JP2003303287A - Contents distribution system for vehicle and program for vehicle contents distribution method for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten the communication time to download various kinds of contents, and to make reducible the call rates. <P>SOLUTION: A content distribution system or vehicle in a recorder, a communication unit 38, a retrieval means 91 which satisfies predetermined retrieval conditions and retrieves a communication means, and a recording means 92 which receives the distributed content via the communication unit 38 following the communication means if the communication means to satisfy the retrieval conditions is available, downloads it in the recorder, or receives the distributed content via the communication unit 38 following an alternative communication means and downloads it in the recorder if the communication means to satisfy the retrieval conditions is unavailable. Even when the content of a large capacity such as map data is downloaded, the communication time is shortened, and the call rates can be reduced. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle content distribution system and a vehicle content distribution method program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in navigation devices,
For example, GPS (Global Positioning System)
The current position of the vehicle, that is, the current position is detected by the The map data is read from the unit, a map screen is formed on the display of the display unit, and the current position, a map around the current position, and the vehicle direction are displayed on the map screen. Therefore, the driver, who is the operator, can drive the vehicle in accordance with the current location, the map around the current location, and the vehicle direction displayed on the map screen.

When the driver sets a destination and sets search conditions, a route from the current position to the destination is searched based on the search conditions. Then, the searched route, that is, the searched route, is displayed on the searched route display screen formed on the display as an image or is output as a voice by a message from the voice output unit to guide the driver. To be done. Therefore, the driver can drive the vehicle according to the guided search route.

The navigation device is provided with a communication unit, receives traffic jam information as traffic information via the communication unit, and displays the received traffic jam information on the map screen.

By the way, in the navigation device, various kinds of information distributed from the vehicle contents distribution center, for example, various kinds of vehicle contents such as map data, point guide information, advertisement information of each facility, music information and the like are displayed. The received content can be downloaded to the data recording unit, and for that purpose, the vehicle content distribution system is configured by the navigation device, the vehicle content distribution center, the network and the like. Then, the navigation device is used as an information receiving device by connecting a mobile phone.

[0006]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional vehicle content distribution system, when the mobile phone is connected to the navigation device, the content is transmitted by packet communication.
If a large amount of content such as map data is downloaded, not only the communication time becomes long, but also the communication charge increases accordingly.

The present invention can solve the problems of the conventional vehicle content distribution system and shorten the communication time for downloading various contents.
An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle content distribution system and a vehicle content distribution method program that can reduce communication charges.

[0008]

To this end, in the vehicle content distribution system of the present invention, a recording device,
If there is a communication unit, a search processing unit that searches for a communication unit that satisfies a predetermined search condition, and a communication unit that satisfies the search condition, the distributed content is transmitted via the communication unit according to the communication unit. A recording process of receiving and downloading to the recording device, receiving the distributed content via the communication unit and downloading to the recording device according to the alternative communication device when there is no communication device satisfying the search condition. And means.

In another vehicle content distribution system of the present invention, the search processing means further searches for the communication means within a predetermined area based on the present location.

In yet another vehicle content distribution system of the present invention, the search condition is a search condition that prioritizes communication capacity per unit time.

In still another vehicle content distribution system of the present invention, the search condition is a search condition that gives priority to a communication charge per unit capacity.

In still another vehicle content distribution system of the present invention, when there is a communication means satisfying the search condition, there is further a selection processing means for selecting the communication means in an order suitable for the search condition.

In still another vehicle content distribution system of the present invention, further, there is a display processing means for displaying each communication means when there is a communication means satisfying the search condition.

In still another vehicle content distribution system of the present invention, there is further provided vehicle position determination processing means for determining whether or not a vehicle exists within the communicable area by the selected communication means.

In still another vehicle content distribution system of the present invention, vehicle guidance processing means for guiding the vehicle to the communicable area when the vehicle does not exist in the communicable area by the selected communication means. Have.

In the program of the vehicle content distribution method of the present invention, when there is a search processing means for searching a computer for communication means satisfying a predetermined search condition, and a communication means satisfying the search condition, According to the communication means, the distributed content is received via the communication section, downloaded to the recording device, and when there is no communication means satisfying the search condition, the distributed content is transmitted to the communication section according to the alternative communication means. It is made to function as recording processing means for receiving via the recording device and downloading to the recording device.

[0017]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a vehicle content distribution system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, 16 is a data recording unit as a recording device, 38 is a communication unit, 91 is a search processing unit for searching a communication unit (not shown) that satisfies a predetermined search condition, and 9
2 is the case where there is a communication means satisfying the search condition,
According to the communication means, the distributed content is received via the communication section 38, downloaded to the data recording section 16, and if there is no communication means satisfying the search condition, distribution is performed according to an alternative communication means (not shown). It is a recording processing unit that receives the created content via the communication unit 38 and downloads it to the data recording unit 16.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a navigation device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of a vehicle content distribution system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, reference numeral 14 is a navigation device as an on-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle. The navigation device 14 is a navigation device for detecting a present position, a current position detection processing section 15, map data, road data, search data and the like. An information recording unit in which information is recorded and a data recording unit 16 as a recording device, which functions as a computer based on various programs and data, and performs various arithmetic processes such as navigation processing based on the input information Navigation processing unit 17, operation unit and input unit 34 as first input device, display unit 35 as display means and first output device, voice input unit 36 as second input device, second output device Output section 37 as a third input device and communication section 38 as a third input device and a third output device
And a vehicle speed sensor 4 in the navigation processing unit 17.
1 is connected.

The current position detection processing unit 15 comprises a GPS 21, a geomagnetic sensor 22, a distance sensor 23, a steering sensor 24, a gyro sensor 26 as an azimuth detecting unit, and an altimeter (not shown) as a current position detecting unit.

The GPS 21 detects the current position on the earth by receiving the radio wave generated by the artificial satellite, and the geomagnetic sensor 22 detects the direction of the vehicle by measuring the geomagnetism, and the distance sensor. Reference numeral 23 detects the distance between predetermined positions on the road. Examples of the distance sensor 23 include one that measures the rotation speed of a wheel (not shown) and detects the distance based on the rotation speed, one that measures the acceleration, and that integrates the acceleration twice to detect the distance. Can be used.

Further, the steering sensor 24 detects a steering angle, and the steering sensor 24 is as follows.
For example, an optical rotation sensor, a rotation resistance sensor attached to a rotating portion of a steering wheel (not shown),
An angle sensor or the like attached to the wheel is used.

The gyro sensor 26 detects the turning angle. As the gyro sensor 26, for example, a gas rate gyro, a vibration gyro or the like is used. Further, by integrating the turning angle detected by the gyro sensor 26, it is possible to detect the vehicle azimuth.

The GPS 21 can detect the current position independently. Then, the current position can be detected by combining the distance detected by the distance sensor 23 with the own vehicle direction detected by the geomagnetic sensor 22 or the turning angle detected by the gyro sensor 26. The current position can also be detected by combining the distance detected by the distance sensor 23 and the steering angle detected by the steering sensor 24.

The data recording unit 16 includes a map data file, an intersection data file, a node data file,
A database including data files such as a road data file, a photograph data file, a search data file, and a facility information data file is provided, and each data file includes a search route on a screen formed on a display (not shown) of the display unit 35. Output a guide map along with, that is, display, display characteristic pictures at intersections or routes, frame drawings, etc., display the distance to the next intersection, the direction of travel at the next intersection, etc., Various data for displaying other guidance information are recorded.

For example, the intersection data file is searched for intersection data regarding each intersection, the node data file is searched for node data related to nodes, the road data file is searched for road data, and the search data file is searched for routes. Search data for each is recorded, the intersection data, node data, road data,
Road condition data representing the road condition is constituted by the search data and the like. The node data includes data indicating actual road branch points (including intersections, T-shaped roads, etc.), node points, and inter-node point links that connect the respective node points.

According to the road data, the width, the gradient, the cant, the bank, the condition of the road surface, the number of lanes on the road, the location where the number of lanes decreases, the location where the width becomes narrow, etc. Regarding corners, curvature radius, intersection, T-shaped road, entrance of corner, etc., road attributes, downhill road, uphill road, etc., road types, general roads such as national roads, prefectural roads, narrow streets, highways, Expressways and toll roads such as urban highways and toll roads are shown. Further, the road data represents a railroad crossing, a highway entrance / exit installation road (ramp way), a highway / toll road toll gate, and the like.

Further, the facility information data file includes
Facility information of facilities such as hotels, gas stations, parking lots, and tourist spot information in each region is recorded as facility information data. The data recording section 16 also records various data for outputting predetermined information by the audio output section 37.

The navigation processing unit 17 serves as a CPU 31 as an arithmetic unit and a control unit for controlling the entire navigation unit 14, and as a first recording unit used as a working memory when the CPU 31 performs various arithmetic processes. In addition to the RAM 32 and a control program, a ROM 33 as a second recording device in which various programs for performing a route search to a destination, route guidance, determination of a specific section, etc. are recorded, The navigation processing unit 17 includes the input unit 34 and the display unit 3.
5, the voice input unit 36, the voice output unit 37, and the communication unit 38 are connected. A semiconductor memory, a magnetic core, or the like is used as the RAM 32, the ROM 33, or the like. In addition to the RAM 32, the ROM 33, etc., the navigation processing unit 17 may be provided with a flash memory (not shown) as a third recording device. An MPU or the like may be used instead of the CPU 31 as the arithmetic unit and the control unit.

The data recording unit 16 serves as a fourth recording device, in addition to a magnetic disk such as a hard disk and a flexible disk, a magnetic tape, a magnetic drum, a CD,
The recording medium comprises an MD, a DVD, an optical disc, an MO, an IC card, an optical card, and the like, and includes various recording media (not shown) that constitute an external storage device. A head such as a read / write head (not shown) for writing data is provided.

In the present embodiment, the ROM 33
Various programs are recorded in the data recording unit 16
Although various kinds of data are recorded in, the programs, data, etc. can be recorded in the same external storage device. In this case, for example, a flash memory (not shown) may be provided in the navigation processing unit 17, and the program, data, etc. may be read from the external storage device and written in the flash memory. Therefore, the programs, data, etc. can be updated by replacing the external storage device. When an automatic transmission control device for controlling an automatic transmission (not shown) mounted on the vehicle is installed, programs and data for controlling the automatic transmission control device are also stored in the external storage device. Can be recorded in.

The input unit 34 is for correcting the current position at the start of traveling, inputting the starting point and the destination, and operating the communication unit 38, and is formed on the display. It consists of various keys, switches, buttons, etc. displayed as images on the screen. Therefore, input can be performed by touching (pressing) the operation switch. As the input unit 34, a keyboard, a mouse, a bar code reader, a light pen, a remote control device for remote operation, a joystick, etc., which are arranged separately from the display unit 35 can be used.

On various screens formed on the display, operation guides, operation menus, key guides,
A search route from the current position to the destination, guidance information along the search route, a program of FM multiplex broadcasting, and the like are displayed as images.
As the display unit 35, a display such as a CRT display, a liquid crystal display or a plasma display can be used, or a hologram device that projects a hologram on the windshield of a vehicle can be used.

The voice input section 36 is composed of a microphone (not shown) or the like, and can input necessary information by voice. Furthermore, the audio output unit 37
Is provided with a voice synthesizer and a speaker (not shown), and the voice output unit 37 outputs the searched route, guidance information, shift information, and the like, for example, in a voice synthesized by the voice synthesizer. In addition to the voice synthesized by the voice synthesizer, various sounds, various guidance information recorded in advance on a tape, a memory or the like can be output.

Then, the communication section 38 is an information transmission center as a first information provider, for example, V (not shown).
ICS (Road Traffic Information and Communication System: Vehicle)
Information and Communica
beacon system as a first receiving device that is transmitted from a center and is received as a radio wave beacon, an optical beacon, or the like via a radio wave beacon device, an optical beacon device, or the like (not shown) arranged along the road.
An FM receiver or the like as a second receiving device for receiving as an FM multiplex broadcast via an FM broadcasting station is provided, and the beacon receiver causes congestion information, regulation information, parking information, traffic accident information, and congestion status of service areas. Traffic information consisting of various information such as, and the FM receiver receives information such as news and weather forecast in addition to the traffic information.
It can be received as M multiplex information. The beacon receiver and FM receiver are unitized to V
It is arranged as an ICS receiver,
It can be arranged separately.

The communication section 38 can also receive various data such as D-GPS information for detecting the detection error of the GPS 21 transmitted from the base station. It is also possible to receive position information based on a radio wave beacon, an optical beacon, or the like to detect the current location, and in that case, the beacon receiver functions as a current location detection unit.

By the way, in the navigation device 14, various information distributed from the vehicle content distribution center 51 as the second information provider, for example, map data, point guide information, advertisement information of each facility, music. Various kinds of vehicle contents such as information can be received and the received contents can be downloaded to the data recording unit 16. Therefore, the navigation device 14, the vehicle contents distribution center 51,
The network 43 or the like constitutes a vehicle content distribution system. The communication unit 38 is a terminal equipped with a communication function via an antenna (not shown),
That is, it is connected to the network 43 via the communication terminal 39.

As the communication terminal 39, a mobile phone such as a mobile phone, a car phone, a PHS or the like, or a communication function for a portable computer, a personal digital assistant, an electronic notebook, a videophone, a game machine, etc. You can also use what you have. Further, as the network 43,
LAN (Local Area Network), W
It is possible to use various communication means such as an AN (Wide Area Network), an intranet, a mobile phone network, a telephone network, a public communication network, a dedicated communication network, a communication network such as the Internet. Further, it is also possible to use communication means utilizing CS broadcasting, BS broadcasting, terrestrial digital television broadcasting, FM multiplex broadcasting or the like by a broadcasting satellite. In addition, non-stop automatic toll payment system (ETC) and boundary area communication system (DSR) used in intelligent transportation system (ITS).
Communication means such as C) can also be used.

Further, the vehicle content distribution center 5
1 may be an individual, a company, a group, a local government, a government-affiliated organization, or the like, and may be the VICS center. The vehicle content distribution center 51 itself creates the map data, point guide information, advertisement information of each facility, music information, or the like, or purchases it from another information creator and provides it.

To this end, the vehicle content distribution center 51 includes a server 53, and the server 53 allows
Bidirectional communication is performed between the vehicle content distribution center 51 and the navigation device 14 to distribute the content. For that purpose, the server 53 includes a CPU 54, a RAM 55, and a ROM as an arithmetic unit and a control unit.
56, a communication unit (not shown) and the like, and functions as a computer based on a predetermined program, data, and the like.
A computer may be configured by the server 53 and the navigation processing unit 17 of the navigation device 14.

A recording device 57 as an information recording unit is connected to the server 53, and various information such as map data, point guide information, advertisement information of each facility, music information, etc. is connected to the recording device 57. The contents for various types of vehicles are recorded as a database.

In the navigation device 14, when the content is received via the communication section 38, the CPU 31 of the navigation processing section 17 downloads the content to the hard disk of the data recording section 16 or the like. The CPU 31 can also be downloaded to the RAM 32, the ROM 33, the flash memory or the like provided in the navigation processing unit 17.

In the vehicle content distribution system, when a mobile phone is used as the communication terminal 39 and the navigation device 14 is to receive the content, the mobile phone network is used as the communication means, and the content is It will be delivered to the navigation device 14 by packet communication. In that case, when trying to download a content having a large capacity such as map data, not only the communication time becomes long, but also the communication charge increases accordingly.

Therefore, it is possible to select a desired communication means from the respective communication means of the network 43 and receive the content by using the selected communication means.

Next, the operation of the vehicle content distribution system will be described.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the operation of the vehicle content distribution system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

First, the driver who is the operator operates the input unit 34.
(Fig. 2), select content distribution on the initial menu screen formed on the display, and
A predetermined content is selected, and a distribution request for the selected content is transmitted to the vehicle content distribution center 51 (FIG. 3). Therefore, the data recording unit 16 and the ROM
Data for specifying the content is previously recorded in 33 or the like, a display processing unit (not shown) of the CPU 31 performs a display process, reads the data from the data recording unit 16 and the ROM 33, and displays a list of the contents on the display. Therefore, the driver is
By operating, the desired content can be selected from the displayed list. It should be noted that it is also possible to select by inputting a code number, an identification number, etc. which are given in advance to each content. Further, the driver can operate the voice input unit 36 to input a voice and select the content.

In the present embodiment, the data for specifying the content is previously stored in the data recording unit 16, R.
Although recorded in the OM 33 or the like, the CPU 31 transmits a content distribution request to the vehicle content distribution center 51 as the driver selects content distribution on the initial menu screen, and the vehicle content is recorded. Data for identifying the content can be transmitted from the distribution center 51 to the navigation device 14.

Next, the driver inputs a search condition in order to select a predetermined communication means among the communication means in the network 43. Therefore, when the content is selected, the display processing means forms a search condition input screen on the display and displays a preset search condition menu on the search condition input screen. In the present embodiment, a search condition that prioritizes communication capacity per unit time is set as the first search condition, and a search condition that prioritizes communication charge per unit capacity is set as the second search condition. In addition to this, other search conditions can be set.

Then, when the driver inputs a predetermined search condition, the search processing means 91 (FIG. 1) of the CPU 31 carries out a search process to read the current location detected by the current location detection processing section 15 and also to the current location. On the basis of the communication means preliminarily recorded in the data recording unit 16, the ROM 33, etc., a communication means constructed in a predetermined area and satisfying the inputted search condition is selected. Search for. The predetermined area can be set according to the distance from the current location, the travel time from the current location, the administrative area name, and the like. Further, the area can be set according to the traveling direction of the vehicle, the direction of the destination, and the like.

In the present embodiment, the search data of each communication means is recorded in advance in the data recording section 16, the ROM 33, etc. However, as the driver inputs the search conditions, the CPU 31 Transmits a search data transmission request to the vehicle content distribution center 51, and the vehicle content distribution center 51 causes the navigation device 14 to
You can also send search data to.

Then, the search processing means 91 judges whether or not there is a search result, that is, whether or not there is a communication means satisfying the input search condition, and the communication means satisfying the input search condition is determined. If not, another communication means that does not satisfy the search condition, that is, an alternative communication means is searched.

Subsequently, the display processing means forms a search result display screen on the display and displays the retrieved alternative communication means on the search result display screen. Then, when the driver operates the input unit 34 to select the alternative communication means displayed on the search result display screen, the recording processing means 92 of the CPU 31 performs a recording process and issues a content transmission request to the vehicle content. It transmits to the distribution center 51. According to this, when the vehicle content distribution center 51 distributes the content, the recording processing unit 92 receives the distributed content via the communication unit 38 according to the alternative communication unit and downloads it to the data recording unit 16.

On the other hand, when there is a communication means satisfying the input search condition, the selection processing means (not shown) of the CPU 31 performs the selection process and selects the communication means in the order suitable for the search condition. For example, if the search condition is to prioritize the communication capacity per unit time, the communication method is selected in descending order of the communication capacity per unit time among the searched communication methods, and the search condition is set as the unit. When the communication charge per capacity is prioritized, the communication means is selected in order from the searched communication means with the lowest communication charge per unit capacity.

Subsequently, a vehicle position determination processing means (not shown) of the CPU 31 performs vehicle position determination processing, and an area in which communication by the communication means selected by the selection processing means is possible (hereinafter referred to as "communicable area"). If there is a vehicle inside, and if it exists within the communicable area, the recording processing means 92 transmits a content transmission request to the vehicle content distribution center 51. According to this, when the vehicle content distribution center 51 distributes the content, the recording processing unit 92 receives the distributed content via the communication unit 38 according to the selected communication unit and downloads it to the data recording unit 16. To do.

Further, when there is no vehicle in the communicable area by the communication means selected by the selection processing means, the display processing means forms a search result display screen on the display, and the search result display screen is displayed. Display a message asking if you want to move the vehicle to the coverage area. Then, when the driver operates the input unit 34 and inputs an instruction for moving the vehicle to the communicable area in accordance with the message displayed on the search result display screen,
The vehicle guidance processing means (not shown) of the CPU 31 performs vehicle guidance processing and guides the vehicle to the communicable area.

For this purpose, the vehicle guidance processing means sets a preset predetermined point within the communicable area by the selected communication means as a destination, reads the search data from the data recording section 16, and reads the present location. From to the destination. Then, the display processing means forms a search route display screen on the display,
Display the search route. Instead of displaying the searched route on the display, or in addition to displaying the searched route on the display, the vehicle guidance processing means outputs the searched route by voice by a message from the voice output unit 37. You can also

When the driver does not input the instruction to move the vehicle to the communicable area, the selection processing means next selects the communication means suitable for the search condition, and the above-mentioned operation is performed. Similar processing such as vehicle position determination processing is performed.

In this way, when the vehicle comes to exist in the communicable area, the recording processing means 92 transmits a content transmission request to the vehicle content distribution center 51. In accordance with this, the vehicle content distribution center 5
1 distributes the content, the recording processing means 9
2 receives the distributed content via the communication unit 38 according to the selected communication means and downloads it to the data recording unit 16.

Therefore, for example, when the vehicle exists in the communicable area of the LAN, such as the metropolitan area or the congested area, the predetermined LAN is selected, and the download can be performed according to the predetermined LAN. LAN as a communication means in a predetermined area, such as a rural area or a depopulated area.
If is not established, the mobile phone line network is selected as the alternative communication means, and the packet communication can be used for downloading according to the mobile phone line network.

Since the contents can be downloaded according to the communication means suitable for the search condition, the communication time can be shortened and the communication charge can be reduced even when the contents such as map data having a large capacity are downloaded. It can be lowered.

When the vehicle does not exist in the communicable area by the communication means suitable for the search condition, the vehicle can be guided to the communicable area, so that the capacity such as map data is available in the communicable area. Large contents can be downloaded.

Next, the flowchart will be described. In step S1, a content distribution request is transmitted. Step S2: Input search conditions. In step S3, search processing is performed. In step S4, it is determined whether there is a search result. If there is a search result, the process proceeds to step S5, and if not, the process proceeds to step S6. In step S5, the value i is set to 1. Step S6: Search for alternative communication means. Step S7: Select an alternative communication means. Step S8: Select the communication means suitable for the i-th search condition. In step S9, it is determined whether or not a vehicle exists within the communicable area. If the vehicle exists in the communicable area, the process proceeds to step S14, and if not, the process proceeds to step S10. In step S10, it is determined whether the vehicle should be moved. If the vehicle is to be moved, the process proceeds to step S11. If not, the process proceeds to step S12. Step S11: Guide the vehicle to the communicable area. In step S12, the value i is incremented. In step S13, it is determined whether or not a vehicle exists within the communicable area. If the vehicle exists in the communicable area, the process proceeds to step S14, and if not, the step S14.
Return to 11. Step S14 Download and end the process.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the operation of the vehicle content distribution system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

First, the driver operates the input unit 34 (FIG. 2) to select content distribution on the initial menu screen formed on the display, and further selects a predetermined content to select the selected content. Is transmitted to the vehicle content distribution center 51 (FIG. 3). Therefore, data for specifying the content is previously recorded in the data recording unit 16, the ROM 33, etc.,
The display processing means (not shown) of the CPU 31 performs the display processing, and similarly to the first embodiment, the data recording unit 16,
The data is read from the ROM 33 and the list of contents is displayed on the display. Therefore, the driver can operate the input unit 34 to select a desired content from the displayed list.

Subsequently, the driver inputs search conditions in order to select a predetermined communication means from among the communication means in the network 43. Therefore, when the content is selected, the display processing means forms a search condition input screen on the display and displays a preset search condition menu on the search condition input screen. In the present embodiment, a search condition that prioritizes communication capacity per unit time is set as the first search condition, and a search condition that prioritizes communication charge per unit capacity is set as the second search condition. In addition to this, other search conditions can be set.

When the driver inputs the search condition,
The search processing means 91 (FIG. 1) of the CPU 31 performs the search processing, and the current position detection processing unit 1 as in the first embodiment.
5 is a communication means that is constructed in a predetermined area among the communication means that is read in the current location detected in 5, and is recorded in advance in the data recording unit 16, the ROM 33, etc., and the input search is performed. Search for communication means that meet the conditions.

Then, the search processing means 91 determines whether or not there is a communication means that satisfies the input search condition, and if there is no communication means that satisfies the input search condition, searches for an alternative communication means. .

Subsequently, the display processing means forms a search result display screen on the display and displays the retrieved alternative communication means on the search result display screen. Then, when the driver operates the input unit 34 to select the alternative communication means displayed on the search result display screen, the recording processing means 92 of the CPU 31 performs a recording process and issues a content transmission request to the vehicle content. It transmits to the distribution center 51. According to this, when the vehicle content distribution center 51 distributes the content, the recording processing unit 92 receives the distributed content via the communication unit 38 according to the alternative communication unit and downloads it to the data recording unit 16. .

On the other hand, when there is a communication means satisfying the input search condition, the display processing means forms a search result display screen on the display, and a communication means suitable for the search condition is displayed on the search result display screen. Display the list. Then, when the driver sees the list of communication means displayed on the search result display screen and operates the input unit 34 to select a predetermined communication means among the respective communication means, the vehicle position (not shown) of the CPU 31 is displayed. The determination processing means performs vehicle position determination processing, determines whether or not the vehicle exists within the communicable area by the communication means selected by the driver, and when the vehicle exists within the communicable area, the recording processing means 92. Transmits a content transmission request to the vehicle content distribution center 51. According to this, when the vehicle content distribution center 51 distributes the content, the recording processing unit 92 receives the distributed content via the communication unit 38 according to the selected communication unit and downloads it to the data recording unit 16. To do.

In the list of communication means, in addition to the names of the communication areas of each communication means, the distance to the communication area, the travel time to the communication area, the direction from the current location to the communication area, A communication time required for downloading the content in the communicable area, a communication charge required for downloading the content in the communicable area, a map of the communicable area, and the like can be displayed together.

If the vehicle does not exist within the communicable area by the communication means selected by the driver, the CPU
A vehicle guidance processing unit (not shown) 31 performs vehicle guidance processing to guide the vehicle to the communicable area.

For that purpose, the vehicle guidance processing means sets a predetermined predetermined point within the communicable area by the selected communication means as a destination, reads the search data from the data recording section 16, and reads the present location. From to the destination. Then, the display processing means forms a search route display screen on the display,
Display the search route. Instead of displaying the searched route on the display, or in addition to displaying the searched route on the display, the vehicle guidance processing means outputs the searched route by voice by a message from the voice output unit 37. You can also

In this way, when the vehicle comes to exist in the communicable area, the recording processing means 92 transmits a content transmission request to the vehicle content distribution center 51. In accordance with this, the vehicle content distribution center 5
1 distributes the content, the recording processing means 9
2 receives the distributed content via the communication unit 38 according to the selected communication means and downloads it to the data recording unit 16.

Next, the flowchart will be described. In step S21, a content distribution request is transmitted. Step S22: Input search conditions. In step S23, search processing is performed. In step S24, it is determined whether there is a search result.
If there is a search result, the process proceeds to step S25, and if not, the process proceeds to step S26. In step S25, a list of communication means suitable for the search condition is displayed. In step S26, the alternative communication means is searched. In step S27, the alternative communication means is selected. In step S28, the communication means is selected. In step S29, it is determined whether or not a vehicle exists within the communicable area. If the vehicle exists in the communicable area, the step S32 is performed. If not, the step S30 is performed.
Proceed to. In step S30, the vehicle is guided to the communicable area. In step S31, it is determined whether or not a vehicle exists within the communicable area. If the vehicle exists in the communicable area, the process proceeds to step S32, and if not, the step S
Return to 30. Step S32 Download and end the process.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, but can be variously modified within the scope of the present invention, and they are not excluded from the scope of the present invention.

[0080]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the communication time can be shortened and the communication charge can be reduced even when the content having a large capacity such as map data is downloaded. You can

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a vehicle content distribution system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a navigation device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of a vehicle content distribution system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of the vehicle content distribution system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation of the vehicle content distribution system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

16 Data recording section 17 Navigation processing unit 31 CPU 38 Communications Department 91 Search processing means 92 recording processing means

Front page continuation (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) H04Q 7/04 ZF term (reference) 2F029 AA02 AB01 AB07 AB09 AB13 AC02 AC09 AC14 AC18 AD05 5H180 AA01 BB02 BB04 BB05 BB12 BB13 CC12 EE02 EE10 EE18 FF04 FF05 FF07 FF12 FF13 FF22 FF25 FF27 FF33 FF35 5K067 AA21 BB03 BB04 BB21 BB36 DD20 DD51 EE02 EE10 EE16 FF02 FF03 FF23 HH11 HH22 JJ52

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A recording device, a communication unit, a search processing unit for searching a communication unit satisfying a predetermined search condition, and a communication unit satisfying the search condition, if any, are distributed according to the communication unit. Content is received via the communication unit, downloaded to the recording device, and if there is no communication unit satisfying the search condition, the delivered content is received via the communication unit according to the alternative communication unit. And a recording processing unit that downloads to the recording device, the vehicle content distribution system. 2. The vehicle content distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the search processing unit searches for the communication unit in a predetermined area based on a current location. 3. The vehicle content distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the search condition is a search condition that gives priority to a communication capacity per unit time. 4. The vehicle content distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the search condition is a search condition that gives priority to a communication charge per unit capacity. 5. The vehicle content distribution system according to claim 1, further comprising selection processing means for selecting communication means in an order suitable for the search condition when there is a communication means satisfying the search condition. 6. The vehicle content distribution system according to claim 1, further comprising display processing means for displaying each communication means when there is a communication means satisfying the search condition. 7. The vehicle content distribution system according to claim 1, further comprising a vehicle position determination processing means for determining whether or not a vehicle is present within a communicable area by the selected communication means. 8. The vehicle content distribution system according to claim 1, further comprising vehicle guidance processing means for guiding the vehicle to the communicable area when the vehicle does not exist in the communicable area by the selected communication means. 9. When a computer has a search processing means for searching a communication means satisfying a predetermined search condition and a communication means satisfying the search condition, the distributed content is communicated by the communication unit according to the communication means. And download to the recording device. If there is no communication means satisfying the search condition, the delivered content is received via the communication unit and downloaded to the recording device according to the alternative communication means. A program of a vehicle content distribution method characterized by causing it to function as a recording processing means.