JP2005037330A - Path planning system for utilizing information distribution station, onboard equipment, and server - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system, equipment, and a data base for making easy to utilize information such as the geographic position of an information distribution station, and distributable contents for a user in a vehicle. <P>SOLUTION: The onboard path planning system for path planning utilizing the information distribution station on a vehicle comprises: an input means for inputting conditional information from the user at the utilization of the information distribution station, an acquisition means for acquiring prescribed information regarding an information shower most suitable for inputted conditional information inputted by the input means from the outside server connected communicatively via the network, and a path planning means for searching the optimum information distribution station for the optimum path planning based on the prescribed information regarding the optimum information acquired by the acquisition means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

    The present invention relates to a route search system, an in-vehicle device, and a server for using an information distribution station installed in an appropriate place and distributing information in a spot manner in a vehicle.

  In recent years, by connecting a mobile phone or a PHS, an in-vehicle device represented by a car navigation device is increasingly connected to the Internet from various places. For example, the car navigation apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 11A is configured to be connected to the Internet with a mobile phone 2 connected thereto. As a result, the car navigation device 1 enables collection of various information such as browsing of home pages and transmission / reception of e-mails and transmission of the information itself. In addition, as shown in FIG. 11B, in recent years, a car navigation device 4 that has a built-in mobile phone transmission / reception unit 5 and can be connected to the Internet at a flat rate and a communication speed of about 144 Kbps has appeared. In this type of system, services such as shopping by connecting to an e-commerce site, and setting a destination by obtaining peripheral drive information are realized.

  On the other hand, large-capacity content such as map information and music / video for car navigation devices can be turned on in the car as well as in the broadband environment represented by ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) and FTTH (Fiber To The Home). There is an increasing demand for use on demand. Since this type of large-capacity content takes a long time to download at the current mobile phone and PHS communication speeds, it has been provided in the state of being stored in a storage medium such as a CD or DVD, and brought into the vehicle for use. Was. For this reason, information cannot be updated, added, or deleted freely, and the information itself becomes obsolete earlier than the life of the car, and there is a problem that new CDs and DVDs must be repurchased frequently.

  Wireless LANs (IEEE802.11a, IEEE802.11b, IEEE802.11g) and DSRC (Dedicated Short Range Communication) are known as methods for enabling wireless transmission of large-capacity content as described above. ing. As is well known, a wireless LAN is a LAN that performs wireless communication using radio waves in the 2.4 GHz band or 5 GHz band, and has been formulated by the IEEE 802.11 committee. Wireless LAN users connect wirelessly from their information terminals (laptops and PDAs) to access points installed indoors, such as homes, offices, and stores, and outdoors such as utility poles. Connect to the Internet.

  On the other hand, DSRC is a method for realizing high-speed transmission in a limited area around a base station by using, for example, a radio wave of 5.8 GHz band. For example, ETC (automatic toll collection system of a highway tollgate) ) Etc.

  Maintenance of information distribution stations (generally known as “information showers” (wireless communication facilities that perform spot distribution of content for cars) using such a narrow but high-speed wireless LAN or DSRC Are being studied among telecommunication carriers, automobile manufacturers, and entities related to ITS (Intelligent Transport Systems). However, so far, as far as the present inventors know, there is no prior art that prepares information such as the location where the information shower is installed, content that can be used in the information shower, and adds usefulness thereto. . In addition, as far as the present inventors know, there is no prior art in which these maintained information and a car navigation device are linked.

  On the other hand, reservations for parking lots, reservations for facilities such as restaurants, and reservations for parking lots associated therewith, and related arts related to car navigation, are as follows. For example, there is a car navigation apparatus that transmits reservation information to a facility reservation server and makes a reservation for a facility or parking lot that is going to be used (see, for example, FIG. 12, Patent Document 1). .

In addition to the above, it relates to a parking lot reservation system in which a parking lot around a destination is reserved in advance using a communication line from a moving car, and it is not necessary to wait even if it is crowded after arrival at the destination. Have been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3).
JP 2003-21519 A JP-A-6-19929 JP-A-10-208197

  As described above, infrastructure for information showers using wireless LAN and DSRC is being promoted among telecommunications carriers, automobile manufacturers, and business entities related to ITS (Intelligent Transport Systems). However, the information shower usage system is not provided so that it is easy for users to use. Up to now, information such as the geographical location of information showers and available content has been acquired by users by information magazines or Internet searches each time. However, it would be convenient if such information is also made into a database so that the user can easily use it for route search to reservations and information showers.

  Furthermore, when the number of information showers to be installed in the future increases, it is predicted that specific information can be obtained only in specific information showers and differentiated from others. There may be situations where information that is closely related to the information can only be obtained from information showers in the area. In such a situation, it is also predicted that the content that can be distributed for each information shower, the geographical location of the information shower, information such as the information shower ID will be databased and distributed to users who need it for a fee or free of charge. Is done. In addition, when using an information shower in a car, a database storing information such as the geographical location of the information shower is used to search for an optimal route to the target information shower or through the information shower. It would be convenient if there was a method or device for selecting the optimal information shower as the ground, or navigating to the target information shower.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances. In other words, the present invention provides a server having a database storing information such as the geographical location of information showers and distributable contents, and obtains predetermined information related to information showers from such servers and can use the target information shower An object of the present invention is to provide a device for searching for a simple route, and a route search system including such a server and device.

  The present invention provides a system for searching for a route in which an information distribution station installed at an appropriate location can be used in a vehicle, and this system has a database storing at least predetermined information about each information distribution station. A server connected to the network and an in-vehicle device that includes at least a navigation device and can communicate with the server via the network. The in-vehicle device further includes a condition information acquisition / transmission unit that acquires condition information from the user side when using the information distribution station in relation to the navigation function and transmits the condition information to the server. The server selects, based on the condition information received from the in-vehicle device, the optimum information distribution station that best matches the condition information from the database, and selects / transmits the predetermined information related to the selected information distribution station to the in-vehicle device. The unit is further provided. The navigation device of the in-vehicle device includes a route search unit that searches for an optimum route that can use the selected information distribution station based on the predetermined information about the selected information distribution station received from the server.

  In the above preferred embodiment of the present invention, the database of the server stores at least information on the geographical position regarding each information distribution station, and the condition information from the user side includes at least condition information regarding the geographical position. The server selection / transmission unit selects, based on the condition information regarding the geographical position received from the in-vehicle device, the optimum information distribution station that best matches the condition information from the database, and selects the geographical information regarding the selected information distribution station. The information on the target position is transmitted to the in-vehicle device. The route search unit of the navigation device of the in-vehicle device searches for the optimum route that can use the selected information distribution station based on the information on the geographical position related to the selected information distribution station received from the server.

  In a more preferred embodiment, the condition information regarding the geographical position from the user is information on the current position of the vehicle, and the selection / transmission unit of the server is based on the information on the current position of the vehicle received from the in-vehicle device. The information distribution station closest to the current location is selected from the database, and information on the geographical location related to the selected information distribution station is transmitted to the in-vehicle device. The route search unit of the navigation device of the in-vehicle device searches for the optimum route using the geographical position of the selected information distribution station received from the server as the destination.

  In another more preferred embodiment, the condition information regarding the geographical position from the user is route information, and the selection / transmission unit of the server is on the route based on the route information received from the in-vehicle device or The information distribution station closest to the route is selected from the database, and information on the geographical position related to the selected information distribution station is transmitted to the in-vehicle device. The route search unit of the navigation device of the in-vehicle device performs route search processing again using the geographical position of the selected information distribution station received from the server as a transit point.

  In another preferred embodiment, the database of the server stores at least information on the geographical location regarding each information distribution station and information on contents that can be distributed by each information distribution station, and the condition information from the user side is: It includes at least condition information relating to geographical location and condition information relating to content. The selection / transmission unit of the server selects the optimum information distribution station that best matches the condition information from the database based on the condition information regarding the geographical position and the condition information regarding the content received from the in-vehicle device, and the selected information Information on the geographical position related to the distribution station is transmitted to the in-vehicle device. The route search unit of the navigation device of the in-vehicle device searches for the optimum route that can use the selected information distribution station based on the information on the geographical position related to the selected information distribution station received from the server.

  In another more preferable embodiment, the condition information regarding the geographical position from the user side is information on the current position of the vehicle, and the selection / transmission unit of the server receives the information on the current position of the vehicle and the content received from the in-vehicle device. Information distribution station closest to the current position of the vehicle and capable of distributing content is selected from the database based on the condition information regarding the geographical position information on the selected information distribution station. Send to in-vehicle device. The route search unit of the navigation device of the in-vehicle device searches for the optimum route using the geographical position of the selected information distribution station received from the server as the destination.

  In still another more preferred embodiment, the condition information related to the geographical location from the user side is route information, and the selection / transmission unit of the server is based on the route information received from the in-vehicle device and the condition information related to the content. The information distribution station that is on the route or closest to the route and that can distribute the content is selected from the database, and information on the geographical location of the selected information distribution station is sent to the in-vehicle device. Send. The route search unit of the navigation device of the in-vehicle device performs route search processing again using the geographical position of the selected information distribution station received from the server as a transit point.

  In a further embodiment, in the route search system of the present invention, the in-vehicle device further includes a communication unit for communicating with the information distribution station, and when the vehicle arrives at the target information distribution station, the communication unit Download the desired content from the information distribution station.

  In a further embodiment, in the route search system according to the present invention, the server further includes a reservation management database for managing use reservations of the information distribution station, and selected information distribution based on a user instruction from the in-vehicle device. A reservation for the station is made and the result of the reservation is transmitted to the in-vehicle device.

  In another aspect, the present invention provides an in-vehicle route search device for searching for a route in which an information distribution station installed at an appropriate location can be used in a vehicle. This in-vehicle route searching device includes an input unit that inputs condition information from the user side when using the information distribution station, and predetermined information related to the optimum information distribution station that best matches the condition information input by the input unit. An optimum path that can use the optimum information distribution station based on predetermined information related to the optimum information distribution station acquired by the acquisition unit acquired from the external server that is communicably connected via the network And a route search unit for searching for.

  In one preferred embodiment of the route search apparatus of the present invention, the condition information includes at least condition information relating to the geographical position, and the acquisition unit includes at least the geographical information relating to the optimum information distribution station that best matches the condition information relating to the geographical position. Get target location information from server. The navigation unit searches for an optimum route that can use the optimum information distribution station based on information on a geographical position related to the optimum information distribution station.

  In a more preferred embodiment, the condition information related to the geographical position is information on the current position of the vehicle, and the acquisition unit acquires information on the geographical position of the information distribution station closest to the current position of the vehicle from the server. The navigation unit searches for an optimum route using the geographical position of the information distribution station closest to the current position of the vehicle as a destination.

  In another more preferred embodiment, the condition information relating to the geographical location is route information, and the obtaining unit obtains information on the geographical location of the information distribution station that is on the route or closest to the route from the server. The navigation unit performs the route search process again using the geographical position of the information distribution station on the route or closest to the route as a transit point.

  In still another preferred embodiment of the route search apparatus, the condition information includes at least condition information relating to the geographical position and condition information relating to the content, and the acquisition unit includes the condition information relating to the geographical position and the condition information relating to the content. Information on at least the geographical position related to the most suitable information distribution station is obtained from the server. The navigation unit searches for an optimum route that can use the optimum information distribution station based on information on a geographical position related to the optimum information distribution station.

  In a more preferred embodiment of the route search apparatus, the condition information regarding the geographical position is information on the current position of the vehicle, and the acquisition unit is an information distribution station closest to the current position of the vehicle and distributes the content. Obtain at least geographical location information about possible information distribution stations from the server. The navigation unit searches for an optimum route with the geographical position of the information distribution station closest to the current position of the vehicle and capable of distributing content as a destination.

  In another more preferable embodiment of the route search apparatus, the condition information regarding the geographical position is route information, and the acquisition unit is an information distribution station on the route or closest to the route, and stores the content. Information on at least the geographical position of the distributable information distribution station is acquired from the server, and the navigation unit searches the route again using the geographical position of the information distribution station on the route or closest to the route as a transit point. I do.

  In a further embodiment, the route search apparatus according to the present invention further includes a communication unit for communicating with the information distribution station, and when the vehicle arrives at the target information distribution station, Download the desired content.

  In a further embodiment, the route search apparatus of the present invention transmits a user instruction relating to the use reservation of the selected information distribution station to an external reservation management server, and a transmission / reception means for receiving the reservation result from the server. Is further provided.

  In another aspect, the present invention provides a server that manages predetermined information about an information distribution station and distributes the information to an in-vehicle device. This server receives a database storing predetermined information related to an information distribution station installed at an appropriate location, and condition information from the in-vehicle device side when distributing predetermined information related to the information distribution station to the in-vehicle device. A receiving unit for selecting, from the database, an optimal information distribution station that best matches the condition information based on the condition information received from the in-vehicle device, and predetermined information relating to the selected information distribution station. And a transmitting unit for transmitting to.

  In a preferred embodiment of the server, the predetermined information regarding the information distribution station includes at least information on the geographical position of each information distribution station, the condition information from the in-vehicle device side is information regarding the geographical position, and a selection unit Selects an optimal information distribution station that best matches the condition information regarding the geographical location from the database. A transmission part transmits the information regarding the geographical position regarding the selected information delivery station to a vehicle-mounted apparatus.

  In a more preferred embodiment, the condition information from the in-vehicle device side is information on the current position of the vehicle, and the selection unit selects an information distribution station closest to the current position of the vehicle from the database.

  In another more preferred embodiment, the condition information from the in-vehicle device side is route information, and the selection unit selects an information distribution station on the route or closest to the route from the database.

  In another preferred embodiment of the server, the predetermined information regarding the information distribution station includes at least information on a geographical position of each information distribution station and information on contents that can be distributed by the information distribution station, The condition information is information on the geographical location and information on the content, and the selection unit selects an optimal information distribution station that best matches the condition information on the geographical location and the condition information on the content from the database. A transmission part transmits the information regarding the geographical position regarding the selected information delivery station to a vehicle-mounted apparatus.

  In a further preferred embodiment of the server, the condition information from the in-vehicle device side is information on the current position of the vehicle and information on the content, and the selection unit is closest to the current position of the vehicle and can distribute the content. Select an information distribution station from the database.

  In another more preferable embodiment of the server, the condition information from the in-vehicle device side is route information and information on the content, and the selection unit is on the route or closest to the route and can distribute the content. The right information distribution station from the database.

  In a further embodiment, the server of the present invention further comprises a reservation management database for managing the use reservation of the information distribution station, receives reservation information related to the information distribution station selected from the in-vehicle device, and stores the reservation information in the reservation management database. The information delivery station is reserved and the result of the reservation is transmitted to the in-vehicle device.

  The present invention is a system comprising a server connected to a network having a database storing at least predetermined information relating to each information distribution station, and an in-vehicle device having at least a navigation device and capable of communicating with the server via the network. By providing this, the user on the vehicle side can easily search for the optimum route for using the desired information distribution station.

  The present invention further provides a vehicle-mounted route search device including means for acquiring predetermined information related to an optimal information distribution station from a server, so that a user can easily search for an optimal route to a desired information distribution station. Make it possible.

  The present invention further manages predetermined information related to the information distribution station and provides a server that distributes the information to the in-vehicle device, so that a user on the vehicle side can easily acquire the predetermined information related to the information distribution station. Is possible.

  In this way, the user can easily acquire the predetermined information regarding the target information distribution station in the in-vehicle device, and can easily search for a route to the available information distribution station. Furthermore, by introducing a reservation system, it is possible to easily make reservations for contents to be downloaded or use space, etc., and it is possible to shorten the time other than downloading at the information distribution station.

(Embodiment 1)
Hereinafter, a car navigation apparatus and an information shower use reservation system according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a car navigation apparatus and an information shower use reservation system according to the present invention. The car navigation device 11 is mounted on a vehicle and configured to be connected to the Internet using a mobile phone 12 or an information shower 13. The information shower use reservation system 14 is a system that accepts an information shower use reservation from a user via the mobile phone 12 connected to the car navigation apparatus 11 and manages the distribution of the reserved content. The information shower 13 is installed on a parking lot or road of a store such as a service area, a gas station, a car wash, a rental store, etc., and temporarily distributes a parking space or a traveling space to a user to distribute contents. A wireless communication facility that enables downloading. As a communication system, a communication system having a higher communication speed than a mobile phone, for example, a wireless LAN, DSRC, or UWB (Ultra Wide Band) is used. Information shower usage is restricted to entry into the communication area of the information shower, and reservation and / or payment of the entrance fee is required to use the information shower facility, or to the communication area There are no restrictions on admission, and it is possible to travel within the communication area of the information shower freely by car, and the information shower can be used for a fee or free of charge even without a facility reservation.

  First, the configuration of the car navigation device 11 will be described with reference to FIG. The first communication unit 111 is an interface for controlling the mobile phone 12 to establish communication data exchange, and the second communication unit 112 is an interface for establishing a wireless link with the information shower 13. Like the information shower 13, the second communication unit 112 uses a communication method using wireless LAN, DSRC, or UWB, and downloads a large amount of content from the information shower in a spot manner. The downloaded content is stored in the content storage unit 119. Next, the positioning device 113 is a device for measuring the current position, speed, acceleration, and the like of the vehicle. For example, a GPS receiver for detecting the current position, a vehicle speed sensor for detecting the speed, and an acceleration are detected. For example, an acceleration sensor is used. The signal processing unit 114 processes an input signal of the positioning device 113 and outputs a current position signal, a vehicle speed signal, an acceleration signal, and the like. The map database 115 is composed of a storage medium such as a DVD-ROM or HDD, and stores map information, facility information, and the like. In addition, the drawing LSI 114 is a circuit that converts the map, the vehicle position, the route, and the like into drawing data for display on the display monitor 123 in the vehicle interior under the control of the CPU 111. The display monitor 123 is disposed on a dashboard near the driver, for example.

  The route search unit 120 searches for an optimum route from the calculated current position to a destination or waypoint input by the user via the input device 122 by a method that is normal in the field such as the Dijkstra method. Is. The route guidance unit 121 provides guidance based on the searched route information and current location information that changes every moment. The route search and route guidance functions of the route search unit 120 and the route guide unit 121 are realized by a program. At this time, the memory 116 is used to temporarily store the read map data and the like.

  The input device 122 is realized by, for example, a remote controller, a touch panel display, a voice input microphone, or the like. The input device 122 is used to specify desired information in addition to the input of the destination or waypoint as described above, for example, when the user requests to send information on the information shower to an external server, Alternatively, when making a reservation for information shower use, it is also used for inputting a desired information shower, its use start time, desired content, and the like.

  Next, the configuration of the information shower use reservation system 14 will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the information shower use reservation system of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the reservation management server 15 is configured to be connectable to an information shower database 16, a content database 17, a user information database 18, a reservation management database 19, and a reservation history database 20 via a network. When the reservation management server 15 accepts a reservation from the car navigation device 11, the reservation management server 15 can perform reservation registration and transmit the result to the car navigation device 11. Although FIG. 2 shows the server and each database separately, a configuration in which each database is included in the server may be used. An example of the record format of each database is shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the reservation management database 19 includes a reservation ID for identifying a plurality of reservations, a user ID for identifying a plurality of users, and an information shower ID for identifying a plurality of information showers. Information shower use start time indicating the time when the user wants to start using the information shower, expected waiting time expected during the time zone where the user wants to start use, content ID for identifying a plurality of contents, content indicating the expiration date of the contents Consists of expiration date, fee required to download content, etc. Note that the charge is the total when downloading a plurality of contents, and further includes a communication charge for using the information shower.

  As shown in FIG. 3 (b), the information shower database record uses the information shower ID as a key to indicate the location where the information shower is installed. Latitude, longitude, altitude, road link number, communication method, IP address It consists of a manager who manages the number of parking facilities and information shower facilities. Here, the road link number is a number for identifying a road on the map. If the information shower is installed in a parking lot or the like and is not on the road, a number indicating invalidity, for example, NULL is assigned, and if it is installed on the road, a valid number is assigned.

  As shown in FIG. 3C, the user information database includes a user name, an address, a telephone number, a date of birth, a payment method when the user downloads content, and the like using a user ID as a key.

  As shown in FIG. 3 (d), the content database record has a content name as a key, a content name, a location of content that is link destination information where the content is actually placed, an author representing the author of the content, It is composed of a content code, a fee, a type code for identifying the type of content (for example, movie, music, game, map, regional information), and variable length data determined by the type code. Here, when the type code is music, the title name, artist name, album name, year, audio compression method (for example, MP3 (MPEG Audio Layer 3), WMA (Windows (R) Media Audio)), bit rate Etc. Note that even if the content is the same, the charge may be set high for places where information showers are congested and the waiting time is long, and conversely, the charges may be set low if the place is free and the waiting time is short. good. Thereby, the use of information shower can be distributed.

  The reservation history database is a database for keeping the contents reserved as a history when the user completes the use of the information shower, and the record format is the same as the reservation management database. By providing the reservation history database, the preference for each user can be known, and the recommended information generated for each user can be periodically distributed from the reservation management server 15 to the car navigation device 11.

  Processing performed in the car navigation device 11 and the information shower use reservation system 14 configured as described above will be described. In FIG. 4, after the car navigation device 11 transmits route information to the server 15, it acquires desired information shower information from the server 15, reserves a content download service, and finally passes through an information shower on the route. It is a sequence diagram which shows the flow until it carries out route re-search as a ground. Communication in these series of processing is normally performed via the mobile phone 12, but is not limited thereto. For example, when the location of the user's parking lot is close to the user's home and a wireless LAN access point (not shown) is installed at the home and is configured to be connectable to the Internet, the second communication unit 112 It is also possible to form a wireless link with a home wireless LAN access point via the network and perform reservation processing.

  First, according to the menu displayed on the display monitor 123, the user sets a destination such as a facility or place that he / she wants to go to via the input device 122. The car navigation device 11 performs route calculation processing with reference to the map database 115 from the current location and the input destination (step S401). Next, route data is transmitted to the reservation management server 15 based on an instruction by a user operation (step S402). When the reservation management server 15 receives the route data from the car navigation device 11, the reservation management server 15 searches the information shower database 16 to check whether or not there is an information shower on the route (step S403), and receives the result (step S403). S404). At this time, it is preferentially checked whether or not the data matching the road link number included in the received route data is in the information shower database. As a result, an information shower on the route data can be found first. Next, the vicinity of the route data is scanned concentrically sequentially from the current location to the destination to search for information showers installed in parking lots near the road. When the information shower search process ends and the information shower is found, the reservation management server 15 inquires the reservation management database 19 for the reservation status in order to check the reservation status at the information shower found in the above step (step S405) A reservation status result is obtained (step S406). Next, the process proceeds to processing for calculating a candidate for use location (step S407). As a candidate calculation method, for example, the information shower closest to the current location among the information showers on the route is selected as the first candidate, or the waiting time is the smallest in the estimated arrival time zone of each information shower. Can be selected as the first candidate. When the use place candidate is calculated, the use place candidate is notified to the car navigation device 11 (step S408). When the car navigation device 11 receives a candidate for a use location from the reservation management server 15, the car navigation device 11 displays where the location is on the route on the display monitor 123 and confirms with the user whether the location is acceptable. . When the user designates the usage location (step S409), the process proceeds to communication processing for determining the usage start time (steps S410 and S411). The use start time is set to a desired time by a user's manual input or a scheduled arrival time at a candidate information shower. Furthermore, in steps S412, 413, the content that the user wants to acquire is specified. The reservation management server 15 transmits the content list to the car navigation device 11, and the car navigation device 11 that has received the content list displays the content list on the display monitor 123. The content list is the content of the content database record shown in FIG. 3D, and is expressed in, for example, XML (extensible Markup Language). The user refers to the content list to specify the content to be downloaded, and the content is transmitted to the reservation management server 15. Next, the process proceeds to processing for registering a reservation in the reservation management database 19 (step S414). When registration is successfully performed in the record format shown in FIG. 3A, the response is notified to the car navigation device 11 (step S415). Note that receiving this content list is not an essential operation. For example, if a music artist name or a movie title name is input as in the case of web search, the search result is output as a list, and the user can You can also select the information you want. Furthermore, in “Reservation OK” in step S416, the car navigation device 11 notifies the car navigation device 11 of the contents of the record format shown in FIG. Can be displayed, and the user can confirm that the reservation has been made normally.

  In the sequence of FIG. 4, a communication portion related to user confirmation is omitted for the sake of simplicity, but is performed among the car navigation apparatus 11, the reservation management server 15, and the user information database 18. In addition, it is desirable that the information to be exchanged is encrypted because it includes personal information of the user. In addition, when the information shower usage queue is long, the size of content that can be downloaded by one user may be limited.

  When transmitting the use location candidates to the car navigation device 11, only the first use location candidate may be notified to the car navigation device 11, or a list of all information showers found in steps S403 and S404 is collected. And the user may select it. Furthermore, when transmitting a list of all information showers, the information may be sorted in order from the one closest to the current location described above, or may be sorted in order from the one having the lowest waiting time in the estimated arrival time zone.

  Next, the user performs the route search process again by setting the information shower whose use place is specified in step S409 as a waypoint (step S417).

  Next, referring to FIG. 5, the user completes the information shower use reservation, and after the route guidance is started until the information shower arrives, between the car navigation device 11 and the reservation management server 15 of the information shower reservation system. The information exchanged in will be described. FIG. 5 shows an exchange between the car navigation apparatus 11 and the reservation management server 15 from the start of route guidance to the arrival of the information shower when the user sets the information shower use start time as the scheduled arrival time. FIG.

  In FIG. 5, the car navigation apparatus 11 periodically transmits the value of the estimated arrival time that varies during traveling to the reservation management server 15 (step S <b> 52). At this time, the reservation ID is also transmitted together. Then, the reservation management server 15 that has received the estimated arrival time from the car navigation device 11 performs reservation content change / update processing on the reservation management database 19 (step S53). If it is updated normally, the response is returned to the car navigation device 11 (step S54). In steps S55 to S57, the same processing as steps S52 to S54 is repeated. Thereby, even when the arrival of the user vehicle fluctuates, the usage status of the information shower can be managed more accurately, so that the usage efficiency of the information shower can be improved.

  As described above, when the user wants to download content from the current location to the destination, the user can make a reservation in advance, so that a smooth information shower can be used. In particular, when downloading content while traveling using a mobile phone with a low communication speed, the communication cost is high due to the long communication time, and part of the processing capacity of the CPU is allocated to data communication processing. This may cause problems such as a delay in the route guidance processing inherent in the car navigation device, but such a situation may be caused by downloading large-capacity content using an information shower. It can be avoided.

  Furthermore, the information shower may be a destination as well as a transit point. Data transmission / reception between the car navigation apparatus 11 and the information shower use reservation system 14 in this case will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram in the case where a user searches for a route by setting an information shower as a destination and makes a use reservation for the information shower. In FIG. 6, the same sequences (arrows) as those in FIG. 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description of the processing is omitted.

  First, the car navigation device 11 transmits current location data to the reservation management server 15 in order to search for a nearby information shower location (step S601). The reservation management server 15 that has received the current location data searches the information shower database 16 to check whether there is an information shower near the current location (step S602), and receives the result (step S603). At that time, it is searched whether there is an information shower in a concentric shape near the current location. When an information shower near the current location is found, the reservation management server 15 performs information shower reservation processing in the same sequence as in FIG. 4 (steps S405 to S416). When the reservation process is completed, the car navigation apparatus 11 sets the reserved information shower as a destination, and executes a route search (step S604). As a result, even if the destination is an information shower, a use reservation can be made.

  The car navigation device 71 shown in FIG. 7 further stores the information shower location used once by the user and / or the information shower location often used by the user from the configuration of the car navigation device 11 shown in FIG. The information shower use history storage unit 174 and the content list storage unit 175 for storing the once received content list are a modification. In FIG. 7, the same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description of the processing is omitted. With this configuration, when making a reservation for an information shower that has been used once, the processing load on the reservation management server 15 is greatly reduced because the number of reservation information round-trip packets exchanged between the car navigation device 71 and the reservation management server 15 is drastically reduced. In addition, since the reservation is completed in a short time, the communication fee of the mobile phone 12 can be reduced. If the latest content list is desired, only the difference data may be sent from the reservation management server 15.

  Next, the operation when content is downloaded after the user vehicle arrives at the information shower will be described.

  FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which content arrives at an information shower reserved by the user and content is being downloaded. In FIG. 8, 811 is the vehicle of the user who made the reservation, and 812 is the reserved information shower. It is assumed that the car navigation devices 11 and 71 described above are mounted on the vehicle 811. The router 814 is a device that relays packets exchanged with the LAN inside the information shower through the Internet network, and the hub 815 is a device that relays processing between adjacent nodes when there are a plurality of information showers. Reference numeral 813 denotes an information shower which is not used in this case.

  When the vehicle 811 arrives at the information shower, first, user information and reservation information are transmitted from the car navigation devices 11 and 71 to the reservation management server 15. When receiving the user information, the reservation number, etc., the reservation management server 15 confirms that the contents are correct. If the content is correct, the user instructs the start of distribution of the content designated for reservation by the user. The content entity is preferably transferred in advance to a temporary storage server 816 installed in the vicinity of the information shower. As a result, the car navigation devices 11 and 71 can download content from the temporary storage server 816 at high speed without being delayed by the Internet network. The content to be downloaded is stored in the content storage unit 119. If the download is completed, the contents of the temporary storage server 816 may be deleted.

  Note that the user may cancel the reservation. If the content is transferred to the temporary storage server when the user's reservation is confirmed, the content in the temporary storage server is not deleted even after being canceled and accumulates. In addition, useless communication is performed. In order to avoid this situation, the user's vehicle will not be canceled when it reaches a certain distance from the reserved information shower (if canceled, a cancellation fee will be charged), and at the same time, the content reserved by the user May be transferred to the temporary storage server. The method for the reservation management server to determine whether or not the user vehicle has approached a certain distance is the sequence diagram shown in FIG. 5 and the scheduled arrival time that the car navigation device 11 periodically transmits to the reservation management server 15. The current location may be transmitted together with the information.

  In FIG. 8, an information shower 813 indicates that content can be distributed to two vehicles at the same time. Thus, one car navigation apparatus does not necessarily correspond to one information shower. The number of vehicles that can be handled with respect to one information shower is expressed by the number of vehicles that can be parked in the information shower database record shown in FIG. When there are a plurality of parking spaces in this way, a record representing “communication bandwidth” is added to the information shower database record shown in FIG. 3B, and a similar communication bandwidth is allocated to each user. You may do it. Accordingly, even when downloading is performed from each of the car navigation devices mounted on two or more vehicles, communication can be performed in the same communication band, and unfairness can be prevented.

  Furthermore, the content storage unit 119 in the car navigation devices 11 and 71 is not limited to being provided inside the car navigation device. You may provide outside a car navigation apparatus. For example, it may be configured to be provided in an in-vehicle server (not shown) connected to a car navigation device via an in-vehicle LAN (not shown).

(Embodiment 2)
In the above embodiment, there is no difference in the types of content that can be distributed by the information shower, and it is assumed that the user can obtain the necessary content regardless of where the information shower is performed. However, information that is closely related to the area is often obtained only by information showers in that area, and if the number of information showers to be installed in the future increases, it will be differentiated from others. Therefore, it is possible that a business model appears in which specific information can be obtained only by a specific information shower. In such a case, the user first needs to confirm at which information shower the content to be obtained is distributed before or simultaneously with searching for the information shower.

  FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram showing operations of the car navigation device 11 and the reservation management server 15 in such a case. The sequence shown in FIG. 4 is different from the sequence shown in FIG. 9 in that the content list is first sent from the reservation management server 15 to the car navigation device 11 (step S901), and the content that the user wants to acquire based on the list is displayed. (Step S902) (How to specify content is as already described with reference to FIG. 3), and thereafter, a search request for information shower is made to the reservation management server 15. It is. That is, the information shower search request transmitted from the car navigation device 11 includes not only route data (step S904) but also content specification by the user (step S902). The reservation management server 15 that has received the information shower search request in this way refers to the information shower database 16 and searches for an information shower that is on the route and can deliver the content specified by the user (step). S905), the result is received from the information shower database 16 (step S906). In this case, the information shower database 16 needs to include information on what content can be distributed in each information shower. If necessary, the content database 17 and the information shower database 16 may store information in a state of being associated with each other so that it can be understood in which information shower each content is distributed. In that case, the reservation management server 15 that has received the information shower search request from the car navigation device 11 refers to the content database 17 and is an information shower that is on the route and can deliver the content specified by the user. Can be searched (not shown) and the result can be received from the content database 17 (not shown).

  Next, the reservation management server 15 inquires of the reservation management database 19 about the reservation status in order to check the reservation status in the information shower found in the above step (step S907), and obtains the reservation status result (step S908). Next, the process proceeds to a process of calculating a use place candidate (step S909). As described above with reference to FIG. 4, as a candidate calculation method, for example, the information shower closest to the current location among the information showers on the route is selected as the first candidate, or each information shower is selected. The place where the waiting time is the smallest in the estimated arrival time zone can be selected as the first candidate. When the use place candidate is calculated, the use place candidate is notified to the car navigation apparatus 11 (step S910). When the car navigation device 11 receives a candidate for a use location from the reservation management server 15, the car navigation device 11 displays where the location is on the route on the display monitor 123 and confirms with the user whether the location is acceptable. . When the user designates a use place (step S911), the process proceeds to a communication process for determining a use start time (steps S912 and S913). The use start time is set to a desired time by a user's manual input or a scheduled arrival time at a candidate information shower. Next, the process proceeds to processing for registering a reservation in the reservation management database 19 (step S914). When registration is successfully performed in the record format shown in FIG. 3A, the response is notified to the car navigation device 11 (step S915). Further, in “Reservation OK” in step S916, the car navigation device 11 notifies the car navigation device 11 of the contents of the record format shown in FIG. Can be displayed, and the user can confirm that the reservation has been made normally. Next, an information shower designated as a use place is set as a transit point, and a reroute search process is performed (step S917). In this way, the user can obtain route information to a specific information shower and obtain content that is only available there. As an example of such content, there is “moving image data including an advertisement of a store in close contact with the area”.

  FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram showing operations of the car navigation device 11 and the reservation management server 15 as a further example in the case where specific content is distributed only by a specific information shower. The difference from the case of FIG. 9 is that the information shower is set as a destination instead of a transit point.

  In FIG. 10, first, the car navigation apparatus 11 receives a content list from the reservation management server 15 (step S001) and designates content (step S002). Next, the current location data is transmitted to the reservation management server 15 in order to search for a nearby information shower location (step S003). The reservation management server 15 that has received the content designation and current location data refers to the information shower database 16 and searches for an information shower near the current location and capable of delivering the content designated by the user (step S004). The result is received (step S005). In this case, the information shower database 16 needs to include content information that can be distributed in each information shower. If necessary, the content information stored in the content database 17 and the information shower information stored in the information shower database 16 may be stored in association with each other. In that case, the reservation management server 15 that has received the information shower search request from the car navigation device 11 refers to the content database 17 instead of the information shower database 16 and is on the route and specified by the user. It is also possible to search for an information shower capable of distributing content (not shown).

  Next, as described with reference to FIG. 9, the reservation management server 15 inquires about the reservation status of the information shower, calculates a reservation place candidate, performs reservation registration, and the like. Finally, when the reservation of the target information shower and its contents is completed, a route search to the information shower is performed by a normal method in the field in step S017.

  The route search system, the route search device, and the server of the present invention are useful in providing information such as the geographical position of an information distribution station and distributable content so that a user in a vehicle can easily use the information.

It is a block diagram which shows the whole structure which concerns on the car navigation apparatus and information shower utilization reservation system of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the information shower utilization reservation system of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the record format of each database which comprises the information shower utilization reservation system of this invention. In the route search system of the present invention, on the basis of the route data sent from the in-vehicle device, the server selects an information shower on the route, makes a reservation, and then the in-vehicle device reroutes using the information shower as a transit point. It is a sequence diagram which shows the flow until it searches. When the user sets the use start time of the information shower as the estimated arrival time, information exchanged between the car navigation device 11 and the reservation management server 15 from the start of the route guidance to the arrival of the information shower FIG. In the route search system of the present invention, based on the current position data sent from the in-vehicle device, the server selects an information shower near the current position, makes a reservation, and then the in-vehicle device uses the information shower as a destination. It is a sequence diagram which shows the flow until it performs route search. A modification of the car navigation apparatus of FIG. 1 further comprising an information shower usage history storage unit 174 for storing information shower locations used in the past and a content list storage unit 175 for storing content lists received in the past. It is a block diagram which shows an example. It is a schematic diagram which shows a mode that the user arrives at an information shower and is downloading the content. In the route search system of the present invention, based on the route data sent from the in-vehicle device and the specified content information, the server selects an information shower that is on the route and can deliver the specified content, and makes a reservation. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram showing a flow until the vehicle-mounted device performs a re-route search using the information shower as a transit point. In the route search system of the present invention, based on the current position data sent from the in-vehicle device and information on the designated content, the server is located near the current position and an information shower that can deliver the designated content is selected, It is a sequence diagram which shows the flow until it makes a reservation and then the vehicle-mounted device searches for a route with the information shower as a destination. It is a block diagram which shows the example of the prior art which the vehicle-mounted apparatus represented by the car navigation apparatus connects to the internet via a mobile telephone from various places. It is a block diagram which shows the example of the prior art which concerns on patent document 1. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

11, 71 ... Car navigation device 12 ... Mobile phone 13 ... Information shower 14 ... Information shower reservation system 15 ... Reservation management server 16 ... Information shower database 17 ... Content database 18 User information database 19 Reservation management database 20 Reservation history database 21 Internet network 111 First communication unit 112 Second communication unit 113 Positioning device 114 ..Signal processing unit 115 ... Map database 116 ... Memory 117 ... CPU
118... Drawing LSI
119: Content storage unit 120 ... Route search unit 121 ... Route guidance unit 122 ... Input device 123 ... Display monitor 174 ... Information shower use history storage unit 175 ... Content list storage Section 811 ... Vehicle 812 ... Information shower 813 ... Information shower 814 ... Router 815 ... Hub 816 ... Primary storage server

Claims (26)

A system for searching for a route that can use an information distribution station installed at an appropriate location in a vehicle,
A database storing at least predetermined information about each of the information distribution stations, and a server connected to a network;
Having at least a navigation device, and comprising an in-vehicle device capable of communicating with the server via the network,
The in-vehicle device further includes condition information acquisition / transmission means for acquiring condition information from a user side when using the information distribution station in relation to the navigation function and transmitting the condition information to the server,
Based on the condition information received from the in-vehicle device, the server selects an optimal information distribution station that best matches the condition information from the database, and provides predetermined information regarding the selected information distribution station to the in-vehicle apparatus. A selection / transmission means for transmitting to the device;
The navigation device of the in-vehicle device includes route search means for searching for an optimum route that can use the selected information distribution station based on predetermined information related to the selected information distribution station received from the server. , Route search system. The database of the server stores at least information on a geographical location regarding each of the information distribution stations,
The condition information from the user side includes at least condition information regarding a geographical location,
The server selection / transmission means selects, based on the condition information regarding the geographical position received from the in-vehicle device, the optimum information distribution station that best matches the condition information from the database, and the selected information. Sends geographical location information about the distribution station to the in-vehicle device,
The route search means of the navigation device of the in-vehicle device searches for the optimum route that can use the selected information distribution station based on the geographical position information related to the selected information distribution station received from the server. The route search system according to claim 1. The condition information regarding the geographical position from the user is information on the current position of the vehicle,
The selection / transmission means of the server selects an information distribution station closest to the current position of the vehicle from the database based on the information on the current position of the vehicle received from the in-vehicle device, and selects the selected information distribution Sending information on the geographical location of the station to the in-vehicle device,
The route search system according to claim 2, wherein the route search means of the navigation device of the in-vehicle device searches for an optimum route with the geographical position of the selected information distribution station received from the server as a destination. The condition information regarding the geographical location from the user is route information,
The server selection / transmission means selects, from the database, an information distribution station that is on or closest to the route based on the route information received from the in-vehicle device, and the selected information. Sends geographical location information about the distribution station to the in-vehicle device,
The route search unit according to claim 2, wherein the route search means of the navigation device of the in-vehicle device performs the route search process again using the geographical position of the selected information distribution station received from the server as a transit point. system. The database of the server stores at least information on a geographical position regarding each of the information distribution stations and information on contents that can be distributed by the information distribution stations,
The condition information from the user side includes at least condition information regarding the geographical position and condition information regarding the content,
The server selection / transmission means selects, from the database, an optimal information distribution station that best matches the condition information based on the condition information regarding the geographical position and the condition information regarding the content received from the in-vehicle device. , Sending information on the geographical location of the selected information distribution station to the in-vehicle device,
The route search means of the navigation device of the in-vehicle device searches for the optimum route that can use the selected information distribution station based on the geographical position information related to the selected information distribution station received from the server. The route search system according to claim 1. The condition information regarding the geographical position from the user side is information on the current position of the vehicle,
The server selection / transmission means is an information distribution station closest to the current position of the vehicle based on the information on the current position of the vehicle received from the in-vehicle device and the condition information on the content, and An information distribution station capable of distributing content is selected from the database, and information on the geographical location related to the selected information distribution station is transmitted to the in-vehicle device,
The route search system according to claim 5, wherein the route search means of the navigation device of the in-vehicle device searches for an optimum route with the geographical position of the selected information distribution station received from the server as a destination. The condition information regarding the geographical position from the user side is route information,
The server selection / transmission means is an information distribution station that is on or closest to the route based on the route information received from the in-vehicle device and the condition information on the content, and An information distribution station capable of distributing the content is selected from the database, and information on the geographical position related to the selected information distribution station is transmitted to the in-vehicle device,
The route search unit according to claim 5, wherein route search means of the navigation device of the in-vehicle device performs the route search process again using the geographical position of the selected information distribution station received from the server as a transit point. system. The in-vehicle device further includes a communication means for communicating with an information distribution station,
The route search system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a desired content is downloaded from the information distribution station via the communication means when the vehicle arrives at a target information distribution station.   The server further includes a reservation management database for managing a use reservation of the information distribution station, makes a reservation for the selected information distribution station based on a user instruction from the in-vehicle device, and displays a result of the reservation The route search system in any one of Claims 1-8 transmitted to the said vehicle equipment. An in-vehicle route search device for searching for a route that can use an information distribution station installed in an appropriate place in a vehicle,
Input means for inputting condition information from the user side in using the information distribution station;
Obtaining means for obtaining predetermined information relating to an optimal information distribution station most suitable for the condition information input by the input means, from an external server communicably connected via a network;
An in-vehicle route search device comprising: route search means for searching for an optimum route that can use the optimum information distribution station based on predetermined information about the optimum information distribution station acquired by the acquisition means. The condition information includes at least condition information regarding a geographical location,
The acquisition means acquires from the server at least information on a geographical position relating to an optimal information distribution station that best matches condition information on the geographical position;
The route search device according to claim 10, wherein the navigation means searches for an optimum route that can use the optimum information distribution station based on information on a geographical position related to the optimum information distribution station. The condition information relating to the geographical position is information on a current position of the vehicle,
The acquisition means acquires information on the geographical position of the information distribution station closest to the current position of the vehicle from the server,
The route search device according to claim 11, wherein the navigation means searches for an optimum route using a geographical position of an information distribution station closest to the current position of the vehicle as a destination. The condition information regarding the geographical location is route information,
The acquisition means acquires information on a geographical position of an information distribution station that is on the route or closest to the route from the server,
12. The route search apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the navigation means performs the route search process again using a geographical position of an information distribution station that is on the route or closest to the route as a transit point. The condition information includes at least condition information regarding a geographical position and condition information regarding content,
The acquisition unit acquires, from the server, information on at least a geographical position related to an optimal information distribution station that best matches condition information related to the geographical position and condition information related to the content;
The route search device according to claim 10, wherein the navigation means searches for an optimum route that can use the optimum information distribution station based on information on a geographical position related to the optimum information distribution station. The condition information relating to the geographical position is information on a current position of the vehicle,
The acquisition means acquires from the server information on at least a geographical position related to an information distribution station that is the information distribution station closest to the current position of the vehicle and can distribute the content;
15. The navigation unit according to claim 14, wherein the navigation unit searches for an optimum route with a geographical position of an information distribution station closest to the current position of the vehicle and capable of distributing the content as a destination. Route search device. The condition information regarding the geographical location is route information,
The acquisition means acquires, from the server, information on at least a geographical position related to an information distribution station that is on the route or closest to the route and can deliver the content,
15. The route search device according to claim 14, wherein the navigation means performs the route search process again using a geographical position of an information distribution station that is on the route or closest to the route as a transit point. A communication means for communicating with the information distribution station;
The route search device according to any one of claims 10 to 16, wherein a desired content is downloaded from the information distribution station via the communication means when the vehicle arrives at a target information distribution station.   18. The transmission / reception unit according to claim 10, further comprising: transmission / reception means for transmitting a user instruction regarding a reservation for use of the selected information distribution station to an external reservation management server and receiving a result of the reservation from the server. A route search device according to any one of the above. A server that manages predetermined information about an information distribution station and distributes the information to an in-vehicle device;
A database storing predetermined information about information distribution stations installed at appropriate locations;
Receiving means for receiving condition information from the in-vehicle device side when distributing predetermined information related to the information distribution station to the in-vehicle device;
Based on the condition information received from the in-vehicle device, selection means for selecting the optimal information distribution station that best matches the condition information from the database;
A server comprising: transmission means for transmitting predetermined information related to the selected information distribution station to the in-vehicle device. The predetermined information regarding the information distribution station includes at least information on a geographical position of each of the information distribution stations,
The condition information from the in-vehicle device side is information on the geographical position,
The selecting means selects from the database an optimal information distribution station that best suits the condition information regarding the geographical location,
The server according to claim 19, wherein the transmission unit transmits information related to a geographical position related to the selected information distribution station to the in-vehicle device. Condition information from the in-vehicle device side is information on the current position of the vehicle,
21. The server according to claim 20, wherein the selecting means selects an information distribution station closest to the current position of the vehicle from the database. Condition information from the in-vehicle device side is route information,
21. The server according to claim 20, wherein the selecting means selects from the database an information distribution station that is on the route or closest to the route. The predetermined information regarding the information distribution station includes at least information on a geographical position of each of the information distribution stations and information on contents that can be distributed by the information distribution station,
The condition information from the in-vehicle device side is information on the geographical position and information on the content,
The selection means selects from the database an optimal information distribution station that best matches the condition information related to the geographical location and the condition information related to the content,
The server according to claim 21, wherein the transmission unit transmits information related to a geographical position related to the selected information distribution station to the in-vehicle device. Condition information from the in-vehicle device side is information on the current position of the vehicle and information on the content,
24. The server according to claim 23, wherein the selecting means selects, from the database, an information distribution station that is closest to a current position of the vehicle and can distribute the content. The condition information from the in-vehicle device side is route information and information about content,
24. The server according to claim 23, wherein the selecting means selects, from the database, an information distribution station that is on or close to the path and capable of distributing the content.   A reservation management database for managing reservations for use of the information distribution station, receiving reservation information about the selected information distribution station from the in-vehicle device, and making a reservation for the information distribution station in the reservation management database; The server according to any one of claims 19 to 25, which transmits a result of the reservation to the in-vehicle device.

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