JP2001148092A - Navigation device, information center, guidance system, and route transmitter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make acquirable specific data such as destination, running route immediately by ignition-on. SOLUTION: A user previously registers the destination set by a PDA in an information center before departure. And, when the user gets on a vehicle and turns on the ignition, the navigation device confirms whether the destination is set in the information center or not. In the information center, when the destination of the vehicle with corresponding ID is set, the route from the present location to be transmitted from the navigation device to the set destination of the vehicle is searched and the recommended running route is transmitted. Since the running route to the destination which is preset by the PDA, etc., is acquired from the information center immediately after the ignition-on, the user does not have to perform a series of operations from power application of the navigation device to setting and transmission of the destination in the vehicle.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a navigation device for providing guidance for reaching a destination, an information center,
The present invention relates to a guidance system and a route transmitting device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Navigation devices that search for a traveling route to a destination and guide the driver to the destination are widely used. In this navigation device, a destination is set from a telephone number, the name of a facility, a genre, an address, and the like (destination setting processing), and a recommended traveling route from the current position of the vehicle or the departure point to the set destination is searched ( Route search processing), while detecting the current position with a GPS receiver or the like, guiding the route to the destination by voice or image according to the searched traveling route (route guidance processing).

On the other hand, recently, a navigation device is provided with only a minimum of programs and data, a navigation device performs setting of a destination and route guidance, and a route search to a destination is collectively performed by an information center. A communication navigation system has also been developed. In this system, a mobile phone, a mobile phone connected to the device, a PHS (Pe
rsonic Handy-phone System
m) and the like, transmission to a destination information center and reception of a recommended traveling route searched at the information center are performed.

[0004]

However, in the above-described conventional navigation apparatus, it is necessary to operate a remote controller, a touch panel, and the like in the vehicle when setting a destination. That is, the user who gets on the vehicle must turn on the power of the navigation device and set a telephone number, an address, a facility name, or the like with a remote control, a touch panel, or the like as a destination or a waypoint (passing point) while referring to the menu. Not
It was not possible to obtain a destination immediately after getting on the train or a travel route to the destination. Therefore, in a conventional navigation device or the like, it takes time from getting on the vehicle to receiving route guidance to the destination. Even when a plurality of members travel to the same destination by their own vehicles, each member has to individually set a destination as its own destination and acquire a search route.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to achieve such a problem, and it is a first object of the present invention to be able to immediately acquire specific data such as a destination and a traveling route by turning on an ignition. A second object is to enable setting information such as a destination for another navigation device.

[0006] By the way, the navigation device is premised on guiding the traveling route by displaying the traveling route and the current position on a display device in the vehicle and outputting guidance voice by a speaker in the vehicle. Therefore, it is assumed that the destination to be set can be reached by a vehicle.
However, the destination that the user ultimately wants to reach is not a point that can be reached by a vehicle (vehicle destination), but a means other than a vehicle such as walking or a cable car (non-vehicle means) from the vehicle destination. May be a point to reach. For example, there are cases where the final destination cannot be reached without passing through a pedestrian-only road where vehicles cannot pass. In this case, a route from the departure place to the vehicle destination is set, but a route from the vehicle destination to the walking destination is not set. Also, when there is no parking lot at the vehicle destination (when the vehicle destination and the walking destination are the same), and the parking lot around the destination is set as the vehicle destination, the vehicle destination and the walking destination may be different. different. When moving to such a destination by walking or the like, a portable information terminal that grasps a route to a walking destination by downloading a map from the current position to the destination on a personal digital assistant (PDA) and displaying the map is disclosed. It has been proposed (JP-A-9-26968).

However, in the case of such a portable information terminal,
Since both the current position and the destination are displayed, the destination cannot be set beforehand at a place other than the departure place, and the final destination set before the vehicle travels after arriving at the departure place (vehicle destination) It is necessary to set the place again and download the map data. For this reason, it was not possible to immediately move to the final destination after reaching the vehicle destination. In addition, the portable information terminal needs to have a GPS receiver for detecting the position of the user. Furthermore, when the vehicle position is used to reach the vehicle position by traveling or the like, if the vehicle position is unknown, it is not possible to set the vehicle position on the portable information terminal as a walking destination or to display a map to the vehicle position. could not.

Therefore, immediately after arriving at the vehicle destination,
A third object is to enable acquisition of a final destination or map data to the final destination. It is a fourth object of the present invention to be able to use a portable information terminal to acquire a map or travel route data up to a vehicle position even if the vehicle position is unknown.

In a navigation device for transmitting and receiving data to and from an information center, if the destination of the vehicle is a parking lot or the like, the present position of the vehicle or arrival at the destination may be notified to the information center by communication. There is a problem that can not be. Therefore, a fifth object of the present invention is to enable an information center to be notified of an arrival position or arrival using a portable information terminal even when the arrival point of a vehicle is a point where communication is impossible.

[0010]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a detecting means for detecting ignition on of a vehicle,
When the ignition means is detected by the detection means, a confirmation means for confirming the presence or absence of setting information preset in the information center, and specific data transmitted from the information center based on the confirmation of the confirmation means The first object is achieved by providing a navigation device with a receiving means for receiving the information and a specific processing means for performing a specific process based on the specific data received by the receiving means. According to the second aspect of the present invention, a detecting means for detecting the ignition on of the vehicle, and when the ignition on is detected by the detecting means, confirming whether or not there is setting information registered for itself at the information center. Means, and if it is confirmed by the confirmation means that there is setting information registered for itself, acquiring means for acquiring the setting information from the information center, and specifying processing based on the setting information acquired by the acquiring means. The first object is achieved by providing the navigation device with the specific processing means to be performed. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the navigation device according to the second aspect, the setting information registered for the self is destination information for setting a destination, and the specific processing unit includes:
A search for a travel route to a destination set by the destination information acquired by the acquisition means, or guidance of the found travel route, is performed as the specific processing. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the navigation device according to the second aspect, the setting information registered to the self device includes:
This is guidance information of a traveling route, and the identification processing means performs guidance based on the guidance information of the traveling route acquired by the acquisition means as the identification processing. In the invention according to claim 5,
The navigation device according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein the setting information is setting information transmitted from an information processing device such as a portable information terminal, a personal computer, and a navigation device. It is characterized by the following. According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the navigation device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, arrival determining means for determining whether the vehicle has arrived at the destination, When the arrival determining means determines that the vehicle has arrived at the destination, a destination arrival transmitting means for transmitting the destination arrival and the current vehicle position to the information center is provided. In the invention according to claim 7, in the navigation device according to claim 6, the arrival determination unit includes:
When the current vehicle position coincides with the destination or when the distance between the current vehicle position and the destination is less than a certain distance, it is determined that the vehicle has arrived at the destination. According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the navigation device according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, a vehicle arrives at a vehicle destination and the information center communicates with the information center at the vehicle destination. When communication is not possible, the current position of the vehicle is transmitted to the portable information terminal.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, setting information receiving means for receiving setting information transmitted from an information processing device such as a portable information terminal, a personal computer, and a navigation device, and the setting information receiving means receiving the setting information. A setting information storage means for storing setting information assigned to a specific destination, and a setting registered for itself from the navigation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7. A confirmation unit for confirming whether or not setting information is stored in the setting information storage unit based on a confirmation request for the presence or absence of information; and the confirmation information, by the confirmation unit, the setting information addressed to the navigation device that has issued the confirmation request. When it is confirmed that the information is stored, the information center is provided with a transmitting unit that transmits the setting information to the navigation device. According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, in the ninth aspect,
Wherein the information processing device, the setting information storage area in the setting information storage means, and the navigation device are associated with each other by an ID for each user, and the setting information storage means When the content received by the receiving means includes a setting request for another user, the received setting information is stored in a storage area of the setting information storing means corresponding to the requested ID of the other user. In the invention according to claim 11, in the information center according to claim 9 or 10, the setting information is:
The destination information is for setting a destination. According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the information center according to the tenth aspect, the setting information storage means
When the received setting information is stored in the storage area of the setting information storage means corresponding to the requested other user's ID, a notifying means for notifying the other user of the fact is provided. In the invention according to claim 13,
10. The information center according to claim 9, wherein, when the sender of the setting information is different from the specific destination, a notification that the setting information has been registered or the content of the setting information is given to the specific destination. It is characterized by having a notifying means for notifying. According to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the information center according to the twelfth aspect, the notifying unit transmits the information to the other user by e-mail, facsimile, data communication, or voice communication using voice data synthesized by voice. It is characterized by the fact that it is notified. According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the information center according to any one of the ninth to fourteenth aspects, the setting information receiving unit is configured to set a destination as the setting information. Vehicle arrival determining means for receiving destination information and determining whether or not the destination set by the destination information is a point that can be reached by a vehicle; and a point at which the destination cannot be reached by a vehicle by the vehicle arrival determining means. Vehicle destination setting means for setting, as a vehicle destination, a point reachable by a vehicle around the destination when the vehicle destination is determined to be a vehicle destination. Information is transmitted to the navigation device. In the invention according to claim 16, destination information receiving means for receiving destination information transmitted from an information processing device such as a portable information terminal, a personal computer, and a navigation device, and the destination information receiving means receiving the destination information. Vehicle arrival determining means for determining whether or not the destination set by the destination information is a point that can be reached by a vehicle; and if the vehicle arrival determining means determines that the destination is a point that cannot be reached by a vehicle, A vehicle destination setting means for setting a point that can be reached by a vehicle around the destination as a vehicle destination, and from the vehicle destination set by the vehicle destination setting means to a destination other than the own vehicle. Non-vehicle moving route searching means for searching for a moving route to arrive by the non-vehicle moving means, and information of the moving route searched by the non-vehicle moving route searching means to a portable information terminal. To and a movement path transmitting means for transmitting to the information center. According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, in the information center according to the fifteenth aspect, the information center further includes destination arrival receiving means for receiving destination arrival information transmitted from the navigation device and a current vehicle position, and the travel route transmitting means comprises: When the current vehicle position received by the destination arrival information receiving means is the vehicle destination set by the vehicle destination setting means, the travel route is transmitted to a portable information terminal. Claim 18
According to the invention described in Item 15, in the information center according to Item 15, the non-vehicle moving means includes a public vehicle such as a taxi or a bus, a cable car, a monorail, a ropeway, a train, a train, a ship, a moving sidewalk, and a foot. It is characterized by at least one of them. According to the nineteenth aspect of the present invention, the vehicle current position storage means for receiving and storing the vehicle current position from the navigation device, the portable information terminal position receiving means for receiving the current position from the portable information terminal, and the portable terminal position reception means A non-vehicle moving route searching means for searching for a moving route for arriving by a non-vehicle moving means other than a vehicle from the current position received by the means to the vehicle current position stored in the vehicle current position storing means; And a moving route transmitting means for transmitting the moving route searched by the vehicle moving route searching means to the portable information terminal.

According to the twentieth aspect of the present invention, the detecting means for detecting the ignition on of the vehicle, and when the ignition means is detected by the detecting means, confirming the presence or absence of the setting information preset in the information center. A receiving unit for receiving specific data transmitted from the information center based on the confirmation by the confirming unit; and a specific processing unit for performing a specific process based on the specific data received by the receiving unit. A navigation device provided with the same, a setting information receiving means for receiving setting information transmitted from an information processing device such as a portable information terminal, a personal computer, and the navigation device; and a setting information received by the setting information receiving means. Setting information storage means, and setting in the setting information storage means based on a confirmation request from the navigation device. An information center comprising: a confirmation unit for confirming whether information is stored; and a specific data transmission unit for transmitting specific data to the navigation device when the storage of the setting information is confirmed by the confirmation unit. ,
Is provided in the guidance system. According to a twenty-first aspect of the present invention, in the guidance system according to the twentieth aspect, the setting information is destination information, and the specific data is destination information or travel route guidance information. . In the invention according to claim 22, there is provided a route transmitting device provided outside the portable information terminal, wherein the portable device transmits a route from a vehicle destination to a final destination before the vehicle reaches the vehicle destination. It is characterized by comprising a transmitting means for transmitting to the information terminal. According to a twenty-third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a route transmitting device provided outside the portable information terminal, wherein the portable terminal transmits a route from a vehicle destination to a final destination when the vehicle reaches the vehicle destination. It is characterized by comprising a transmitting means for transmitting to the information terminal.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to FIGS. (1) Overview of Embodiment In this embodiment, a screen and data for setting a destination are received from an information center, a destination is set by a mobile information terminal such as a mobile phone, and the destination is set to the information center together with a user ID. Send. The destination does not necessarily have to be a point that can be reached by a vehicle, and may be a point that cannot be reached without using a non-vehicle means such as walking or a cable car from the middle. As described above, there are cases where the vehicle cannot be reached (regardless of whether or not the vehicle is recognized), so that the data and screen for the parking lot request that sets the parking lot as the guidance end point of the vehicle are displayed when the destination is set. Received from the information center, and if selected, a parking lot request is also transmitted to the information center. When the information center receives the destination set by the user, the received destination is stored in the user data corresponding to the ID as the final destination, and there is a parking lot request, and there is a parking lot at the final destination. The vehicle destination is set according to whether or not the vehicle can travel to the final destination and stored in the user data.

On the other hand, when the user gets on the vehicle and turns on the ignition, the vehicle-mounted device (navigation device)
Starts communication with the information center (establishes communication) and checks whether a destination has already been set in the information center. In the information center, if a vehicle destination is set in the user data of the corresponding ID, a route search from the current position transmitted from the navigation device to the set vehicle destination is performed, and a recommended traveling route is transmitted. . As described above, since the travel route to the destination set in advance by the portable information terminal or the like by the ignition on can be obtained from the information center immediately after the ignition is turned on, the user can set the destination by turning on the power of the navigation device. It is not necessary to perform a series of operations up to transmission in the vehicle. Also, the traveling route to be transmitted does not transmit the entire traveling route from the departure place to the vehicle destination, but transmits only the traveling route for a predetermined distance from the current position, thereby shortening the communication time (reducing the communication data amount). And the vehicle can depart early. When the navigation device again sends a request for a traveling route at a point when the navigation device reaches a predetermined distance (for example, 200 m) from the end of the received traveling route, the information center transmits the traveling route from the current position of the vehicle to the destination. The search is performed again and the travel route for a predetermined distance is transmitted to the navigation device. In this way, by searching for a new travel route to the destination every time there is a request and transmitting it by a predetermined distance, it is possible to transmit an optimal travel route in consideration of the latest traffic information at the time of the request. Can be.

When the navigation device arrives at the destination of the vehicle (end of route guidance by voice), the navigation device transmits the current position of the vehicle to the information center. The information center searches for a moving route from the current position of the vehicle to the final destination in the non-vehicle mode, creates a map picture corresponding to the moving route, and transmits the map picture to the portable information terminal corresponding to the ID. The portable information terminal guides the user to the final destination by sequentially displaying the received map pictures in accordance with a user operation.

(2) Details of First Embodiment FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a navigation system according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the navigation system according to the present embodiment includes an information center 10.
And a navigation device 100 that is an in-vehicle device mounted on the vehicle V on the moving side, and a personal digital assistant (PDA) 200 that is carried by the user of the navigation device 100 and assists the functions of the navigation device 100. You. Information center 10 and navigation device 100
A communication using wireless communication is performed between the communication device and the communication device, and the communication form is mainly based on packet communication. On the other hand, the navigation device 100 and the portable information terminal 200 are connected mainly by circuit switching or packet communication when the portable information terminal is outside the vehicle, and when the portable information terminal is inside the vehicle, infrared communication, SS (spread spectrum) communication, and the like. Wireless communication or wired communication such as serial communication and parallel communication.

FIG. 2 shows a configuration of the information center 10, the navigation device 100, and the portable information terminal 200 in these navigation systems. The information center 10 includes various devices such as a communication control unit 12, an arithmetic processing unit 14, a database 40, an external information collecting unit 70, and an input / output unit. Communication control unit 1 of information center 10
Reference numeral 2 denotes a communication device including a transmission device and a reception device for transmitting and receiving data to and from the navigation device 100 and the portable information terminal 200. Various communication systems such as a mobile phone, a mobile phone, and a PHS may be used.

The arithmetic processing unit 14 is a CP for performing arithmetic processing.
U16 and a memory 18 for storing various programs and data. The memory 18 stores various programs executed by the information center 10, such as a route search program 20, a segment processing program 22, a guidance data extraction program 24, a destination determination program 25, and a system control program 26. The route search program 20 includes a vehicle mode route search program that searches for a traveling route by a vehicle from a vehicle departure place (current position of the vehicle or a designated departure place) to a vehicle destination, and a final destination from the vehicle destination. There is a non-vehicle mode route search program that searches for a route (a walk route or a route using a monorail) to reach the ground without using a vehicle. The segment processing program 22 is a program for setting a segment length of a route searched in the vehicle mode and setting a road length to be transmitted to the vehicle. The guidance data extraction program 24 is a segment processing program 2
2 is a program for searching for, extracting, and editing guidance data corresponding to the road length set in Step 2. The destination determination program 25 is a program for determining a vehicle destination and a final destination from destinations received from the portable information terminal 200 or the navigation device 100. The system control program 26 is a program for controlling and managing the operation of the information center 10 as a whole.

The memory 18 also secures working areas such as required road length data 27, search route data 28, and extracted guidance data 29, which are used for executing these programs. As the required road length data 27, a value received from the navigation device 100 is stored in the working area, but a predetermined initial value is separately stored in the memory 18 in a case where it is not transmitted from the navigation device 100. As the initial value of the required road length, for example, 10 km is stored, but other than 5 km, 15 km
It may be a constant value such as m or 20 km. Further, the distance may be changed according to the remaining distance from the current vehicle position to the vehicle destination (the distance on the searched traveling route or the straight line distance). For example, the initial value is made larger as the remaining distance is longer, and the initial value is made smaller as the remaining distance is shorter. The initial value of the required road length may be changed according to the road type of the route to be transmitted to the navigation device 100 among the searched travel routes. For example, the initial value for an expressway (including a dedicated expressway such as the Metropolitan Expressway) is the largest,
The initial value for national roads and prefectural roads is the next largest, and the initial value for city roads is minimized. The remaining distance to the vehicle destination and the road type may be combined.

The search route data 28 stores a travel route to the vehicle destination searched by the route search program 20 and divided route data obtained by dividing the travel route into predetermined units of segments by the segment processing program 22. Is done. FIG. 3 conceptually shows data stored in the search route data 28. As shown in FIG. 3, the search route data 28 indicates that all travel routes to the vehicle destination are divided into segment units such as a divided route 1, a divided route 2, and so on, as illustrated in FIG. Divided. Each divided route data includes a data head, intersection information, road information, node information, landmark information, and the like, as shown in FIG.

The database 40 includes route search data 42 for searching for a recommended route, guidance data 44 in which route guidance data is accumulated, communication area data 46 in which data relating to communication areas are accumulated, and a telephone for setting a destination. Data 48 for setting destinations such as numbers and addresses, user data 50 collecting various information about the user, parking lot data 52 collecting the location and congestion of parking lots, a route to the final destination searched in the non-vehicle mode And data necessary for route search and route guidance, such as map picture creation data 54, which is a collection of map pictures for simple display of. The route search data 42 includes data on intersections, data on roads, data on node points, and the like.
The route search data 42 includes pedestrian-dedicated roads such as pedestrian bridges and pedestrian crossings used in the search in the non-vehicle mode, and vehicles (cable cars, monorails,
Data on routes that can be moved by ropeways, trains, trains, ships, buses, taxis, moving walkways, etc. (station name,
Point data, point-to-point distance, timetable, etc.).
The guidance data 44 includes map data of each intersection and road,
Various guidance data such as landmark data indicating major facilities and voice guidance data are included. Communication area data 4
Data 6 includes data on communication conditions, such as areas where radio waves do not reach, areas where radio waves do not reach and communication is weak.

The destination setting data 48 includes destination names, destination code numbers, coordinates (latitude, mildness), telephone numbers, addresses, postal codes for facilities, places, points, etc. that can be set as destinations. Is stored. The stored destinations that can be set include not only facilities that can be reached by vehicle, but also facilities that require a shuttle bus and walking from the middle, such as Oze mountain huts, where vehicles are regulated from the viewpoint of nature protection, It also stores places such as Owakudani in Hakone that require a ropeway and walking from the middle. These destination data are stored in a database based on a hierarchically structured destination list, and as destination-related information necessary for setting a destination, genre data in which all destinations are classified by genre, categorized by region. Regional data and the like are also stored. The destination setting data 48 includes descriptive information on the destination, for example, commentary information on the presence or absence of a hot spring and the effect of the hot spring if the destination is an inn, and parking information if the destination is an amusement park. Commentary information such as size (number of cars that can be parked), target age (suitable for children over 3 years old, elementary school students and older, adults, etc.), admission fees and holidays, commentary information on denominations and origins for temples, golf courses If so, commentary information such as a play fee is also stored corresponding to each destination.
In this way, by collecting and storing a wealth of commentary information,
A search condition such as "a place where children under 5 can play in nature in Kamakura" is received from the user of the navigation device 100, and a corresponding facility or place can be searched and a destination can be set. . In the case of such a destination setting, a destination request (search condition) may be obtained by voice communication, and an appropriate destination setting may be performed by assisting an operator.

Further, the destination setting data 48 includes a WWW (WWW) including a portable information terminal or a navigation device having no destination setting program or destination setting data.
old Wide Web) browsers
er) Destination setting Web information (destination setting screen) transmitted when a destination setting request is made via the Internet by software is also stored. Further, in the destination setting data 48, parking lot presence / absence data indicating whether or not there is a parking lot at the destination corresponding to the data of each destination is also stored as attached data.

FIG. 4 conceptually shows data stored in the user data 50. User data 50
Is a user name, a user identification number (ID), a navigation device connection destination, a portable information terminal connection destination, a vehicle current position, a vehicle destination, a final destination, a passing point, a departure date, A parking lot request, a password, a mail address, and the like are stored. As the connection destination of the navigation device, a telephone number of a mobile phone connected to the navigation device 100, a connected mobile phone, a PHS or the like is stored. The portable information terminal 200 which may communicate with the information center 10 is connected to the portable information terminal.
Is stored. The telephone numbers stored in the portable information terminal connection destination include one telephone number for calling when the information center 10 makes a call request, and a telephone number for user authentication that receives a call request from the portable information terminal ( (One or more). The departure date and time are stored in association with the vehicle destination and the final destination. When the departure date and time are specified, a plurality of destinations (vehicle destination and final destination) are set. You can do it. The user data 50 may store various other data such as a password used for user authentication.

As shown in FIG.
Is connected to an external information collecting unit 70. The external information collected by the external information collecting unit 70 includes traffic congestion information (traffic congestion location and distance, degree of congestion), construction information (construction section and construction period), accident occurrence location (accident occurrence location, accident degree, There are various types of traffic information such as whether or not traffic is possible, the expected processing end time, and the like, all of which are used in the route search processing in the route search program 20 of the arithmetic processing unit 14. The external information collection unit 70 also newly establishes or changes roads, intersections, and traffic rules (route search data 42), newly establishes facilities (guidance data 44, destination setting data 48), and changes communication areas (communications). The area data 46), information on the parking lot being full, vacant, congested and the like (parking lot data 52) are collected, and the data stored in the database 40 is updated as needed. The external information collecting unit 70 collects such external information using communication means such as a telephone line and a dedicated line.

Next, the configuration of the navigation device 100 will be described. The navigation device 100 includes an arithmetic processing unit 101, a memory 102, a position measuring unit 104, an input unit 105, a display unit 106, a sound output unit 107, and a communication control unit 108. The arithmetic processing unit 101 is configured by a microcomputer system having a ROM and a RAM with a CPU at the center.
Control using various data stored in the data storage area 102B is performed according to various programs stored in the data storage area 02A.

Program storage area 102 of memory 102
A includes a destination setting confirmation program 142 executed when the ignition is turned on, a destination setting program 144 for setting a destination as a final destination, and a route and guidance data transmitted from the information center 10 based on route data and guidance data. A route guidance program 150 that displays landmarks on the display unit 106 and outputs route guidance voice from the voice output unit 107, compares the current position of the vehicle with the received route / guide data, and routes / guide data for the next route. Is a storage medium for storing programs executed by the arithmetic processing unit 101, such as a data request program 152 for requesting the program and a control program 154 for controlling the entire operation.

Data storage area 102B of memory 102
Functions as a working area appropriately used when executing the program, and further includes, for example, route / guidance data (route data and guidance data) 160 transmitted from the information center 10, a vehicle destination transmitted from the information center 10, Final destination data 161, vehicle-specific ID data 162 transmitted to the information center 10, vehicle position data (longitude / latitude) 164 measured by the position measuring unit 104, destination setting data 166, required road length data 168, etc. Is a storage medium for storing. The destination setting data 166 includes destination data similar to the destination setting data 48 except for data collected and changed by the external information collection unit 70 of the information center 10, destination related information, commentary information, and the like. Is stored. Note that the destination setting data 166 may also be configured to be able to be changed by newly establishing a facility or the like. As the required road length data 168, an initial value stored in the memory 18 of the normal information center 10 is used.

The vehicle position data 164 includes the position measurement unit 1
04 includes a plurality of past position data in addition to the current position data of the vehicle measured at predetermined time intervals.
For example, position data of measurement points included in a certain distance or position data of a certain number of measurement points are stored. When the position is newly measured by the position measurement unit 104, the latest position data is stored, and the oldest stored position data is deleted. By connecting these plurality of position data, the traveling locus of the vehicle can be obtained. This traveling locus is used for so-called map matching for specifying the road on which the vehicle is traveling.

The position measuring unit 104 measures the position of the vehicle using a so-called GPS or the like, and receives a signal from a plurality of GPS satellites to measure the absolute position of the vehicle. And a speed sensor and a direction sensor for measuring the relative position of the vehicle. Speed sensors and direction sensors are used for autonomous navigation. The relative position measured by these sensors is used to obtain the current position of the vehicle in a tunnel where the GPS receiver cannot receive radio waves from satellites, or to correct the positioning error of the absolute position measured by the GPS receiver. Is done.

The input unit 105 includes various switches, a touch panel attached to the display surface of the display unit 106, a remote controller, a data input device using voice recognition, and the like. In the touch panel, when a user touches an icon or the like displayed on the display unit 106 with a finger, corresponding data or an instruction is input. In a data input device using voice recognition, when a user utters a voice, data or a command corresponding to the voice is input.

The display unit 106 is a display such as a liquid crystal display or a CRT. The touch panel is disposed on the surface as described above. The voice output unit 107 includes a voice synthesizing device and a speaker. The voice output unit 107 provides a guidance voice for guiding a route to a destination, for example, a guidance voice such as "a right intersection at an intersection 100 m ahead." 102B
Based on the route guidance data and output from the speaker. The speaker that outputs such a guidance sound may also be used as an in-vehicle audio speaker, and a dedicated speaker may be arranged above the driver's seat or windshield (upper center, upper driver's side, etc.). It may be. The communication control unit 108 controls the information center 10
A communication device for transmitting and receiving data to and from the communication device, and is configured by communication devices including a transmission device and a reception device.
This is also similar to the center side, such as car phone, mobile phone, P
A system such as HS may be used.

Next, the configuration of the portable information terminal 200 will be described. The portable information terminal 200 is mainly composed of a mobile phone capable of data communication, a PHS, an electronic organizer, and a handheld P.
C (Hand held PC) and other personal digital assistants (PDAs; Personal Digital As)
candidates). The portable information terminal 200 illustrated in FIG. 2 illustrates a configuration common to these various devices when performing various processes according to the present embodiment, and requires only a supply-specific function such as a mobile phone or an electronic organizer. The configuration to be performed is appropriately omitted.

The portable information terminal 200 includes an arithmetic processing unit 20
1, a memory 202, an input unit 205, a display unit 206, an audio output unit 207, and a communication control unit 208. The arithmetic processing unit 201 of the portable information terminal 200 is constituted by a microcomputer system having a ROM and a RAM centering on a CPU, and a program storage area 202A of the memory 202.
The control using various data stored in the data storage area 202B is performed according to various programs stored in the data storage area 202B.

Program storage area 202 of memory 202
A sets a destination which is a final destination and sets the information center 10
Setting program 250 to be transmitted to the information center 1
0 to receive a non-vehicle route such as a map picture
6, a non-vehicle route display program 252, a control program 25 for controlling the entire operation of the portable information terminal 200
4 is a storage medium for storing a program executed by the arithmetic processing unit 201. Data storage area 202B
Functions as a working area that is used as appropriate when executing the program. For example, route / guidance data (non-vehicle route data and guidance data) 260 transmitted from the information center 10 and information corresponding to the portable information terminal 200 Navigation device 10 registered in center 10
It is a storage medium for storing ID data 262 of 0 and destination setting data 266. Destination setting data 26
6 stores destination data and destination-related information similar to the destination setting data 48 except for data collected and changed by the external information collection unit 70 of the information center 10. The destination setting data 266 may store, for example, only genre information and part of the destination data in order to reduce the data amount of the portable information terminal 200. As part of the destination data, for example, only the destination name and the destination code number, only the telephone number and the destination name,
Only the telephone number and the destination code number are stored. Furthermore,
In order to reduce the amount of retained data, some or all of these data may be stored only in some areas. The destination setting data 266 does not store the explanation information of the destination.

As the input unit 205, in addition to various dedicated switches, switches such as a ten key capable of selecting a soft switch displayed on the display screen are used. In some cases, a touch panel, a remote controller, and an input device using voice recognition attached to the device are used.

The display unit 206 is a display made of liquid crystal or the like, and a touch panel may be arranged on the surface of the portable information terminal 200 as described above. The communication control unit 208 is a communication device for transmitting and receiving data to and from the information center 10 and includes communication devices including a transmission device and a reception device.

The navigation device 100 illustrated in FIG.
And the portable information terminal 200 has the configuration described above,
The navigation system and the portable information terminal that can communicate with the information center 10 by the present navigation system can have different configurations depending on the version and model. For example, if the information center 10 does not have the destination setting data and the destination setting program,
It is also possible to use a simple navigation device 100 or a portable information terminal 200 that sets a destination based on eb information. In the navigation device 100 described above,
It does not have route search data and a route search program, but has data and programs at the same level as the information center, has simplified route search data and a route search program, or has a limited area (Kanto It is also possible to provide a route search program of the same level as that of the information center 10 and route search data for the local and Tokai regions.
Further, the portable information terminal 200 does not include the position measurement unit, but may include a GPS receiver so that the position can be measured independently.

Next, the operation of the navigation system configured as described above will be described. First, as a summary of the operation, a series of typical operations according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 shows a typical example of data exchange between the information center 10, the navigation system 100, and the portable information terminal 200. In the example of FIG. 5, a typical route guidance by the navigation system includes a pre-destination setting process, a navigation start process by an ignition,
There is a non-vehicle movement route guidance process to the final destination. The advance destination setting process is a process of setting a destination at a point other than the departure place and registering the destination in the information center 10 in advance (E0 to E2, Es,
Ee). The navigation start process by ignition-on is a process of confirming the presence or absence of a destination setting by ignition-on, guiding the route to the vehicle destination while dividing and acquiring the search route from the information center 10 (F
0 to Fn, Fs, and Fe). The non-vehicle movement route guidance processing to the final destination is processing (G0 to G2, Gs, Ge) for guiding the non-vehicle movement path to the final destination after the vehicle arrives at the vehicle destination.

In FIG. 5, communication between the portable information terminal 200 and the information center 10 is indicated by a dotted line, and communication between the navigation device 100 and the information center 10 is indicated by a dashed line. E
Communication is started at s, Fs, and Gs (transmission of a call request packet CR in the case of packet communication, and calling (off-hook) in the case of circuit switching), and communication is ended at Ee, Fe, and Ge ( In the case of packet communication, reception of a disconnection confirmation packet,
In case of circuit switching, disconnect (on-hook).

When the destination is registered in the information center 10 in advance, the destination is set in the portable information terminal 200 in advance as shown by an arrow E0. Then, as shown by the arrow E1, the installed destination, the passing point, the parking lot request, and the corresponding ID of the navigation device 100 are transmitted to the information center 10. The pass point and the parking lot request are transmitted when selected in the destination setting, and are not transmitted when not selected. Note that, as shown in FIG. 5, a typical case is that a destination or the like is transmitted from the portable information terminal 200 to the information center 10. (When transmitting from the own device or when transmitting from another navigation device), when setting the destination with an information processing terminal such as a personal computer at home or office or a word processor, and transmitting. ,Also,
In some cases, a destination is set from a public telephone capable of data communication and transmitted. When the destination and the ID set by the destination setting process are transmitted, the information center 10 determines the final destination and the vehicle destination from the received destination, as described later with reference to FIG. Register in the user data corresponding to the ID. The destination determination process is executed not only when the destination is set in advance but also when the destination is set by the navigation device 100 of the vehicle when the vehicle departs.

When the vehicle equipped with the navigation device 100 is turned on, route guidance to the destination of the vehicle is started. That is, as shown by the arrow F0 in FIG. 5, when the ignition of the vehicle equipped with the navigation device 100 is turned on, communication between the navigation device 100 and the information center 10 is established (F
s) In both devices, destination setting confirmation processing of F1 to F4 (FIGS. 9 and 10) is performed. When the destination is registered in the information center 10 in advance, as shown by an arrow F5, the navigation device 100 sends the information center 10 a current position, an ID, a required road length, and a route guidance acquisition request (FIG. Not shown). The required road length is described in the data storage area 102 of the navigation device 100.
Sent when required road length data 168 is stored in B. In the information center 10, as will be described later with reference to FIG. 11, a route search (vehicle mode), segment division, and extraction of required guide data are performed based on the received data, as indicated by an arrow F6. Then, as shown by an arrow F7, the obtained route / guidance data is
Send to

The operation of the information center 10 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, when the information center 10 receives a destination from the portable information terminal 200 or the navigation device 100, the information center 10 sets the received destination as a final destination PT and cannot reach the final destination PT by vehicle. In this case (including a case where guidance is provided to a nearby parking lot based on a parking lot request), the vehicle destination PA is set.
L1 indicated by a thick solid line is a traveling route searched (vehicle mode) from the terminal position PD of the received divided route to the vehicle destination PA, and L2 indicated by a thick dotted line is a vehicle destination PA
It is a route searched (non-vehicle mode) from to the final destination PT. M is a mark indicating the vehicle position displayed corresponding to the current position of the vehicle. This search route L1 is divided into five segments S1 to S5 in units of a predetermined distance (for example, 2 km), and the segment division points are P1 to P4. Assuming that the required road length is LR, the transmission road length> the required road length in the segments S1 and S2, so the route data and the guidance data of the segments S1 and S2 are transmitted to the navigation device 100.

On the other hand, in the navigation device 100, as will be described later with reference to FIG. 12, as shown by an arrow F8 in FIG. 5, route guidance is performed based on the route / guidance data divided and received. Route / guidance data that is no longer needed is discarded. Here, when the continuation data of the route guidance becomes necessary, the information center 10 is again notified of the current position and the route guidance acquisition request (request) as shown by the arrow F9. Thereafter, the same operation is repeated until the vehicle reaches the destination. When the vehicle arrives at the vehicle destination, the information center 10 indicates that the vehicle has arrived at the current position and the destination as indicated by an arrow Fn.
To the navigation device 100 and the information center 1
The communication between 0 is terminated.

Upon receiving the arrival at the vehicle destination from the navigation device 100, the information center 10 stores the current position of the vehicle to be received as shown by the arrow G0, and performs the operation in the non-vehicle mode from the current position to the final destination. A route search is performed (described later with reference to FIG. 13). And as shown by the arrow Gs,
The communication with the portable terminal connection destination corresponding to the user data 50 of the corresponding ID is started, and guide data by a map picture to the final destination created by the route search is transmitted to the portable information terminal 200 as shown by the arrow G1. The portable information terminal 200 that has received the map picture, as described later with reference to FIG. 14 and FIG. (G2).

In FIG. 5, the pre-destination setting processing and
Although the description has been given of the case where the navigation start process by the ignition and the non-vehicle moving both route guidance process to the final destination are executed as a series of processes, they can be executed independently. That is, when the final destination and the vehicle destination match, the non-vehicle movement route guidance processing to the final destination is not executed. Further, the destination set in the pre-destination setting process is always used in the navigation start process by the ignition on, but the pre-destination setting process itself is not necessarily a process necessary for the navigation start process by the ignition on. The navigation start process by the ignition on without the prior destination setting process can be executed. That is, in the first embodiment, the navigation start process by the ignition on is set as an indispensable process, and the preliminary destination setting process and / or the non-vehicle moving route guidance to the final destination are additionally executed.

Next, the details of each operation by the devices constituting the above navigation system will be sequentially described. (A) Destination Setting Operation (a) First, a destination setting process in the portable information terminal 200 and the navigation device 100 including the destination setting programs 250 and 144 and the destination setting data 266 and 166 will be described. In the following description, a process performed by the portable information terminal 200 will be described.
The same operation is performed by each part having the same digit. When the destination setting is selected, the destination setting process is executed, and the arithmetic processing unit 201 (corresponds to the arithmetic processing unit 101 in the case of the navigation device 100. The same applies to other units below).
For example, as a destination setting screen on the display unit 206, the input method of "designation from the area list", "designation from the genre list", "input of telephone number", and "input of address" are displayed as images. The input unit 205 (joystick or key) moves the cursor to the display of the desired input method, and then presses the enter key, Is input by voice or the like, the input method of the destination is selected. When “designate from area list” or “designate from genre list” is selected, a section list of areas and genres is read from destination setting data 266 and displayed on display unit 206. Here, after the selection of the area or genre selected by the setter is obtained, the name of the destination classified into the selected area or genre is displayed, and the destination is obtained. When “input phone number” or “input address” is selected as the selection method, the input unit 20 is used.
5 (voice input or numeric keypad) to obtain a telephone number or address, and obtain a destination from the correspondence between the telephone number or address stored in the destination setting data 266 and the destination.

After obtaining the destination, the operation processing unit 20
1 confirms whether there is a parking lot request and whether there is a departure date and time designation. That is, a confirmation screen for the presence / absence of a parking lot is displayed to confirm the presence / absence of the request to the setter, and then a departure date / time input screen is displayed to confirm the departure date / time. Note that, when the transmission key is selected by the setter at the time when the destination is determined, it is treated that neither the parking lot request nor the designation of the departure date and time is given.

After the destination and, if selected, the parking lot request and / or the departure date and time, the data of the destination and the like are transmitted to the information center 10 together with the ID of the corresponding navigation device by selecting the transmission key. Sent. In addition,
In the case of the destination by the portable information terminal 200, the ID of the corresponding navigation device 100 may be registered in the portable information terminal 200 in advance, or the ID may be individually input when setting the destination. . On the other hand, when the destination is set by the navigation device 100, the ID is set.
The ID read from the data 162 is transmitted, but another ID may be designated by the input of the setter. By allowing other IDs to be designated, when two vehicles (and the navigation device 100) are owned, the destination when traveling with one vehicle can be set from the other vehicle. it can.

(B) Next, the destination setting program 25
The destination setting process in the portable information terminal 200 and the navigation device 100 which do not include the data 0, 144 and the destination setting data 266, 166 will be described. Although the portable information terminal 200 will be described in this case as well, the navigation device 100 operates similarly. FIG.
In the portable information terminal 200 that does not have the destination setting program 250 or the like (often a mobile phone or PHS),
This figure shows a process for setting a destination in the information center 10 via the Internet using WW browser software. As a premise that the destination setting process shown in FIG. 7 is executed, a menu screen unique to each portable information terminal is displayed on the display unit 206 of the portable information terminal 200. This menu screen, other screens, The destination setting can be selected with the function keys. Then, it is assumed that a navigation menu key (any name can be used as long as the key is a destination setting key) is selected on a menu screen or the like. As a menu screen unique to each portable information terminal 200, for example, a "telephone menu" key or a "data communication menu" key is displayed in addition to a "navi menu" key in the case of a mobile phone. In addition to the "navi menu" key, a "schedule" key, an "address book" key, and the like are displayed. In some cases, the destination is selected by a dedicated key for setting a destination (not a soft key for software selection from a display screen, but a hard key such as a switch).

Operation processing unit 201 of portable information terminal 200
Monitors the selection of the "navi menu" in the destination setting process, and when the navi menu is selected (step 10; Y), communication with the information center 10 is started to transmit the navi menu. 10 and obtains a navigation menu screen (Web information) transmitted in response to the request (step 11). Then, the arithmetic processing unit 201 displays the acquired navigation menu screen on the display unit 206 (Step 12). On this navigation menu screen, for example,
"1. Determine destination" key, "2. Search" key,
Keys for selecting various operations such as a “3. setting” key are displayed on the screen. Each of these keys is a software selectable soft key.After selecting one of the keys displayed on the screen with the scroll key, or after specifying the number displayed before each key with the numeric keypad, press the select button. When pressed, a key is selected.

When the "determine destination" key is selected on the navigation menu screen (step 13; Y), the destination setting process is continued, and the arithmetic processing unit 201 transmits the destination list to the information center 10. And a destination list transmitted in response to the request is received (step 1).
4). Then, the arithmetic processing unit 201 displays the acquired destination list on the screen of the display unit 206 (step 15), and monitors and confirms the destination selection by the setter (step 1).
6; Y), the arithmetic processing unit 201 determines the determined destination (and the passing point if selected) and the navigation device 1 registered corresponding to the portable information terminal 200.
The ID of 00 is transmitted to the information center 10.

Next, the arithmetic processing section 201 receives the parking lot request confirmation screen transmitted from the information center 10 by transmitting the destination or the like, displays it on the display section 206, and determines whether or not to set the destination. Inquiry to the setter (Step 1
8). When a request for a parking lot is selected on the parking lot request confirmation screen (Step 18; Y), the arithmetic processing unit 201 transmits the parking lot request to the information center 10 (Step 1).
9). Then, when the parking lot request is transmitted or the parking lot request is not made, the departure date and time setting screen transmitted from the information center 10 is received and displayed on the display unit 206, and the setter is asked whether to set the departure date and time. Inquire (Step 2
0). When the setting of the departure date and time is selected (Step 20; Y), the arithmetic processing unit 201 displays a departure date and time designation screen on the display unit 206 (Step 21), and inputs the departure date and time by the setter. Monitor (step 22).
Then, when the departure date and time or the departure date is entered and the confirmation key is pressed, the input of the departure date and time is confirmed (step 22; Y),
The arithmetic processing unit 201 determines the departure date and time (or departure date)
Is transmitted to the information center 10 (step 23), and the destination setting process ends.

In the destination setting process described above,
The case where the destination list is displayed on the screen of the display unit 206 has been described. However, since there are a large number of destinations that can be set, conditions for selecting the destinations are sequentially acquired and selected as Web information, and the hierarchy is formed. The final destination may be set by sequentially narrowing down the obtained destination information. For example, request / acquire / display /
After selection, request / acquire / display / select the genre list, then request / acquire / display /
You may make a selection. In this case, if the selected genre is further hierarchized, the genre may be requested a plurality of times until it becomes the lowest genre. Alternatively, narrowing down by genre may be performed from the beginning without requesting an area list or the like. Furthermore, as a list of methods for determining the destination, request / acquire / display "determine by genre", "determine by telephone number", "determine by address", "determine by name", and "determine by purpose" are selected. The destination may be selected according to the method. When "decide by name" is selected, destinations in the order of the Japanese syllabary are sequentially transmitted and displayed. The “determine by name” may be an item that can be selected after the genre or region is specified. When "Determine by purpose" is selected, the purpose of traveling the vehicle, such as "one night trip", "date", "meal", etc., is displayed.

(C) Destination Determination Processing FIG. 8 shows the portable information terminal 200 and the navigation device 10.
When the destination and ID are transmitted from 0, the information center 1
9 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a destination determination process performed at 0. Note that this destination determination processing is executed when a destination is received. In addition to a case where the destination is set in advance before the vehicle departs, a case where the destination is set in the vehicle immediately before departure, and the like. It is executed including the case of

The arithmetic processing unit 14 of the information center 10 monitors the transmission of the destination from the user via the communication control unit 12 (step 31), and receives the destination (step 3).
1; Y), the received destination is regarded as the final destination, etc.
D in the user data 50. That is, the received destination is stored in the final destination of the user data 50, and when a pass point, a parking lot request, and a departure date and time are also received, these are also stored in the user data 50 of the corresponding ID.

Then, the arithmetic processing unit 14 determines whether or not there is a parking lot request in the received data. If there is (step 33; Y), the parking lot is further located at the final destination (the received destination). It is determined whether or not there is a destination from the attached data of the destination setting data 48 (step 34). If there is no parking lot at the final destination (Step 34; N), the arithmetic processing unit 14
Retrieves the parking lot around the parking lot from the parking lot data 52 (step 35), stores the searched parking lot as the vehicle destination in the user data 50 of the corresponding ID (step 36), and executes the system control program. Then, the process returns to the main routine at 26.

On the other hand, when there is no parking lot request in the data received from the user (step 33; N), the arithmetic processing unit 14
Determines whether the vehicle can travel to the final destination (step 37). When it is possible to travel to the final destination (Step 37; Y), and when there is a parking lot request and a parking lot exists at the final destination (Step 33; Y, Step 34; Y), the arithmetic processing unit 14 The final destination, that is, the portable information terminal 200 or the navigation device 10
The destination received from 0 is stored as the vehicle destination in the user data 50 of the corresponding ID (step 38), and the process returns to the main routine. When the final destination is a point where the vehicle cannot travel (Step 37; N), the arithmetic processing unit 14 stores the closest possible travel point from the final destination as the vehicle destination in the user data 50 of the corresponding ID. Then (step 39), the process returns to the main routine. The arithmetic processing unit 14 determines whether or not there is a parking lot (step 34).
When it is determined whether or not it is possible to travel to the final destination (step 37), and when a nearby parking lot is searched from the parking lot data (step 35), it is subject to private car regulation and vehicle regulation. Judgment will also be made including whether or not the region and period are applicable.

As described above, the information center 10 stores the received destination as the final destination and automatically sets the vehicle destination separately from the final destination. Therefore, when setting a destination, it is not necessary to check for the presence or absence of a parking lot, and if there is no parking lot, it is not necessary to search for a nearby parking lot and set a destination, and it is possible to determine the final destination including walking etc. Can be set as a destination. For example, if you want to go to the Myoko Shrine in Kamikochi, the destination creator can simply set Myojin Pond as the destination without checking whether or not there are any car restrictions or parking lots in Kamikochi, and you can drive around the destination. Since the Sawatari parking lot is set as the vehicle destination (or the parking lot), the destination setting can be easily performed. The movement from the vehicle destination to the final destination by means other than the vehicle (own vehicle) can be reached by receiving the map picture created in the final destination search process described later by the portable information terminal 200. Will be possible.

(B) Route Guidance to Vehicle Destination Next, a description will be given of the entire process of performing route guidance to the vehicle destination set in the information center. (A) Destination Setting Confirmation Process (In-Vehicle Device; Navigation Device) FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the destination setting confirmation process when the ignition is turned on in the vehicle device. The power of the navigation device 100 is automatically turned on in conjunction with the ignition being turned on, and when the ignition is turned on (step 4).
1; Y), immediately transmit the destination confirmation request and the ID to the information center 10 via the communication control unit 108 (step 4).
2) Wait for the destination confirmation result to be transmitted from the information center 10. Then, when a destination unset has been received from the information center 10 as the destination confirmation result (step 4
3; N), the arithmetic processing section 101 monitors whether or not the destination setting processing is selected by the input section 105 (step 4).
4). When the destination setting process is selected (Step 4
4; Y), the arithmetic processing unit 101 executes the destination setting processing by the above-described in-vehicle device (step 45), and informs the destination (and, if set, the parking lot request and / or the departure date and time) as information. The data is transmitted to the center 10 (step 46).
When this destination or the like is transmitted, the information center 10 executes the above-described destination determination processing (FIG. 8). Then, the arithmetic processing unit 101 receives the vehicle destination and final destination data 166 continuously transmitted from the information center 10, and
The data is stored in the data storage area 102B (step 47), and thereafter, a request / route guidance process described later with reference to FIG. 12 is executed (step 48), and the process returns to the main routine by the control program 154.

On the other hand, when the processing unit 101 receives the destination setting completion as a result of the confirmation for the destination confirmation request (step 43), the destination is already set, so that the information processing unit 101 continuously transmits the information. The vehicle destination and final destination data 166 are received and stored in the data storage area 102B (step 47), and the request / route guidance processing is immediately executed (step 48). As described above, when the destination is set in the information center 10 in advance, the user who gets on the vehicle can turn on the navigation device 100 by turning on the ignition before starting the traveling.
Without performing a series of operations from turning on the power to setting a destination, it is possible to immediately execute a request / route search process and start traveling while receiving route guidance toward the destination.

(B) Destination Setting Confirmation Processing (Information Center) FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the destination setting confirmation processing in the information center 10. Information center 10
Is monitoring the destination confirmation request from the navigation device 100, and when there is a request (Step 50; Y), confirms the user data 50 of the corresponding ID (Step 51) and returns to the vehicle destination. And whether the departure date and time are stored (steps 52 and 53). If both the vehicle destination and the departure date and time are stored (step 52; Y, step 53; Y), it is further confirmed whether the stored departure date is today (step 54). When the departure date is today (step 54; Y), and when the vehicle destination is stored but the departure date is not specified (step 53; N), the arithmetic processing unit 14 performs the destination setting confirmation processing. The destination setting completion is transmitted to the navigation device 100 as a confirmation result (step 55), and the vehicle destination and the final destination which have been set are transmitted to the navigation device 100 (step 59). And the route search and
The guidance data transmission process (FIG. 11) is executed (step 6).
0), and return to the main routine by the system control program 26.

On the other hand, when the vehicle destination is not stored in the user data 50 of the corresponding ID (step 52), and when the vehicle destination and the departure date and time are stored but not today's departure (step 54; N) ), Arithmetic processing unit 14
Transmits the destination unset to the navigation device 100 as the destination setting confirmation result (step 56). The arithmetic processing unit 14 executes the destination setting process (step 45 in FIG. 9) in the navigation device 100 by transmitting the destination unset, and transmits the destination (step 46).
It is monitored whether it has been performed (FIG. 10; step 57). Then, when the destination is received (Step 57; Y), the destination determination processing described in FIG. 8 is executed (Step 5).
8) The vehicle destination and the final destination set in the destination determination processing are transmitted to the navigation device 100 (step 59). Thereafter, a route search / guidance data transmission process is executed (step 60), and the process returns to the main routine. If the destination is not received (step 57; N), the vehicle can determine that the vehicle does not need the route guidance, and thus the arithmetic processing unit 101 ends the communication with the navigation device 100 without performing a route search or the like. After that (step 61), the process returns to the main routine.

Next, a route search / guidance data transmission process (FIG. 11) on the information center 10 side in which the travel route searched for the vehicle destination is divided in a predetermined unit and transmitted, and transmission of the divided route is sequentially requested. The request / route guidance process (FIG. 12) of the navigation device 100 that provides route guidance to the vehicle destination will be described.

(C) Route Search / Guidance Data Transmission Process As shown in FIG. 11, the arithmetic processing unit 14 of the information center 10
Monitors whether or not a route guidance data acquisition request (request) has been received from the navigation device 100 (in-vehicle device) (step 65). (Step 66).
Next, if the required road length is specified in the received information (step 67; Y), the specified required road length is stored in the memory 1
8 is stored in the required road length data 27 (step 68),
If not specified (step 67; N), an initial value prepared in advance as the required road length is set and stored in the required road length data 27 (step 69).

Next, the arithmetic processing section 14 searches for a route from the current position of the vehicle to the destination of the vehicle (step 70). The route search includes route search data 42 of the database 40,
That is, the processing is performed with reference to the intersection data, the road data, and the node data. This route search processing is known, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 1-173297 and 1-173.
This is performed by the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 298, and a recommended route is set under conditions such as making the route having the shortest overall route the optimum route. In the present embodiment, the navigation device 100
Every time a request is received from (step 65; Y),
A route from the current vehicle position to the vehicle destination is searched.
In the information center 10, road information and traffic information such as traffic congestion state and distance, traffic impossibility due to an accident, and construction sections are acquired from outside by the external information collecting unit 70, and the database 40 is updated to the latest information. ing.
Therefore, by performing a route search for each request from the vehicle, a recommended route based on the latest data and guidance data thereof are always provided to the vehicle, for example, to avoid traffic congestion.

Next, the arithmetic processing section 14 executes the segment processing program 22 stored in the memory 18 to divide the travel route to the searched vehicle destination into segments which are navigation units (step 71). ). The division unit is a fixed data size (for example, 1024 bytes for one segment) and a fixed road length (for example, 1 km, 2k).
m etc.) can be considered. As shown in FIG. 3A, for example, all the searched routes are divided route 1, divided route 2,.
It is divided into ... Each divided path is one segment. As shown in FIG. 3B, each divided route data includes a data head, intersection information, road information, node information, landmark information, and the like.

By segmenting such data, (i) the information center 10 and the navigation device 1
Even if the communication with 00 is interrupted, the route guidance can be provided for the segment whose transmission has been completed at the time of the interruption, and (ii) the segment which has been transmitting at the time of the interruption may be retransmitted. is there. In other words, a segment is an information unit that can be decoded on the vehicle side.
For example, if the route / guidance data of 10 km is transmitted as one file as a whole to the vehicle and cannot be decoded by the vehicle, route guidance cannot be performed for all of the 10 km. However, by dividing the file into segments every 2 km and creating a file, it becomes possible to decode the file for each segment and provide route guidance.

Next, the arithmetic processing unit 14 sequentially adds one segment closest to the vehicle position within the range of the searched route (step 72), and calculates the road length of the transmission road (step 73). That is, the calculation of the transmission road length (total road length of the segment) = the transmission road length before the addition of the segment + the road length of the added segment is repeated, and the segments are added one by one. Then, the total transmission road length obtained by adding the lengths of the roads included in each segment is
Segments are added until the length becomes longer than the required road length stored in the user data 50 of the ID (step 74; N).

As a result, if the transmission road length> the required road length (or the transmission road length ≧ the required road length) (step 7).
4; Y), the arithmetic processing unit 14 executes the guidance data extraction program 24 stored in the memory 18 and refers to the guidance data 44 of the database 40 to generate guidance data in a range corresponding to the transmission road length. Search and extract, memory 1
8 is stored in the extraction guide data 29 (step 75).
The route data and guidance data obtained as described above are transmitted to the navigation device 100 of the ID that has made the request via the communication control unit 12 (step 76). At this time, the segmented route / guidance data is transmitted to the vehicle in order from the one closest to the current position of the vehicle.

(D) Request / Route Guidance Processing Next, in response to the route search / guidance data transmission processing by the information center 10 described above, the navigation device 100
Request / Route Guidance Process Executed in FIG. 12
This will be described according to the flowchart of FIG. As shown in FIG. 12, the arithmetic processing unit 101 of the navigation device 100 includes:
The current vehicle position, request (route guidance data acquisition request), and requested road length are transmitted to the information center 10 (step 80). Here, the required road length is the case where the required road length data 168 is stored, and is transmitted only at the first time.

Then, the arithmetic processing unit 101 is connected to the information center 1
It is monitored whether or not the route / guidance data (division road data) divided corresponding to the required road length from 0 has been received (step 81).
60 is stored in the memory 102, and route guidance is executed by the route guidance program 150 in the memory 102 (step 82). The arithmetic processing unit 101 provides, for example,
A map and landmarks of the route are displayed on the display unit 106, and while referring to the current position of the vehicle in the position measurement unit 104, a predetermined distance before the intersection to be rerouted, "Right / left at the intersection approximately 200m ahead" . "Is output from the voice output unit 107.

In the present embodiment, the route / guidance data received from the information center 10 is not the data of the entire travel route to the vehicle destination, but the divided route extracted from the travel route newly searched for each divided route request. Receive a route. In the new route search performed in response to the request, the latest traffic information and road information collected by the external information collection unit 70 are always used. Therefore, a route different from the travel route searched at the time of departure may be extracted as a divided route due to a change in road conditions during travel (such as occurrence of traffic jam or accident). As described above, even when the road condition changes during traveling, by receiving the divided route, it is possible to always receive and guide the optimal route at the present time. In addition, it is possible to flexibly respond to a change in destination. Furthermore, only the divided route of the route length (transmission road length) corresponding to the required required road length can be received from the information center 10, and data reception according to the memory capacity of the navigation device 100 becomes possible. Also, by receiving a divided route corresponding to the required road length, the amount of received data is reduced, and the reception of the divided route is completed in a short time. Can start earlier. In addition, since a route search from the current position of the vehicle to the destination of the vehicle is performed for each request, for example, even when the vehicle deviates from the route,
By requesting at the current position on the deviated road, route / guidance data to the vehicle destination can be obtained, and driving can be performed with confidence.

During the route guidance, the arithmetic processing unit 101 acquires the current position of the vehicle from the position measuring unit 104 at predetermined time intervals, and moves the vehicle a certain distance (the distance from the end of the divided route stored in the route / guide data 160). For example, 200 m), it is monitored whether or not the vehicle has reached the front position (step 83). If the vehicle has not reached the position (; N), the flow returns to step 82 to continue the route guidance. Then, when the vehicle reaches the above-mentioned fixed distance before the end of the divided route (step 83;
Y), the arithmetic processing unit 101 determines whether or not the end of the divided route matches the vehicle destination (step 84). If the end of the split route does not match the vehicle destination (step 8
4; N), and return to step 80 to again send the current vehicle position and request (route guidance data acquisition request) to the information center 10.
And the next divided route reception and route guidance are continued.

If the end of the divided route coincides with the vehicle destination (step 84; Y), the arithmetic processing unit 101 determines whether or not the vehicle has arrived at the vehicle destination (step 85).
If the vehicle has not arrived at the destination (step 85;
N), returning to step 82 to continue the route guidance. On the other hand, when the vehicle arrives at the vehicle destination (step 85; Y),
The arithmetic processing unit 101 transmits the current vehicle position and the arrival at the vehicle destination to the information center 10 (step 86),
It returns to the main routine by the control program 154. It should be noted that whether or not the vehicle has arrived at the vehicle destination is determined not only when the vehicle actually arrives at the vehicle destination, but also when the travel distance to the vehicle destination is within 500 m and the last route guidance point by voice is received. When the vehicle arrives at the position after the passage (around the vehicle destination), it is determined that the vehicle has reached the vehicle destination.

(C) Route Guidance to Final Destination Next, guidance of the vehicle to the final destination after arriving at the vehicle destination will be described. (A) Final Destination Search Processing FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the operation of the final destination search processing in the information center 10. Information center 10
Is monitoring the transmission of the arrival at the vehicle destination from the navigation device 100 (step 90).
When the arrival at the vehicle destination is received (Step 90; Y), the current vehicle position transmitted at the same time is stored in the user data 50 of the corresponding ID (Step 91). Here, the vehicle current position is separately stored even though the vehicle destination is stored in the user data 50, it is not necessarily the vehicle destination set in the destination determination process (FIG. 8) of the information center 10. This is because the arrival may not always be made, and for example, the vehicle may have arrived at another parking lot or the like. Also, since the vehicle destination is deleted at a predetermined time (time of arrival at the vehicle destination, time of arrival at the final destination, etc.) for setting the next destination, the vehicle current position must be stored separately from the final destination. This allows the information center 10 to recognize the vehicle position.

The arithmetic processing section 14 determines whether or not the stored current vehicle position matches the final destination (step 9).
2) If they match (step 92; Y), the process returns to the main routine by the system control program 26. On the other hand, when the current vehicle position is not the final destination (Step 92; N), the arithmetic processing unit 14 searches for a route from the current vehicle position in the non-vehicle mode to the final destination (Step 93). That is, the arithmetic processing unit 14
Are pedestrian-only roads such as pedestrian bridges and pedestrian crossings used for non-vehicle mode searches, and vehicles other than vehicles and walking (cable cars, monorails, ropeways, trains, trains,
Move to the final destination using route search data 42 including data (station name, point data, point-to-point distance, timetable, etc.) on routes that can be moved by ships, buses, taxis, moving walkways, etc. Find a route.

Then, the arithmetic processing unit 14 outputs the map picture creation data 54 according to the moving route to the searched final destination.
A travel route based on the map picture is created using the map picture (step 94). FIG. 14 illustrates a map picture created by the information center 10 to a final destination that can be moved only by walking. As shown in FIG. 14, as the map picture, the entire route including the vehicle current position M (indicated by a black symbol ○ in a circle) and the final destination PT (indicated by a symbol mark ☆) ( a) and intersection diagrams (b)-for intersections that turn left and right with major intersections
(D) is created. The road to be displayed is displayed as a straight line passing through each intersection. The road is displayed with a thickness corresponding to the actual road width. In each of the overall route map (a) and the intersection diagrams (b) to (d), facilities (stations, hospitals, police boxes, schools, gas stations, hotels,
The symbols and / or names of restaurants, shrines, parks, etc.) are displayed in the map picture. The landmark of the guidance data 44 may be used as the symbol mark of the facility serving as the mark. Also, in the entire route diagram, the intersection numbers assigned in the order of passing from the current position of the vehicle are indicated by circled numbers, and by specifying this number with a numeric keypad etc., the intersection diagram of the designated number is displayed. . In the intersection diagram, the same intersection number as the intersection number in the overall route diagram (a) is displayed by a circled number. The traveling direction after passing through each intersection is indicated by an arrow P. in this way,
By creating a simple map picture composed of straight roads and symbol marks instead of a detailed road map, the amount of data transmitted to the portable information terminal 200 can be reduced,
Display unit 206 with a small image display area (small number of dots)
Can be displayed. Further, the symbol mark makes it easy to intuitively recognize the moving route to the final destination.

FIG. 15 illustrates a map picture when moving to the final destination by using a non-vehicle means such as a train other than walking. In the example of this figure, the final destination is Tokyo E
This is an example of a QR (Equos Research Co., Ltd.) where a vehicle from Hamamatsucho Station to around Ochanomizu cannot be moved by a vehicle due to road restrictions or the like, and a parking lot in front of Hamamatsucho Station is set as a vehicle destination. . In such a case, FIG.
, The entire route diagram of FIG. 15B, and the intersection diagrams (not shown) (for example, FIGS. 14B and 14B). In the movement outline diagram of FIG. 15A, it is displayed that the vehicle travels from Hamamatsucho Station, a vehicle destination, to Ochanomizu on the JR Yamanote Line, and travels from Ochanomizu Station to Tokyo EQ-R, the final destination, on foot. As shown in FIG. 15A, when a means other than walking is used, a movement outline diagram is created, and the moving means and a moving section (moving facility name) by the moving means are displayed. Then, for the moving section by walking, the entire route diagram of FIG. 15B and an intersection diagram (not shown) are created as necessary. In addition, each map picture is hierarchized, and is hierarchized in the order of the movement conceptual diagram, the entire route map, and the intersection map. For the movement concept diagram and the entire route diagram, there are multiple diagrams on the same level as in the intersection diagram,
For example, there is a case where the layers are further hierarchized as a movement conceptual diagram (overall view) and a movement conceptual diagram (details).

When the above map picture is created, the arithmetic processing unit 14
Connects the line with the mobile terminal connection destination stored in the user data 50 of the corresponding ID (for example, by making a telephone call), and transmits the created map picture to the final destination to the mobile information terminal 200 (FIG. 13; step 95),
Return to the main routine by the system control program.

(B) Route guidance by map picture of portable information terminal 200 When portable information terminal 200 receives route / guidance data (map picture) 260 transmitted from information center 10, it stores it in data storage area 202B, The uppermost map picture among the received map pictures is displayed on the display unit 206. It should be noted that the display unit 206 may only display that a map picture has been received, and may display it when the input unit 205 selects the map picture display. After displaying the map picture of the top layer, the portable information terminal 200 displays the next screen when the next key or the next screen selection key (“→” key, “▽” key, etc.) is designated by the user. I do. When a number corresponding to the number displayed on the screen (the circled number in FIG. 14A) is designated by a numeric keypad or the like, a corresponding intersection diagram is displayed.

The user checks the display screen of the portable information terminal 200, moves in the traveling direction arrow P direction displayed on the screen while associating the actual target with the symbol mark, and displays the next screen according to the movement. By doing so, it is possible to reach the final destination.

The case where the navigation device 100 according to the first embodiment described above does not include the route search data and the route search program has been described. However, the navigation device 100 includes the route search data and the route search program. Alternatively, guidance data may be further provided (Modification 11). In this case, when the ignition is turned on, the navigation device 100 transmits a destination confirmation request and an ID to the information center 10, and confirms whether the destination is set in advance. In the information center 10, when the destination is not set in the user data 50 corresponding to the ID (including the case where the destination is set but the condition of the departure date is not satisfied), the destination not set is notified to the navigation device 100. Send and end communication. When the destination is set, the destination (or the vehicle destination and the final destination) is transmitted to the navigation device 100 and the communication is terminated.

When the destination is not set or the destination (or the vehicle destination and the final destination) is received, the navigation device 100 ends the communication. When the destination (or the vehicle destination and the final destination) is received, the navigation device 100
Searches for a driving route from the current vehicle position to the destination,
Route guidance is performed according to the searched traveling route. Also in the modification 11, when the vehicle destination and the final destination (vehicle destination 目的 final destination) are received, the navigation device 100 determines that the destination arrival and the vehicle have arrived when the route guidance to the vehicle destination ends. The current position is transmitted to the information center 10, and upon receiving the arrival at the destination, the information center 10 searches for the non-vehicle moving route from the current position of the vehicle to the final destination in the non-vehicle mode and creates a map picture of the corresponding ID. Portable information terminal 20
Send to 0.

In the eleventh modification, the navigation device 100 may be able to select between a mode in which a route search to a destination is performed in its own device and a mode in which an information center is searched (variation 12). In this case, the navigation device 1
For example, when the destination is a relatively close destination, a route search is performed by the own device, and the destination is distant (for example, a linear distance of 100 km).
In the case of the destination described above, the travel route is received from the information center 10 for early acquisition of the travel route. In the case of receiving a travel route, as described in the first embodiment, by requesting the information center 10 and sequentially receiving the divided routes, an optimal route reflecting the latest traffic information and the like is reflected in all routes to a distant destination. It can guide you on a variety of routes.

Further, depending on the navigation device 100, a preset destination (or a vehicle destination and a final destination) is received from the information center 10 with the ignition on, and a route search to the destination or the like is performed in the own device. And the navigation device 100 uses the data used for the guidance of the traveling route.
May be received from the information center 10 for the purpose of supplementing the data not held by the information center (Modification 13). For example, in order to reduce the size of the memory 102, the navigation device 100 does not hold data such as an enlarged view of an intersection. And the navigation device 1
00 Expanding the intersection on the travel route to the searched destination

In the first embodiment described, the information center 1
As the navigation device 100 that is registered as a user and assigned an ID to 0, the case of the navigation device 100 described with reference to FIG. 1 has been described. Navigation device described in the form and Modification Example 1
The navigation device described in 1 and other programs,
Various navigation devices having different data and different functions may be used (Modification 14). In this case, the navigation device 100 transmits to the information center 10 transmission desired information specifying data for specifying information to be transmitted after confirming the destination setting to the information center 10 by turning on the ignition. At the information center 10, according to the transmission desired information designation data, the destination, the vehicle destination and the final destination, the entire travel route to the destination or the final destination, the divided route to the destination or the final destination (No. Is transmitted in response to a request along the divided path described in the first embodiment).

Although the destination determining process (FIG. 8) described in the first embodiment is executed when the information center 10 receives the destination and the ID, the destination determining process is performed when the destination is received. When the process is performed, if the destination is set in advance, there is a possibility that the vehicle may not be able to reach the set vehicle destination before the departure date due to a change in traffic regulation or the like. Therefore, the destination determination process may be executed when the first request is met or when the destination confirmation request is met (Modification 15). As a result, the optimum vehicle destination and final destination at the departure date and time can be determined.

Even in the case of the fifteenth modification, for example, there is a possibility that the parking lot set as the vehicle destination becomes full and the vehicle cannot be parked.
In this case, the vehicle cannot reach the destination. Therefore, the information center 10 may perform the destination determination process including the information on the fullness of the parking lot every time there is a request for the divided route based on the traffic information and the like collected by the external information collecting unit 70. Good (Modification 16). Further, the destination determination processing is performed by a predetermined distance (for example, 10 k) from the vehicle destination set first.
The processing may be executed at the time when the time reaches within m) (Modification 16 ').

In the first embodiment described above, in the final destination search processing (FIG. 13), the moving route from the current vehicle position to the final destination is searched in the non-vehicle mode (step 9).
3) Create a map picture of the travel route (step 94),
Although the data is transmitted to the portable information terminal 200 (step 95), the map data including the vehicle destination and the final destination are
The data of the vehicle destination point and the final destination point may be transmitted to the portable information terminal 200 (Modification 17).

In the final destination processing (FIG. 13), when the vehicle destination arrival is received and the current vehicle position does not coincide with the final destination, the route search in the non-vehicle mode (step 93) and the map picture (Step 94) is performed every time, but a picture map for a vehicle destination (vehicle current position) and a final destination that are frequently used is created in advance, and a database is created together with a combination of the vehicle destination and the final destination. 40 may be stored (Modification 18). in this case,
The information center 10 searches whether or not the combination of the vehicle destination and the final destination corresponding to the received current position of the vehicle exists in the database 40, and if not, the step 93 in FIG.
Step 94 is executed, and if so, the picture map stored together with the combination is read and transmitted to the portable information terminal 200 (step 95).

In the final destination process (FIG. 13), when the map picture is created, the arithmetic processing unit 14 connects the line with the portable terminal connection destination of the corresponding ID (for example, by making a telephone call) and creates the map picture. Although the map picture up to the final destination is transmitted directly to the portable information terminal 200 (step 95), data such as the created map picture may be transmitted as a mail to the mail address of the corresponding ID. (Modification 19). In this case, data such as a map picture can be downloaded from its own mail address and displayed using the portable information terminal 200 or another information processing device.

(3) Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment will be described. Note that the configurations of the information center 10, the navigation device 100, and the portable information terminal 200 in each of the second and subsequent embodiments are almost the same as those of the first embodiment. The same parts will be omitted as appropriate. In the first embodiment, the destination can be set in the information center 10 before the vehicle departs. However, the destination is set to the user data 50 of one person (mainly, the own ID). Only set a destination. However, a plurality of vehicles may travel toward the same destination at the same date and time, such as when playing golf with a plurality of members. In such a case, according to the first embodiment, it is necessary to repeat the advance setting of the same destination for each member, so that unnecessary operations are duplicated.

Therefore, in the second embodiment, one person
The destination can be set for a plurality of members by setting the destination at the time. That is, in the second embodiment, the destination setting is performed by broadcast. Therefore, the portable information terminal 200 and the navigation device 100 according to the second embodiment include the destination transmission member setting processing program according to the present embodiment and the candidate list data of members for setting the destination. W to display the member candidate list screen for selecting the destination sending member from 10
It has WWW browser software for acquiring as web information. On the other hand, in the information center 10 according to the second embodiment, a destination determination program for the second embodiment is stored in the memory 18 instead of the destination determination program 25, and a member candidate list is stored in the database 40. . The member candidate list is stored in the corresponding user data 50 for each user of each ID.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the operation of the destination transmitting member setting process executed in the portable information terminal 200 and the navigation device 100. In the following description of the operation, the description will be made as the processing by the portable information terminal 200, but the navigation apparatus 100 performs the same processing. In this case, similarly to the destination setting process in the first embodiment, the description of the operation of each unit of the portable information terminal 200 is the operation of each unit of the navigation device 100 whose last two digits match. For example, the arithmetic processing unit 201 in the portable information terminal 200 corresponds to the arithmetic processing unit 101 in the navigation device 100.

The arithmetic processing section 201 first executes a destination setting process (step 101). This destination setting process is the same as the destination setting process described in the first embodiment,
When the portable information terminal 200 has the destination setting program 250 and the destination setting data 266, the destination (including the parking lot request and the departure date and time) selected from the destination setting data is stored in the information center. Sent to 10. on the other hand,
If there is no such program or data, the destination setting process based on the Web information described with reference to FIG. 7 is performed. In this case, a selection screen displaying keys and items for selecting necessary items, including other processes, a user list, and the like are also acquired from the information center 10 by Web information, and the selected items and data are stored in the information center 10. Will be sent to Less than,
I will explain the case where there is a program and data,
The same applies to the case of using Web information. In the case where the broadcast setting of the destination according to the present embodiment is performed, a normal departure date and time is set in the destination setting process.
The setting of the departure date and time is not necessarily required, since there is a case where the setting is made on the departure date.

Thereafter, the arithmetic processing section 201 determines whether or not “member setting” is selected from the display screen by the user (step 102). The display of the selected key may be another display such as "send to another person". If Member Setting is not Selected (Step 10
2; N), returning to the main routine by the control program 254. On the other hand, if the eye case setting is selected (Step 102; Y), the arithmetic processing unit 201 acquires the candidate list of members from the data storage area, and
6 is displayed (step 104). FIGS. 17A and 17B show an example of a display screen displayed on the display unit 206 in the present embodiment. FIG. 17A shows a destination transmission member setting screen on which a candidate list of members is displayed, and FIG. The setting screen, (c) shows a mail screen transmitted to a user whose destination has been set by another person. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7A, a user list specific to the destination setter is displayed on the destination transmission member setting screen. In other words, if the destination has been set for another person in the past, the other person has set the destination, or the other person has set the destination, or another member has set the destination, The member is registered in the data storage area 202B as a member candidate. The registered member candidate list is displayed.
FIG. 17A shows the destination transmission member setting screen.
, The user name and user ID are displayed. A number is displayed in front of each user name. By specifying this number with a numeric keypad or the like, by touching the corresponding display location, or by operating the cursor movement key, the relevant display location is highlighted and selected. For this reason, when the user name is selected, a check mark (indicated by a square) indicating that the user name has been selected is displayed in the frame on the left side of the selected user name.

In this way, the destination setting person selects a member to set a destination on the destination transmission member setting screen. If no member is displayed in the currently displayed member candidate, the same operation is performed as "0
By selecting the "next screen", other member candidates are displayed in the same manner. When selecting a new member not registered in the destination candidate's member candidate list, the user selects the "@ new member" key illustrated in FIG. 17A. The arithmetic processing unit of the portable information terminal 200 uses this “♯
When the selection of the "new member" key is detected (step 10
5; Y), a new member setting screen shown in FIG. 17B is displayed on the display unit 106 (step 106). The destination setting person specifies a new member for setting a destination on the new member setting screen. Input items for identifying a new member include the ID, name,
Although there are an e-mail address, a telephone number, and a recitation number, in the present embodiment, it is not necessary to input all of these items.
Input of at least two items, D and one other item, is required.
However, in order to perform user certification more accurately,
Four or more items or all items may be requested.
Alternatively, input of only one item may be permitted, and if the user cannot be identified with this one item, input of another item may be requested.

In the above-mentioned destination transmitting member setting screen or new member setting screen, when the destination setting person selects the "* confirm" key after selecting the destination transmitting member, the arithmetic processing unit detects this. (Step 10
7; Y), the ID of the destination transmitting member selected at the time of confirmation is transmitted to the information center 10 (step 10).
8). When a new member is set, other items input together with the ID are also transmitted. The set new member is automatically registered in the user candidate list for the destination setter.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a destination setting process of this embodiment performed in the information center. The arithmetic processing unit 14 of the information center 10 performs processing from reception monitoring of the user destination (step 31) to storage of the vehicle destination (steps 36, 38, 39). Steps 31 to 39 are the same as steps 31 to 39 of the destination determination process described with reference to FIG. After the above processing,
The arithmetic processing unit 14 checks whether or not the member ID has been transmitted together with or after the destination, and if there is a member ID (step 120; Y), the user data 50 of each member ID indicates the vehicle destination as the vehicle destination. The final destination is stored (step 121).

Then, the arithmetic processing unit 14 sets each member I
To the user D, a mail indicating that the destination has been set by another person is sent to the user data
0 and the data of the received destination and the like are automatically created and transmitted (step 122). When sending an email,
The mail address stored in the user data 50 of the ID is used. FIG. 17C illustrates an example of a mail created by the arithmetic processing unit 14. This FIG.
As exemplified in (c), the name of the destination setter is used in the part of "Takashi Takahashi" in the first line, the departure date and time is used in the date and time part of the third line, and the location of the fourth line , The destination name is used, the destination setter “Mr.” is used in the fifth line “Takahashi”, and the home data in the user data is used in the fifth line “Home”. , The departure date and time are used as the scheduled departure time in the sixth line. Further, the description below “Details” in the last line is a URL (Uniform Resource) for acquiring the target file and displaying it in the Web browser.
Loc Locators). The user who has received the mail from the information center 10 (the receiving device is the form information terminal 2
Other than 00, a personal computer, a navigation device 100, or the like may be used. ) Can specify the URL and edit the setting contents of the destination set by another person (Takashi Takahashi in FIG. 17C). For example, when another member A is to be put on the way between the set destinations, it is possible to set the home of the member A as a passing point. As described above, the data related to the destination edited for the user after designating the URL displayed in the mail is stored by the information center 10 in the edited user data 50 of the corresponding ID.

After transmitting the mail to the user of each member ID, the arithmetic processing section 14 determines whether or not a new member has been set for the destination setter (step 12).
3). Regarding whether a member is a new member or not,
The determination is made based on whether or not a member ID not included in the member candidate list stored in the user data 50 corresponding to D is received. If a new member is set (step 123; Y), the arithmetic processing unit 14 stores the name and ID of the new member in a destination candidate's member candidate list (step 124), and the control program 254.
And returns to the main routine.

With the above processing, the user whose destination is set by another person (referred to as user B) can confirm that the destination has been set by checking the mail addressed to the user. The user B turns on the ignition on the date set by the other person in the same manner as in the case where the destination is preset in the information center 10 by himself / herself, so that the destination setting confirmation processing (FIG. 9), a request / route guidance process (FIG. 12) is executed, and if the vehicle destination and the vehicle destination are different points, the portable information terminal 200 further receives a map picture of the non-vehicle route. As described above, according to the second embodiment, the destination for a plurality of members including the self is registered in the user data 50 of the information center 10 by one destination setting by one destination setter. Can be.

In the second embodiment described above, the information center 10 transmits the received member ID to each member ID shown in FIG.
Although the e-mail illustrated in (c) is transmitted, when there is a member who cannot transmit the e-mail, if there is a member who cannot transmit the e-mail and the member ID and the name, The notification may be made to the navigation device 100 (Modification 21). In the portable information terminal 200 or the like receiving this, the existence of the member who could not send the mail and the name and ID of the member are displayed on the display unit. By confirming this display, the destination setting person can notify the member that the destination has been set or that the e-mail could not be transmitted by means other than the e-mail, for example, by telephone.

In the second embodiment described above, the destination set by the other person and the destination set by the user are stored in the same area of the user 50 without discrimination. It may be stored in another area (Modification 22). In this case, when performing the destination setting confirmation processing, if the set destination is set by another person, the information center 10 sends the destination set by the user to the user who requested the destination setting confirmation. Being the earth,
It is confirmed whether the route / guidance data to the destination (vehicle destination) can be transmitted. Information center 10
Performs a route search / guidance data transmission process (FIG. 11) when a confirmation that the destination set by another person is good is transmitted from the navigation device 100.

(4) Third Embodiment Next, a third embodiment will be described. In the first embodiment described, the information center 10 searches the non-vehicle route from the vehicle destination to the final destination, and displays the map picture on the portable information terminal 20.
, The user of the portable information terminal 20 can reach the final destination by walking or the like. In the third embodiment, separately or in addition to the first embodiment, the portable information terminal 200 for which the destination is set in advance is set.
A non-vehicle route from the current position of the vehicle to the current position of the vehicle on which the navigation device 100 is mounted is searched and a map picture is transmitted to the portable information terminal 200. Note that the destination setting process performed in advance may include a case where destinations of other users described in the second embodiment are also set in advance.

FIG. 19 shows the information center 10, the navigation system 100, and the portable information terminal 2 in this embodiment.
It shows an example of the exchange of data with 00.
As shown by arrow E0 'in FIG.
00 sets the destination and the current position by the operation described in the first embodiment. To set the current position,
When the portable information terminal 200 includes a GPS receiver, a coordinate value specified by the latitude and longitude specified by the GPS receiver is set as the current position. In the case where a position measuring unit such as a GPS is not provided, an address or a telephone number of the place, which is input by a user (destination setter), is set as the current position. Further, if the portable information terminal 200 includes the destination setting data 266,
In the same manner as in the destination setting processing by the destination setting program 250, the current facility or the like is designated from the destination setting data 266, and is set as the current position. As described in the first embodiment, the destination setting program in this case specifies any facility or the like by genre or the like, and then sets any one of “set as destination”, “set as waypoint”, and “set as current position”. By selecting, the destination, the waypoint (passing point), or the current position is determined. Further, when the portable information terminal 200 sets a destination for the information center 10 via the Internet using WWW browser software as shown in FIG. To set the current position.

The portable information terminal 200 corresponds to the arrow E in FIG.
As shown by 1 ', when the destination and the current position are set by any of the above methods, the set destination, current position and ID are transmitted to the information center 10. Upon receiving the data of the destination or the like, the information center 10 determines whether or not the current position of the portable information terminal 200 is included in the received data as indicated by an arrow E2 '. The destination determination processing (FIG. 8) is executed as in the first embodiment, and the final destination and the vehicle destination are stored in the user data 50 of the corresponding ID.

On the other hand, if the current position is included in the received data, it is determined that a request for searching for a moving route to the vehicle destination has been made, and the vehicle current position is determined from the user data 50 corresponding to the received ID. And performs a route search from the received current position of the portable information terminal 200 to the current vehicle position in the non-vehicle mode. That is, the information center 10
Is a pedestrian-only road such as a pedestrian bridge or a pedestrian crossing used in non-vehicle mode search, or a means of transportation other than vehicles or walking (cable car, monorail, ropeway, train, train, ship, bus, etc.). , Taxi, moving sidewalk, etc.) from the current position to the vehicle current position using the route search data 42 including data (station name, point data, point-to-point distance, timetable, etc.) relating to a route that can be moved. Find a route. Then, the arithmetic processing unit 14 of the information center 10 according to the travel route to the searched final destination,
Using the map picture of the map picture creation data 54, a travel route based on the map picture illustrated in FIGS.
As indicated by 3 ', the created guidance data of the map picture to the vehicle destination is transmitted to the portable information terminal 200. The portable information terminal 200 that has received the map picture guides the route to the vehicle destination by the non-vehicle means by sequentially displaying the received map picture in accordance with the user's operation (E).
4 ').

The information center 1 in the third embodiment
In the case of 0, it is necessary to always recognize the current position of the vehicle. Therefore, the navigation device 100 determines the current position of the vehicle when the ignition of the vehicle is turned off.
04 and transmitted to the information center 10. The information center 10 can always recognize the current position of the vehicle by storing the transmitted current position of the vehicle in the user data of the corresponding ID.

As described above, according to the third embodiment, the user of the portable information terminal 200 sets the destination for the navigation device 100 and receives a map picture from the current position to the current position of the vehicle. It is possible to easily reach the current position of the vehicle. Since the map picture (non-vehicle moving route) up to the current position of the vehicle can be received in this way, even if the user goes to an unfamiliar place, he / she can move away from the vehicle with confidence.

In the third embodiment described above, the portable information terminal 200 transmits the current position to the information center 10 instead of the travel route search request. The information may be transmitted to the information center 10 (Modification 31). In this case, the information center executes the non-vehicle mode travel route search to the vehicle current position by receiving the travel route search request data together with the current position of the portable information terminal 200.

In the third embodiment described above, the case where the destination for the navigation device 100 is set in advance from the portable information terminal 200 has been described. Alternatively, a search may be made for a movement route in the non-vehicle mode from the current position of the portable information terminal 200 to the current position of the vehicle (Modification 32). In this case, the portable information terminal 200 transmits to the information center 10 a current position that also serves as a request for a non-vehicle movement route search to the current position and the vehicle current position or a request for a non-vehicle movement route search to the vehicle current position. . on the other hand,
If the information center 10 receives a request for searching for a non-vehicle moving route to the current position and the current position of the vehicle, or a request for searching for a non-vehicle moving route to the current position of the vehicle, the information center 10 performs a destination determination process. Without performing (FIG. 8), the non-vehicle mode movement route from the current position to the current vehicle position described above is searched, and a map picture is created and transmitted to the portable information terminal 200.

Further, a facility or point other than the current position of the vehicle may be set as a destination of the portable information terminal 200, and a travel route to this destination may be searched in the non-vehicle mode (Modification 33). In this case, the portable information terminal 200 transmits the destination, data indicating that the destination is the destination of the portable information terminal 200, the current position, and a request for a travel route search in the non-vehicle mode (the current position is Request may be shared) to the information center. The setting of the destination by the portable information terminal 200 is performed by any of the methods described in the first embodiment. In the information center 10, the destination determination process (FIG. 8)
Without searching for the non-vehicle mode movement route from the current position to the current vehicle position, creating a map picture and transmitting the map picture to the portable information terminal 200.

(5) Fourth Embodiment Next, a fourth embodiment will be described. In the first embodiment described above, when the user arrives at the vehicle destination and gets off the vehicle and walks to the destination, the vehicle (navigation device 10
0) notifies the information center 10 of the current position of the vehicle when the vehicle arrives at the vehicle destination, and based on the notification, the server transmits a simplified guide map (map picture) to the final destination to the mobile phone. However, if the vehicle's arrival point (usually the vehicle's destination) is a place where radio waves for communication do not reach, such as underground parking lots,
The navigation device 100 may not be able to notify the information center 10 of the current vehicle position and the arrival at the vehicle destination. In the fourth embodiment, when communication with the information center 10 is not possible at the final vehicle arrival point, the current position of the vehicle is transmitted to the portable information terminal 200, and after moving to a communicable point, the portable information terminal 200 , The vehicle arrival and the current vehicle position are transmitted to the information center 10.

FIG. 20 shows an example of data exchange between the information center 10, the navigation system 100, and the portable information terminal 200 in the fourth embodiment. From the portable information terminal 200 to the navigation device 100
For setting the destination of the information center 100 (arrow E0
-E2), and after the ignition of the vehicle equipped with the navigation device 100 is turned on (arrow F0), destination setting confirmation processing (arrows F1 to F4; FIGS. 9 and 10), a request for a divided route (navigation device 100), Route /
Transmission of guidance data (information center 10) (arrow F5)
To F9,...) Are the same as in the first embodiment.

When data cannot be transmitted to the information center 10 when the navigation device 100 arrives at the destination, the arithmetic processing unit of the navigation device 100 performs position measurement as shown by an arrow Fn-2 'in FIG. Part 10
The current position of the vehicle measured in step 4 is transmitted to the portable information terminal 200. The transmission of the current vehicle position is performed by infrared communication, SS
(Spread spectrum) Wireless communication such as communication, wired communication such as serial communication or parallel communication, packet switching method, or circuit switching method. Navigation device 10
In the case of 0, if the communication with the information center is based on the packet switching method, the communication with the information center 10 is unilaterally terminated when the current vehicle position is transmitted to the portable information terminal 200.

When portable information terminal 200 receives the current vehicle position from navigation device 100, portable information terminal 200 stores the received current vehicle position in data storage area 202B, as indicated by arrow Fn-1 'in FIG. Then, the user moves away from the vehicle with the portable information terminal 200 to a place where communication with the information center 10 is possible, and then the arrow Fn '
As shown in FIG.
To the current vehicle position, ID, and arrival at the vehicle destination.

On the other hand, when the information center 10 receives the current position of the vehicle, the ID, and the arrival at the destination of the vehicle from the portable information terminal, the user data 5 of the corresponding ID is received as shown by the arrow G0.
The current vehicle position is stored in 0, and a search for a moving route in the non-vehicle mode from the current vehicle position to the final destination is performed. This search for the moving route is the same as the final destination search process (FIG. 13) described in the first embodiment. Then, as shown by the arrow G1, the map picture created in the final destination search process is transmitted to the portable information terminal 200. In the information center 10, when communication with the navigation device 100 is based on the packet switching system, the portable information terminal 20
When the current vehicle position and the like are received from 0, the communication is unilaterally terminated.

In the portable information terminal 200 which has received the map picture from the information center 10 to the final destination, the map picture is displayed on the display unit 206 as shown by the arrow G2 in the same manner as in the first embodiment, thereby displaying the final destination. Guide to the ground.

FIG. 21 shows a request / route guidance process according to the fourth embodiment. As shown in FIG. 21, in the request / route guidance processing in the fourth embodiment, the processing from step 80 to step 85 is the same as in the first embodiment (see FIG. 12). When the vehicle arrives at the vehicle destination (step 85; Y), the arithmetic processing unit 101 of the navigation device 100 determines whether communication with the information center 10 is possible (step 13).
0), if communication is possible (Step 130; Y), as in the first embodiment, the fact that the vehicle has arrived at the current position and the vehicle destination is transmitted to the information center 10 (Step 86),
It returns to the main routine by the control program 154. On the other hand, when communication with the information center 10 cannot be performed,
The arithmetic processing unit 101 transmits the current vehicle position measured by the position measuring unit 104 to the portable information terminal 200, and
Forcibly terminates communication with 0 (step 131), and returns to the main routine.

As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, a current position (vehicle current position) can be obtained even with a portable information terminal not equipped with a current position detecting device such as a GPS receiving device. The current vehicle position acquired from the navigation device 100 can be used as the current position of the portable information terminal 200 in Modification 33 of the third embodiment (Modification 41). The portable information terminal 200 requests the information center 10 to provide a travel route based on a map picture from a current position (= vehicle current position) to an arbitrary destination (a destination moved by non-vehicle means).

In the third embodiment, the current position of the vehicle is transmitted from the navigation device 100 to the information center 10 when the ignition is turned off. However, the fourth embodiment can be applied to the third embodiment. (Modification 4
2). That is, when communication with the information center 10 cannot be performed when the ignition is turned off, the navigation device 10
0 transmits the current position of the vehicle to the portable information terminal 200. Then, after moving to a place where communication is possible, the user transmits the current vehicle position from portable information terminal 200 to information center 10. Thus, even when the ignition is turned off in an area where the vehicle cannot communicate, the information center 10 can store and recognize the current vehicle position.

In the fourth embodiment, the navigation device 100 transmits the current position of the vehicle to the portable information terminal 200 when the vehicle arrives at the destination of the vehicle or the like. , Every n minutes (n is a changeable natural number, etc.), the vehicle current position may be transmitted to the portable information terminal 200 at a necessary timing or in response to a user request (Modification 43). . The necessary timing is, for example, a predetermined distance (for example, 100 m,
(E.g., 200 m, 500 m, etc.), the timing of changing the course at an intersection, etc., and the timing of ignition off. In this case, the current position of the portable information terminal 200 in the modification 33 (= vehicle current position) is also used when the vehicle temporarily parks in the middle of the traveling route and goes to a specific destination (a destination to which the vehicle moves by non-vehicle means). ) Can be used. It should be noted that each of the modifications of the fourth embodiment including this modification 43 is described in the navigation device 10.
The present invention can be applied even when the route guidance by 0 is not performed (Modification 44).

(6) Fifth Embodiment Next, a fifth embodiment will be described. In the first embodiment described above, the navigation device 100 includes the display unit 106, from which the setting of the destination, the travel route for route guidance, and the current position are displayed. In the first embodiment, the mobile terminal is used to set a destination in the information center 10 and / or to receive and display a non-vehicle moving route (map picture), and to display a traveling route of the vehicle. Not used. On the other hand, in the fifth embodiment, the portable information terminal 200 is connected to the navigation device 100 by wire or wirelessly, and the navigation device 100 is connected.
And / or as a part of the display unit and the input unit.

As described above, by using the display function and / or the input function of the portable information terminal 200 as a part of the navigation device 100, the navigation device 100 can be made inexpensive or the functions can be expanded. That is, by using the portable information terminal 200 as a display device, the display device of the navigation device 100 becomes unnecessary,
In addition, by using the portable information terminal 200 as a part of the input device, the configuration of the input unit of the navigation device 100 can be simplified. The display function can be extended by using the display function of the portable information terminal 200 in the navigation device 100 having the display device.

More specifically, by using the display unit 206 of the portable information terminal 200 with the navigation device 100,
Various kinds of display data are output from the navigation device 100 and a display (display unit 206) of the portable information terminal 200 is provided.
To be displayed. For example, near the guidance target intersection (for example,
When the vehicle reaches 200), the display is switched to the intersection guide map from the previously displayed map screen, or the intersection guide map is displayed on a part of the screen. By using this, only the intersection guide map can be displayed on the display unit 206 of the portable information terminal 200 while the map screen is displayed on the display unit 106 of the navigation device 100 as it is. In addition, an in-vehicle display for the navigation device 100 (display unit 106)
Even if the user does not have the
The navigation guide map (route guide map) can be viewed only by the user. Further, various menus selectable by the navigation device 100 are displayed on the display unit 206 of the portable information terminal 200.
, The map can be viewed on the display unit 106 of the navigation device 100 even during the menu display. On the other hand, when the input unit of the portable information terminal 200 is used by the navigation device 100, a signal from the portable information terminal 200 is transmitted to the navigation device 100 by communication, so that the navigation device 100 does not need an input interface.

In the case of the fifth embodiment, the portable information terminal 2
00 and the navigation device 100 are respectively dedicated,
Alternatively, a data transmission / reception unit and a data transmission / reception buffer, which are shared by the communication control units 208 and 108, are provided. Both data transmitting and receiving units are connected by infrared communication (IrDA standard, IrTran-
Communication interfaces such as wireless communication such as P standard and the like, SS (spread spectrum) communication, and wired communication such as serial communication and parallel communication are arranged. Also, when a mobile phone is used as the mobile information terminal 200, a hands-free call is made possible, and the display unit 206
You can talk safely with hands-free even when the guidance screen is displayed. The case where the navigation device 100 according to the fifth embodiment has a route search function to a destination and has a route search program, route search data, and guidance data for that purpose will be described. Further, a case will be described in which the portable information terminal 200 of the fifth embodiment does not have a destination setting program and destination setting data, and does not have a function of independently setting a destination.

Next, the operation of the fifth embodiment will be described. FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing the operation of the destination setting process by the portable information terminal 200. The arithmetic processing unit of the portable information terminal 200 displays the mode selection screen on the display unit 2
06 (Step 141). In other words, the arithmetic processing unit 201 is a data communication menu for setting specific data communication, as illustrated in FIG. 23A, as a mode selection screen unique to each portable information terminal 200.
"Mode" key, "telephone menu" to select telephone function
A key and a “navi menu” key for selecting a function of the present embodiment are displayed on the display unit 206. If the portable information terminal 200 is a mobile phone, the "telephone menu" key and the "data communication menu" key are used in addition to the "navi menu" key. A “schedule” key, an “address book” key, and the like are displayed on the display unit 206. Although these mode selection keys are described as soft keys displayed on the screen, they may be hard keys such as switches.

Arithmetic processing section 201 of portable information terminal 200
When the navigation menu is selected on the mode selection screen (step 141; Y), an activation signal is supplied via the interface to activate the connected navigation device 100 (step 143). Then, the arithmetic processing unit 201 transmits a request signal for the navigation menu, acquires the navigation menu from the navigation device 100 (step 144), and displays the acquired navigation menu on the display unit 206 (step 145). As illustrated in FIG. 23B, the navigation menu screen is used to select various operations such as a “1. Determine destination” key, a “2. Search” key, and a “3. The key is displayed on the screen. Each of these keys is a software selectable soft key.After selecting one of the keys displayed on the screen with the scroll key, or after specifying the number displayed before each key with the numeric keypad, press the select button. When pressed, a key is selected.

When the “Destination” key is selected on the navigation menu screen (step 146; Y), the arithmetic processing section 201 transmits a destination list request signal and acquires the destination list from the navigation device 100. Then, the destination list is displayed on the display unit 206 of the portable information terminal 200 (step 148). Then, when the selection of the destination by the setter is monitored and determined (step 149; Y), the arithmetic processing unit 201 transmits the determined destination (and the passing point if selected) to the navigation device 100 ( Step 150), the navigation flag is turned on (Step 151), and the control program 254 is set.
And returns to the main routine.

FIG. 24 shows a route setting process by the navigation device 100 according to the fifth embodiment. The arithmetic processing unit 101 of the navigation device 100 includes:
It monitors the transmission of the destination from the portable information terminal 200, and when the destination is acquired (step 161; Y),
The current vehicle position is acquired from the position measuring unit 104 (step 162). Then, a traveling route from the acquired current position of the vehicle to the destination is searched for and stored in the route guidance data 160 of the data storage area 102B (step 163). When the navigation device 100 has a destination determination processing (FIG. 8) function, the vehicle destination and the final destination are determined when the destination is received from the portable information terminal 200, and FIG. In the route setting process, a route from the current vehicle position to the vehicle destination is searched. Arithmetic processing unit 101
Turns on the route setting flag indicating that the route search has been completed (step 164), and returns to the main routine by the control program 154.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing a process of transmitting route guidance data from the navigation device 100. Arithmetic processing unit 101 of navigation device 100
Confirms from the route setting flag whether or not the route search has been completed, and if the flag is on (step 171; Y),
The vehicle current position is acquired from the position measuring unit 104 (Step 172). Then, the arithmetic processing unit 101 determines whether there is guidance data to be transmitted to the portable information terminal 200,
If there is guidance data to be transmitted (step 173), the guidance data is transmitted to portable information terminal 200 (step 1).
74). The data transmitted to the portable information terminal 200 includes a current vehicle position, a map, an enlarged intersection, a traveling route, and the like.

Arithmetic processing unit 1 of navigation device 100
01 transmits timely route guidance data to the portable information terminal 200 until the vehicle arrives at the destination and the route guidance ends (step 175; N), and when the vehicle arrives at the destination and the route guidance ends ( Step 175; Y), the navigation flag is turned off, the route setting flag set in step 164 of the route setting process is turned off, and the process returns to the main routine.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing the process of portable information terminal 200 for displaying guidance data obtained from navigation device 100 on display unit 206. The arithmetic processing unit 201 of the portable information terminal 200 monitors transmission of guidance data from the navigation device 100 (step 181). When receiving the guidance data (step 181; Y), the arithmetic processing unit 201 receives the received vehicle current position,
The guidance data such as the map, the enlarged view of the intersection, and the traveling route are displayed on the screen of the display unit 206 (step 182). When the guidance data is displayed, the arithmetic processing unit 201 can easily recognize the guidance data by turning on the backlight as necessary at night or the like. Arithmetic processing unit 201
The navigation device 10 receives and displays the guidance data, and instructs the navigation device 10 to turn off the navigation flag when the vehicle arrives at the destination.
Continue from 0 to transmission (step 183; N),
When the navigation flag off instruction is received (step 183;
Y), the navigation flag is turned off (step 184), and the process returns to the main routine.

FIG. 27 shows a route guidance screen displayed in the fifth embodiment. FIG. 27 (a)
Represents an outline of a guidance screen displayed when the navigation device 200 includes the display device 206, and the vehicle position M and the traveling route L are displayed on the map screen. Then, as shown in FIG. 27B, the next vehicle position is a predetermined distance (for example, 500 m, 70 m) to the guidance intersection.
0 m, 1 km, etc.)
From 00, the distance B1 to the next guidance intersection and the arrow B2 indicating the course change direction indicating the change direction are transmitted to the portable information terminal 200 as guidance data and displayed. FIG. 27 (b)
In the example, the distance B1 and the course change direction arrow B2 are displayed so as to make a right turn 2 km ahead. When the distance to the guidance intersection is equal to or greater than the predetermined distance, as shown in FIG. 27B, the distance B1 and the course change direction arrow B2 are displayed, and the traveling route, the landmark, and the like are not displayed. When the distance to the guidance intersection becomes smaller than the predetermined distance, FIG.
As shown in the example, an enlarged intersection view in which a map screen B3 and an arrow B4 displayed along the traveling route are displayed is transmitted from the navigation device 100 to the portable information terminal 200 and displayed. Although not shown in FIG. 27C, landmarks and the like are appropriately displayed in the enlarged view of the intersection.

Next, a process in the case where a portable telephone is used as the portable information terminal 200 and there is an incoming call during route guidance will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Mobile phone (mobile information terminal 200)
The processing unit 201 monitors whether there is an incoming call, and if there is an incoming call (step 191; Y), determines whether the navigation flag is turned on (step 19).
2). When there is no incoming call (step 191; N), and when there is an incoming call but the navigation flag is off (step 19).
2; N), return to the main routine. When the navigation flag is on (step 192; Y), the portable information terminal 200 transmits the navigation device 1 including during a call.
The guidance map of the guidance data transmitted from 00 is continuously displayed without switching, and a ringtone for hands-free communication is output (step 193). Then, if the hands-free call switch is turned on or a predetermined time has elapsed after the incoming call (step 194; Y), the arithmetic processing unit 201 starts a hands-free call (step 195).
Since the portable information terminal 200 is connected to the navigation device 100 via a cable and fixed in the vehicle (fixed at a position where communication is possible in the case of wireless communication), a dedicated hands-free unit is used, or a microphone mounted on the vehicle is used. And a speaker are used as a hands-free unit. The arithmetic processing unit 201 continues the call until the hands-free call ends (step 196; N), and ends the call by selecting a call end key or the like (step 196;
Y), returning to the main routine.

In the fifth embodiment described above, the destination (including the passing point) is set and the navigation device 100 is set.
Has been described, but the mobile information terminal 20
0 is a parking lot request (when the navigation device 100 has a destination determination process (FIG. 8) function) and / or a departure date and time (a prior destination setting is performed by the navigation device 100, as in the first embodiment). May be set and transmitted to the navigation device 100 (Modification 51).

The case where the navigation device 100 according to the fifth embodiment described above has a route search function to a destination and the portable information terminal 200 does not have a single destination setting function has been described. Similar to the embodiment, the navigation device 100 may not have the route search function, and / or the portable information terminal 200 may have the sole destination setting function. For example, when the navigation device 100 does not have a route search function and performs a route search or the like at the information center 10, the portable information terminal 200 uses the set destination (in some cases, a passing point, a parking lot request, and a departure date and time).
And the ID of the navigation device 100 in the information center 10
(Modification 52). In this modified example 52, the information center 10 stores the received destination (vehicle destination)
D in the user data 50. Then, similarly to the first embodiment, a destination determination process (FIG. 8) and a destination confirmation determination process (FIGS. 9 and 10) are executed. Then information center 1
0, a travel route to the vehicle destination is searched for, and the navigation device 10 is connected via the portable information terminal 200 or directly.
Send to 0. In this case, the traveling route transmitted to the navigation device 100 may be the entire traveling route to the destination of the vehicle, and may be the same as in the first embodiment.
A split path according to a request from 0 may be used. Guidance data corresponding to the received entire travel route or divided route and the current vehicle position is transmitted from the navigation device 100 to the portable information terminal 200, and the display unit 20 of the portable information terminal 200
6 is displayed.

Further, when the destination set in advance described in the first embodiment is set for the information center 10, the set destination or the like is set regardless of the presence or absence of the route search function of the navigation device 100. 10 may be transmitted.

(7) Sixth Embodiment Next, a sixth embodiment will be described. In the sixth embodiment, for example, the information center 10 performs a location search, a route search, a travel schedule setting, and the like, and the user moves to a parking lot or the like near the destination by the guidance of the navigation device 100 mounted on the vehicle, and from there the mobile phone is moved. The present invention is applied to a system (seamless navigation system) for guiding to a destination using the information terminal 200. From the first embodiment to the fifth
In the embodiment and each modification, the navigation device 100
In the sixth embodiment, the user moves outside the vehicle together with the portable information terminal 200 in each of the embodiments and the modified examples. In this case, a problem caused by forgetting to transmit necessary data to the portable information terminal 200 is solved.

The navigation device 100 according to the sixth embodiment includes a wireless or wired communication device with the portable information terminal 200, and a position supplementing device (position supplementing means) for supplementing the position of the portable information terminal 200. . The portable information terminal 200 is a web browser software for displaying various information, a communication device with the navigation device 100,
And information center 10 by mobile communication such as a mobile phone.
And a communication control unit 208 that mediates communication between the navigation device 10 and the navigation device 10.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing a processing operation of the navigation device 100 according to the sixth embodiment for supplementing the position of the portable information terminal 200. The arithmetic processing unit 101 of the navigation device 100 monitors the portable terminal (step 201) and determines whether the portable information terminal 200 is moving from the inside of the vehicle to the outside of the vehicle (step 20).
2). That is, when the portable information terminal 200 is wirelessly connected by infrared communication or the like, the arithmetic processing unit 101 of the navigation device 100 periodically exchanges data for position confirmation with the portable information terminal 200, thereby Is calculated, and when it is more than a predetermined distance, it is recognized as "moving out of the vehicle". As this data for position confirmation, data including an identification code is transmitted and received so that both can identify each other, and the distance of the portable information terminal 200 is calculated based on the intensity of the radio wave (infrared ray) or the amount of change in the intensity. Is done. In addition to the identification code, an electric field strength and an error rate may be exchanged, and a detailed data format conforms to a data communication standard used between the two. When the portable information terminal 200 is connected to the navigation device 100 by wire for charging or power feeding, the arithmetic processing unit of the navigation device 100 detects that the wire connection has been released, and thereby “moves out of the vehicle”. Yes ".

When the movement of portable information terminal 200 from the inside of the vehicle to the outside of the vehicle is detected (step 202; Y), arithmetic processing section 101 acquires the current position from position measuring section 104 (step 203), The specific data is transmitted to the control program 200 (step 204), and the process returns to the main routine based on the control program 154. Here, the navigation device 100 wirelessly transmits the vehicle current position or the map data of the vehicle current position and the vehicle current position to the portable information terminal 200 as the specific data. In addition, according to a user's selection operation or a preset option setting,
The vehicle current position may be transmitted to the information center 200 via the portable information terminal 200.

As described above, since the portable information terminal 200 always acquires the current vehicle position automatically and stores it in the data storage area, for example, by applying this embodiment to the first embodiment, the information center 10 When the vehicle cannot communicate with the navigation device 100, the current position of the vehicle is always stored in the portable information terminal 200. Therefore, the inconvenience that the user cannot transmit the current position of the vehicle to the information center 10 after reaching a communicable place is avoided. Is done. In addition, the current position of the vehicle is automatically updated when the user leaves the vehicle.
Since the information is stored in 0, when the information center 10 requests the non-vehicle mode travel route search to the vehicle after leaving the vehicle, the stored vehicle current position is determined by the final purpose of the non-vehicle mode travel route search. The information can be transmitted to the information center 100 as a place, and even if the place is unfamiliar, the vehicle can be safely separated from the vehicle. The current position transmitted from the portable information terminal 200 to the information center 10 is set by a facility name, a telephone number, an address, and the like when the user is present.

As described above, according to the sixth embodiment, the current position of the vehicle is automatically transferred to the portable information terminal 200 by radio without any special operation by the user. The operation burden of the transfer can be reduced. In addition, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the connection is released before the data is transferred and the data cannot be transferred, which often occurs in the wired connection.

The sixth embodiment described above can be configured as follows. (A) An in-vehicle device and a portable information terminal are provided. The in-vehicle device determines whether or not the portable information terminal is going to move from the inside of the vehicle to the outside of the vehicle. Transmission means for transmitting specific data to the portable information terminal when it is determined that the portable information terminal is about to move out of the vehicle, the portable information terminal includes a storage device, and a specific information transmitted by the transmission means. A vehicle data processing system, comprising: receiving means for receiving the data of (i) and storing the data in the storage device. (B) When the distance between the portable information terminal and the vehicle exceeds a threshold value, the determination means determines that the portable information terminal is about to move from the inside of the vehicle to the outside of the vehicle. Vehicle data processing system. (C) When the portable information terminal is connected to the vehicle with a power supply cable or a data communication cable, the determination unit determines that the portable information terminal is removed from the vehicle by disconnecting the cable. The vehicle data processing system according to (A), wherein it is determined that the vehicle is going to move out of the vehicle. (D) The portable information terminal includes a processing unit that executes a specific process by using data stored in the storage device by the receiving unit (A).
The vehicle data processing system according to (B) or (C). (E) The specific data is vehicle position data, and the specific processing includes displaying a vehicle position together with a map on a screen of a portable information terminal, wherein the vehicle data processing is described in (D). system.

(F) Judgment means for judging whether or not the portable information terminal is going to move from inside the car to outside the car, and the judgment means judges that the portable information terminal is about to move from inside the car to outside the car. In this case, the vehicle-mounted data processing device further comprises a transmission unit for transmitting specific data to the portable information terminal. For example, a navigation device is applied as the in-vehicle data processing device. (G) The determining means determines that the portable information terminal is about to move from the inside of the vehicle to the outside of the vehicle when the distance between the portable information terminal and the vehicle exceeds a threshold value. In-vehicle data processing device. (H) When the portable information terminal is connected to the vehicle with a power supply cable or a data communication cable, the determination unit determines that the portable information terminal is disconnected from the vehicle by disconnecting the cable. The in-vehicle data processing device according to (F), wherein it is determined that the vehicle is going to move out of the vehicle. (I) The in-vehicle data processing device according to (F), (G) or (H), wherein the specific data is vehicle position data.

(J) A portable information terminal, comprising: a storage device; and a receiving means for receiving specific data transmitted from the on-vehicle data transmission device when moving from the inside of the vehicle to the outside of the vehicle, and storing the specific data in the storage device. . (K) The portable information terminal according to (J), further comprising processing means for executing a specific process using the data stored in the storage device by the receiving means. (L) The portable information terminal according to (K), wherein the specific processing displays a vehicle position together with a map on a screen of the portable information terminal.

(8) Seventh Embodiment Next, a seventh embodiment will be described. In the seventh embodiment, for example, the information center 10 performs a point search, a route search, a travel schedule setting, and the like, and the user moves to a parking lot or the like near the destination by the guidance of the on-board navigation device 100, and from there the mobile phone is carried. The present invention is applied to a system (seamless navigation system) for guiding to a destination using the information terminal 200. In the first embodiment, the navigation device 100 is configured to acquire data such as a preset destination from the information center 10 by turning on the ignition. However, in the seventh embodiment, the portable information terminal 200 is connected from outside the vehicle. The system detects that the user is trying to move into the vehicle or has moved, and automatically acquires destination data or the like registered in the information center 10 in advance.

The navigation device 100 according to the seventh embodiment includes a wireless or wired communication device with the portable information terminal 200, and a position supplementing device (position supplementing means) for supplementing the position of the portable information terminal 200. . The portable information terminal 200 is a web browser software for displaying various information, a communication device with the navigation device 100,
And information center 10 by mobile communication such as a mobile phone.
And a communication control unit 208 that mediates communication between the navigation device 10 and the navigation device 10. Note that the navigation device 100 of the present embodiment communicates with the information center 10 via the portable information terminal 200.
It does not include the communication control unit 108 that performs communication independently with 0.

FIG. 30 is a flowchart showing a processing operation of the navigation device 100 according to the seventh embodiment for supplementing the position of the portable information terminal 200. The arithmetic processing unit 101 of the navigation device 100 monitors the portable terminal (step 211) and determines whether or not the portable information terminal 200 is moving from outside to inside the vehicle (step 21).
2). That is, when the portable information terminal 200 is wirelessly connected by infrared communication or the like, the arithmetic processing unit 101 of the navigation device 100 periodically exchanges data for position confirmation with the portable information terminal 200, thereby Is calculated, and when the vehicle comes closer than a predetermined distance, it is recognized as “moving into the vehicle”. As this data for position confirmation, data including an identification code is transmitted and received so that both can identify each other, and the distance of the portable information terminal 200 is calculated based on the intensity of the radio wave (infrared ray) or the amount of change in the intensity. Is done. In addition to the identification code, an electric field strength and an error rate may be exchanged, and a detailed data format conforms to a data communication standard used between the two. When the portable information terminal 200 is connected to the navigation device 100 by wire for charging or power supply, the arithmetic processing unit of the navigation device 100 detects that the wired connection is connected, and thereby “moves into the car”. Yes ".

When the movement of the portable information terminal 200 from outside to inside the vehicle is detected (Step 212; Y), the arithmetic processing unit 101 acquires the set destination information from the information center 10 (Step 213). That is, the arithmetic processing unit 1
01 requests the portable information terminal 200 to acquire the set destination information from the information center 10. In response to this request, the portable information terminal 200 acquires the set destination information from the information center 10 and transmits it to the navigation device 100. The arithmetic processing unit 101 of the navigation device 100 includes:
The set destination information acquired from the information center 10 via the portable information terminal 200 is stored in the data storage area 102B, and the process returns to the main routine.

Information center 1 via portable information terminal 200
The navigation device 100 that has acquired the set destination information from 0 searches for a traveling route from the current position of the vehicle to the acquired destination, and provides traveling guidance.

As described above, according to the seventh embodiment, the target information set and stored in advance in the information center 10 can be automatically transmitted to the portable information terminal 200 by wireless without any special operation by the user. The transfer can reduce the destination setting operation burden on the user. Further, it is possible to prevent a situation in which data transfer cannot be performed due to forgetting to connect a data transfer cable or the like, which is likely to occur in a wired connection, or a connection error. Furthermore, since the communication that requires the longest time is performed when the user gets into the car, it is possible to start the traveling route guidance and the like by the navigation device 100 immediately after getting on the vehicle.

In the above-described embodiment, the navigation device 100 communicates with the information center 10 via the portable information terminal 200, and the communication control unit 108 that communicates with the information center 10 alone. Has been described, but the navigation device 100
Is a communication control unit 108 that performs communication independently with the information center 10.
(Modification 71). In this case, the arithmetic processing unit 101 of the navigation device 100
When the movement of the vehicle from 00 outside the vehicle is detected (step 2)
12; Y), the set destination information is acquired directly from the information center 10 via the communication control unit 108.

Also, in the seventh embodiment described above, the navigation device 100 obtains the set destination information from the information center, but transmits the current vehicle position and indicates the travel route to the set destination to the information center 10. , And the searched route / guidance data may be obtained from the information center 10 (modification 72). In this case, the travel route acquired by the navigation device 100 may be the entire travel route to the vehicle destination, or a split route according to a request from the navigation device 100 may be acquired as in the first embodiment.

In the seventh embodiment described above, the following configuration is possible. (A) An information center capable of transmitting specific data to the in-vehicle device and whether or not the portable information terminal is about to be brought into the vehicle from outside the vehicle, or whether or not the portable information terminal is brought into the vehicle from outside the vehicle. Determining means for determining whether the portable information terminal is moving from the outside of the vehicle to the inside of the vehicle, or when the determining means determines that the portable information terminal has been brought into the vehicle from outside the vehicle, Transmitting means for transmitting specific data from the information center to the in-vehicle device; the in-vehicle device receiving a specific data transmitted by the transmitting means and storing the specific data in the storage device; Vehicle data processing comprising: means for performing specific processing using specific data stored in the storage device by the receiving means. Stem. (B) the determining means determines that the portable information terminal is about to move from outside to inside the vehicle when the distance between the portable information terminal and the vehicle is equal to or less than a threshold value. The vehicle data processing system according to the above (2). (C) The determining means determines that the portable information terminal has been brought into the vehicle from outside the vehicle when the portable information terminal and the in-vehicle device are connected by a power supply cable or a data transmission cable. The vehicle data processing system according to (a), wherein: (D) The specific data is guidance data for guiding a vehicle to a destination, and the processing unit guides the vehicle to the destination as the specific processing. The vehicle data processing system according to the above. (E) the specific data is destination data, and includes a road data storage device storing road data for route setting; and the processing means performs road data and destination data as the specific processing. (B), (c) or (d), comprising: setting means for setting a route to a destination by using the data processing system.

(F) Storage means, determination means for determining whether the portable information terminal is about to be brought into the vehicle from outside, or determination means for determining whether the portable information terminal has been brought into the vehicle from outside the vehicle, By means, when it is determined that the portable information terminal is about to move from outside the car to the inside of the car, or when it is determined that the portable information terminal has been brought into the car from outside the car, the portable terminal receives specific data from the information center and An in-vehicle data processing device comprising: a receiving unit that stores in a storage unit; and a processing unit that executes a specific process using specific data stored in the storage device. For example, a navigation device is used as the in-vehicle data processing device. (G) When the distance between the portable information terminal and the vehicle is equal to or less than a threshold value, the determination unit determines that the portable information terminal is moving from outside the vehicle to inside the vehicle. 2.) An in-vehicle data processing device according to (1). (H) when the portable information terminal is connected with a power supply cable or a data transmission cable,
The in-vehicle data processing device according to (f), wherein it is determined that the portable information terminal has been brought into the vehicle from outside the vehicle. (I) the specific data is guidance data for guiding a vehicle to a destination, and the processing means guides the vehicle to the destination as the specific processing (f). The vehicle-mounted data processing device according to (g) or (h). (J) The specific data is destination data, and includes a road data storage device storing road data for setting a route. The processing means performs road data and destination data as the specific processing. (F), (g), (h) or (i), comprising: a setting unit for setting a route to a destination by using the data processing apparatus.

In each of the embodiments and modifications described above,
Destination setting confirmation processing by turning on ignition (Fig. 9)
However, the destination setting confirmation process may be performed when the navigation device 100 is turned on.

The navigation system of the present invention can be applied to a system for transmitting and receiving data through a unique communication network, such as a taxi, a bus, a transportation vehicle, and a center for distributing them.

In each of the embodiments and the modified examples described above, the case where the data of the destination is transmitted when the destination is set in the information center 10 has been described. The operator may set the destination in the corresponding user data 50 of the information center 10 by a conversation with the operator of the information center 10. Further, the destination or waypoint transmitted from the portable information terminal 200 to the information center 10 may be a telephone number, Japanese syllabary of an address, a genre, a facility name, or a postal code. Alternatively, the destination or the waypoint may be transmitted to the center by voice, the transmitted voice may be recognized by the center, and the recognition result may be registered as the destination or waypoint.

In each of the embodiments and the modified examples described above, when the navigation device and the portable information terminal are connected by the data communication cable, the user can operate the portable information terminal from the portable information terminal despite the communication. There is a possibility that the data communication cable may be disconnected or may be disconnected due to contact. Therefore, when communication is performed via the data communication cable, means for preventing the data communication cable from being detached from the portable information terminal may be provided. For example, in the connector of the data communication cable,
By inserting this connector itself into the socket of the portable information terminal, it engages with the portable information terminal, and in this engaged state,
Two claws are provided, which are elastically deformed and disengaged by being brought close to each other by a user. An elliptical cam whose rotation is controlled by a motor is provided between the two claws. During the data communication, the rotation of the motor is controlled so that the long sides of the elliptical cams abut against the claws so that the cams are not brought close to each other even by the user's operation. On the other hand, when data communication is not being performed, the rotation of the motor is controlled so that the short side of the ellipse of the cam faces each of the claws.
The user can perform a proximity operation on the two nails. In addition, a light emitting element such as an LED is embedded in the connector of the data communication cable, and does not emit light when data communication is not being performed. On the other hand, when data communication is being performed, this light emitting element blinks and lights up. By doing so, the user may be notified that data communication is in progress. Further, a display color may be changed between when data communication is not being performed and when data communication is being performed using a two-color LED or the like.

Although the embodiments and the modified examples have been described above, the embodiments and the modified examples can perform the processing independently, but can be combined with the other embodiments and the modified examples, In addition, it is possible to add to a modification, or to replace the corresponding part of another embodiment and a modification.

[0164]

According to the present invention, specific data such as a destination and a traveling route can be immediately obtained by turning on the ignition. Also, setting information such as a destination for another navigation device can be set. Also, immediately after reaching the vehicle destination, the final destination or map data to the final destination can be acquired. Further, even if the vehicle position is unknown, it is possible to acquire a map or travel route data up to the vehicle position using the portable information terminal. Further, even when the arrival point of the vehicle is a point where communication is not possible, it is possible to notify the information center of the arrival position or arrival using the portable information terminal.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a navigation system according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 shows an information center in a navigation system;
It is a block diagram of a navigation apparatus and a portable information terminal.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing search route data in an information center.

FIG. 4 conceptually shows user data in an information center.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a typical example of data exchange between an information center, a navigation system, and a portable information terminal.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a search path in an information center and a state of segment division.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a process when a destination is set to an information center via the Internet by a WWW browser software in a portable information terminal having no destination setting program and the like.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a destination determination process performed in an information center when a destination and an ID are transmitted from a portable information terminal or a navigation device.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a destination setting confirmation process in the navigation device when the ignition is turned on.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a destination setting confirmation process in the information center.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a route search / guidance data transmission process on the information center side that divides a travel route searched for a vehicle destination into predetermined units and transmits the divided data.

FIG. 12 shows a request for a navigation device that provides route guidance to a vehicle destination while sequentially requesting transmission of divided routes.
It is a flowchart of a route guidance process.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an operation of a final destination search process in the information center.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram exemplifying a map picture created at an information center to a final destination movable only by walking.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram exemplifying a map picture created by an information center when moving to a final destination using non-vehicle means such as a train other than walking.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a destination transmission member setting process executed in the portable information terminal and the navigation device in the second embodiment.

FIG. 17 shows an example of a display screen displayed on the display unit in the second embodiment, where (a) shows a destination transmission member setting screen on which a candidate list of members is displayed;
(B) shows a new member setting screen, and (c) shows a mail screen transmitted to a user whose destination has been set by another person.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating a destination setting process of the information center in the second embodiment.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of data exchange between an information center, a navigation system, and a portable information terminal in the third embodiment.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of data exchange between an information center, a navigation system, and a portable information terminal according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating a request / route guidance process according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a destination setting process by the portable information terminal according to the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a display screen of the portable information terminal in the destination setting process of FIG. 22;

FIG. 24 is a flowchart illustrating a route setting process by the navigation device according to the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart illustrating a process of transmitting route guidance data from the navigation device in the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart illustrating a process of a portable information terminal that displays guidance data acquired from a navigation device on a display unit in a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 27 is an explanatory diagram showing a route guidance screen displayed in the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 28 is a flowchart illustrating a process when a mobile phone is used as a mobile information terminal and there is an incoming call during route guidance.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart illustrating a processing operation in which the navigation device according to the sixth embodiment supplements the position of the portable information terminal.

FIG. 30 is a flowchart illustrating a processing operation in which the navigation device according to the seventh embodiment supplements the position of the portable information terminal.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 information center 12 communication control unit 14 arithmetic processing unit 18 memory 20 route search program 22 segment processing program 24 guidance data extraction program 25 destination determination program 26 system control program 27 required road length data 28 search route data 29 extraction guidance data 40 database 42 Route search data 44 Guidance data 46 Communication area data 48 Destination setting data 50 User data 52 Map picture creation data 70 External information collection unit 100 In-vehicle navigation device 101 Arithmetic processing unit 102 Memory 102A Program storage area 102B Data storage area 104 Position measuring unit 105 Input unit 106 Display unit 107 Audio output unit 108 Communication control unit 142 Destination setting confirmation program 144 Destination setting program 150 Route guidance program 152 Data request program 154 Control program 160 Route / guidance data 161 Vehicle destination and final destination data 162 ID data 164 Vehicle position data 166 Destination setting data 168 Requested road length data 200 Mobile information terminal 201 Arithmetic processing unit 202 Memory 202A Program storage area 202B Data storage area 204 Position measurement unit 205 Input unit 206 Display unit 208 Communication control unit 250 Destination setting program 252 Non-vehicle route display program 254 Control program 260 Route / guidance data 262 ID data 266 Destination setting Data

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Takashi Sugawara 2-19-12 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Inside Equos Research Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Satoshi Kitano 2-19 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo No. 12 Inside Equos Research Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Yamakawa 2--19-2 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo (72) Inventor Shoji Yokoyama 2-chome Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo No. 19-12 F-term in Equos Research, Inc. (reference) 2F029 AA02 AA03 AA04 AA07 AB05 AB13 AC06 AC13 AC16 AC18 5H180 AA01 AA14 AA21 AA25 AA27 BB05 CC02 CC09 CC12 FF01 FF13 FF22 FF25 FF32 FF38

Claims (23)

[Claims] 1. A detection means for detecting ignition on of a vehicle, and a confirmation means for confirming the presence or absence of setting information preset in an information center when the detection means detects ignition on; Receiving means for receiving specific data transmitted from the information center based on confirmation of the means, and specific processing means for performing specific processing based on the specific data received by the receiving means. Navigation device. 2. A detecting means for detecting ignition on of a vehicle, and a confirming means for confirming whether or not there is setting information registered to the information center when the ignition on is detected by the detecting means. Acquiring means for acquiring the setting information from the information center when the confirming means confirms that there is setting information registered for itself; identifying processing means for performing identifying processing based on the setting information acquired by the acquiring means A navigation device comprising: 3. The setting information registered to the self is:
The destination information for setting a destination, wherein the identification processing unit searches for a travel route to a destination set by the destination information acquired by the acquisition unit, or provides guidance of the found travel route. 3. The navigation device according to claim 2, wherein the navigation device performs the processing. 4. The setting information registered to the self is:
The navigation device according to claim 2, wherein the specific processing unit performs guidance based on the travel route guidance information acquired by the acquisition unit as the identification process. 5. The setting information according to claim 1, wherein the setting information is setting information transmitted from an information processing device such as a portable information terminal, a personal computer, and a navigation device. The navigation device according to claim 4. 6. An arrival judging means for judging whether or not the vehicle has arrived at the destination, and when the arrival judging means judges that the vehicle has arrived at the destination, the information center is notified of the arrival at the destination and the current vehicle position. The navigation device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising: destination arrival transmitting means for transmitting the information. 7. The arrival determining means determines that the vehicle has arrived at the destination when the current position of the vehicle coincides with the destination or when the distance between the current position of the vehicle and the destination is equal to or less than a predetermined distance. The navigation device according to claim 6, wherein: 8. When a vehicle arrives at a vehicle destination and cannot communicate with the information center at the vehicle destination,
The navigation device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the current position of the vehicle is transmitted to the portable information terminal. 9. A setting information receiving means for receiving setting information transmitted from an information processing device such as a portable information terminal, a personal computer, and a navigation device; Setting information storage means for storing setting information; and a request from the navigation device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 for a confirmation request for the presence or absence of setting information registered for itself. A confirmation unit for confirming whether or not the setting information is stored in the setting information storage unit, based on the confirmation unit that the setting information for the navigation device that has requested the confirmation is stored. An information center for transmitting the setting information to the navigation device when the setting is performed. 10. The information processing apparatus, the setting information storage area in the setting information storage means, and the navigation device are associated with each other by an ID for each user, and the setting information storage means is the setting information receiving means. When the received content includes a setting request for another user, the received setting information is stored in a storage area of the setting information storage means corresponding to the requested ID of the other user. 9. The information center according to 9. 11. The information center according to claim 9, wherein the setting information is destination information for setting a destination. 12. When the received setting information is stored in the storage area of the setting information storage means corresponding to the ID of another requested user by the setting information storage means, the other user is informed. 11. The information center according to claim 10, further comprising a notifying means for notifying. 13. When the sender of the setting information is different from the specific destination, a notifying means for notifying the specific destination of the registration of the setting information or the content of the setting information is provided. The information center according to claim 9, comprising: 14. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the notifying unit notifies the other user of the notification by e-mail, facsimile, data communication, or voice communication using voice data synthesized by voice. Information center. 15. The setting information receiving means receives destination information for setting a destination as the setting information, and determines whether or not the destination set by the destination information is a point reachable by a vehicle. Vehicle arrival determining means for determining, and when the destination is determined to be a point that cannot be reached by a vehicle, a point that can be reached by a vehicle around the destination is set as a vehicle destination. 15. The vehicle destination setting device according to claim 9, wherein the transmitting unit transmits vehicle destination information of the vehicle destination to the navigation device. 16. The information center according to claim. 16. Destination information receiving means for receiving destination information transmitted from an information processing device such as a portable information terminal, a personal computer, and a navigation device, and a destination information received by the destination information receiving means. Vehicle arrival determining means for determining whether or not the set destination is a point that can be reached by a vehicle; and when the vehicle arrival determining means determines that the destination is a point that cannot be reached by a vehicle, the destination Vehicle destination setting means for setting, as a vehicle destination, a point reachable by a vehicle around the vehicle, and non-vehicle movement other than the own vehicle from the vehicle destination set by the vehicle destination setting means to the destination Non-vehicle moving route searching means for searching for a moving route to arrive by means, and information of the moving route searched by the non-vehicle moving route searching means to the portable information terminal. Information center, characterized by comprising a dynamic path transmission means. 17. A destination arrival receiving means for receiving destination arrival information and a current vehicle position transmitted from a navigation device, wherein the travel route transmitting means includes a current vehicle position received by the destination arrival information receiving means. 16. The information center according to claim 15, wherein the travel route is transmitted to a portable information terminal when is a vehicle destination set by the vehicle destination setting means. 18. The non-vehicle moving means is at least one of a public vehicle such as a taxi and a bus, a cable car, a monorail, a ropeway, a train, a train, a ship, a moving walkway, and a walk. The information center according to claim 15, wherein: 19. A vehicle current position storing means for receiving and storing a vehicle current position from a navigation device, a portable information terminal position receiving means for receiving a current position from a portable information terminal, Non-vehicle moving route searching means for searching for a moving route for arriving from a current position to the vehicle current position stored in the vehicle current position storing means by non-vehicle moving means other than a vehicle; An information center for transmitting the travel route searched by the means to the portable information terminal. 20. A detection means for detecting ignition on of a vehicle, a confirmation means for confirming the presence or absence of setting information preset in an information center when the ignition on is detected by the detection means, and the confirmation means A navigation device comprising: receiving means for receiving specific data transmitted from the information center based on confirmation of the means; and specific processing means for performing specific processing based on the specific data received by the receiving means. An information terminal, a personal computer, and setting information receiving means for receiving setting information transmitted from an information processing device such as the navigation device; setting information storing means for storing the setting information received by the setting information receiving means;
A confirmation unit for confirming whether or not the setting information is stored in the setting information storage unit based on a confirmation request from the navigation device, and a specific data when the storage of the setting information is confirmed by the confirmation unit. And an information center having specific data transmission means for transmitting the information to the navigation device. 21. The guidance system according to claim 20, wherein the setting information is destination information, and the specific data is destination information or travel route guidance information. 22. A route transmitting device provided outside a portable information terminal, wherein a route from a vehicle destination to a final destination is transmitted to the portable information terminal before a vehicle reaches the vehicle destination. A route transmitting device comprising: 23. A route transmitting device provided outside a portable information terminal, wherein a route from a vehicle destination to a final destination is transmitted to the portable information terminal when a vehicle reaches the vehicle destination. A route transmitting device comprising: