
embodiments which are different from each other.
* * * * *