Method and device for generating intersection guidance information

1. A device for generating intersection guidance information in real time while providing a route navigation service, the device comprising:

a route setting unit configured to receive a route up to a destination;

a candidate area detecting unit configured to search for a turning point on a searched route, and detect a surrounding area of the searched turning point as a candidate area;

a candidate POI (point of interest) area detecting unit configured to detect a POI area as a candidate POI area, at least a portion of the POI area being included in the candidate area;

a guidance POI area selecting unit configured to calculate distance between a point within the candidate POI area and the turning point, search the candidate POI area whose distance calculated is shortest, and select the searched candidate POI area as a guidance POI area; and

guidance information generating unit configured to generate guidance information for an intersection including the guidance POI area;

wherein the candidate area detecting unit sets the searched turning point, and a first point and a second point that are set apart from the searched turning point at a predetermined distance, and detects as the candidate area an internal area of an arbitrary closed curve that passes through all of the turning point, and the first and second points; and

wherein when the candidate POI area detecting unit did not detect the candidate POI area, the candidate area detecting unit sets a third point and a fourth point that are apart from the turning point at a previously determined distance, the third and fourth points being different from the first point or the second point, and detects as a candidate area an internal area of an arbitrary closed curve that passes through all of the turning point, the third point, and the fourth point.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the guidance information further comprises at least one of a distance from a current position to the intersection, and turning direction information at the intersection.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the turning direction information comprises at least one of a left turn, a right turn, a U-turn, a P-turn and a rotary turn.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the guidance POI area selecting unit calculates distance between the candidate POI area and the turning point, and selects as a guidance POI area the candidate POI area whose distance calculated is shortest.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the guidance POI area selecting unit selects the guidance POI area in consideration of at least one of a client's position, a client's moving direction and a final destination.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the route setting unit receives the route that is searched from an external device or the route that is searched internally and sets the searched route as input data to generate guidance information.