JP2002062155A - Car navigation system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a car navigation system in which selection of a communication function, start of communication and connection of communication can be carried out by a simple operation. SOLUTION: The car navigation system having a communication function of character information or image information through connection with a portable telephone 9, e.g. a PHS telephone or a digital portable telephone, comprises a means 21 for making a decision whether a conformable portable telephone is connected or not, by detecting the type of a connected portable telephone and making a decision whether provider connection is set or not when a specified push button is depressed; and an automatic connection means 22 for automatically calling an access point under specified conditions through the portable telephone when a decision is made that a conformable portable telephone is connected and provider connection is set and making a connection with internet through a provider.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a car navigation apparatus to which a portable telephone such as a PHS telephone or a digital portable telephone is connected and which has a function of communicating character information and image information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An outline of the operation of a conventional car navigation device which realizes a communication function by connecting a portable telephone will be described.

In a conventional car navigation apparatus compatible with a communication function, a separate communication unit is connected to a car navigation body, a portable telephone is connected to the communication unit, and an operation mode is set to a communication state. It was necessary to select "Communication" and select a command such as "Connect" from the submenu in it.
Each operation required a plurality of steps, such as selecting a command on the screen and pressing an enter key instead of a one-touch button.

[0004]

As described above, in a conventional car navigation apparatus which realizes a communication function by connecting a portable telephone, it is difficult to actually use the communication function. It is necessary to search from a menu in a deep hierarchy before arriving, and there is a problem that the operation is complicated.

In this car navigation device, it is required that selection of a communication function, activation of communication, and connection of communication be easy without performing complicated operations.

An object of the present invention is to provide a car navigation apparatus capable of selecting a communication function, starting communication, and connecting communication with a simple operation in order to satisfy this demand.

[0007]

In order to solve this problem, a car navigation device according to the present invention is provided with a PHS telephone.
A car navigation device having a communication function of character information and image information to which a portable telephone such as a digital portable telephone is connected, wherein a suitable portable telephone is connected by detecting the type of the connected portable telephone. And a determination means for determining whether or not a provider connection is set when a predetermined push button is pressed, and a compatible portable telephone is connected and the provider connection is set. Automatic connection means for automatically calling an access point under predetermined conditions through a portable telephone when the determination means determines that the connection has been established, and connecting to the Internet via a provider.

As a result, a car navigation device can be obtained in which a communication function can be selected, communication can be started, and communication can be connected with a simple operation.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A car navigation device according to a first aspect of the present invention is a car navigation device to which a portable telephone such as a PHS telephone or a digital portable telephone is connected and has a communication function of character information and image information. Then, by detecting the type of the connected mobile phone, it is determined whether or not a compatible mobile phone is connected, and whether or not the provider connection is set when a predetermined push button is pressed. When the determining means determines that the compatible portable telephone is connected and the setting of the provider connection is performed, an automatic call is made to the access point under predetermined conditions via the portable telephone. And automatic connection means for connecting to the Internet via a provider.

With this configuration, when a compatible portable telephone is connected and a predetermined push button is pressed to set provider connection, each portable telephone is set according to the type of the connected portable telephone. Automatically enters the communication function mode corresponding to the type, the communication program is started, and the connection is automatically started.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1A is a block diagram showing a car navigation apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing an arithmetic unit, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the car navigation device of FIG. 1, and FIG.
FIG. 3A is a panel diagram illustrating a lower portion of a panel of the remote controller for external operation, and FIG. 3B is a panel diagram illustrating a panel of the car navigation body 11.

In FIG. 1A, reference numeral 1 denotes an operation input unit having keys for performing various operations, 2 denotes a central processing unit for controlling the entire operation, and 3 denotes a map supplied from the outside in the form of a disk or the like. A map recording medium for recording information, a GPS 4 for inputting position information indicating a current position from an antenna 5 at any time
A ROM section for storing menu screens and programs summarizing communication-related operation commands, various setting values, screen display characters, and the like; and 7, a list of telephone numbers of communication partners input from the operation input section 1; A RAM unit for storing data such as various user setting values and external input information, and deleting the stored data as necessary; 8 a display device for displaying image data processed by the central processing unit 2 as needed; Is a portable telephone such as a PHS, a digital portable telephone, etc., 10 is a communication interface unit as a connection interface unit of the portable telephone 9, 11 is constituent elements 1 to 8,
10 is a car navigation body composed of 10 (components excluding the mobile phone 9). In FIG. 1 (b), a button 21 detects the type of the connected mobile phone 9 to determine whether or not a compatible mobile phone is connected, and determines a predetermined push button (to be described later, an Internet push button). 16, see FIG. 3). A determination means 22 determines whether or not a provider connection has been set when the button is pressed. The matching portable telephone 9 is connected and the provider connection is set. Is automatically connected to the access point under predetermined conditions via the portable telephone 9 and connected to the Internet via the provider.

In FIG. 2, the antenna 5, the portable telephone 9, and the car navigation body 11 are the same as those in FIG. 12 is a display screen of the car navigation body 11, 13 is a remote controller for external operation as an operation input unit for performing operation from outside the car navigation body 11, 14 is a power cable connected to the car navigation body, and 15 is a portable type. A cable for connecting the telephone 9 and the car navigation body 11. When the remote control 13 for external operation is provided, the input operation is performed by the operation input unit 1 and the remote control 1 for external operation.
Any of 3 may be used.

Further, in FIG. 3, the car navigation body 11 and the remote controller 13 for external operation are the same as those shown in FIGS. 1
6 is an Internet push button (predetermined push button) for making an Internet connection, and 17 is an E-mail for sending and receiving E-mail.
The mail push button 18 is a PHS position push button for executing a function of searching for a PHS position other than the PHS (mobile phone) connected to the car navigation body 11.

The function and the like of the car navigation device thus configured will be described.

In this car navigation device,
Pressing the operation push buttons 16 to 18 of the car navigation body 11 or the external operation remote controller 13 shown in FIG. 3 selects and confirms the assigned function. The central processing unit 2 checks the position information obtained by the GPS unit 4 with the map information of the map recording medium 3, displays the current position on a map screen on the corresponding latitude and longitude by icons or the like, and sets the user's settings. As a result, necessary information such as the telephone number of the provider when connecting to the Internet is stored in the RAM unit 7. The central processing unit 2 also has a built-in data communication function,
In data communication, it also functions as a communication transmission / reception unit. The mobile phone 9 is connected to the car navigation body 11, performs a connection to a communication connection destination stored in the RAM unit 7 in accordance with an instruction from the central processing unit 2, performs data communication,
Sends and receives location information, text information, images, sounds, etc. The communication interface unit 10 includes the car navigation body 1
1 indicates whether or not the mobile phone 9 is connected and the type of the connected mobile phone 9 (PHS or digital mobile phone, etc.)
At the same time, the communication result (state) of the transmitted and received data is monitored, and the result is notified to the central processing unit 2. The central processing unit 2 grasps the end of data transmission and reception and automatically disconnects the line.

Next, the operation of the car navigation system shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the car navigation device, and FIG. 5 is an operation explanatory diagram showing the operation of the car navigation device.

First, the telephone is connected to the car navigation body 1.
1 (S1, <Screen example 1> in FIG. 5, <Screen example 2>
> See). Note that step S1 indicates an operation of connection, and does not indicate an operation of the central processing unit 2. Next, the determination means 21 determines the type of the telephone connected to the car navigation body 11 (S2, S2a),
If it is determined that the telephone is not a connection-compatible telephone such as an S telephone or a digital mobile telephone, an error message is displayed on the display device 8 to urge the user to confirm the connected telephone (S2b). Based on this display, the user connects an appropriate portable telephone 9 to the car navigation body 11. Next, internal settings, menu configurations, operation restrictions, and the like are automatically switched in accordance with the connected portable telephone 9 (S3, S3a). Next, the remote controller 13 for external operation or the Internet push button 16 mounted on the car navigation body 11 is pressed (S4, S4).
a, <Screen example 3>). That is, the communication is performed via the Internet. Step S4,
S4a indicates the operation of the push button, but does not indicate the operation of the central processing unit 2. Next, the determination means 21 determines whether or not an Internet provider connection is set in the car navigation device (S5, S5).
5a). If it is determined that the provider connection has not been set, the pressing of the Internet push button 16 becomes invalid, and an error message is displayed on the display device 8 to urge the provider contract (see S6, S6a, <Screen Example 4>). If it is determined in steps S5 and S5a that the provider connection setting has been made, the automatic connection unit 22
An automatic call is made to the access point of the provider under conditions automatically set by the connected portable telephone 9 (S
7, S7a, see <Screen Examples 5, 6>), and connect to the Internet via the provider (S8, S8a). next,
The determination unit 21 determines whether the communication state is the end of the predetermined data communication, the set time of the automatic communication disconnection has been exceeded, the user has manually executed the disconnection command, or the mobile phone 9 has been disconnected. It is determined whether there is a disconnection requirement. If there is no disconnection requirement, the communication is continued (S9, S9a). If there is a cutting requirement, the process returns to steps S4 and S4a.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, by detecting the type of the connected portable telephone, it is determined whether or not the compatible portable telephone 9 is connected, and the Internet push button 16 is pressed. When the determination unit 21 determines whether the provider connection is set when the connection is made, and when the determination unit 21 determines that the compatible portable telephone 9 is connected and the provider connection is set. And automatic connection means 22 for automatically calling an access point under predetermined conditions via the mobile phone 9 and connecting to the Internet via a provider.
When the compatible mobile phone 9 is connected and the Internet push button 16 is pressed to set the provider connection, the communication function is automatically selected according to the type of the connected mobile phone 9. In addition, communication start and communication connection can be automatically performed.

[0021]

As described above, according to the car navigation system according to the first aspect of the present invention, a portable telephone such as a PHS telephone or a digital portable telephone is connected to provide a communication function of character information and image information. A car navigation apparatus having a provider connection setting that detects whether a compatible mobile phone is connected by detecting the type of the connected mobile phone and determines whether a provider connection is set when a predetermined push button is pressed. Determining means for determining whether or not connection has been performed; and determining means that a compatible portable telephone is connected and setting of provider connection has been performed, the access point is determined under predetermined conditions via the portable telephone. Automatic connection means for automatically calling and connecting to the Internet via a provider, so that a compatible portable telephone can be connected. When the predetermined push button is pressed and the provider connection is set, the communication function is automatically selected under the condition according to the type of the connected portable telephone, and the communication start and the communication connection are automatically performed. Therefore, there is an advantageous effect that the communication function can be selected, the communication can be started, and the communication can be connected with a simple operation.
In addition, when there is a problem in the setting of the contents or the connection state of the telephone, there is an advantageous effect that the determination unit notifies the user by displaying a message, thereby eliminating the user's anxiety.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1A is a block diagram showing a car navigation device according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1B is a functional block diagram showing a central processing unit constituting the car navigation device shown in FIG.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing the car navigation device of FIG. 1;

3A is a panel diagram showing a lower portion of a panel of a remote controller for external operation. FIG. 3B is a panel diagram showing a panel of a car navigation body.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the car navigation device.

FIG. 5 is an operation explanatory view showing the operation of the car navigation device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 operation input unit 2 central processing unit 3 map recording medium 4 GPS unit 5 antenna 6 ROM unit 7 RAM unit 8 display device 9 portable telephone 10 communication interface unit 11 car navigation body 12 display screen 13 remote controller for external operation 14 power cable 15 Cable 16 Internet push button 17 Email push button 18 PHS position push button 21 Judgment means 22 Automatic connection means

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Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A car navigation device connected to a portable telephone such as a PHS telephone or a digital portable telephone and having a communication function of character information and image information, wherein a type of the connected portable telephone is detected. A determination means for determining whether or not a compatible portable telephone is connected, and determining whether or not a provider connection setting is performed when a predetermined push button is pressed; And when the determination means determines that the provider connection setting has been performed, the automatic connection means automatically calls the access point under predetermined conditions through the portable telephone and connects to the Internet via the provider. A car navigation device comprising: