Patent ID: 7890258

Claim:
A route search method for a navigation device, wherein: said navigation device comprises a storage unit that stores link data for each link as a component of roads on a map and statistical data including link travel times obtained by statistically processing traffic information collected previously; and said method comprises: a step of establishing a plurality of route search conditions, to derive a plurality of routes based on the plurality of route search conditions, respectively; a route search step, in which, for each of said plurality of route search conditions, a cost of each link is determined using said link data or said statistical data depending on the route search condition in question, and a route having a smallest total cost for traveling from a departure point to a destination is searched for; and a travel time calculation step, in which an expected travel time for each of the plurality of routes retrieved in said route search step is calculated commonly using same said statistical data, to derive comparable expected travel times of the plurality of routes, respectively, which are based on commonly using same said statistical data.