JP2006120046A - On-vehicle information providing apparatus and information providing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To quickly provide a user with information according to the position of the user's seat. <P>SOLUTION: Information acquisition history data including a plurality of data on the position of a user's seat and acquired information when the user operates an input device 31a or 31b for issuing an information acquisition request are received from a cellular telephone 50, and according to the received information acquisition history data and the position of the user's seat, information frequently acquired in the past in the user's seat position is acquired in advance from an information center 10. When the user operates the input device 31a or 31b, if acquisition-requested information has been received, the information received in advance is presented to the user. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an in-vehicle information providing apparatus and an information providing method for transmitting an information acquisition request signal to an information center and receiving information transmitted from the information center.

  There is known a vehicle information providing system in which a user operates an in-vehicle information terminal to transmit an information acquisition request signal to the information center, and the in-vehicle information terminal receives information transmitted from the information center (patent) Reference 1).

JP 2003-189369 A

  However, in the conventional vehicle information providing system, even when the occupant issues an acquisition request for the same information every time, the information acquisition request signal is transmitted to the information center by operating the in-vehicle information terminal each time. There is a problem that it takes time to acquire information from the information center.

  The in-vehicle information providing apparatus and the information providing method according to the present invention include an information acquisition including a plurality of pieces of data of a position of the user when the user issues an information acquisition request by operating the operation means, and information acquired at that time. Based on the history data and the position of the user, information is acquired in advance from the information center before the user operates the operating means, and when the user operates the operating means, there is an acquisition request. If the received information is received in advance, the received information is presented to the user.

  According to the in-vehicle information providing apparatus and the information providing method according to the present invention, information is acquired in advance from the information center before the operation of the operation means by the user is performed based on the information acquisition history data and the position of the user's seat. In addition, when the user has operated the operation means, if the information requested for acquisition is received in advance, the information received in advance is presented to the user. It can be provided quickly.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a vehicle information providing system including an in-vehicle information providing apparatus according to an embodiment. The vehicle information providing system in one embodiment includes an information center 10 and an in-vehicle information terminal (in-vehicle information providing apparatus) 20. Although only one in-vehicle information terminal 20 is shown in FIG. 1, the information center 10 can communicate with a plurality of in-vehicle information terminals 20.

  The information center 10 includes a communication device 11 and a processing device 12. The communication device 11 communicates with the mobile phone 50. The processing device 12 acquires information (hereinafter referred to as content) corresponding to the information acquisition request signal transmitted from the in-vehicle information terminal 20 via the mobile phone 50 from the external information source 40 via the Internet, The information is transmitted to the in-vehicle information terminal 20 via the communication device 11.

  The in-vehicle information terminal 20 includes wireless antennas 21 a and 21 b, a wireless unit 22, a processing unit 23, and a memory 24. The in-vehicle information terminal 20 is equipped with a Bluetooth (trademark registration number 4477936: Telephony Acty Boraget L. Ericsson) function, and has a mobile phone 50 equipped with a Bluetooth function and a radio antenna 21a or 21b. Via Bluetooth. For example, the wireless antenna 21a is provided at the front of the vehicle interior, and the wireless antenna 21b is provided at the rear of the vehicle interior.

  The processing unit 23 controls communication with the mobile phone 50 by controlling the wireless unit 22 and specifies the seat position of the user who has the mobile phone 50. Analyze the preference of the acquired content. Details of processing performed by the processing unit 23 will be described later with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. As will be described later, the memory 24 temporarily stores a content access history file transmitted from the mobile phone 50.

  The front seat display 30a is attached to a position that can be visually recognized by a user sitting in the front seat of the vehicle, and displays information acquired from the information center 10. The rear seat display 30b is attached to a position that can be visually recognized by a user sitting in the rear seat of the vehicle, and displays information acquired from the information center 10.

  The input devices 31a and 31b are operated when a user issues a content acquisition request to the information center 10, and the input device 31a is provided at a position where the user sitting in the front seat can operate. 31b is provided at a position where a user sitting in the rear seat can operate. When the information acquired from the information center 10 is read out by a voice reading device (not shown), the speaker 32 outputs the read voice.

  The mobile phone 50 stores a content access history file in which a content type acquired by the user in the past and information on a seat position when the content is acquired are recorded in a memory (not shown). FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a content access history file. As shown in FIG. 2, the content access history file includes a plurality of pieces of data in which the type of content acquired by the user in the past is associated with information on the seat position at the time of acquisition.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the processing contents performed by the processing unit 23 of the in-vehicle information terminal 20. When an ignition switch (not shown) of the vehicle is turned on and the power source of the in-vehicle information terminal 20 is turned on, the process of step S10 is started. In step S10, it is determined whether there is a mobile phone connected via Bluetooth in the vicinity. When the power is turned on, the in-vehicle information terminal 20 enters a standby state in a search mode for searching for a mobile phone connected via Bluetooth, and establishes a Bluetooth communication connection when the mobile phone connected via Bluetooth exists in the communication area. Information on the mobile phone 50 connected to the in-vehicle information terminal 20 via Bluetooth needs to be registered in the in-vehicle information terminal 20 in advance. If it is determined that there is no Bluetooth-connected mobile phone in the communication area, the standby state in the search mode described above is continued. If it is determined that there is a Bluetooth-connected mobile phone, the process proceeds to step S20.

  In step S20, the position of the mobile phone 50 that has established the Bluetooth communication connection is estimated. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a method of estimating the position of the mobile phone 50. Information on the electric field strength of the radio waves received by the wireless antennas 21 a and 21 b is sent to the processing unit 23 via the wireless unit 22. The processing unit 23 determines the distance R1 between the mobile phone 50 and the wireless antenna 21a connected via Bluetooth and the distance between the mobile phone 50 and the wireless antenna 21b based on the electric field strength of the radio waves received by the wireless antennas 21a and 21b. The distance R2 is calculated. Based on the distances R1 and R2 and the distance L1 between the two antennas 21a and 21b set in advance, the position of the mobile phone 50 is estimated.

  When a communication connection with the mobile phone 50 is established, the mobile phone 50 transmits a content access history file held in a memory (not shown) to the in-vehicle information terminal 20 by Bluetooth communication. In step S30, it is determined whether or not a content access history file has been received from the mobile phone 50. If it is determined that the content access history file has not been received, the process waits until it is received. If it is determined that the content access history file has been received, the process proceeds to step S40. The received content access history file is stored in the memory 24.

  In step S40, it is determined whether or not the number of content data in the content access history file received in step S30, that is, the number of contents acquired in the past by the user is equal to or greater than a predetermined number. If it is determined that the number is less than the predetermined number, the process proceeds to step S70, and if it is determined that the number is the predetermined number or more, the process proceeds to step S50 in order to perform the content preference analysis of the user.

  In step S50, based on the data in the content access history file, an upper list of past acquired contents corresponding to the seat position is created. For example, content that is frequently acquired when sitting on the right side of the front seat (driver's seat), or content that is frequently acquired when sitting on the left side of the rear seat, such as content that is frequently acquired when sitting on the left side of the rear seat. List up and create a content usage order list. When the content usage order list is created, the process proceeds to step S60.

  In step S60, the upper access content is downloaded from the information center 10 based on the content usage order list created in step S50 and the seat position of the user estimated in step S20. For example, if the estimated seat position of the user is on the right side of the front seat, a predetermined number (for example, the top three) is downloaded from the access upper contents at the position on the right side of the front seat from the content usage order list. . The downloaded content is stored in the memory 24. When the upper access content is downloaded, the process proceeds to step S70.

  In step S70, it is determined whether there is a content reception request from the user via the input device 31a or 31b. As described above, the user can issue a content reception request by operating the input device 31a or 31b. Therefore, when the content reception request command signal is received from the input device 31a or 31b, the content reception is received. It is determined that there is a request, and the process proceeds to step S80. On the other hand, if it is determined that there is no content reception request, the process waits in step S70.

  In step S80, the content access history file held in the memory 24 is updated. That is, data that associates the seat position estimated in step S20 with the content type newly requested for reception in step S70 is newly added to the content access history file. When the contents of the content access history file are updated, the process proceeds to step S90.

  In step S90, the content access history file updated in step S80 is transmitted to the mobile phone 50 by Bluetooth communication via the wireless unit 22 and the wireless antennas 21a and 21b. When the updated content access history file is transmitted to the mobile phone 50, the process proceeds to step S100. The mobile phone 50 stores the content access history file transmitted from the in-vehicle information terminal 20 in a memory (not shown).

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state in which a content access history file is exchanged between the mobile phone 50 and the in-vehicle information terminal 20. FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating a state in which a Bluetooth communication connection is established between the two and a content access history file is transmitted from the mobile phone 50 to the in-vehicle information terminal 20, and FIG. It is a figure which shows a mode that the vehicle-mounted information terminal 20 received the content access history file transmitted from the telephone 50, and stored in the memory 24. FIG. FIG. 5C is a diagram illustrating a state in which the content access history file is updated based on a content reception request from the user. FIG. 5D illustrates the updated content access history file as an in-vehicle information terminal. It is a figure which shows a mode that it transmits to the mobile telephone 50 from 20. FIG.

  In step S100, it is determined whether or not the content for which the user has requested reception is stored in the memory 24. In step S60, a plurality of contents have been downloaded. If the contents requested by the user are included in the downloaded contents, the contents requested for reception are stored in the memory 24. Therefore, it progresses to step S120. On the other hand, if it is determined that the content requested by the user has not been downloaded in advance and is not stored in the memory 24, the process proceeds to step S110. In step S110, the content requested by the user is downloaded from the information center 10 via the mobile phone 50, and the process proceeds to step S120.

  In step S120, the content requested by the user is displayed on the front seat display 30a or the rear seat display 30b. That is, if the determination in step S100 is affirmed, the content requested to be received is read out from the contents stored in the memory 24 and displayed. If the determination in step S100 is negative, step S110 is performed. Display the content downloaded in. The display to be displayed is determined based on the position of the user's seat estimated in step S20. That is, if the estimated seat is a front seat, it is displayed on the front seat display 30a, and if the estimated seat is a rear seat, it is displayed on the rear seat display 30b.

  In step S130 following step S120, it is determined whether or not the power source of the in-vehicle information terminal 20 is turned off. If it is determined that the power is not turned off, the process returns to step S70. If it is determined that the power is turned off, the process of the flowchart shown in FIG.

  According to the in-vehicle information providing apparatus in one embodiment, the content access history file (information acquisition) including at least the position of the mobile phone 50 when the user has made an information acquisition request in the past and the information acquired at that time (History data) is received from the mobile phone 50, the location of the mobile phone 50 is specified, and before the information acquisition request operation by the user is performed based on the specified location and the received content access history file An information acquisition request for information corresponding to the position of the mobile phone 50 is transmitted to the information center 10 and information is received from the information center 10 in advance. Thereafter, when an information acquisition request operation is performed by the user, it is determined whether or not the requested information has been received in advance, and if it is determined that the information has been received, the previously received information is sent to the user. Present. Thus, when the user performs an information acquisition request operation, information received in advance can be quickly presented to the user. In particular, when the preference of information that the user requests to acquire differs according to the boarding position, it is possible to receive in advance information that is frequently used according to the user's boarding position.

  Further, according to the in-vehicle information providing apparatus in the embodiment, the content access history file is stored in the mobile phone 50, and the content access history file is received from the mobile phone 50 when processing is performed on the in-vehicle information terminal 20 side. Since it is received and used, the user's past information use history data can be used even when the user gets on a different vehicle.

  According to the in-vehicle information providing apparatus in the embodiment, the position of the mobile phone 50 is specified by performing communication between the plurality of radio antennas 21a and 21b and the mobile phone 50. Therefore, the position of the mobile phone 50 is determined. Certainly can be identified.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. For example, the position of the mobile phone 50 is specified by performing communication between the plurality of radio antennas 21a and 21b and the mobile phone 50, but by detecting a change in the open / closed state of the door switch, The position of the mobile phone 50 can be specified. For example, when it is determined that the mobile phone 50 exists in the passenger seat by performing communication between the wireless antennas 21a and 21b and the mobile phone 50, and the door switch on the passenger seat side is turned off from the on state. Can determine that the passenger holding the mobile phone 50 has boarded the passenger seat. That is, the accuracy of specifying the position of the mobile phone 50 can be improved.

  The content access history file has been described as including the position of the mobile phone 50 when the user has made a content acquisition request in the past, and the content data acquired at that time. Time data may also be included. That is, since the user's content preference may vary depending on the time zone, the user's seat position is specified, and the time of use is detected in the past according to the user's seat position and time. It is possible to receive in advance a content with a high.

  Further, the latest content access history file is stored in the mobile phone 50 and received from the mobile phone 50 when used in the in-vehicle information terminal 20, but is stored in the memory 24 of the in-vehicle information terminal 20. You can also use it. However, in this case, when a user uses a different vehicle, the user's content access history file cannot be used, so it is preferable to store it in the mobile phone 50 held by the user.

  In the embodiment described above, the content is downloaded from the information center 10 before the user performs the content acquisition request operation. However, the content is specified based on the position of the mobile phone 50 and the content access history file. A screen for receiving information corresponding to the position of the mobile phone 50 from the information center 10 may be displayed on the top page for content reception. In this case, the user needs to perform an operation for content reception using the input device 31a or 31b. However, normally, it takes time to issue an acquisition request for the desired content, but a screen for receiving content that has been frequently used in the past is displayed in the content selection menu according to the user's seat position. Since it is arranged on the top screen, it is possible to input an acquisition request for a desired content in a short time.

  The content downloaded from the information center 10 is displayed on the displays 30a and 30b, but may be output from the speaker 32 by sound.

  The in-vehicle information terminal 20 and the mobile phone 50 perform wireless communication by Bluetooth, but can also perform communication by short-range wireless communication other than Bluetooth.

  In addition, as long as the characteristic function of this invention is not impaired, each component is not limited to the said structure.

  The correspondence between the constituent elements of the claims and the constituent elements of the embodiment is as follows. That is, the input devices 31a and 31b are operating means, the wireless antennas 21a and 21b and the processing unit 23 are position specifying means, the memory 24 is information acquisition history data storage means, the processing unit 23 is acquisition information determining means, and the wireless antenna. Reference numerals 21a and 21b constitute information receiving means, and the processing unit 23 and the displays 30a and 30b constitute information presenting means. In addition, the above description is an example to the last, and when interpreting invention, it is not limited to the correspondence of the component of said embodiment and the component of this invention at all.

The figure which shows the structure of the information provision system for vehicles in one embodiment. The figure which shows an example of a content access history file The flowchart which shows the processing content performed in the processing part of in-vehicle information terminal The figure for demonstrating the method of estimating the position of a mobile telephone 5 (a) to 5 (d) are diagrams showing how content access history files are exchanged between a mobile phone and an in-vehicle information terminal.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Information center, 11 ... Communication apparatus, 12 ... Processing apparatus, 20 ... In-vehicle information terminal, 21a, 21b ... Wireless antenna, 22 ... Wireless part, 23 ... Processing part, 24 ... Memory, 30a ... Front seat display, 30b ... Rear seat display, 31a, 31b ... input device, 32 ... speaker, 40 ... external information source, 50 ... mobile phone

Claims (9)

In the in-vehicle information providing apparatus for transmitting an information acquisition request signal to the information center via the mobile communication means based on the information acquisition request operation by the user, and receiving the information transmitted from the information center,
An operation means operated when a user requests acquisition of information;
Position specifying means for specifying a position of a user who operates the operation means;
Stores information acquisition history data including a plurality of data of the user's position specified by the position specifying means and information acquired at that time when the user issues an information acquisition request by operating the operation means Information acquisition history data storage means,
An acquisition information determination unit that determines information to be acquired from the information center based on the position of the user specified by the position specification unit and the information acquisition history data stored by the information acquisition history data storage unit;
An information receiving means for receiving information in advance from the information center by transmitting to the information center an acquisition request for information determined by the acquisition information determining means before the user operates the operating means;
An information presenting means for presenting information received in advance to the user if the information receiving means has received in advance the information requested for acquisition when the operation means is operated by the user; An in-vehicle information providing apparatus characterized by In the in-vehicle information providing apparatus according to claim 1,
The in-vehicle information providing apparatus characterized in that the information acquired in advance by the acquisition information determination means includes at least information that has been acquired most frequently in the past at the position of the user specified by the position specifying means. In the in-vehicle information providing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
When the operation of the operation means is performed by the user, the information acquisition history data transmitting means for updating the content of the information acquisition history data and transmitting to the mobile communication means is further provided.
The in-vehicle information providing apparatus, wherein the information acquisition history data storage means receives and stores the information acquisition history data from the portable communication means. In the vehicle-mounted information provision apparatus in any one of Claims 1-3,
The in-vehicle information providing apparatus and the portable communication unit perform communication connection with each other by short-range wireless communication. In the in-vehicle information providing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The in-vehicle information providing apparatus characterized in that the position specifying means specifies the position of the user by detecting the position of the mobile communication means. In the in-vehicle information providing apparatus according to claim 5,
The in-vehicle information providing apparatus characterized in that the position specifying means specifies the position of the portable communication means by communicating with the portable communication means via a plurality of wireless antennas provided in the vehicle. In the in-vehicle information providing apparatus according to claim 5 or 6,
A door switch state detecting means for detecting an open / closed state of the door switch;
The position specifying means is based on a result of communication between the plurality of wireless antennas and the portable communication means, and based on a change in the open / closed state of the door switch detected by the door switch state detecting means. An in-vehicle information providing apparatus characterized by specifying a position. In the in-vehicle information providing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The in-vehicle information providing apparatus, wherein the in-vehicle information terminal is a mobile phone. In an information providing method for transmitting an information acquisition request signal to an information center via portable communication means based on an information acquisition request operation by a user, receiving information transmitted from the information center, and providing the information to the user ,
The user's position when the user issues an information acquisition request by operating the operation means, and information acquisition history data including a plurality of information data acquired at that time are stored,
Specify the position of the user who operates the operation means,
Based on the position of the identified user and the information acquisition history data, determine information to be acquired from the information center,
Before the operation of the operation means by the user is performed, by transmitting the acquisition request for the determined information to the information center, information is received in advance from the information center,
When the user operates the operation means, it is determined whether or not the information requested for acquisition has been received in advance. If it is determined that the information has been received, the information received in advance is presented to the user. An information providing method characterized by that.

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