Patent ID: 6349261
Filing Date: 2002-02-19
Classification: G01C

Abstract:
A method of determining, by use of a computer, a route from a start location to a target location within a traffic network, in which locations are represented as nodes and a route between adjacent nodes is represented as a link, the determination being performed in accordance with a label determination method under the conditions of minimum cost, while travel time or travel distance is evaluated as cost, the method comprising:(1) choosing at least one entrance station of a transportation network to be used whose straight-line distance as measured from the start location falls within a predetermined range and at least one exit station of the transportation network whose straight-line distance as measured from the target location falls within the predetermined range, and estimating cost of a walking route from the start location to the entrance station and cost of a walking route from the exit station to the target location, on the basis of the respective straight-line distances, each calculated by use of latitude/longitude data; and (2) incorporating, as links, the walking routes having estimated costs into a traffic network comprising the transportation network in order to express a comprehensive traffic network to thereby enable the computer to determine a route under desired cost conditions in accordance with the label determination method.