JP2001201352A - Mobile terminal device, communication center device, and positional information providing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To sufficiently exercise navigation functions using a small portable terminal. SOLUTION: The communication center device 15 is provided with functions provided in a navigation device such as signal processing of positional information and moving speed, data base retainment for maps and addresses, route search, and vocal guidance, and by communicating with the communication center device 15 through a portable telephone or a PHS 1, signal processing and a data amount of a terminal device main body 7 of the mobile terminal device side can be substantially reduced for enabling reduction of size and weight of the mobile terminal device.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mobile terminal device for obtaining location information, a communication center device, and a location information providing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an apparatus for obtaining position information and map information includes an in-vehicle navigation apparatus. This in-vehicle navigation apparatus includes an own-vehicle position calculating means for calculating an own-vehicle position and peripheral facilities. It is equipped with a peripheral facility search means for searching and a route search means for searching for a route to the destination. The current position is calculated from position information data from GPS satellites and vehicle speed sensors, and a map of the surrounding area is displayed on a monitor screen. To be displayed. In addition, it is a device that can guide the route to the destination by voice, and can also obtain accident and traffic congestion information by VICS information, and supports driving with various functions. In recent years, portable navigation terminals have begun to appear. This is a device that incorporates a monitor, map information, a GPS receiver, and a GPS antenna in a palm-sized device, does not require installation work like an in-vehicle navigation device, and is easy to carry because it is a palm-sized device. It is very convenient because it can be used while walking at a travel destination, regardless of where it is used.

[0003]

However, the navigation device described in the above-mentioned prior art is very convenient because various functions can be used. Some functions were required. In addition, portable navigation devices have a problem in that if they include detailed map data in order to store the map data in a storage device such as a hard disk, the capacity will be insufficient, and if the processing speed is increased or the storage capacity is increased, the price will increase. there were.

The present invention solves such a problem. The mobile terminal is divided into a mobile terminal device and a center device, and a signal processing function inherent in navigation is provided on the center device side. An object of the present invention is to provide a mobile terminal device, a communication center device, and a position information providing device in which the processing functions of the device are reduced.

[0005]

In order to solve the above problems, a mobile terminal device according to the present invention transmits a GPS receiving means for obtaining latitude and longitude information from a GPS satellite to a communication center. A communication means for receiving data including map information and location information from the communication center; and an information providing means for providing information on map information and location information based on the data received from the communication center. Have. With this configuration, the processing function on the mobile terminal device side can be simplified and limited to reception of map image data from the communication center device, so that the mobile terminal device can be reduced in size, weight, and cost. The information to be provided includes not only the screen display but also voice guidance and the like.

[0006] The communication center device of the present invention may include at least one of map data, audio data, and image data.
Storage means for storing one set of data, wireless communication means for transmitting and receiving data to and from the mobile terminal device, and information relating to corresponding map information and position information from data including latitude and longitude information received from the mobile terminal device. And a signal processing means for generating the signal. With this configuration, the processing on the mobile terminal side can be reduced by placing the processing functions and map data necessary for the navigation device in the communication center device. In addition, by centrally managing databases such as map data and address data on the communication center device side, the user does not need to purchase a new map disk or the like, and anyone can use the latest map information.

The mobile terminal device of the present invention transmits and receives data to and from the communication center via a mobile phone line or a PHS line. The mobile terminal device itself does not require a line control function. Small and lightweight mobile terminal,
It will be possible to reduce the price.

Further, the mobile terminal device of the present invention includes means for acquiring azimuth information and distance information from a device of a vehicle on which the user of the mobile terminal device rides, and transmits the acquired azimuth information and distance information to the communication center. This is transmitted to the device, and more detailed information for specifying the position information can be obtained.

Further, the communication center apparatus of the present invention corrects the position information based on the azimuth information and the distance information received from the mobile terminal apparatus, and obtains more detailed information for specifying the position information. Will be done.

[0010] Further, the position information providing apparatus of the present invention is a GPS information providing apparatus, comprising:
Means for acquiring latitude and longitude information from the S satellite, means for transmitting the obtained latitude and longitude information to a communication center via a mobile phone line or a PHS line, and data including map information and position information from the communication center to the mobile phone. A mobile terminal device having means for receiving information via a line or a PHS line, means for displaying map information and position information based on data received from the communication center, and storing map data, voice data and image data Storage means, wireless communication means for transmitting and receiving data to and from the mobile terminal device, and a signal for generating information relating to corresponding map information and position information from data including latitude and longitude information received from the mobile terminal device. And a communication center device having processing means.
With this configuration, the processing function on the mobile terminal device side can be simplified and limited to reception of map image data from the communication center device, so that the mobile terminal device can be reduced in size, weight, and cost.

Further, in the position information providing device according to the present invention, the mobile terminal device may be arranged such that, when the latitude / longitude information, the azimuth information and / or the distance information changes, the changed latitude / longitude information;
Orientation information and / or distance information, or the difference between the latitude and longitude information before the change, the orientation information and / or the distance information is transmitted to the communication center, and the communication center transmits the map information and the position based on the received data. Updates information related to information and transmits the information to the mobile terminal device.If there is a change in the current position, the mobile terminal device is connected to the communication center device to transmit position information update data from the mobile terminal device side or from the communication center. Since the map image data is transmitted, the number of connections with the communication center device can be reduced to reduce the communication fee, and a system such as a packet switching service that is charged according to the amount of data can also be used.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a location information providing device, wherein FIG. 1A shows a configuration on a mobile terminal device side, and FIG. 1B shows a configuration on a communication center device side. In FIG. 1A, a mobile phone (or PHS) 1
Connects the terminal device body 7 and the communication center device 15 to transmit and receive data. The azimuth sensor 2 detects the traveling azimuth of the vehicle using a geomagnetic sensor or an optical gyro. The distance sensor 3 generates a pulse corresponding to the number of rotations of the wheels of the vehicle, and determines the traveling distance by integrating the vehicle speed pulse. The display 4 is a liquid crystal display device for displaying a map, a current position, a direction, an operation menu, and the like, and has a touch panel for operation input. The GPS receiver 5 obtains its current position (latitude / longitude) by receiving and calculating radio waves transmitted from a plurality of satellites. The GPS antenna 6 is an antenna for receiving GPS radio waves. The terminal device main body 7 is a main body of the mobile terminal device, and has a CPU (central processing unit) 8.
And a communication interface 9. CPU 8 is a GP
The latitude and longitude data received by the S receiver 5 is transmitted to the communication center device side, and the communication control device 8A that receives map image data and the like from the communication center device and processes signals from the direction sensor 2 and the distance sensor 3 are processed. Sensor signal processing means 8B
And The communication interface 9 includes a CPU 8
And communication with the display 4 and the GP5 receiver 5.

FIG. 1B shows the configuration of a communication center device 15, which includes a communication antenna 11 and a communication control device 12.
This enables communication with the mobile terminal device. The storage means 13 includes a map data storage device 13A storing map data necessary for the navigation function, an address data storage device 13B storing address data, and a voice data storage device 13C storing voice guidance and various messages. Have. The CPU (central processing unit) 14 includes a current position calculating unit 14A that calculates a current position based on data from the mobile terminal device, a route searching unit 14B that searches for a route to a destination that the mobile terminal user aims at, An address / facility search means 14C is provided for the mobile terminal user to search surrounding facilities, search for addresses, and the like.

The terminal device body 7 can be carried anywhere in the palm size, and the display 4 and the G
Both the configuration in which the PS receiver 5 and the antenna 6 are mounted on the vehicle and the configuration in which the PS receiver 5 and the antenna 6 are incorporated in the terminal device main body 7 are possible. FIG. 2 is a front view showing the appearance of the terminal device body 7 in the latter case. A housing 21 has a GPS antenna 22 for receiving GPS radio waves.
And a monitor unit 23 for displaying a map of the current position of the terminal, etc.
And an operation panel unit 24. A mobile phone (or PHS) 25 for communicating with a communication center is connected to the housing 21. Further, the housing 21 is used to input signals from a direction sensor and a distance sensor attached to the vehicle. A signal line may be connected.

Next, the operation of the position information providing apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. On the mobile terminal device side, a terminal device main body 7 held by an occupant in the vehicle
Obtains the latitude / longitude information of the position where the vehicle is located from the GPS satellites via the antenna 6 and the GPS receiver 5, and, based on the signals from the direction sensor 2 and the distance sensor 3, the sensor signal processing means 8 </ b> B Respectively, and the communication control device 8A converts it into a digital radio signal together with its own ID number, thereby obtaining a mobile phone (P
HS) 1 to the communication center device 15 by radio. In addition, a destination search or an address /
When there is a request for facility search, the request is transmitted to the communication center device 15. In the communication center device 15,
Based on data received from the mobile terminal device through the antenna 11 and the communication control device 12, the current position calculating means 14
A calculates position coordinates from the latitude and longitude information to generate position information, reads the corresponding map data from the map data storage device 13A, reads voice guidance data such as an intersection from the voice data storage device 13C, and communicates with each other. Radio transmission is performed to the mobile terminal device via the control device 12 and the antenna 11. If there is a request for destination search, the route search means 14B calculates a recommended route from the current position to the destination, and if there is an address / facility search request, the address / facility search means 14C Searches for the requested address / facility and transmits the data to the mobile terminal device. In the mobile terminal device, the position data and map data received via the mobile phone (PHS) 1 and, if necessary, the recommended route to the destination and the address / facility are displayed on the display 4, and voice guidance data is supplied from an attached speaker. Is output by voice.

Next, an embodiment of the position information providing device according to the present embodiment will be described. In FIG. 3, M1
And M2 are users of the mobile terminal device, Ml is a user in a vehicle, and M2 is a user on foot. This M
When the position information (latitude and longitude) of 1 or M2 changes,
The difference between the latitude and longitude information or the position information transmitted last time is transmitted to the communication center C (T1, T2). The communication center C receives the position information data from the mobile terminal user Ml or M2, performs an arithmetic process on the latitude / longitude information of the M1 or M2, the moving speed, and the like, and transmits the peripheral map image data to the terminal M1 or M2. (R1, R2).

In FIG. 4A, M is the current position of the mobile terminal user, and P1 is a peripheral map displayed on the display. As shown in FIG. 4A, when the current position M approaches the screen edge of the display screen P1 while moving, the mobile terminal device connects to the communication center device using a mobile phone or a PHS line. , And transmits the latitude and longitude information from the GPS receiver or the movement difference data from the previously transmitted latitude and longitude information to the communication center device. In the communication center device, as shown in FIG. 4B, map data P2, which is a continuation of the map data of P1, is created by arithmetic processing based on the position information from the mobile terminal device and transmitted to the mobile terminal device. . Accordingly, the display of the mobile terminal device is changed from P1 surrounded by a broken line to P2 surrounded by a solid line.
The scrolled map is displayed.

In FIG. 5, the mobile terminal user is N
1, N2, N3. .・ Communication center C as it increases
Is busy. Therefore, there is a possibility that the processing for each mobile terminal device cannot be made in time. In that case, the interval at which the mobile terminal device connects to the communication center device and transmits the location update information is lengthened according to the number of mobile terminal users. Alternatively, the interval at which the communication center device transmits the next map data to the mobile terminal device is increased. That is, as the number of mobile terminal users increases, the mobile terminal device does not transmit the update data of the position information unless the current position changes significantly. Alternatively, the communication center device does not transmit image data of map information to the mobile terminal device.

When the number of mobile terminal users is large, as another method, the communication center device is surrounded by a bold line around the current position M of the mobile terminal device user displayed on the display as shown in FIG. By transmitting the surrounding map image data PA wider than the map data P to the mobile terminal device in advance, even if the mobile terminal user moves a little distance, the mobile terminal user can reconnect to the communication center device and relocate. There is no need to update data, and the number of line connections with the mobile terminal device can be reduced.

[0020]

As is apparent from the above embodiment, the present invention provides a navigation device for processing signals such as position information and moving speed, maintaining a database of maps, addresses, facilities, etc., and further searching for routes and providing voice guidance. By providing the communication center device with the functions of, the signal processing and data volume on the mobile terminal device side can be greatly reduced,
The mobile terminal device can be reduced in size and weight, and can be carried and used in any place. Also, the communication fee with the communication center device is not always connected, but the connection cost is reduced by connecting the communication line and sending and receiving data only when updated map data etc. is needed due to changes in location information. There is an effect that can be cheap. Further, the present invention is also effective for the use of a packet switching service or the like charged based on the amount of communication data. Furthermore, since the mobile terminal device does not need to be updated frequently in a usage method in which the positional information changes little, such as when the mobile terminal device is used while walking,
There is no need to store a large amount of data such as conventional map information in the mobile terminal device, and even if the size is sufficiently reduced, the mobile terminal device can be used as a location information terminal.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a mobile terminal device and a communication center device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external front view showing an example of the mobile terminal device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing an example of an embodiment according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a screen display example according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an embodiment in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a screen display example according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 mobile phone (or PHS) 2 direction sensor 3 distance sensor 4 monitor 5 GPS receiver 6 GPS antenna 7 terminal device body 8 CPU (terminal side) 8A communication control device 8B sensor signal processing means 9 communication interface 11 communication antenna 12 communication Control device 13 Storage device 14 CPU (center side) 15 Communication center device

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. GP for obtaining latitude and longitude information from GPS satellites
S receiving means, communication means for transmitting the obtained latitude and longitude information to the communication center, and receiving data including map information and position information from the communication center, and map information based on the data received from the communication center. And a information providing means for providing information on position information. 2. Storage means for storing at least one of map data, audio data, and image data,
Wireless communication means for transmitting and receiving data to and from a mobile terminal device, and signal processing means for generating information on corresponding map information and position information from data including latitude and longitude information received from the mobile terminal device. Communication center equipment. 3. The mobile terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the mobile terminal device performs transmission and reception with the communication center via a mobile phone line or a PHS line. 4. The communication terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising: means for acquiring direction information and distance information from a device of a vehicle on which a user of the mobile terminal device rides, and transmitting the acquired direction information and distance information to the communication center device. Or the mobile terminal device according to 3. 5. The communication center device according to claim 2, wherein the position information is corrected based on the direction information and the distance information received from the mobile terminal device. 6. A means for obtaining latitude / longitude information from a GPS satellite, and transmitting the obtained latitude / longitude information to a mobile phone line or P
Means for transmitting to the communication center via the HS line, means for receiving data including map information and location information from the communication center via the mobile phone line or PHS line, and map information and data based on the data received from the communication center. A mobile terminal device having means for displaying information related to position information, a storage device storing map data, voice data, and image data; a wireless communication device for transmitting and receiving data to and from the mobile terminal device; And a signal processing unit for generating information relating to the corresponding map information and position information from the data including the latitude and longitude information received from the mobile terminal device. 7. The mobile terminal device, when the latitude and longitude information, the direction information and / or the distance information changes, the changed latitude and longitude information, the direction information and / or the distance information, or the latitude and longitude information before the change, A difference between the direction information and the distance information is transmitted to the communication center, and the communication center updates information on the map information and the position information based on the received data and transmits the updated information to the mobile terminal device. 6. The position information providing device according to 6.