JP2004326039A - Facility information service system, and center and terminal device constituting the same system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily meet change in sorting of facilities in a service system supplying facility information to a terminal device. <P>SOLUTION: The facility information service system comprises an external server 5 which provides map information and facility information, the terminal device 1 which displays the acquired map information and facility information, and a center 4 which is connected between those external server 5 and terminal device 1. The facility information service system manages category classifications at the center. Consequently, when the external server 5 changes a category classification, the system is adapted thereto without any load on the side of the terminal device 1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a service system for providing terminal with facility information, and to a center and a terminal device constituting the system.
[0002]
[Prior art]
There is a service system that provides map information to a terminal device such as an in-vehicle terminal. In this service system, an external server holds map information, and a service center cooperating with the external server provides the terminal device with the map information.
The map information to be provided includes a current location map, a designated location map, a destination map, and route guidance of the terminal device.
[0003]
The service system also provides a service for displaying desired facility information on a map displayed on the screen of the terminal device. In this service system, facility information is divided into genres (eg, convenience stores, banks, etc.), and genre information (genre name, genre code) is given to each. When an operation for selecting a desired genre is performed on the terminal device, marks of facilities included in the genre are displayed on a map.
[0004]
When the map information is requested from the terminal device, the service center requests the external server for the facility information and requests the map information. Then, based on the received map information and facility information, map information and facility information in a format suitable for the terminal device are created and downloaded to the terminal device.
According to this service system, it is possible to share the map data and the facility information, thereby eliminating the need to hold each information for each vehicle. Thus, each terminal device can always obtain the latest map information and facility information with a simple device.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Requests and responses to facility information are made based on the genre code in the genre information. On the other hand, in the external server, the stored genre information of the facility is frequently changed.
When the genre code is changed, the genre code of the facility information downloaded to the terminal device does not match the genre code that the terminal device has in advance. Then, even if an attempt is made to display a desired facility on the terminal device, the genre code does not match the genre code in the external server, and a different genre is displayed or there is only an error response.
[0006]
Also, although less frequently than changing the genre code, the genre name may change. In this case, some users may want to continue using the old name.
Conventionally, when the genre code and the genre name are changed and a mismatch occurs between the external server and the terminal device, the terminal device conventionally manages the classification of the facility genre. Therefore, each time the genre classification is changed in the external server, it is necessary to update the program in the terminal device.
[0007]
However, the program is not necessarily updated in all terminal devices. For this reason, the service center has to continue the service assuming that the terminal device loaded with the old program and the terminal device loaded with the new program are mixed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a service system for providing facility information to a terminal device so that it is possible to easily cope with a change in the category of a facility.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention has been made to achieve the above object. The facility information service system of the present invention includes an external server that provides map information and facility information, a terminal device that displays the acquired map information and facility information, and a center connected between the external server and the terminal device. Consists of
In the facility information service system of the present invention, genre classification is managed in the center. Thereby, when the genre classification is changed in the external server, it is possible to cope without a burden on the terminal device side.
[0009]
In order to maintain the consistency of the genre codes in the genre classification, the center queries the external server for the genre codes using the genre names at the time of initial startup and at a predetermined timing. In the external server, the genre code is changed relatively frequently, but the genre name is rarely changed. Therefore, by inquiring of the genre code using the genre name, the consistency of the genre code between the external server and the center can be maintained, and a high-quality service can be provided.
[0010]
If the genre code or genre name given to the request signal from the terminal device is different from the genre information stored in the center, the center returns the original genre information when responding the map information and the facility information to the terminal device. Is given a changed genre code or genre name.
In the terminal device, the responded map information and facility information are stored and displayed on the display unit.
[0011]
When there is a change in the returned genre code, the terminal device updates the stored genre code to a new one.
When the genre name is changed, the stored genre name is updated to a new name or remains as the old name according to the setting of the user. Thus, the user can display his / her favorite name on the display unit.
[0012]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
An example in which the present invention is applied to an own vehicle position providing service system will be described with reference to the drawings. The present invention is applicable not only to such services related to vehicles, but also to other terminal devices such as portable PDAs and stationary personal computers.
FIG. 1 shows a configuration of an own vehicle position providing service system to which the facility information service system of the present invention is applied.
[0013]
A plurality of in-vehicle terminals 1 are connected to a service center 4 via a base station 2 and a communication network 3. The service center 4 is connected via a communication network 3 to an external server 5 having map data and facility information.
The external server 5 has a configuration as a server, and further includes a map database (hereinafter, “database” is abbreviated as “DB”) 6 storing map information, and a facility DB 7 storing facility information.
[0014]
The service center 4 has a configuration as a computer system, and further includes a genre setting file 8 and a service setting file 9.
The in-vehicle terminal 1 includes a display 10 and a GPS 11 in the same manner as a normal in-vehicle terminal, and further includes a memory 12 for storing map data and a genre table 13.
[0015]
In the above system, the service center 4 and each in-vehicle terminal 1 share the map information and facility information that the external server 5 has in the map DB 6 and the facility DB 7, so that each information needs to be held for each in-vehicle terminal 1. Has been lost. Thereby, the in-vehicle terminal 1 can always obtain the latest map information and facility information with a simple device.
[0016]
First, the general operation of the system shown in FIG. 1 will be described.
The user of the in-vehicle terminal 1 receives a service from the service center 4 when trying to display a map around the own vehicle position, a map of the destination, a map of the designated place, etc. on the display 10. Perform a predetermined operation. The in-vehicle terminal 1 requests the service center 4 to provide map information by specifying the latitude and longitude using the installed application. At the same time, the genre information recorded in the genre table 13 is attached to the request signal.
[0017]
When receiving the request for the map information from the in-vehicle terminal 1, the service center 4 requests the map information from the external server 5 using an application provided from the external server 5, and uses the genre information to obtain the facility information. Request.
The external server 5 responds with the image data of the designated map and the facility information of the designated genre.
[0018]
The service center 4 holds the map image data received from the external server 5 in a data stream, packs it with facility information for each genre, and then makes a batch response to the corresponding in-vehicle terminal 1.
The in-vehicle terminal 1 stores the map image data received from the service center 4 in the memory 12, and stores the facility information in the genre table 13. In addition, the map image and the facility information are displayed on the display 10.
[0019]
The facility information displayed on the display 10 is displayed for each genre set by the user. The facility information can also be set so as not to be displayed on the screen.
After the genre information is set in the vehicle-mounted terminal 1 and sold, the genre information may be changed in the external server 5. In this case, the genre information in the in-vehicle terminal 1 does not match the genre information in the external server 5, and the facility information requested by the in-vehicle terminal 1 cannot be provided.
[0020]
On the other hand, the service center 4 periodically inquires the external server 5 about genre information, and matches its own genre setting file 8 with that of the external server 5. Then, when receiving a request for facility information from the in-vehicle terminal 1, the service center 4 compares the genre information received from the in-vehicle terminal 1 with the genre information stored in the genre setting file 8.
[0021]
If there is a mismatch in the genre information, the service center 4 adds new genre information to the map information and the facility information when responding to the in-vehicle terminal 1. The in-vehicle terminal 1 displays the received map information and facility information on the display 10 and automatically updates the genre information in the genre table 13. Also, the user is notified that the genre information has been updated by a message or the like.
[0022]
The genre name in the genre information can be set by the user as to whether or not to automatically update. When the setting is made not to perform the automatic update, the new genre name responded by the service center 4 is discarded and displayed with the old name. This makes it possible to provide a service according to the user's preference.
[0023]
Details of the service center 4 will be described.
First, the service setting file 9 will be described. The service setting file 9 defines various setting values required for operating the own vehicle position providing service.
FIG. 2 shows a portion of the service setting file 9 in which a time interval for making an inquiry to the external server 5 is set.
[0024]
In the external server 5, the genre code is changed relatively frequently. For this reason, the service center 4 inquires of the genre code to the external server 5 at the time of the initial startup of the system and at each time interval recorded in the service setting file 9 to ensure the consistency with the external server 5. I do.
As the time interval of the inquiry, as shown in FIG. 2, whether the inquiry is performed every day, on a predetermined day of the week, or whether the inquiry is not performed can be set. You can also set the day of the week and the time of the inquiry. These settings can be changed, and can be arbitrarily set in accordance with the information update frequency of the external server 5.
[0025]
Next, the genre setting file 8 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 3, in the genre setting file 8, facilities are classified into genres, such as convenience stores, GS, and parking lots. A genre code, a genre name, and a history of the genre name are recorded for each genre. The genre code is always updated with the latest value in accordance with that of the external server 5. When the genre name is changed, a new name is sequentially added. The order in which the names were updated is recorded as history information.
[0026]
How to use the genre setting file 8 and the service setting file 9 will be described.
The external server 5 changes the genre code relatively frequently. The center 4 updates the genre setting file 8 by inquiring of the genre code to the external server 5 to deal with the change of the genre code.
[0027]
The procedure of the genre code inquiry in the service center 4 will be described with reference to FIG.
When the system is started, the service center 4 connects to the external server 5 and issues a genre code acquisition request (S1). At this time, an acquisition request is made using the latest genre name recorded in the genre setting file 8.
[0028]
The external server 5 returns a genre code corresponding to the received genre name (S2).
If the received genre code does not match the one recorded in the genre setting file 8, the service center 4 rewrites the genre code in the genre setting file 8 with the received genre code (S3).
[0029]
When the set time (see FIG. 3) recorded in the service setting file 9 comes (S4), the service center 4 connects to the external server 5 and makes a genre code acquisition request in the same manner as in step S1 described above. (S5).
If there is a response from the external server 5 (S6) and there is a change in the genre code stored in the facility DB 7, the genre code in the genre setting file 8 is rewritten in the same manner as in step S3 described above (S7). Thereafter, each time the time set in the service setting file 9 comes, steps S4-S7 are repeated.
[0030]
Since the genre name changes infrequently, it is possible to automatically detect that the genre code has been changed by querying the genre code using the genre name. When the genre name is changed, an update operation is separately performed.
When the genre name is changed, as shown in FIG. 3, an update history is left, and the old name is also left in the record. How to use the old name will be described later.
[0031]
By automatically matching the genre code of the genre setting file 8 with the genre code of the external server 5, even when the genre code is changed in the external server 5, a response to a request from the in-vehicle terminal 1 is provided. The situation that can not be done can be minimized.
[0032]
The operation of the in-vehicle terminal 1 will be described.
FIG. 5 shows a screen transition of the display 10 when the onboard terminal 1 intends to receive the own vehicle position providing service.
(1) is a menu screen of the own vehicle position providing service. Here, service menus such as (a) map acquisition request, (b) destination setting in the navigation system, and (c) navigation route guidance are displayed.
[0033]
Here, when (a) map acquisition is selected, the map acquisition screen of (2) is displayed, and selection of the current location map or the designated location map becomes possible.
When the current location map is selected, as shown in (3), a map responded from the service center 4 is displayed, and a mark 14 indicating the own vehicle is displayed at the center of the screen.
[0034]
A mark 15 indicating the presence of the facility is displayed on the map. The mark 15 is given a number from 1 to 4, and one number of the mark 15 and the facility name indicated by the number are displayed at the bottom of the screen. When the user touches one mark 15 on the screen, the number of the touched mark 15 and the facility name are displayed at the bottom of the screen.
[0035]
When changing the genre of the facility displayed on the screen, the user touches the “information” button 16 displayed at the bottom of the screen. Then, a genre selection screen shown in (4) is displayed. Here, when the button indicating the desired genre name is touched, the screen returns to the screen shown in (3), the facility belonging to the selected genre is displayed by the mark 15, and the facility name is displayed at the bottom of the screen.
[0036]
The genre displayed on the genre selection screen in FIG. 5D can be changed. For this purpose, the user connects to the service center 4 using the installed application, and selects a desired genre from the genres recorded in the genre setting file 8. Thereby, the genre table 13 (see FIG. 7 described later) of the in-vehicle terminal 1 is rewritten. Note that this genre rewriting method is not different from the conventional one, and therefore a detailed description is omitted here.
[0037]
The process of acquiring map information and facility information by the vehicle-mounted terminal 1 will be described with reference to FIG.
When the user selects the current location map or the designated location map while the screen shown in FIG. 5B is displayed, the vehicle-mounted terminal 1 transmits a map request signal to the service center 4 (S11).
[0038]
The map request signal includes the latitude and longitude of the map to be obtained. The latitude and longitude are obtained from the GPS 11 mounted on the vehicle in the case of the current location map request. In the case of a request for a designated place map, an application for selecting the latitude and longitude of the designated place is called, and the latitude and longitude of the designated place are determined by a predetermined operation of the user.
The in-vehicle terminal 1 attaches the genre name and the genre code recorded in the genre table 13 to the map request signal. The genre name and genre code are used for acquiring facility information.
[0039]
The contents of the genre table 13 will be described with reference to FIG.
The genre table 13 can record a predetermined number (for example, six) of genres. For each genre, one genre number, genre name, and genre code are recorded.
[0040]
A predetermined number (for example, four) of facility information can be recorded for one genre. As facility information, a facility name, a mark number, the latitude and longitude of the facility are recorded for each facility. The mark 15 displayed on the map screen of FIG. 5 (3) is displayed based on this facility information.
[0041]
Returning to FIG. 6, upon receiving the map request signal from the in-vehicle terminal 1, the service center 4 transmits a facility information request signal to the external server 5 (S12). At this time, a genre code is used to specify the genre.
In some cases, the genre name and genre code used in the in-vehicle terminal 1 are old and do not match those in the facility DB 7 of the external server 5.
[0042]
The service center 4 searches the genre setting file 8 (see FIG. 3) based on the genre name received from the in-vehicle terminal 1, and extracts a genre code for making an inquiry to the external server 5. Since the genre name before change is also recorded in the genre setting file 8, the latest genre code can be reliably extracted. Thereby, even if the genre classification is changed in the external server 5 after the sale of the in-vehicle terminal 1, it is possible to easily cope with it.
[0043]
The external server 5 responds by extracting facility information corresponding to the transmitted genre code from the facility DB 7 (S13). The service center 4 stores the received facility information.
Subsequently, the service center 4 transmits a map information request signal to the external server 5 (S14).
[0044]
The external server 5 extracts corresponding map data (image data) from the map DB 6 based on the latitude and longitude included in the map information request signal, and responds to the service center 4 (S15).
The service center 4 holds the image data received from the external server 5 in a data stream, packs the image data with facility information for each genre, and then makes a batch response to the corresponding in-vehicle terminal 1 (S16).
[0045]
At the time of this response, the genre name and genre code notified from the vehicle-mounted terminal 1 are compared with the latest genre name and genre code recorded in the genre setting file 8. Here, if any one of them is changed, the latest genre name and genre code are added to the map information and the facility information transmitted to the vehicle-mounted terminal 1.
[0046]
Further, the service center 4 may respond with genre information not requested by the in-vehicle terminal 1. For example, the latest genre name and genre code of the genre to be added are added when the requested genre is deleted and no longer exists, or when the newly added genre is to be tried.
[0047]
The operation of the vehicle-mounted terminal 1 when receiving a response signal from the service center 4 will be described with reference to FIG.
When the map information and the facility information are downloaded from the service center 4 (S21), the illustrated operation is started.
It is determined whether the genre code has been changed (S22). Here, if a different genre code is added to the genre information, it is determined that the genre code has been changed.
[0048]
If it is determined in step S22 that the genre code has been changed, the downloaded map is displayed on the display 10, the genre code in the genre table 13 is updated with the received genre code, and the update is notified (S27). ). This notification is performed by displaying a message on the screen, outputting a guide tone, or reading out by voice.
[0049]
The change of the genre code in the external server 5 includes a case in which only the genre code is changed without changing the genre name, and a case in which the genre code is changed with the change in the genre name. If the genre name requested by the in-vehicle terminal 1 has been changed to another genre name, it is also treated as a genre code change. Therefore, when the genre code is updated, the user is notified that the genre code has been changed. This notification can be omitted.
[0050]
If it is determined in step S22 that the genre code has not been changed, it is determined whether or not the genre name has been changed (S23). Here, if a different genre name is added to the genre information, it is determined that the genre name has been changed.
If it is determined in step S23 that the genre name has not been changed, the downloaded map (including the display of the facility) is displayed on the display 10 (S25). In this case, since the genre code has not been changed in the genre name mode, the genre table 13 is not updated.
[0051]
If it is determined in step S23 that the genre name has been changed, it is determined whether or not automatic updating of the genre name has been set (S24). Some users may wish to continue using the old name even if the genre name has been changed in the external server 5. In this case, the user sets in advance that the genre name is not automatically changed in the vehicle-mounted terminal 1.
[0052]
If the automatic update is not set, the downloaded map is displayed on the display 10 (S25). In this case, the update of the genre table 13 and the notification of the change of the genre name to the user are not performed.
If automatic updating is set in step S24, the downloaded map is displayed on the display 10, the genre name in the genre table 13 is updated with the received genre name, and the user is notified that the name has been updated. (S26). This notification is performed by displaying a message on the screen, outputting a guide tone, or reading out by voice.
[0053]
In some cases, the user who is used to the user does not want to change the genre name without permission. On the other hand, since it is possible to select to continuously display the genre name before the change, the usability of the user can be improved. In this way, by giving the user the selection right, it is possible to respond to the demands of a wider user group.
Further, when the genre name is changed, the user is notified, so that the user can recognize that the genre name has been changed. This notification can be omitted.
[0054]
Step S24 in FIG. 8 can be omitted. In this case, if it is determined in step S23 that the genre name has been changed, the process proceeds to step S26, where the genre name in the genre table 13 is updated.
Further, whether or not to automatically update the genre name may be performed at the service center 4 side instead of at the in-vehicle terminal 1. In this case, when the in-vehicle terminal 1 transmits the map request signal to the service center 4 in step S11 of FIG. 6, the presence / absence of genre name automatic update is attached to the request signal.
[0055]
When responding in step S16 of FIG. 6, the service center 4 does not attach a new name unless the in-vehicle terminal 1 requests genre name update, and attaches a new name if requested.
In this case, the in-vehicle terminal 1 omits step 24 in FIG. 8 and updates the genre table 13 with the new genre name when a change in the genre name is detected.
[0056]
As described above, in the service system that provides the facility information to the terminal, the service center 4 manages the change of the category classification of the facility. As a result, even after the on-board terminal 1 is released, it is possible to easily respond to user requests and market trends without upgrading the program of the on-board terminal 1.
[0057]
【The invention's effect】
ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, in the service system which provides a facility information to a terminal, it can respond easily to the change of the genre classification of a facility.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a host vehicle position providing service system to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing contents of a service setting file in the service center of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing contents of a genre setting file in the service center of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a time chart showing a procedure of a genre code inquiry in the service center of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a screen transition of a display when the in-vehicle terminal in FIG. 1 receives the own vehicle position providing service.
FIG. 6 is a time chart showing a process of acquiring map information and facility information in the system of FIG. 1;
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing map data and facility information stored in the vehicle-mounted terminal of FIG. 1;
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an operation at the time of downloading map information in the in-vehicle terminal of FIG. 1;
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... In-vehicle terminal 2 ... Base station 3 ... Communication network 4 ... Service center 5 ... External server 6 ... Map DB
7. Facility DB
8 genre setting file 9 service setting file 10 display 11 GPS
12 memory 13 genre table 14 mark indicating own vehicle 15 mark indicating facility 16 information button

Claims (11)

An external server that provides map information and facility information, a terminal device that displays map information and facility information, and a center connected between the external server and the terminal device, wherein the center is In response to the request for the map information and the facility information transmitted from the terminal device, the map information and the facility information are obtained from the external server and transmitted to the terminal device, and the terminal device receives the map information and the facility information. In the facility information service system that displays on the display unit,
The center transmits the genre name to the genre setting file in which a genre name and a genre code are recorded as genre classifications related to facility information, and inquires of the corresponding genre code to the external server. The matching means for updating the genre code recorded in the file, the genre classification of the facility included in the request for the facility information received from the terminal device, and the genre classification stored in the genre setting file are compared. In the case of, comprising updating means for transmitting a signal for updating the genre classification to the terminal device,
A facility information service system characterized by the following. When receiving a request for map information and facility information from the terminal device, an acquisition unit that requests the external server to provide map information and facility information,
Facility information creating means for creating map information and facility information suitable for display on the terminal device based on the map information and facility information received from the external server, and transmitting the map information and facility information to the terminal device;
A genre setting file that records genre classifications related to facility information,
The genre classification of the facility included in the request for the facility information received from the terminal device is compared with the genre classification stored in the genre setting file. Updating means for transmitting a signal to perform
A center comprising: In the genre setting file, a genre name and a genre court are recorded,
3. A matching means for transmitting the genre name to the external server, inquiring about a corresponding genre code, and updating a genre code recorded in the genre setting file. Center. 4. The center according to claim 3, wherein the genre setting file records a plurality of genre names corresponding to one genre code. 4. The center according to claim 3, wherein the updating of the genre code by the matching unit periodically inquires of the external server. The center according to claim 3, wherein the matching unit notifies the terminal device of the change in the genre code when the genre code of the external server is changed as a result of the consistency check. When the genre name of the genre setting file does not match the genre name transmitted from the terminal device, the matching unit notifies the terminal device of the genre name recorded in the genre setting file. The center according to claim 3. 4. The center according to claim 3, wherein the matching unit notifies the terminal device of a genre name before the change when there is a request not to change from the terminal device. Request means for transmitting a request for map information and facility information to the center;
Storage means for storing map information and facility information received from the center,
Display means for displaying the map information and facility information on a display,
Selection means for selecting whether or not to automatically change the genre name included in the facility information,
A terminal device comprising: 10. The terminal device according to claim 9, wherein when the setting is made not to be changed by the selection unit, the genre name before the change is displayed on the display unit. The terminal device according to claim 9, further comprising a notification unit that notifies that the genre name has been updated.

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