Information presentation apparatus and information presentation method

1. An information presentation apparatus for presenting, to a user, information which includes a returning route, said apparatus comprising:

a home position holding unit operable to hold in advance a position of the user's home;

a home arrival time holding unit operable to hold in advance a home arrival time of the user;

a present position obtainment unit operable to obtain a present position of the user;

a present time obtainment unit operable to obtain a present time;

an obtainment unit operable to obtain a returning route from the present position to the user's home position, a required time for the returning route, and a departure time to leave the present position so that the user can get home by the home arrival time;

a presentation unit operable to compare the departure time obtained by said obtainment unit and the present time, and present to the user the departure time and the returning route which are obtained by said obtainment unit, before the departure time is passed;

a preference accumulation unit operable to accumulate in advance the user's preferences relating to a route selection; and

a control unit operable to control a degree of reflecting the user's preferences relating to the route selection which are used by said obtainment unit;

wherein said obtainment unit is operable to obtain the returning route which reflects the user's preferences relating to the route selection which are accumulated by said preference accumulation unit; and

wherein said control unit is operable to

compare the present time, the home arrival time, and the required time for the returning route obtained by said obtainment unit,

judge whether or not the user can get home by the home arrival time by taking the returning route obtained by said obtainment unit, and

request said obtainment unit to search for the route again based on modified preferences of the user relating to the route selection so as to shorten the required time, when judging that the user cannot get home by the home arrival time.

2. The information presentation apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a map data holding unit operable to hold map data, wherein:

said information presentation apparatus is placed in a vehicle the user drives;

said obtainment unit is operable to obtain the returning route, the required time for the returning route, and the departure time based on the map data; and

said presentation unit is operable to present the returning route to be taken by the user on a map.

3. The information presentation apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising an operation unit, wherein said obtainment unit is operable to search for the returning route when the user operates said operation unit.

4. The information presentation apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein said obtainment unit is operable to search for the returning route in at least one of dynamic timings of: at intervals of a predetermined period of time; at intervals of a predetermined amount of distance; when the vehicle stops at a traffic light; when new Vehicle Information and Communication System information including new traffic information is obtained; and when the vehicle drives off the returning route.

5. The information presentation apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the user's preferences relating to the route selection which are accumulated by said preference accumulation unit include at least one of “Prioritize toll roads”, “Prioritize large roads”, and “Prioritize roads with few intersections”.

6. The information presentation apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising a user specification unit operable to specify a user from among a plurality of users, wherein:

said home arrival time holding unit is operable to hold in advance a home arrival time for each of the plurality of users;

said preference accumulation unit is operable to hold in advance preferences relating to a route selection for each of the plurality of users; and

said obtainment unit is operable to obtain a returning route for the user among the plurality of users specified by said user specification unit which reflects the user's preferences relating to the route selection.

7. The information presentation apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising a user identification unit operable to identify a user of the vehicle from among a plurality of users, wherein:

said home arrival time holding unit is operable to hold in advance a home arrival time for each of the plurality of users;

said preference accumulation unit is operable to accumulate in advance preferences relating to a route selection for each of the plurality of users; and

said obtainment unit is operable to obtain a returning route for the user among the plurality of users specified by said user specification unit which reflects the user's preferences relating to the route selection.

8. The information presentation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said presentation unit is operable to present to the user that the user's preferences relating to the route selection, which are already set by the user, are modified, in a case where said control unit has requested said obtainment unit to modify the preferences relating to the route selection so as to search for the returning route again.

9. The information presentation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein, in a case where said control unit has requested said obtainment unit to modify the user's preferences relating to the route selection so as to search for the route again, said control unit is operable to update the preferences relating to the route selection, which are accumulated by said preference accumulation unit, to the modified preferences.

10. The information presentation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:

said information presentation apparatus is portable; and

said obtainment unit is operable to externally obtain the returning route, the required time for the returning route, and the departure time.

11. The information presentation apparatus according to claim 10 , further comprising an operation unit, wherein said obtainment unit is operable to externally obtain the returning route, the required time for the returning route, and the departure time when the user operates said operation unit.

12. The information presentation apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein said obtainment unit is operable to externally obtain, the returning route, the required time for taking the returning route, and the departure time in at least one of dynamic timings of: at intervals of a predetermined period of time; at intervals of a predetermined amount of distance; and when the user deviates from the returning route.

13. The information presentation apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the user's preferences relating to the route selection, which are accumulated by said preference accumulation unit, include at least one of “Order of priority in a means of transportation: train, bus, taxi and on foot”, “Prioritize a total amount of fares” and “Order of priority for walking routes: avoiding dark places and taking the shortest route”.

14. The information presentation apparatus according to claim 10 , further comprising an operation unit, wherein:

said obtainment unit is operable to externally obtain map data including the returning route, when the user operates said operation unit; and

said presentation unit is operable to present the returning route on a map.

15. An information presentation method for presenting, to a user, information including a returning route, said method comprising:

holding in advance a position of the user's home;

holding in advance a home arrival time of the user;

obtaining a present position of the user;

obtaining a present time;

obtaining a returning route from the present position to the held user's home position, a required time for the returning route, and a departure time to leave the present position so that the user can get home by the held home arrival time;

comparing the obtained departure time the present time, and presenting to the user the obtained departure time and the obtained returning route, before the departure time is passed;

accumulating in advance the user's preferences relating to a route selection; and

controlling a degree of reflecting the user's preferences relating to the route selection which are used in said obtaining of the returning route, the required time and the departure time, and which are previously accumulated in said accumulating of the user's preferences;

wherein said obtaining of the returning route, the required time and the departure time obtains the retuning route which reflects the user's preferences relating to the route selection; and

wherein said controlling

compares the present time, the home arrival time, and the required time for the returning route obtained in said obtaining of the returning route, the required time and the departure time,

judges whether or not the user can get home by the home arrival time by taking the obtained returning route, and

when it is judged that the user cannot get home by the home arrival time, causes said obtaining of the returning route, the required time and the departure time to search for the returning route again based on modified preferences of the user relating to the route selection so as to shorten the required time.

16. A program for an information presentation method for presenting, to a user, information including a returning route, said program being stored on a computer-readable medium and causing a computer to execute:

holding in advance a position of the user's home;

holding in advance a home arrival time of the user;

obtaining a present position of the user;

obtaining a present time;

obtaining a returning route from the present position to the held user's home position, a required time for the returning route, and a departure time to leave the present position so that the user can get home by the held home arrival time;

comparing the obtained departure time and the present time, and presenting to the user the obtained departure time and the obtained returning route, before the departure time is passed

accumulating in advance the user's preferences relating to a route selection; and

controlling a degree of reflecting the user's preferences relating to the route selection which are used in said obtaining of the returning route the required time and the departure time, and which are previously accumulated in said accumulating of the user's preferences;

wherein said obtaining of the returning route, the required time and the departure time obtains the returning route which reflects the user's preferences relating to the route selection; and

wherein said controlling

compares the present time, the home arrival time, and the required time for the returning route obtained in said obtaining of the returning route, the required time and the departure time,

judges whether or not the user can get home by the home arrival time by taking the obtained returning route, and

when it is judged that the user cannot get home by the home arrival time, causes said obtaining of the returning route, the required time and the departure time to search for the returning route again based on modified preferences of the user relating to the route selection so as to shorten the required time.