JP2002217813A - Navigation system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress communication cost at receiving of navigation service and also to enable, even for persons other than telecommunications enterprises to provide a service. SOLUTION: This navigation system is provided with a service provider network 600, a telecommunications carriers network 400, a service-providing management center 100 connected to the networks 600 and 400, a position information providing terminal 300 connected to the network 600, a base station 500 connected to the network 400, and a radio communication terminal 200 for performing short-distance radio communication with the position information providing terminal 300 and performing radio communication with the base station 500. The radio communication terminal 200 performs service utilization registration in the service providing management center 100 via the base station 500 and the network 400 at the time of starting the navigation service and receives service providing via the position information providing terminal 300, after the service utilization registration.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a navigation system using short-range wireless communication technology, and more particularly to a navigation system capable of reducing communication costs.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, vehicles employing a navigation system have been increasing. The information provided by the navigation system is also expanding from map information to information including, for example, traffic information, route guidance information, etc. (map-related information), and as convenience increases,
It is expected to spread rapidly in the future.

In a conventional car navigation system, a service provider records map information and its related information on a read-only recording medium such as a CD-ROM in advance and provides the map information and the related information to a user. In general, the related information is read out from a recording medium as needed and used.

In addition, since the navigation system having the above-described configuration has a large body and is difficult to carry, a navigation service using a digital cordless telephone system that solves the problem has been proposed. .

For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 8-18501 discloses that when a digital cordless telephone system is used to input target position information from a wireless communication terminal to a communication carrier network, a base station near the target position is input. The ID code is sent to the wireless communication terminal, and the ID is sent to the wireless communication terminal.
Technical contents concerning a navigation system for notifying that a code can be received are disclosed.

[0006]

However, in such a conventional connection mode using a communication carrier network, a communication fee is paid to the communication carrier while using the navigation service. There has been a problem that the communication fee rises as the time for using the navigation service increases. Further, in this configuration, only the communication carrier can provide the navigation service.

[0007] The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and can reduce communication costs paid to a communication carrier.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a navigation system capable of providing a service without being a telecommunications carrier.

[0008]

A navigation system according to the present invention comprises a service provider network, a carrier network, and a service provision management center connected to both the service provider network and the carrier network. A location information providing terminal connected to the service provider network, a base station connected to the carrier network, and short-range wireless communication with the location information providing terminal, A wireless communication terminal performing wireless communication between the wireless communication terminal and the wireless communication terminal executes service use registration with respect to a service provision management center at the start of a navigation service via the base station and the carrier network, and After registration, you will receive the service from the location information providing terminal. And butterflies. With this configuration, the wireless communication terminal uses the carrier network only at the time of service use registration, and performs short-range wireless communication with the location information providing terminal at the time of using the service. In addition, if the service provider constructs its own independent network separately from the telecommunications carrier, the service can be provided even if it is not a telecommunications carrier.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A navigation system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram for explaining the overall configuration of a navigation system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the navigation system includes a service providing management center 100, a wireless communication terminal 200, a location information providing terminal 300, a communication carrier network.
400, base station 500, and service provider network 60
It has 0. The service provision management center 100 includes the carrier network 400 and the service provider network 6
00 and connected to Carrier network 400
Is a communication network such as a mobile phone network, to which a base station 500 is connected. A plurality (three in the figure) of location information providing terminals 300 are connected to the service provider network 600. Location information providing terminal 300
Are installed at points that are important points for navigating people, such as stations and bus stops. Wireless communication terminal 20
0 can communicate with the service provision management center 100 via the base station 500 and the carrier network 400. In addition, the wireless communication terminal 200 can communicate with the position information providing terminal 300 using the short-range wireless communication technology.

As a short-range wireless communication technology, for example, Blue
There is a tooth. Bluetooth is Ericsson, IBM,
This is a wireless communication technology for portable information devices, which is being proposed by Intel, Nokia, and Toshiba. Bl
uetooth is 2.45 which can be used freely without license
Communication can be performed at a rate of 1 Mbps using radio waves in the GHz band. Also, unlike infrared,
If the distance between the devices is within 10 m, it can be used even if there is an obstacle between the transmitting side and the receiving side. In addition, Bluetooth uses a small transceiver of 0.5 square inches, which consumes less power and lowers manufacturing costs. Note that the term Bluetooth is a trademark.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of the radio communication terminal 200 in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the wireless communication terminal 200 includes a communication unit 201 and a position information storage unit 20.
2.ID storage means 203, map information storage means 204, key input means 205, display means 206, voice input means 207, voice output means 208, short-range wireless communication means 209, vibration means 210, current location detection means 211, display correction Means 212, and route search means 21
Has three.

The communication means 201 communicates various kinds of information with the service provision management center 100 via the base station 500 and the carrier network 400 shown in FIG. The position information storage unit 202 is provided with a key input unit 205 or a voice input unit 207.
, The destination location information entered by the service user, the location information of the nearest location information providing terminal 300 sent from the service providing management center 100, and the next location sent from the nearest location information providing terminal 300. The location information of the information providing terminal is stored. The ID storage unit 203 stores the service registration ID issued from the service provision management center 100. The map information storage unit 204 stores the map information transmitted from the service provision management center 100 and the map information transmitted from the position information provision terminal 300. The key input unit 205 is used for inputting various commands and information when using the service. The display unit 206 displays characters input by the service user, the operation state of the wireless communication terminal 200, map information, and the like. The voice input means 207
It consists of a microphone and the like, and is used to input various commands and information by voice when the service user is used. The audio output means 208 includes a speaker or the like, and notifies the operation state of the wireless communication terminal 200 by audio. The short-range wireless communication means 209 communicates with the location information
Performs communication using h. The vibration means 210 is provided for the wireless communication terminal 20.
The operation state of 0 is notified by vibration. Current location detection means 211
Detects the current position of the wireless communication terminal 200 using GPS. The display correction unit 212 corrects the deviation when the road on the map displayed on the display unit 206 and the user current location mark indicating the current position of the user are displaced while the wireless communication terminal 200 is moving.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of the position information providing terminal 300 in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the location information providing terminal 300 includes a map information storage
1. It includes a position information storage unit 302, an arithmetic processing unit 303, an ID collation unit 304, and a short-range wireless communication unit 305.

The map information storage means 301 stores in advance map information near the position information providing terminal 300 itself. The location information storage unit 302 stores the location information of all the location information providing terminals 300 connected to the service provider network 600. The arithmetic processing unit 303 stores the position information providing terminal 300 stored in the position information storage unit 302.
Based on the received position information of the wireless communication terminal 200 and the received position information of the wireless communication terminal 200, a search for the position of the next nearest position information providing terminal 300 is performed. The ID matching means 304 is used for the wireless communication terminal 200
The service registration ID transmitted from is checked. The short-range wireless communication means 305 communicates with the wireless communication terminal 200 via Bluetooth.
This is a means for performing communication using h.

Next, the operation of the navigation system configured as described above will be described.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the related operation between the wireless communication terminal 200 and the service providing management center 100 when the wireless communication terminal 200 requests a service.

In FIG. 4, when a predetermined operation for requesting this service is input from key input means 205 or voice input means 207 of wireless communication terminal 200, a service use permission signal is transmitted from wireless communication terminal 202 ( Step M1
1). This service use permission signal is received by the service provision management center 100 (step S1).

Upon receiving the service use permission signal, the service provision management center 100 issues a service registration ID,
The data is transmitted to the wireless communication terminal 200 (step S2). Wireless communication terminal 200 receives the service registration ID and stores it in ID storage means 203 (step M12). At this time, the service provision management center 100 also transmits the issued service registration ID to the location information terminal 300 via the service provider network 600 for ID verification in the location information terminal 300.

In the wireless communication terminal 200, the service registration ID
Received, the key input means 205 or the voice input means 207
And sends it to the service management center 100 together with the output of the current location detecting means 211 (step M1).
3). At this time, the location information of the destination (hereinafter referred to as destination location information) is stored in the location information storage unit 202. The service providing management center 100 receives the current position information and the target position information (Step S3).

[0022] The service providing management center 100, based on the received current location information and destination location information, determines whether the wireless communication terminal 20
From 0, the nearest location information providing terminal 300 is searched (step S4), and the location information of the nearest location information providing terminal 300 in the search result is transmitted. At this time, the service provision management center 100 also transmits, to the wireless communication terminal 200, map information up to the nearest position information provision terminal 300.

The wireless communication terminal 200 receives this position information (step M14) and stores it in the position information storage means 202. Further, it receives the map information and stores it in the map information storage means 204. After receiving the position information and the map information, the wireless communication terminal 200 disconnects the line with the service provision management center 100. Here, the service provision management center
After the 100 side transmits the position information and the map information, the line may be disconnected.

The service user confirms the current location and the position of the nearest location information providing terminal 300 on the display means 206,
Move to the nearest location information providing terminal 300. After moving to the nearest location information providing terminal 300,
00 is notified to the service user by the voice output means 208 and the vibration means 210.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the related operation between the wireless communication terminal 200 and the position information providing terminal 300 when the wireless communication terminal 200 acquires the position information from the current location to the next nearest position information providing terminal 300. is there.

When the wireless communication terminal 200 enters the communication area of the location information providing terminal 300, the wireless communication terminal 200
The service registration ID stored in 03 is transmitted (step M
21), the location information providing terminal 300 receives the service registration ID transmitted from the wireless communication terminal 200 (step I).
1).

The location information providing terminal 300, which has received the service registration ID, determines whether or not the user is a service user by the ID collating means 304 (step I2). If it is determined that the user is a service user, the location information providing terminal 300 transmits a service use permission signal to the wireless communication terminal 200, and the wireless communication terminal 200 receives the service use permission signal (step I3, M22).

After receiving the service use permission signal, the wireless communication terminal 200 transmits the target position information stored in the position information storage means 202, and the position information providing terminal 300 receives the target position information (steps M23 and M4). ).

A location information providing terminal receiving the target location information
300 is the next nearest location information providing terminal 300 from the location of each location information providing terminal 300 stored in the location information storage unit 302 and the received target location information of the wireless communication terminal 200.
Is searched by the arithmetic processing means 303 (step I).
5), and transmits the position information to the wireless communication terminal 200 (steps I5 and I6). At this time, the next location information providing terminal 30
The travel method information up to 0 is also transmitted. The wireless communication terminal 200
The location information of the next nearest location information providing means 300 is received and stored in the location information storage means 202 (step M2).
Four). In addition, receiving the travel method information, the map information storage means 2
Store in 04. Thereafter, step M until reaching the destination
21, The processing from I1 is repeated.

When the service user gets lost while moving to the next location information providing terminal 300, the wireless communication terminal 200 determines the current location of the user by the current location detection means 211, and stores the location information in the location information storage means 202. According to the position information of the next position information providing terminal 300 stored in the map information and the map information stored in the map information storage means 204, the next position information providing terminal 300 The map information up to is displayed on the display means 206.

When the current position detecting means 211 cannot recognize the current position due to the influence of a shield such as a high-rise building or a tunnel, the current position detecting means 211 recognizes the current position again as soon as the shield disappears. The current location mark on the map displayed on the display means 206 may be off the road and displayed on a building or the like. In such a case, the display correction means 212 recognizes that the current position mark is off the road and is on the building from the building data and the road data stored in the map information storage means 204, and the current position mark is on the road. Correct so that is displayed in.

The navigation system according to the present embodiment is characterized in that the network of the communication carrier is used only at the time of service use registration, and the subsequent use of the service is performed by short-range wireless communication. Since a service user is charged only when connecting to the service provision management center 100 at the start of service use, communication costs can be kept low. In addition, since the wireless communication terminal 200 and the position information providing terminal 300 can be realized with the minimum necessary circuit configuration or processing steps, it is possible to contribute to reduction of the device cost and miniaturization of the device.

In the above embodiment, the information storage means of the radio communication terminal 200 is increased and the location information providing terminal 300
May be added to the wireless communication terminal 200, in addition to the position information and the map information, information such as a timetable of transportation means around the position information terminal providing terminal 300 and a movie show time. As a result, services other than navigation can be supported. Although FIG. 1 shows that the location information providing terminal 300 and the service providing management center 100 are connected by wire, they may be connected by long-distance wireless communication using a satellite. Further, the same applies to the connection between the communication carrier network 400 and the service provision management center 100.

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention, a communication carrier network is used only at the time of service use registration, and a service provider network is used at the time of service use. It is possible to provide a navigation system that has an excellent effect of being able to provide services even if it is not a telecommunications carrier, while being able to suppress it.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a configuration of an entire navigation system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of the wireless communication terminal shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of the position information providing terminal shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining an operation when a service is requested in the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation when the wireless communication terminal acquires position information from the current position to the next nearest position information providing terminal in the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 100 Service provision management center 200 Wireless communication terminal 201 Communication means 202, 302 Location information storage means 203 ID storage means 204, 301 Map information storage means 205 Key input means 206 Display means 207 Voice input means 208 Voice output means 209, 305 Wireless communication means 210 Vibration means 211 Current location detection means 212 Display correction means 213 Route search means 300 Location information providing terminal 303 Arithmetic processing means 304 ID verification means 400 Telecommunications carrier network 500 Base station 600 Service provider network

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F-term (reference) KK16 LL12 LL14 MM04 MM07 NN02 NN18 NN22 NN25 PP03 RR22 SS07 TT02

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A service provider network, a carrier network, a service provider management center connected to both the service provider network and the carrier network, and a location connected to the service provider network. An information providing terminal, a base station connected to the carrier network, performing short-range wireless communication with the location information providing terminal, and a wireless communication terminal performing wireless communication with the base station. The wireless communication terminal performs service use registration with respect to a service provision management center at the start of a navigation service via the base station and the communication carrier network, and after the service use registration, provides a service from the location information providing terminal. A navigation system characterized by receiving provision. 2. The wireless communication terminal notifies the service provision management center of its own current location and destination at the time of the service use registration, and the service provision management center provides a use registration ID and the nearest location information. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein a position of the terminal is notified to the wireless communication terminal. 3. The navigation system according to claim 2, wherein the wireless communication terminal receives the service from the nearest location information providing terminal. 4. The location information providing terminal receives the use registration ID and the destination information from the wireless communication terminal, checks the use registration ID, and then checks the next nearest location between the destination and the destination. The navigation system according to claim 3, wherein the position information of the position information providing terminal is provided to the wireless communication terminal. 5. A position information providing terminal used in the navigation system according to claim 4, wherein the short-range wireless communication means for communicating with the wireless communication terminal, and an ID for collating a use registration ID received from the wireless communication terminal. A position information providing terminal, comprising: matching means; and arithmetic processing means for calculating position information of a next nearest position information providing terminal from destination information received from the wireless communication terminal. 6. A map information storage means for storing at least map information from a current location to a nearest location information providing terminal, wherein the location information of the nearest location information providing terminal obtained from the arithmetic processing means is used to determine the nearest location from the current location. The location information providing terminal according to claim 5, wherein map information up to said location information providing terminal is transmitted to said wireless communication terminal. 7. A wireless communication terminal used in the navigation system according to claim 2, wherein: a communication unit for communicating with the base station; a key input unit for inputting a connection number of the service providing management center; ID that stores the usage registration ID received from the service provision management center
Storage means, position information storage means for storing the position information of the nearest position information providing terminal received from the service provision management center, display means for displaying a moving method from the current location to the nearest position information provision terminal, A wireless communication terminal comprising short-range wireless communication means for communicating with a position information providing terminal. 8. The wireless communication terminal according to claim 7, further comprising map information storage means for storing map information from a current location received from said location information providing terminal to a next nearest location information providing terminal. 9. The wireless communication terminal according to claim 7, further comprising voice input means capable of connecting to said service provision management center by voice instead of said key input means. 10. The wireless communication terminal according to claim 7, further comprising voice output means capable of providing guidance by voice instead of the display means. 11. The apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a vibration unit that vibrates together with the display unit and the audio output unit to notify that the terminal has arrived at the location information providing terminal or the destination. A wireless communication terminal according to any one of the above. 12. The wireless communication terminal according to claim 7, further comprising a current position detecting means for determining a current position of the service user when the service user gets lost. 13. A route search means for searching for a route based on current position information determined by the current position detection means and position information of a next position information providing terminal stored in the position information storage means. Claims 7 to 12
A wireless communication terminal according to any one of the above. 14. A display device according to claim 7, further comprising a display correcting means for correcting when a road of a map displayed on said display means and a current position display mark of a user are shifted. A wireless communication terminal according to any one of the above.