WO2006059818A1 - Car navigation system and method using rfid card - Google Patents

Car navigation system and method using rfid card Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2006059818A1
WO2006059818A1 PCT/KR2005/000821 KR2005000821W WO2006059818A1 WO 2006059818 A1 WO2006059818 A1 WO 2006059818A1 KR 2005000821 W KR2005000821 W KR 2005000821W WO 2006059818 A1 WO2006059818 A1 WO 2006059818A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
destination
card
information
input
unit
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/KR2005/000821
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Sang-Ki Baek
Original Assignee
Woory Industrial Company, Ltd.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Woory Industrial Company, Ltd. filed Critical Woory Industrial Company, Ltd.
Publication of WO2006059818A1 publication Critical patent/WO2006059818A1/en

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08G—TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
    • G08G1/00—Traffic control systems for road vehicles
    • G08G1/09—Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions
    • G08G1/0962—Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
    • G08G1/0968—Systems involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle
    • G08G1/096805—Systems involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle where the transmitted instructions are used to compute a route
    • G08G1/096827—Systems involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle where the transmitted instructions are used to compute a route where the route is computed onboard
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01C—MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY
    • G01C21/00—Navigation; Navigational instruments not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C19/00
    • G01C21/26—Navigation; Navigational instruments not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C19/00 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
    • G01C21/34—Route searching; Route guidance
    • G01C21/36—Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08G—TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
    • G08G1/00—Traffic control systems for road vehicles
    • G08G1/09—Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions
    • G08G1/0962—Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
    • G08G1/0968—Systems involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle
    • G08G1/096877—Systems involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle where the input to the navigation device is provided by a suitable I/O arrangement
    • G08G1/096894—Systems involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle where the input to the navigation device is provided by a suitable I/O arrangement where input is assisted by the navigation device, i.e. the user does not type the complete name of the destination, e.g. using zip codes, telephone numbers, progressively selecting from initial letters

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a vehicle navigation system and method using an RFID card, and more particularly to a vehicle navigation system and method, in which a plurality of destinations is input or output to or from the vehicle navigation system using an RFID card, and, through the RFID card, the destinations can be easily transferred to and used in another RFID card or another vehicle navigation system.
  • Car navigation systems generally use a Global Positioning System (GPS), to display the current position of a vehicle and provide route guidance to a destination.
  • GPS Global Positioning System
  • the car navigation system generally uses stored map data to display the current position or a path from the current position to the destination on a map.
  • Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional vehicle navigation system.
  • a GPS module 1 receives radio waves from a plurality of satellites belonging to the GPS through an antenna AT and calculates a pseudo coordinate of the current position.
  • a navigation module 2 receives position information from the GPS module 1 and calculates not only the current position of the vehicle but also other travel values such as the speed and the travel direction of the vehicle.
  • a map information storage unit 5 stores map information and other additional information/data.
  • An operating unit 3 includes a keypad having a number of character and number keys.
  • a display unit 4 displays map information read from the map information storage unit 5 and displays states or events occurring while various functions are being performed.
  • the navigation module 2 reads surrounding area map data from the map information storage unit 5 on the basis of the calculated travel information, and displays the read surrounding area map data on the display unit 4.
  • the navigation module 2 calculates a path between the current position and the destination using a path calculation algorithm, and indicates the calculated path on the map displayed on the display unit 4.
  • the destination input method used in the conventional vehicle navigation system causes inconvenience to the driver. For example, if the position of the destination is out of a currently displayed screen, the driver must cause the position of the destination to appear on the screen through an operation such as rescaling and then position the cursor at the destination.
  • Another destination input method used in the conventional vehicle navigation system in which the driver selects the destination by inputting its address or place-name and retrieving the desired destination, causes inconvenience of having to input a search keyword and also causes problems in that different locations may be retrieved by the same keyword and it is not possible to specify the destination if the destination is located in an area that cannot be searched.
  • a place unrelated to the destination may be input if the GPS coordinate or address of the destination is incorrectly input. Further, the same destination must be repeatedly set each time the driver or vehicle is changed.
  • the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle navigation system, wherein a plurality of destinations is input or output to or from the vehicle navigation system using an RPID card, and destination position information stored in the vehicle navigation system can be easily transferred to another RPID card through the RPID card, and the same destinations can also be applied to another vehicle navigation system.
  • a vehicle navigation system using an RFID card comprising: a GPS module including an antenna, the GPS module detecting a current position of a vehicle using GPS position information received through the antenna and outputting the detected current vehicle position to a processing unit; an RPID card embedded with a noncontact RFID chip, the RPID card including a unique chip identification number and a built-in memory so that destination position information is input/output to/from and stored in the RPID card; a card input/output unit for reading or writing destination information from or to the RFID card through contactless access within an effective radio frequency (RF) range, the card input/output unit being connected to the processing unit through a general-purpose communication port to transmit and receive destination information and a control signal; an operating button for outputting control commands to the processing unit, the control commands including a control command for controlling the card input/output unit and a control command for controlling operations, including a function setting operation, of a navigation module;
  • RF radio frequency
  • a vehicle navigation method using an RFID card comprising the steps of: a) transmitting a control command from an operating button to a processing unit according to manipulation of the operating button by a driver; b), by the processing unit, temporarily storing vehicle position information received from a GPS module and determining which control command is received from the operating button; and c) if the control command received by the processing unit from the operating button is an RFID card write command, outputting a transfer request signal, requesting that a navigation module transfer destination information to the processing unit, from the processing unit to the navigation module, outputting currently set destination information from the navigation module to the processing unit when the navigation module receives the transfer request signal from the processing unit, activating a card input/output unit by the processing unit, transmitting destination position information from the processing unit to the card input/output unit, and wirelessly transmitting the destination position information from the card input/output unit to an RFID card so that the wirelessly transmitted destination position information is stored in a memory of the RFID card.
  • the vehicle navigation method further comprises the step of d) if the control command received by the processing unit from the operating button at the step b) is an RFID card read command, activating the card input/output unit by the processing unit, outputting a signal, requesting that the card input/output unit receive destination information from an RFID card, to the card input/output unit, receiving destination information by the card input/output unit from the RFID card, outputting the received destination information from the card input/output unit to the processing unit, outputting both the destination information received from the card input/output unit and the temporarily stored vehicle position information from the processing unit to the navigation module, calculating, by the navigation module, a path from the current vehicle position to the destination position based on both the destination position information and the vehicle position information received from the processing unit, and displaying the path to the destination on a display unit using a map read from a map information storage unit.
  • a vehicle navigation system using an RFID card comprising: a GPS module including an antenna, the GPS module detecting a current position of a vehicle using GPS position information received through the antenna and outputting the detected current vehicle position to a navigation module; an RFID card embedded with a noncontact RFID chip, the RFID card including a unique chip identification number and a built-in memory so that destination position information is input/output to/from and stored in the RFID card; a card input/output unit for reading or writing destination information from or to the RFID card through contactless access within an effective radio frequency (RF) range, the card input/output unit being connected to the navigation module through a communication port to transmit and receive destination information and a control signal; an operating unit including a character and number keypad to receive a destination input by a driver, the operating unit being used to input a control command for controlling the card input/output unit and a function setting command; a navigation module for receiving a current vehicle position from the GPS module, controlling the card input
  • RF radio frequency
  • a vehicle navigation method using an RFID card comprising the steps of: a) transmitting a control command from an operating unit to a navigation module according to manipulation of the operating unit by a driver; b) determining which control command is received from the operating unit; and c) if the control command received from the operating unit is an RFID card write command, activating a card input/output unit by the navigation module, transmitting set destination position information from the navigation module to the card input/output unit, and wirelessly transmitting the destination position information from the card input/output unit to an RFID card so that the wirelessly transmitted destination position information is stored in a memory of the RFID card.
  • the vehicle navigation method further comprises the step of: d) if the control command received from the operating unit at the step b) is an RFID card read command, activating the card input/output unit by the navigation module, outputting a signal, requesting that the card input/output unit receive destination information from an RFID card, to the card input/output unit, receiving destination information by the card input/output unit from the RFID card, outputting the received destination information from the card input/output unit to the navigation module, calculating, by the navigation module, a path from the current vehicle position to the destination position based on both the destination position information and position information received from the GPS module, and displaying the path to the destination on a display unit using a map read from a map information storage unit.
  • a plurality of destinations is input or output to or from the vehicle navigation system using an RFID card, and destination position information stored in the vehicle navigation system is easily transferred to another RFID card through the RFID card, and the same destinations can also be applied to another vehicle navigation system.
  • destination information can be input from an Internet-accessible computer to the vehicle navigation system and the destination information can also be stored in the computer.
  • Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional vehicle navigation system
  • Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a vehicle navigation system according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 3 is a detailed block diagram of a processing unit in the embodiment shown in Fig. 2;
  • Figs. 4a to 4d are diagrams illustrating methods for inputting/outputting destination position information using the RFID card according to the embodiment of Fig. 2;
  • FIGS. 5a to 5d are drawings illustrating a schematic structure for communicating destination position information between computers or vehicle navigation systems according to the embodiment of Fig. 2;
  • FIGs. 6a to 6d are diagrams illustrating methods for controlling a navigation module using the processing unit according to the embodiment of Fig. 2;
  • Fig. 7 is a flow chart of a vehicle navigation method using an RFID card according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 8 is a block diagram of a vehicle navigation system according to another embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 9 is a flow chart of a vehicle navigation method of a vehicle navigation device according to another embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a vehicle navigation system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • the vehicle navigation system according to this embodiment of the present invention comprises a GPS module 1, an operating unit 3, a display unit 4, a map information storage unit 5, a processing unit 10, an operating button 20, a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) card 30, a card input/output unit 40, and a navigation module 50.
  • RFID Radio Frequency Identification
  • the GPS module 1 includes an antenna AT.
  • the GPS module 1 detects the current position of a vehicle using GPS position information received through the antenna, and outputs the detected current position to the processing unit 10.
  • the RFID card 30 is a card embedded with a noncontact RFID chip such as a currently-used metro card.
  • the RFID card 30 includes a unique chip identification number and a built-in memory, so that the RFID card 30 can store required information. Also, information of a plurality of destinations is input/output to/from and stored in the RFID card 30. Provided that it is embedded with an RFID chip, any card can be used as the RFID card 30, regardless of whether it is a metro card or a credit card.
  • the card input/output unit 40 wirelessly writes or reads destination information to or from the RFID card 30 when the RFID card 30 is positioned near the card input/output unit 40 within an effective RF range of the card input/output unit 40 in a noncontact manner.
  • the card input/output unit 40 includes general-purpose communication ports through which it is connected to the processing unit 10 or a separate computer to communicate destination information and control signals therewith.
  • the operation button 20 outputs a control command for controlling the card input/output unit 40 and a control command for controlling the operation of the navigation module 50, including function settings such as map enlargement/reduction, to the processing unit 10.
  • the processing unit 10 receives the vehicle position from the GPS module 1, and controls the' card input/output unit 40 according to a control command from the operating button 20 to receive or transmit destination position information from or to the RFID card 30. Also, the processing unit 10 transmits or receives destination position information to or from the navigation module 50, or transmits a control command received from the operating button 20 to the navigation module 50.
  • the navigation module 50 receives the current vehicle position and destination position information from the processing unit 10, calculates a path from the current position to the destination, reads a map from the map information storage unit 5, and displays the read map on the display unit 5. Also, the navigation module 50 outputs the current destination position information to the processing unit 10 or performs overall functions such as map enlargement/reduction according to a control command from the processing unit 10.
  • the map information storage unit 5 stores map information and other additional information/data.
  • the operating unit 3 includes a character and number keypad.
  • a cursor is displayed on the map, and a desired destination is selected by pressing a selection button when the cursor is positioned at the desired destination on the map, or the desired destination is selected by inputting its address or place-name and retrieving the desired destination.
  • the display unit 4 displays map information read from the map information storage unit 5 and displays states or events, occurring while various functions are being performed, on the screen.
  • the vehicle navigation system using the RFID card according to the present invention avoids the inconvenience of having to select the destination by moving the cursor on the map through manipulation of the keypad on the operating unit 3 and having to set the destination by inputting its address or place-name and retrieving the destination.
  • the vehicle navigation system according to the present invention stores information of a plurality of destinations in the RFID card 30, which has an excellent interchangeability and mobility, and sequentially suggests paths between the destinations (i.e., first to final destinations) to the driver to inform the driver of the path to the final destination.
  • the navigation module 50 first indicates a path to the destination Pl, indicates a path to the destination
  • Fig. 3 is a detailed block diagram of the processing unit 10 in the embodiment shown in Fig. 2.
  • the processing unit 10 comprises a communication port (A) 11 for receiving GPS position information from the GPS module 1, a controller 12 for controlling the overall operation of the processing unit 10, a storage unit 13 for storing position information, a communication port (B) 14 for communication with the navigation module 50, a communication port (C) 15 for communication with the card input/output unit 40, and an operating button 20 for providing key inputs to control the processing unit 10.
  • the controller 12 in the processing unit 10 receives a user control input from the operating button 20 and activates the card input/output unit 40 through the communication port (C) 15. If the controller 12 receives position information from the RFID card 30, the controller 12 transfers the received position information to the navigation module 50 through the communication port (B) 14.
  • the controller 12 temporarily stores GPS position information from the GPS module 1 in the storage unit 13.
  • the controller 12 transfers the GPS position information stored in the storage unit 13 to the navigation module 50 after transferring the position information received from the RFID card 30 to the navigation module 50.
  • the processing unit 10 receives the position information from the GPS module 1, and transfers the received position information to the navigation module 50. If the user activates a destination input button of the operating button 20 in order to input a destination using the RFID card 30, the processing unit 10 activates the card input/output unit 40 to receive destination position information stored in the RFID card from the card input/output unit 40, and transfers the received destination position information to the navigation module 50. The processing unit 10 transfers the destination position information to the navigation system 50 with the same communication speed and method as used for transferring the GPS position information, and further transfers the GPS position information from the GPS module 1 to the navigation module 50.
  • the navigation module 50 detects position information and a command for inputting the destination, and calculates the destination based on the position information input using the RFID card at the current position.
  • the navigation module 50 calculates a path to the destination and requests the driver to confirm the calculated path.
  • the navigation module 50 displays the calculated path to the destination if the driver confirms the calculated path.
  • Figs. 4a to 4d are diagrams illustrating methods for inputting/outputting destination position information using the RFID card according to the embodiment of Fig. 2.
  • an RFID input mode signal is provided from the operating button 20 to the processing unit 10.
  • the processing unit 10 activates the card input/output unit 40 and waits for an input from the card input/output unit 40. If the user brings an RFID card (A) 3OA, in which position information of a destination (A) is stored, near the card input/output unit 40, the card input/output unit 40 reads the position information of the destination (A) from the RFID card (A) 30A, and the read position information is input to the processing unit 10. Immediately after being input to the processing unit 10, the position information of the destination (A) is transferred to the navigation module 50.
  • an RFID input mode signal is provided from the operating button 20 to the processing unit 10.
  • the processing unit 10 activates the card input/output unit 40 and waits for an input from the card input/output unit 40.
  • the card input/output unit 40 reads the position information of the destination (B) or the destination (C) from the RFID card (B) 30B or the RFID card (C) 30C, and the read position information is input to the processing unit 10.
  • the position information of the destination (B) or (C) is transferred to the navigation module 50.
  • the user desires to output destination information from the navigation system 40 to the RFID card, as shown in Fig.
  • an RFID output mode signal is provided from the operating button 20 to the processing unit 10 when the user selects an RFID output mode using the operating button 20.
  • the processing unit 10 When receiving the RFID output mode signal, the processing unit 10 provides a destination output command to the navigation module 50 and activates the card input/output unit 40. Thereafter, if the processing unit 10 receives position information of, for example, the destination (A) as a destination output signal from the navigation module 50, the processing unit 10 transfers the received position information to the card input/output unit 40, so that the position information of the destination (A) is transferred to and stored in, for example, the RFID card (A) 3OA placed near the card input/output unit 40 by the user.
  • Figs. 5a to 5d are drawings illustrating a schematic structure for exchanging destination information between computers or vehicle navigation systems according to the present invention.
  • destination position information can be exchanged between computers.
  • the card input/output unit 40 is separated from the vehicle navigation system according to the present invention, and the separated card input/output unit 40 is connected to a computer 100 through a general-purpose communication interface.
  • the user accesses a map information site on the Internet, and selects a destination by retrieving it based on the zip code or place-name or by moving a cursor to the corresponding position on a map displayed on the computer 100.
  • the user activates the card input/output unit 40 by clicking a mouse or using a keyboard of the computer 100, and brings the RFID card 30 near the card input/output unit 40 so that the destination position information is input to the RFID card 30.
  • a plurality of destinations can be input to the RFID card 30. Also, midway destinations (i.e., waypoints) and a final destination can be sequentially input to the RFID card 30. Further, a plurality of final destinations can be input to the RFID card 30. It is easy to carry the RFID card 30 to which the destination information has been input, so that the input destination information can be easily stored in any computer 100' through a card input/output unit 40'. The following are example data formats indicating the destination information.
  • the data format #2 is a data format of a path from the current position to the main destination (i.e., the final destination) via Destination 1. (Destination Data Format #3)
  • the data format #4 is an example data format of destination information that is specified by an address and place-name. (Destination Data Format #5)
  • 01 one final destination; 01: GPS coordinate format; n2: n2 destinations; waypointN2(l) -» waypointN2(2), ..., -> waypointN2(n2)
  • the data format #5 is an example data format of destination information when a plurality of final destinations is present and a plurality of midway destinations is present for each of the final destinations.
  • "waypoint" indicates coordinate information of each destination.
  • destination position information can be exchanged between a personal computer 100 and the vehicle navigation system according to the present invention.
  • destination position information from the personal computer 100 is stored in the RFID card 30 through the card input/output unit 40, and, if needed, the stored destination position information is output to a card input/output unit 40' in another vehicle navigation system to provide a destination guidance service.
  • the different destination position information can be sequentially output to the vehicle navigation system.
  • the vehicle navigation system sequentially calculates paths between destinations (i.e., first to final destinations) to provide a navigation service.
  • the destination position information stored in the RFID card 30 can be retrieved through the card input/output unit 40 and then stored in the computer 100.
  • destination information can be exchanged between vehicle navigation systems according to the present invention. In this case, destination position information from the vehicle navigation system is stored in the RFID card 30 through the card input/output unit 40, and, if needed, the stored destination position information is output to a card input/output unit 40' in another vehicle navigation system to provide a destination guidance service.
  • Figs. 6a to 6d are diagrams illustrating methods for controlling the navigation module using the processing unit according to the embodiment of Fig. 2.
  • a map enlargement mode input is received through the operating button 20
  • the input signal is provided to the processing unit 10, and the processing unit 10 then transfers a map enlargement command to the navigation module
  • the navigation module 50 controls the display unit 4 to enlarge a currently displayed map size.
  • the input signal is provided to the processing unit 10, and the processing unit 10 then transfers a map reduction command to the navigation module 50.
  • the navigation module 50 controls the display unit 4 to reduce a currently displayed map size.
  • the input signal is provided to the processing unit 10, and the processing unit 10 then transfers a brightness change command to the navigation module 50.
  • the navigation module 50 controls the display unit 4 to change the brightness of a currently displayed map.
  • the processing unit 10 transfers an RFID card output command to the navigation module 50.
  • the navigation module 50 waits for the output of position information.
  • the user manipulates the operating unit 3 to specify a position information reference to be output
  • the navigation module 50 detects this operation, and then outputs position information corresponding to the specified position information reference to the processing unit 10, and the processing unit 10 then transfers the output position information via a card input/output unit (not shown) to an RFID card that is brought near the card input/output unit by the user, so that the output position information is written to the RFID card.
  • a vehicle navigation method of the vehicle navigation system according to the present invention which is configured as described above, will now be described.
  • Fig. 7 is a flow chart of a vehicle navigation method using an RFID card according to the present invention.
  • a control command (for example, an RFID card read/write command or a function setting command such as a command for changing the scale of a map displayed on the display unit 4) is transmitted from the operating button 20 to the processing unit 10 (SlOO).
  • the processing unit 10 temporarily stores position information of a vehicle received from the GPS module 1 (SI lO), and determines which control command is received from the operating button 20 (S 120). If the control command received from the operating button 20 is a function setting command, the processing unit 10 outputs a corresponding control command to the navigation module 50 (S 130). According to the control command received from the processing unit 10, the navigation module 50 changes display setting, such as map scale or screen appearance/color setting, for display on the display unit 4 (S 140).
  • the processing unit 10 If it is determined at step S 120 that the control command received from the operating button 20 is an RFID card write command (i.e., an RFID card output command), the processing unit 10 outputs a transfer request signal, which requests that the navigation module 50 transfer destination position information to the processing unit 10, to the navigation module 50 (S 150).
  • the navigation module 50 When receiving the transfer request signal, the navigation module 50 outputs currently set destination position information (or information of a position selected by the user through manipulation of the operating unit 3) to the processing unit 10 (S 160).
  • the processing unit 10 then outputs a control signal for activating the card input/output unit 40 to the card input/output unit 40 (S 170) and also transmits the destination position information to the card input/output unit 40 (S 180).
  • the card input/output unit 40 wirelessly transmits the destination position information received from the processing unit 10 to the RFID card 30 (S 190), so that the received destination position information is stored in a memory of the RFID card 30 (S200).
  • the processing unit 10 If it is determined at step S 120 that the control command received from the operating button 20 is an RFID card read command (i.e., an RFID card input command), the processing unit 10 outputs a control signal for activating the card input/output unit 40 to the card input/output unit 40 (S 170) and also transmits a signal, requesting that the card input/output unit 40 receive destination information from the RFID card, to the card input/output unit 40 (S 180). Then, the card input/output unit 40 receives destination information from the RFID card 30 and outputs the received destination information to the processing unit 10 (S210). The processing unit 10 outputs the destination position information received from the card input/output unit 40 and the temporarily stored vehicle position information to the navigation module 50.
  • the processing unit 10 outputs the destination position information received from the card input/output unit 40 and the temporarily stored vehicle position information to the navigation module 50.
  • the navigation module 50 calculates a path from the current position to the destination position, and displays the path to the destination on the display unit 4 on the basis of a map read from the map information storage unit 5 (S230).
  • Fig. 8 is a block diagram of a vehicle navigation system according to another embodiment of the present invention, m the preceding embodiment, the GPS module and the card input/output unit are connected through the processing unit including the operating button via the GPS communication port of the navigation module.
  • the processing unit is removed, only the GPS module is connected to the GPS communication port as in the related art, a card input/output unit 40 is connected to a separate communication port 53 in a navigation module 50A, and the function of the operating button 20 in the preceding embodiment is implemented in an operating unit 3.
  • a vehicle navigation method of the vehicle navigation device according to this embodiment of the present invention which is configured as described above with reference to Fig. 8, will now be described in detail with reference to Fig. 9.
  • a driver manipulates buttons of the operating unit 3 to transmit a control command (for example, an RFID card read/write command or a function setting command such as a command for changing the scale of a map displayed on a display unit 4) to a navigation controller 51 in the navigation module 5OA (S301). While the navigation controller 51 displays the current position of a vehicle using position information of the vehicle received from the GPS module 1 (S300), the navigation controller 51 determines which control command is received from the operating unit 3
  • a control command for example, an RFID card read/write command or a function setting command such as a command for changing the scale of a map displayed on a display unit
  • the navigation controller 51 If the control command received from the operating unit 3 is a display function setting command, the navigation controller 51 outputs the control command to a display driver 54 to change display setting such as map scale or screen appearance/color setting, for display on the display unit 4 (S304). If it is determined at step S302 that the control command received from the operating unit 3 is an RFID card write command (i.e., an RFID card output command), the navigation controller 51 outputs destination position information (S306). Thereafter, the navigation controller 51 outputs a control signal for activating the card input/output unit 40 to the card input/output unit 40 (S307) and also transmits the destination position information to the card input/output unit 40 (S308). The card input/output unit 40 wirelessly transmits the destination position information received from the navigation controller 51 to the RFID card 30 (S309), so that the received destination position information is stored in a memory of the RFID card 30 (S310).
  • the navigation controller 51 If it is determined at step S305 that the control command received from the operating unit 3 is an RFID card read command (i.e., an RFID card input command), the navigation controller 51 outputs a control signal for activating the card input/output unit 40 to the card input/output unit 40 (S307) and also transmits a signal, requesting that the card input/output unit 40 receive destination information from the RFID card, to the card input/output unit 40 (S308). Then, the card input/output unit 40 receives destination information from the RFID card 30 and outputs the received destination information to the navigation controller 51 (S311).
  • the control command received from the operating unit 3 is an RFID card read command (i.e., an RFID card input command)
  • the navigation controller 51 If it is determined at step S305 that the control command received from the operating unit 3 is an RFID card read command (i.e., an RFID card input command), the navigation controller 51 outputs a control signal for activating the card input/output unit 40 to the card input/output unit 40 (S
  • the navigation controller 51 calculates a path from the current position to the destination position, and displays the path to the destination on the display unit 4 on the basis of a map read from the map information storage unit 5 (S312).
  • a vehicle navigation system and method according to the present invention has the following advantages.
  • a plurality of destinations is input or output to or from the vehicle navigation system using an RFID card, and destination position information stored in the vehicle navigation system is easily transferred to another RFID card through the RFID card, and the same destinations can also be applied to another vehicle navigation system.
  • destination information can be input from an Internet-accessible computer to the vehicle navigation system and the destination information can also be stored in the computer.

Abstract

This invention relates to a vehicle navigation system and method using an RFID card. A plurality of destinations is input or output to or from the vehicle navigation system using an RFID card, and, through the RFID card, the destinations can be easily transferred to and used in another RFID card or another vehicle navigation system.

Description

CAR NAVIGATION SYSTEM AND METHOD USING RFID CARD
[Technical Field]
The present invention relates to a vehicle navigation system and method using an RFID card, and more particularly to a vehicle navigation system and method, in which a plurality of destinations is input or output to or from the vehicle navigation system using an RFID card, and, through the RFID card, the destinations can be easily transferred to and used in another RFID card or another vehicle navigation system.
[Background Art]
Car navigation systems generally use a Global Positioning System (GPS), to display the current position of a vehicle and provide route guidance to a destination. The car navigation system generally uses stored map data to display the current position or a path from the current position to the destination on a map.
Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional vehicle navigation system. In the conventional vehicle navigation system, a GPS module 1 receives radio waves from a plurality of satellites belonging to the GPS through an antenna AT and calculates a pseudo coordinate of the current position. A navigation module 2 receives position information from the GPS module 1 and calculates not only the current position of the vehicle but also other travel values such as the speed and the travel direction of the vehicle. A map information storage unit 5 stores map information and other additional information/data. An operating unit 3 includes a keypad having a number of character and number keys. If the driver needs to set a destination and a path to the destination, the driver manipulates the keypad to display a cursor on the map, and select a desired destination by pressing a selection button when the cursor is positioned at the desired destination on the map or by inputting its address or place-name and retrieving the desired destination. A display unit 4 displays map information read from the map information storage unit 5 and displays states or events occurring while various functions are being performed. The navigation module 2 reads surrounding area map data from the map information storage unit 5 on the basis of the calculated travel information, and displays the read surrounding area map data on the display unit 4. The navigation module 2 calculates a path between the current position and the destination using a path calculation algorithm, and indicates the calculated path on the map displayed on the display unit 4.
[Disclosure] [Technical Problem]
However, the destination input method used in the conventional vehicle navigation system, in which the driver selects the destination by manipulating the keypad and moving the cursor on the screen, causes inconvenience to the driver. For example, if the position of the destination is out of a currently displayed screen, the driver must cause the position of the destination to appear on the screen through an operation such as rescaling and then position the cursor at the destination. Another destination input method used in the conventional vehicle navigation system, in which the driver selects the destination by inputting its address or place-name and retrieving the desired destination, causes inconvenience of having to input a search keyword and also causes problems in that different locations may be retrieved by the same keyword and it is not possible to specify the destination if the destination is located in an area that cannot be searched. In addition, a place unrelated to the destination may be input if the GPS coordinate or address of the destination is incorrectly input. Further, the same destination must be repeatedly set each time the driver or vehicle is changed.
Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle navigation system, wherein a plurality of destinations is input or output to or from the vehicle navigation system using an RPID card, and destination position information stored in the vehicle navigation system can be easily transferred to another RPID card through the RPID card, and the same destinations can also be applied to another vehicle navigation system.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a vehicle navigation system and method, wherein destination information can be input from an Internet- accessible computer to the vehicle navigation system through both an RPID card and a card input/output unit and the destination information can also be stored in the computer.
[Technical Solution]
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a vehicle navigation system using an RFID card, the system comprising: a GPS module including an antenna, the GPS module detecting a current position of a vehicle using GPS position information received through the antenna and outputting the detected current vehicle position to a processing unit; an RPID card embedded with a noncontact RFID chip, the RPID card including a unique chip identification number and a built-in memory so that destination position information is input/output to/from and stored in the RPID card; a card input/output unit for reading or writing destination information from or to the RFID card through contactless access within an effective radio frequency (RF) range, the card input/output unit being connected to the processing unit through a general-purpose communication port to transmit and receive destination information and a control signal; an operating button for outputting control commands to the processing unit, the control commands including a control command for controlling the card input/output unit and a control command for controlling operations, including a function setting operation, of a navigation module; the processing unit for receiving a current vehicle position from the GPS module, controlling the card input/output unit, according to a control command from the operating button, to receive or transmit destination position information from or to the RFID card and also to transmit or receive destination position information to or from the navigation module, and transmitting a control command received from the operating button to the navigation module; the navigation module for receiving the current vehicle position and the destination position information from the processing unit, calculating a path between the current position and the destination of the vehicle based on the received current vehicle position and destination position information, reading a map from a map information storage unit, displaying the read map, and outputting the current and destination position information to the processing unit according to a control command from the processing unit; a map information storage unit for storing map information and other additional information/data; an operating μnit including a character and number keypad to receive a destination set by a driver; and a display unit for displaying map information read from the map information storage unit, current vehicle position information, and destination information on a screen. Preferably, the destination information is expressed as including a coordinate, a zip code, or a place-name.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle navigation method using an RFID card, the method comprising the steps of: a) transmitting a control command from an operating button to a processing unit according to manipulation of the operating button by a driver; b), by the processing unit, temporarily storing vehicle position information received from a GPS module and determining which control command is received from the operating button; and c) if the control command received by the processing unit from the operating button is an RFID card write command, outputting a transfer request signal, requesting that a navigation module transfer destination information to the processing unit, from the processing unit to the navigation module, outputting currently set destination information from the navigation module to the processing unit when the navigation module receives the transfer request signal from the processing unit, activating a card input/output unit by the processing unit, transmitting destination position information from the processing unit to the card input/output unit, and wirelessly transmitting the destination position information from the card input/output unit to an RFID card so that the wirelessly transmitted destination position information is stored in a memory of the RFID card. Preferably, the vehicle navigation method further comprises the step of d) if the control command received by the processing unit from the operating button at the step b) is an RFID card read command, activating the card input/output unit by the processing unit, outputting a signal, requesting that the card input/output unit receive destination information from an RFID card, to the card input/output unit, receiving destination information by the card input/output unit from the RFID card, outputting the received destination information from the card input/output unit to the processing unit, outputting both the destination information received from the card input/output unit and the temporarily stored vehicle position information from the processing unit to the navigation module, calculating, by the navigation module, a path from the current vehicle position to the destination position based on both the destination position information and the vehicle position information received from the processing unit, and displaying the path to the destination on a display unit using a map read from a map information storage unit.
In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle navigation system using an RFID card, the system comprising: a GPS module including an antenna, the GPS module detecting a current position of a vehicle using GPS position information received through the antenna and outputting the detected current vehicle position to a navigation module; an RFID card embedded with a noncontact RFID chip, the RFID card including a unique chip identification number and a built-in memory so that destination position information is input/output to/from and stored in the RFID card; a card input/output unit for reading or writing destination information from or to the RFID card through contactless access within an effective radio frequency (RF) range, the card input/output unit being connected to the navigation module through a communication port to transmit and receive destination information and a control signal; an operating unit including a character and number keypad to receive a destination input by a driver, the operating unit being used to input a control command for controlling the card input/output unit and a function setting command; a navigation module for receiving a current vehicle position from the GPS module, controlling the card input/output unit, according to a control command from the operating unit, to receive or transmit destination position information from or to the RFID card, calculating a path between the current position and the destination of the vehicle based on both the current vehicle position received from the GPS module and the destination position information received from the RFID card, reading a map from a map information storage unit, displaying the read map, and outputting the current and destination position information to the navigation module according to a control command from the navigation module; a map information storage unit for storing map information and other additional information/data; and a display unit for displaying map information read from the map information storage unit, current vehicle position information, and destination information on a screen.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle navigation method using an RFID card, the method comprising the steps of: a) transmitting a control command from an operating unit to a navigation module according to manipulation of the operating unit by a driver; b) determining which control command is received from the operating unit; and c) if the control command received from the operating unit is an RFID card write command, activating a card input/output unit by the navigation module, transmitting set destination position information from the navigation module to the card input/output unit, and wirelessly transmitting the destination position information from the card input/output unit to an RFID card so that the wirelessly transmitted destination position information is stored in a memory of the RFID card.
Preferably, the vehicle navigation method further comprises the step of: d) if the control command received from the operating unit at the step b) is an RFID card read command, activating the card input/output unit by the navigation module, outputting a signal, requesting that the card input/output unit receive destination information from an RFID card, to the card input/output unit, receiving destination information by the card input/output unit from the RFID card, outputting the received destination information from the card input/output unit to the navigation module, calculating, by the navigation module, a path from the current vehicle position to the destination position based on both the destination position information and position information received from the GPS module, and displaying the path to the destination on a display unit using a map read from a map information storage unit.
[Advantageous Effects]
A plurality of destinations is input or output to or from the vehicle navigation system using an RFID card, and destination position information stored in the vehicle navigation system is easily transferred to another RFID card through the RFID card, and the same destinations can also be applied to another vehicle navigation system.
Further, destination information can be input from an Internet-accessible computer to the vehicle navigation system and the destination information can also be stored in the computer.
[Description of Drawings] The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional vehicle navigation system; Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a vehicle navigation system according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 3 is a detailed block diagram of a processing unit in the embodiment shown in Fig. 2;
Figs. 4a to 4d are diagrams illustrating methods for inputting/outputting destination position information using the RFID card according to the embodiment of Fig. 2;
Figs. 5a to 5d are drawings illustrating a schematic structure for communicating destination position information between computers or vehicle navigation systems according to the embodiment of Fig. 2; Figs. 6a to 6d are diagrams illustrating methods for controlling a navigation module using the processing unit according to the embodiment of Fig. 2;
Fig. 7 is a flow chart of a vehicle navigation method using an RFID card according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 8 is a block diagram of a vehicle navigation system according to another embodiment of the present invention; and
Fig. 9 is a flow chart of a vehicle navigation method of a vehicle navigation device according to another embodiment of the present invention.
[Best Mode]
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a vehicle navigation system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 2, the vehicle navigation system according to this embodiment of the present invention comprises a GPS module 1, an operating unit 3, a display unit 4, a map information storage unit 5, a processing unit 10, an operating button 20, a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) card 30, a card input/output unit 40, and a navigation module 50.
The GPS module 1 includes an antenna AT. The GPS module 1 detects the current position of a vehicle using GPS position information received through the antenna, and outputs the detected current position to the processing unit 10. The RFID card 30 is a card embedded with a noncontact RFID chip such as a currently-used metro card. The RFID card 30 includes a unique chip identification number and a built-in memory, so that the RFID card 30 can store required information. Also, information of a plurality of destinations is input/output to/from and stored in the RFID card 30. Provided that it is embedded with an RFID chip, any card can be used as the RFID card 30, regardless of whether it is a metro card or a credit card.
The card input/output unit 40 wirelessly writes or reads destination information to or from the RFID card 30 when the RFID card 30 is positioned near the card input/output unit 40 within an effective RF range of the card input/output unit 40 in a noncontact manner. The card input/output unit 40 includes general-purpose communication ports through which it is connected to the processing unit 10 or a separate computer to communicate destination information and control signals therewith.
The operation button 20 outputs a control command for controlling the card input/output unit 40 and a control command for controlling the operation of the navigation module 50, including function settings such as map enlargement/reduction, to the processing unit 10.
The processing unit 10 receives the vehicle position from the GPS module 1, and controls the' card input/output unit 40 according to a control command from the operating button 20 to receive or transmit destination position information from or to the RFID card 30. Also, the processing unit 10 transmits or receives destination position information to or from the navigation module 50, or transmits a control command received from the operating button 20 to the navigation module 50.
The navigation module 50 receives the current vehicle position and destination position information from the processing unit 10, calculates a path from the current position to the destination, reads a map from the map information storage unit 5, and displays the read map on the display unit 5. Also, the navigation module 50 outputs the current destination position information to the processing unit 10 or performs overall functions such as map enlargement/reduction according to a control command from the processing unit 10. The map information storage unit 5 stores map information and other additional information/data. The operating unit 3 includes a character and number keypad. Through manipulation of the keypad, a cursor is displayed on the map, and a desired destination is selected by pressing a selection button when the cursor is positioned at the desired destination on the map, or the desired destination is selected by inputting its address or place-name and retrieving the desired destination. The display unit 4 displays map information read from the map information storage unit 5 and displays states or events, occurring while various functions are being performed, on the screen.
The vehicle navigation system using the RFID card according to the present invention, which is configured as described above, avoids the inconvenience of having to select the destination by moving the cursor on the map through manipulation of the keypad on the operating unit 3 and having to set the destination by inputting its address or place-name and retrieving the destination. To accomplish this, the vehicle navigation system according to the present invention stores information of a plurality of destinations in the RFID card 30, which has an excellent interchangeability and mobility, and sequentially suggests paths between the destinations (i.e., first to final destinations) to the driver to inform the driver of the path to the final destination.
Specifically, if three auxiliary destinations Pl, P2 and P3 and a main destination P4 are input from the RFID card to the navigation module 50, the navigation module 50 first indicates a path to the destination Pl, indicates a path to the destination
P2 when the destination Pl is reached, and indicates a path to the destination P3 when the destination P2 is reached, so as to display a path to the main destination P4.
Fig. 3 is a detailed block diagram of the processing unit 10 in the embodiment shown in Fig. 2.
In Fig. 3, the processing unit 10 comprises a communication port (A) 11 for receiving GPS position information from the GPS module 1, a controller 12 for controlling the overall operation of the processing unit 10, a storage unit 13 for storing position information, a communication port (B) 14 for communication with the navigation module 50, a communication port (C) 15 for communication with the card input/output unit 40, and an operating button 20 for providing key inputs to control the processing unit 10. The controller 12 in the processing unit 10 receives a user control input from the operating button 20 and activates the card input/output unit 40 through the communication port (C) 15. If the controller 12 receives position information from the RFID card 30, the controller 12 transfers the received position information to the navigation module 50 through the communication port (B) 14. The controller 12 temporarily stores GPS position information from the GPS module 1 in the storage unit 13. The controller 12 transfers the GPS position information stored in the storage unit 13 to the navigation module 50 after transferring the position information received from the RFID card 30 to the navigation module 50.
Most current GPS modules calculate a position based on signals received from GPS satellites and transfer the position to a navigation module using an NMEA-0183 protocol. However, according to the present invention, the processing unit 10 receives the position information from the GPS module 1, and transfers the received position information to the navigation module 50. If the user activates a destination input button of the operating button 20 in order to input a destination using the RFID card 30, the processing unit 10 activates the card input/output unit 40 to receive destination position information stored in the RFID card from the card input/output unit 40, and transfers the received destination position information to the navigation module 50. The processing unit 10 transfers the destination position information to the navigation system 50 with the same communication speed and method as used for transferring the GPS position information, and further transfers the GPS position information from the GPS module 1 to the navigation module 50. The navigation module 50 detects position information and a command for inputting the destination, and calculates the destination based on the position information input using the RFID card at the current position. The navigation module 50 calculates a path to the destination and requests the driver to confirm the calculated path. The navigation module 50 displays the calculated path to the destination if the driver confirms the calculated path. Figs. 4a to 4d are diagrams illustrating methods for inputting/outputting destination position information using the RFID card according to the embodiment of Fig. 2.
As shown in Fig. 4a, if the user selects an RFID input mode using the operating button 20, an RFID input mode signal is provided from the operating button 20 to the processing unit 10. When receiving the RFID input mode signal, the processing unit 10 activates the card input/output unit 40 and waits for an input from the card input/output unit 40. If the user brings an RFID card (A) 3OA, in which position information of a destination (A) is stored, near the card input/output unit 40, the card input/output unit 40 reads the position information of the destination (A) from the RFID card (A) 30A, and the read position information is input to the processing unit 10. Immediately after being input to the processing unit 10, the position information of the destination (A) is transferred to the navigation module 50.
Similarly, as shown in Fig. 4b or 4c, if the user selects an RFID input mode using the operating button 20, an RFID input mode signal is provided from the operating button 20 to the processing unit 10. When receiving the RFID input mode signal, the processing unit 10 activates the card input/output unit 40 and waits for an input from the card input/output unit 40. If the user brings an RFID card (B) 30B or an RFID card (C) 30C, in which position information of a destination (A) or a destination (C) is stored, near the card input/output unit 40, the card input/output unit 40 reads the position information of the destination (B) or the destination (C) from the RFID card (B) 30B or the RFID card (C) 30C, and the read position information is input to the processing unit 10. Immediately after being input to the processing unit 10, the position information of the destination (B) or (C) is transferred to the navigation module 50. On the other hand, in the case where the user desires to output destination information from the navigation system 40 to the RFID card, as shown in Fig. 4d, an RFID output mode signal is provided from the operating button 20 to the processing unit 10 when the user selects an RFID output mode using the operating button 20. When receiving the RFID output mode signal, the processing unit 10 provides a destination output command to the navigation module 50 and activates the card input/output unit 40. Thereafter, if the processing unit 10 receives position information of, for example, the destination (A) as a destination output signal from the navigation module 50, the processing unit 10 transfers the received position information to the card input/output unit 40, so that the position information of the destination (A) is transferred to and stored in, for example, the RFID card (A) 3OA placed near the card input/output unit 40 by the user.
Figs. 5a to 5d are drawings illustrating a schematic structure for exchanging destination information between computers or vehicle navigation systems according to the present invention.
As shown in Fig. 5a, destination position information can be exchanged between computers. In this case, the card input/output unit 40 is separated from the vehicle navigation system according to the present invention, and the separated card input/output unit 40 is connected to a computer 100 through a general-purpose communication interface. Using the computer 100, the user accesses a map information site on the Internet, and selects a destination by retrieving it based on the zip code or place-name or by moving a cursor to the corresponding position on a map displayed on the computer 100. Then, the user activates the card input/output unit 40 by clicking a mouse or using a keyboard of the computer 100, and brings the RFID card 30 near the card input/output unit 40 so that the destination position information is input to the RFID card 30. A plurality of destinations can be input to the RFID card 30. Also, midway destinations (i.e., waypoints) and a final destination can be sequentially input to the RFID card 30. Further, a plurality of final destinations can be input to the RFID card 30. It is easy to carry the RFID card 30 to which the destination information has been input, so that the input destination information can be easily stored in any computer 100' through a card input/output unit 40'. The following are example data formats indicating the destination information.
(Destination Data Format #1) Data: 01 01 01 N35 55555 E130 33.333 01: one final destination; 01: GPS coordinate format; 01 : one destination; N35
55555 E130 33.333: 35 degrees 55.555 minutes north latitude, 130 degrees 33.333 minutes east longitude.
(Destination Data Format #2)
Data: 01 01 02 N35 55555 E130 33333 N35 54555 E130 33.333 01: one final destination; 01: GPS coordinate format; 02: two destinations, N35
55555 E130 33.333: 35 degrees 55.555 minutes north latitude, 130 degrees 33.333 minutes east longitude (Destination 1); N35 54555 E130 33.333: 35 degrees 54.555 minutes north latitude, 130 degrees 33.333 minutes east longitude (Destination 2: final destination)
The data format #2 is a data format of a path from the current position to the main destination (i.e., the final destination) via Destination 1. (Destination Data Format #3)
Data: 01 03 01 29600 48037-2106
01: one final destination; 03: address + zip code; 01 : one destination; 29600: address; 48037-2106: zip code
(Destination Data Format #4) Data: 01 04 01 29600 Northwestern Highway Southfield Michigan
01: one final destination; 04: address + place-name 2 + place-name 1 + city + state; 01: one destination; 29600: address; Northwestern: place-name 2; Highway: place-name 1; Southfield: city; Michigan: state
The data format #4 is an example data format of destination information that is specified by an address and place-name. (Destination Data Format #5)
Data: 02 01 nl waypointNl(l), waypointNl(2), ..., waypointNl(nl) 01 01 n2 waypointN2(l), waypointN2(2), ..., waypointN2(nl) 02: two final destinations; 01: GPS coordinate format; nl: nl destinations; waypointNl(l) -» waypointNl(2), ..., -> waypointNl(nl)
01: one final destination; 01: GPS coordinate format; n2: n2 destinations; waypointN2(l) -» waypointN2(2), ..., -> waypointN2(n2)
The data format #5 is an example data format of destination information when a plurality of final destinations is present and a plurality of midway destinations is present for each of the final destinations. Here, "waypoint" indicates coordinate information of each destination.
As shown in Fig. 5b, destination position information can be exchanged between a personal computer 100 and the vehicle navigation system according to the present invention. In this case, destination position information from the personal computer 100 is stored in the RFID card 30 through the card input/output unit 40, and, if needed, the stored destination position information is output to a card input/output unit 40' in another vehicle navigation system to provide a destination guidance service.
When position information of different destinations has been stored in the RFID card 30, the different destination position information can be sequentially output to the vehicle navigation system. In this case, the vehicle navigation system sequentially calculates paths between destinations (i.e., first to final destinations) to provide a navigation service. f
As shown in Fig. 5c, in order to reuse destination position information received from the vehicle navigation system or transfer it to another RFID card at a later time, the destination position information stored in the RFID card 30 can be retrieved through the card input/output unit 40 and then stored in the computer 100. As shown in Fig. 5d, destination information can be exchanged between vehicle navigation systems according to the present invention. In this case, destination position information from the vehicle navigation system is stored in the RFID card 30 through the card input/output unit 40, and, if needed, the stored destination position information is output to a card input/output unit 40' in another vehicle navigation system to provide a destination guidance service.
Figs. 6a to 6d are diagrams illustrating methods for controlling the navigation module using the processing unit according to the embodiment of Fig. 2.
As shown in Fig. 6a, if a map enlargement mode input is received through the operating button 20, the input signal is provided to the processing unit 10, and the processing unit 10 then transfers a map enlargement command to the navigation module
50. According to the map enlargement command, the navigation module 50 controls the display unit 4 to enlarge a currently displayed map size.
As shown in Fig. 6b, if a map reduction mode input is received through the operating button 20, the input signal is provided to the processing unit 10, and the processing unit 10 then transfers a map reduction command to the navigation module 50. According to the map reduction command, the navigation module 50 controls the display unit 4 to reduce a currently displayed map size.
As shown in Fig. 6c, if a display brightness change input is received through the operating button 20, the input signal is provided to the processing unit 10, and the processing unit 10 then transfers a brightness change command to the navigation module 50. According to the brightness change command, the navigation module 50 controls the display unit 4 to change the brightness of a currently displayed map.
As shown in Fig. 6d, if an input, requesting that position information be output to the RFID card, is received through the operating button 20, the input signal is provided to the processing unit 10, and the processing unit 10 then transfers an RFID card output command to the navigation module 50. According to the RFID card output command, the navigation module 50 waits for the output of position information. Here, if the user manipulates the operating unit 3 to specify a position information reference to be output, the navigation module 50 detects this operation, and then outputs position information corresponding to the specified position information reference to the processing unit 10, and the processing unit 10 then transfers the output position information via a card input/output unit (not shown) to an RFID card that is brought near the card input/output unit by the user, so that the output position information is written to the RFID card.
A vehicle navigation method of the vehicle navigation system according to the present invention, which is configured as described above, will now be described.
Fig. 7 is a flow chart of a vehicle navigation method using an RFID card according to the present invention.
According to manipulation of the operating button 20 by the user, a control command (for example, an RFID card read/write command or a function setting command such as a command for changing the scale of a map displayed on the display unit 4) is transmitted from the operating button 20 to the processing unit 10 (SlOO). The processing unit 10 temporarily stores position information of a vehicle received from the GPS module 1 (SI lO), and determines which control command is received from the operating button 20 (S 120). If the control command received from the operating button 20 is a function setting command, the processing unit 10 outputs a corresponding control command to the navigation module 50 (S 130). According to the control command received from the processing unit 10, the navigation module 50 changes display setting, such as map scale or screen appearance/color setting, for display on the display unit 4 (S 140). If it is determined at step S 120 that the control command received from the operating button 20 is an RFID card write command (i.e., an RFID card output command), the processing unit 10 outputs a transfer request signal, which requests that the navigation module 50 transfer destination position information to the processing unit 10, to the navigation module 50 (S 150). When receiving the transfer request signal, the navigation module 50 outputs currently set destination position information (or information of a position selected by the user through manipulation of the operating unit 3) to the processing unit 10 (S 160). The processing unit 10 then outputs a control signal for activating the card input/output unit 40 to the card input/output unit 40 (S 170) and also transmits the destination position information to the card input/output unit 40 (S 180). The card input/output unit 40 wirelessly transmits the destination position information received from the processing unit 10 to the RFID card 30 (S 190), so that the received destination position information is stored in a memory of the RFID card 30 (S200).
If it is determined at step S 120 that the control command received from the operating button 20 is an RFID card read command (i.e., an RFID card input command), the processing unit 10 outputs a control signal for activating the card input/output unit 40 to the card input/output unit 40 (S 170) and also transmits a signal, requesting that the card input/output unit 40 receive destination information from the RFID card, to the card input/output unit 40 (S 180). Then, the card input/output unit 40 receives destination information from the RFID card 30 and outputs the received destination information to the processing unit 10 (S210). The processing unit 10 outputs the destination position information received from the card input/output unit 40 and the temporarily stored vehicle position information to the navigation module 50. Based on both the destination position information and the vehicle position information received from the processing unit 10, the navigation module 50 calculates a path from the current position to the destination position, and displays the path to the destination on the display unit 4 on the basis of a map read from the map information storage unit 5 (S230).
Fig. 8 is a block diagram of a vehicle navigation system according to another embodiment of the present invention, m the preceding embodiment, the GPS module and the card input/output unit are connected through the processing unit including the operating button via the GPS communication port of the navigation module. On the contrary, in this embodiment, the processing unit is removed, only the GPS module is connected to the GPS communication port as in the related art, a card input/output unit 40 is connected to a separate communication port 53 in a navigation module 50A, and the function of the operating button 20 in the preceding embodiment is implemented in an operating unit 3.
A vehicle navigation method of the vehicle navigation device according to this embodiment of the present invention, which is configured as described above with reference to Fig. 8, will now be described in detail with reference to Fig. 9.
A driver manipulates buttons of the operating unit 3 to transmit a control command (for example, an RFID card read/write command or a function setting command such as a command for changing the scale of a map displayed on a display unit 4) to a navigation controller 51 in the navigation module 5OA (S301). While the navigation controller 51 displays the current position of a vehicle using position information of the vehicle received from the GPS module 1 (S300), the navigation controller 51 determines which control command is received from the operating unit 3
(S 302). If the control command received from the operating unit 3 is a display function setting command, the navigation controller 51 outputs the control command to a display driver 54 to change display setting such as map scale or screen appearance/color setting, for display on the display unit 4 (S304). If it is determined at step S302 that the control command received from the operating unit 3 is an RFID card write command (i.e., an RFID card output command), the navigation controller 51 outputs destination position information (S306). Thereafter, the navigation controller 51 outputs a control signal for activating the card input/output unit 40 to the card input/output unit 40 (S307) and also transmits the destination position information to the card input/output unit 40 (S308). The card input/output unit 40 wirelessly transmits the destination position information received from the navigation controller 51 to the RFID card 30 (S309), so that the received destination position information is stored in a memory of the RFID card 30 (S310).
If it is determined at step S305 that the control command received from the operating unit 3 is an RFID card read command (i.e., an RFID card input command), the navigation controller 51 outputs a control signal for activating the card input/output unit 40 to the card input/output unit 40 (S307) and also transmits a signal, requesting that the card input/output unit 40 receive destination information from the RFID card, to the card input/output unit 40 (S308). Then, the card input/output unit 40 receives destination information from the RFID card 30 and outputs the received destination information to the navigation controller 51 (S311). Based on both the destination position information received from the card input/output unit 40 and the vehicle position information received from the GPS unit 1, the navigation controller 51 calculates a path from the current position to the destination position, and displays the path to the destination on the display unit 4 on the basis of a map read from the map information storage unit 5 (S312).
[Industrial Applicability]
As is apparent from the above description, a vehicle navigation system and method according to the present invention has the following advantages. A plurality of destinations is input or output to or from the vehicle navigation system using an RFID card, and destination position information stored in the vehicle navigation system is easily transferred to another RFID card through the RFID card, and the same destinations can also be applied to another vehicle navigation system. Further, destination information can be input from an Internet-accessible computer to the vehicle navigation system and the destination information can also be stored in the computer.
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and various modifications and changes are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims

[CLAIMS]
[Claim 1] A vehicle navigation system using an RFID card, the system comprising: a GPS module including an antenna, the GPS module detecting a current position of a vehicle using GPS position information received through the antenna and outputting the detected current vehicle position to a processing unit; an RFID card embedded with a noncontact RFID chip, the RFID card including a unique chip identification number and a built-in memory so that destination position information is input/output to/from and stored in the RFID card; a card input/output unit for reading or writing destination information from or to the RFID card through contactless access within an effective radio frequency (RF) range, the card input/output unit being connected to the processing unit through a general-purpose communication port to transmit and receive destination information and a control signal; an operating button for outputting control commands to the processing unit, the control commands including a control command for controlling the card input/output unit and a control command for controlling operations, including a function setting operation, of a navigation module; the processing unit for receiving a current vehicle position from the GPS module, controlling the card input/output unit, according to a control command from the operating button, to receive or transmit destination position information from or to the RFID card and also to transmit or receive destination position information to or from the navigation module, and transmitting a control command received from the operating button to the navigation module; the navigation module for receiving the current vehicle position and the destination position information from the processing unit, calculating a path between the current position and the destination of the vehicle based on the received current vehicle position and destination position information, reading a map from a map information storage unit, displaying the read map, and outputting the current and destination position information to the processing unit according to a control command from the processing unit; a map information storage unit for storing map information and other additional information/data; an operating unit including a character and number keypad to receive a destination set by a driver; and a display unit for displaying map information read from the map information storage unit, current vehicle position information, and destination information on a screen.
[Claim 2] The vehicle navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the card input/output unit is connected to an Internet-accessible computer through a general-purpose communication port, and the card input/output unit also has a function to input destination information retrieved by the computer to the RFID card and to store destination information, stored in the RFID card, in the computer.
[Claim 3] The vehicle navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the destination information is expressed as including a coordinate, a zip code, or a place- name.
[Claim 4] A vehicle navigation method using an RFID card, the method comprising the steps of: a) transmitting a control command from an operating button to a processing unit according to manipulation of the operating button by a driver; b), by the processing unit, temporarily storing vehicle position information received from a GPS module and determining which control command is received from the operating button; and c) if the control command received by the processing unit from the operating button is an RFID card write command, outputting a transfer request signal, requesting that a navigation module transfer destination information to the processing unit, from the processing unit to the navigation module, outputting currently set destination information from the navigation module to the processing unit when the navigation module receives the transfer request signal from the processing unit, activating a card input/output unit by the processing unit, transmitting destination position information from the processing unit to the card input/output unit, and wirelessly transmitting the destination position information from the card input/output unit to an RFID card so that the wirelessly transmitted destination position information is stored in a memory of the
RFID card.
[Claim 5] The vehicle navigation method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of: d) if the control command received by the processing unit from the operating button at the step b) is an RFID card read command, activating the card input/output unit by the processing unit, outputting a signal, requesting that the card input/output unit receive destination information from an RFID card, to the card input/output unit, receiving destination information by the card input/output unit from the RFID card, outputting the received destination information from the card input/output unit to the processing unit, outputting both the destination information received from the card input/output unit and the temporarily stored vehicle position information from the processing unit to the navigation module, calculating, by the navigation module, a path from the current vehicle position to the destination position based on both the destination position information and the vehicle position information received from the processing unit, and displaying the path to the destination on a display unit using a map read from a map information storage unit.
[Claim 6] A vehicle navigation system using an RFID card, the system comprising: a GPS module including an antenna, the GPS module detecting a current position of a vehicle using GPS position information received through the antenna and outputting the detected current vehicle position to a navigation module; an RFID card embedded with a noncontact RFID chip, the RFID card including a unique chip identification number and a built-in memory so that destination position information is input/output to/from and stored in the RFID card; a card input/output unit for reading or writing destination information from or to the RFID card through contactless access within an effective radio frequency (RF) range, the card input/output unit being connected to the navigation module through a communication port to transmit and receive destination information and a control signal; an operating unit including a character and number keypad to receive a destination input by a driver, the operating unit being used to input a control command for controlling the card input/output unit and a function setting command; a navigation module for receiving a current vehicle position from the GPS module, controlling the card input/output unit, according to a control command from the operating unit, to receive or transmit destination position information from or to the RFID card, calculating a path between the current position and the destination of the vehicle based on both the current vehicle position received from the GPS module and the destination position information received from the RFID card, reading a map from a map information storage unit, displaying the read map, and outputting the current and destination position information to the navigation module according to a control command from the navigation module; a map information storage unit for storing map information and other additional information/data; and a display unit for displaying map information read from the map information storage unit, current vehicle position information, and destination information on a screen.
[Claim 7] A vehicle navigation method using an RFID card, the method comprising the steps of: a) transmitting a control command from an operating unit to a navigation module according to manipulation of the operating unit by a driver; b) determining which control command is received from the operating unit; and c) if the control command received from the operating unit is an RFID card write command, activating a card input/output unit by the navigation module, transmitting set destination position information from the navigation module to the card input/output unit, and wirelessly transmitting the destination position information from the card input/output unit to an RFID card so that the wirelessly transmitted destination position information is stored in a memory of the RFID card.
[Claim 8] The vehicle navigation method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of: d) if the control command received from the operating unit at the step b) is an RFID card read command, activating the card input/output unit by the navigation module, outputting a signal, requesting that the card input/output unit receive destination information from an RFID card, to the card input/output unit, receiving destination information by the card input/output unit from the RFID card, outputting the received destination information from the card input/output unit to the navigation module, calculating, by the navigation module, a path from the current vehicle position to the destination position based on both the destination position information and position information received from the GPS module, and displaying the path to the destination on a display unit using a map read from a map information storage unit.
PCT/KR2005/000821 2004-11-30 2005-03-22 Car navigation system and method using rfid card WO2006059818A1 (en)

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KR1020040099475A KR100675369B1 (en) 2004-11-30 2004-11-30 Car navigation system and method using RFID card
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