JP2010055632A - Vehicle data processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To more surely notify, for example, the arrival position of a vehicle and the specification data on the arrival of the vehicle to an information center using an information terminal, even at a point where communication with the information center is disabled. <P>SOLUTION: An arithmetic processing part 101 of a navigation device 100 determines whether a portable information terminal 200 is about to move from the inside of the vehicle to the outside of the vehicle (a step 202). When movement of the portable information terminal 200 from the inside of the vehicle to the outside of the vehicle is detected (step 202:Y), the arithmetic processing part 101 acquires a current position from a position measurement part 104 (step 203), transmits the specific data to the portable information terminal 200 (step 204), and returns to a main routine by a control program 154. The current position of the vehicle may be transmitted also to the information center 200 through the portable information terminal 200, according to a selection operation of a user or preset optional setting. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle data processing system that provides guidance for reaching a destination.

  Navigation devices that search for a travel route to a destination and guide the driver are widely used. In this navigation device, a destination is set from a telephone number, a facility name, a genre, an address, etc. (destination setting process), and a recommended travel route from the current vehicle position or departure point to the set destination is searched ( (Route search processing), while a current position is detected by a GPS receiver or the like, a route to a destination is guided by voice or image according to the searched travel route (route guidance processing).

  On the other hand, recently, the navigation device has only a minimum number of programs and data, the navigation device performs destination setting and route guidance, and the route search to the destination is performed collectively in the information center. A navigation system has also been developed. In this system, a mobile phone, a mobile phone connected to the device, a wireless communication means such as PHS (Personal Handy-phone System), etc., transmission to the destination information center, a recommended travel route searched for in the information center, etc. It is supposed to receive.

  In a navigation device that transmits / receives data to / from an information center, when the vehicle destination is a parking lot or the like, there is a problem that it is impossible to notify the information center of the current position of the vehicle or arrival at the destination by communication. is there.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to reliably notify, for example, an arrival position and specific data indicating arrival at an information center using an information terminal even at a point where communication with the information center is impossible.

(1) The invention according to claim 1 includes an in-vehicle device and a portable information terminal, and the in-vehicle device includes in-vehicle device-side transmission means for transmitting specific data to the portable information terminal, and the portable information terminal Receiving means for receiving specific data transmitted from the in-vehicle device, storage device for storing the received specific data, and information terminal side transmitting means for transmitting the stored specific data to an information center And a vehicle data processing system characterized by comprising:
(2) In the invention according to claim 2, the in-vehicle device includes a determination unit that determines whether or not the portable information terminal is about to move from the inside of the vehicle to the outside of the vehicle, and the in-vehicle device side transmission unit includes the determination unit. 2. The vehicle data processing according to claim 1, wherein when the mobile information terminal determines that the mobile information terminal is about to move out of the vehicle, specific data is transmitted to the mobile information terminal. Provide a system.
(3) In the invention described in claim 3, when the distance between the portable information terminal and the vehicle exceeds a threshold, the determination means determines that the portable information terminal is about to move from the inside of the vehicle to the outside of the vehicle. A vehicle data processing system according to claim 2 is provided.
(4) In the invention according to claim 4, when the portable information terminal and the vehicle are connected by a power supply cable or a data communication cable, the determination means is disconnected by the cable. 3. The vehicle data processing system according to claim 2, wherein it is determined that the portable information terminal is about to move from the inside of the vehicle to the outside of the vehicle.
(5) In the invention described in claim 5, the portable information terminal comprises processing means for executing a specific process using the specific data stored in the storage device by the receiving means. A vehicle data processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4 is provided.
(6) In the invention described in claim 6, the specific data is vehicle position data, and the specific process is to display a vehicle position together with a map on a screen of a portable information terminal. A vehicle data processing system according to claim 5 is provided.

  According to the present invention, even at a point where communication with the information center is not possible, the information center is used to reliably notify the information center of the arrival position and the specific data indicating arrival, for example. be able to.

1 shows a configuration of a navigation system according to a first embodiment. It is a block diagram of the information center in a navigation system, a navigation apparatus, and a portable information terminal. It is explanatory drawing which represented the search route data in an information center notionally. It is a conceptual representation of user data in an information center. It is explanatory drawing showing a typical example of the exchange of data with an information center, a navigation system, and a portable information terminal. It is explanatory drawing which shows the search path | route in an information center, and the mode of the segment division | segmentation. 6 is a flowchart showing processing when a destination setting is performed in an information center via the Internet by a WWW browser software in a portable information terminal having no destination setting program or the like. It is the flowchart showing the operation | movement of the destination determination process performed in an information center, when a destination and ID are transmitted from a portable information terminal or a navigation apparatus. It is a flowchart showing operation | movement of the destination setting confirmation process in a navigation apparatus when an ignition is turned on. It is a flowchart showing the operation | movement of the destination setting confirmation process in an information center. It is a flowchart of a route search / guide data transmission process on the information center side for dividing and transmitting a travel route searched to a vehicle destination by a predetermined unit. 6 is a flowchart of a request / route guidance process of a navigation device that provides route guidance to a vehicle destination while sequentially requesting transmission of divided routes. It is a flowchart showing the operation | movement of the final destination search process in an information center. It is explanatory drawing which illustrated the map picture to the final destination which is produced in an information center and can move only by walking. It is explanatory drawing which illustrated the map picture in the case of moving to the final destination using non-vehicle means, such as a train, other than a walk produced in an information center. In 2nd Embodiment, it is the flowchart showing the operation | movement of the destination transmission member setting process performed in a portable information terminal and a navigation apparatus. In 2nd Embodiment, it represented an example of the display screen displayed on a display part, (a) is the destination transmission member setting screen where the candidate list of members was displayed, (b) is a new member setting screen, (C) represents a mail screen transmitted to a user whose destination is set by another person. 9 is a flowchart showing destination setting processing of an information center in the second embodiment. In 3rd Embodiment, it is explanatory drawing showing an example of the exchange of data with an information center, a navigation system, and a portable information terminal. It is explanatory drawing showing an example of the exchange of data with the information center in 4th Embodiment, a navigation system, and a portable information terminal. It is a flowchart showing the request and route guidance process in 4th Embodiment. It is a flowchart showing operation | movement of the destination setting process by the portable information terminal of 5th Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which illustrated the display screen of the portable information terminal in the destination setting process of FIG. It is a flowchart showing the route setting process by the navigation apparatus in 5th Embodiment. It is a flowchart showing the process which transmits route guidance data from a navigation apparatus in 5th Embodiment. It is a flowchart showing the process of the portable information terminal which displays the guidance data acquired from the navigation apparatus in 5th Embodiment on a display part. It is explanatory drawing showing the screen for route guidance displayed in 5th Embodiment. It is a flowchart showing a process when there is an incoming call during route guidance when a mobile phone is used as a portable information terminal. It is the flowchart showing the processing operation which the navigation apparatus in 6th Embodiment supplements the position of a portable information terminal. It is the flowchart showing the processing operation which the navigation apparatus in 7th Embodiment supplements the position of a portable information terminal.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
(1) Outline of Embodiment In this embodiment, a destination setting screen or data is received from an information center, a destination is set by a portable information terminal such as a mobile phone, and the user ID is set in the information center. Send.
The destination does not necessarily need to be a point that can be reached by a vehicle, and may be a point that cannot be reached without using a non-vehicle means such as walking or a cable car. In this way, it may be a point that cannot be reached by the vehicle (regardless of whether it is recognized or not), so when setting the destination data and screen for requesting a parking lot with the parking lot as the vehicle guidance end point When it is received and selected from the information center, a parking lot request is also transmitted to the information center.
In the information center, when the destination set by the user is received, the received destination is stored in the user data corresponding to the ID as the final destination, and there is a parking lot at the final destination. The vehicle destination is set and stored in the user data depending on whether the vehicle can travel to the final destination.

On the other hand, when the user gets into the vehicle and turns on the ignition, the in-vehicle device (navigation device) starts communication with the information center (establishment of communication), and checks whether the destination has already been set in the information center. Check.
In the information center, if the vehicle destination is set in the user data of the corresponding ID, the route search from the current position transmitted from the navigation device to the set vehicle destination is performed, and the recommended travel route is transmitted. .
As described above, since the travel route to the destination set in advance by the portable information terminal or the like can be obtained from the information center immediately after the ignition is turned on by the ignition on, the user can set the destination and the destination from turning on the power of the navigation device. There is no need to perform a series of operations up to transmission in the vehicle. In addition, the travel route to be transmitted does not transmit the entire travel route from the departure point to the vehicle destination, but only the travel route for a predetermined distance from the current position is transmitted, thereby shortening the communication time (less communication data amount). The vehicle side can depart early. When the navigation device transmits a request for a travel route again when it reaches a predetermined distance (for example, 200 m) before the end of the received travel route, the information center displays the travel route from the current vehicle position to the destination. A search is made again and a travel route for a predetermined distance is transmitted to the navigation device. In this way, every time there is a request, a new travel route to the destination is newly searched and transmitted by a predetermined distance, thereby transmitting an optimum travel route considering the latest traffic information at the time of the request. Can do.

When the navigation device arrives at the vehicle destination (ends voice route guidance), the navigation device transmits the current position of the vehicle to the information center. In the information center, the travel route from the current vehicle position to the final destination is searched in the non-vehicle mode, a map picture corresponding to the travel route is created, and transmitted to the portable information terminal corresponding to the ID.
The portable information terminal provides guidance to the final destination by sequentially displaying the received map pictures according to user operations.

(2) Before describing details of each embodiment, the background of each embodiment will be described below.
In a conventional navigation device or the like, it is necessary to operate a remote controller, a touch panel or the like in the vehicle when setting a destination. In other words, the boarded user must turn on the power of the navigation device and set a destination number or waypoint (passage point) with a remote control, touch panel, etc., with reference to the menu, such as a telephone number, address, or facility name. In other words, the destination cannot be obtained immediately after boarding, and the travel route to the destination cannot be obtained. Therefore, in conventional navigation devices, it takes time to get route guidance to the destination after getting on the vehicle.
Further, even when a plurality of members travel to the same destination by their own vehicles, each member has to individually set a destination as his / her own destination or acquire a search route.

Therefore, the present embodiment aims to achieve such a problem, and has a first object to be able to acquire specific data such as a destination and a travel route immediately after the ignition is turned on.
A second object is to allow setting information such as a destination for another navigation apparatus to be set.

By the way, the navigation device is based on the assumption that the travel route is displayed by displaying the travel route and the current position on a display device in the vehicle, or by outputting a guidance voice by a speaker in the vehicle. The destination is assumed to be reachable by the vehicle.
However, the destination that the user is finally going to reach is not a point that can be reached by the vehicle (vehicle destination), but means other than the vehicle such as walking or cable car (non-vehicle means) from the vehicle destination. It may be a point to reach.
For example, the final destination may not be reached without passing through a pedestrian road where vehicles cannot pass. In this case, the route from the departure point to the vehicle destination is set, but the route from the vehicle destination to the walking destination is not set. In addition, if there is no parking lot at the vehicle destination (when the vehicle destination and the walking destination are the same) and a parking lot around the destination is set as the vehicle destination, the vehicle destination and the walking destination are Different.
When moving to such a destination by walking or the like, a portable information terminal that grasps the route to the walking destination by downloading and displaying a map from the current position to the destination on a personal digital assistant (PDA) It has been proposed (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-26968).

However, in the case of such a portable information terminal, since both the current position and the destination are displayed, the destination cannot be set in advance at a place other than the departure place, and arrives at the departure place (vehicle destination). After that, it is necessary to set the final destination set before the vehicle travels again and download the map data. For this reason, after reaching the vehicle destination, it was not possible to immediately move toward the final destination.
Further, the portable information terminal needs to have a GPS receiver for detecting the position of confidence.
Furthermore, when the vehicle position is reached by traveling or the like, if the vehicle position is unknown, it is possible to set the vehicle position as a walking destination on the portable information terminal or display a map to the vehicle position. could not.

Therefore, a third object is to make it possible to acquire the final destination or map data up to the final destination immediately after reaching the vehicle destination.
It is a fourth object of the present invention to make it possible to acquire a map and travel route data up to the vehicle position using a portable information terminal even if the vehicle position is unknown.

(3) Details of First Embodiment FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a navigation system according to the first embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 1, the navigation system of this embodiment includes an information center 10, a navigation device 100 that is an in-vehicle device mounted on a moving vehicle V, and a navigation device carried by a user of the navigation device 100. And a personal digital assistant (PDA) 200 for assisting 100 functions.
Communication using the radio is performed between the information center 10 and the navigation apparatus 100, and the communication form is mainly based on packet communication, but depending on the navigation apparatus 100, there may be a case where circuit switching is performed.
On the other hand, the navigation apparatus 100 and the portable information terminal 200 are connected mainly by circuit switching or packet communication when the portable information terminal is outside the vehicle, and when in the vehicle, infrared communication, SS (spread spectrum) communication, etc. Wireless communication, or wired communication such as serial communication and parallel communication.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the information center 10, the navigation device 100, and the portable information terminal 200 in these navigation systems.
The information center 10 includes various devices such as a communication control unit 12, an arithmetic processing unit 14, a database 40, an external information collection unit 70, and an input / output unit.
The communication control unit 12 of the information center 10 is a communication device including a transmission device and a reception device, and is used for transmitting / receiving data to / from the navigation device 100 and the portable information terminal 200. Various communication systems such as a car phone, a mobile phone, and a PHS may be used.

The arithmetic processing unit 14 includes a CPU 16 that performs arithmetic processing, and a memory 18 that stores various programs and data.
The memory 18 stores various programs executed by the information center 10 such as a route search program 20, a segment processing program 22, a guidance data extraction program 24, a destination determination program 25, and a system control program 26.
The route search program 20 includes a vehicle mode route search program for searching a travel route by a vehicle from a vehicle departure point (current position of the vehicle or a designated departure point) to a vehicle destination, and a final destination from the vehicle destination. There is a route search program in a non-vehicle mode that searches for a route to reach the ground without using a vehicle (a route using a walking route, a monorail, or the like).
The segment processing program 22 is a program for setting a segment length of a route searched for a route in the vehicle mode and a road length to be transmitted to the vehicle side.
The guide data extraction program 24 is a program for searching, extracting, and editing guide data corresponding to the road length set by the segment processing program 22.
The destination determination program 25 is a program for determining a vehicle destination and a final destination from destinations received from the portable information terminal 200 or the navigation device 100.
The system control program 26 is a program for controlling and managing the operation of the entire information center 10.

The memory 18 also has working areas such as requested road length data 27, searched route data 28, extraction guidance data 29, etc. used for executing these programs.
As the requested road length data 27, a value received from the navigation device 100 is stored in the working area, but a predetermined initial value is separately stored in the memory 18 in the case where it is not transmitted from the navigation device 100.
For example, 10 km is stored as the initial value of the required road length, but other values such as 5 km, 15 km, and 20 km may be used. Moreover, you may make it change according to the remaining distance (distance on the searched driving | running route or linear distance) from a vehicle present position to a vehicle destination. For example, the initial value is increased as the remaining distance is longer, and the initial value is decreased as the remaining distance is shorter.
Further, the initial value of the requested road length may be changed depending on the road type of the route to be transmitted to the navigation device 100 among the searched travel routes. For example, the initial value for expressways (including dedicated roads such as the Metropolitan Expressway) is the largest, the initial value for national and prefectural roads is the next largest, and the initial value for urban roads is minimized. To do.
The remaining distance to the vehicle destination may be combined with the road type.

The search route data 28 stores a travel route to the vehicle destination searched by the route search program 20 and divided route data obtained by dividing the travel route into segments of a predetermined unit by the segment processing program 22.
FIG. 3 conceptually shows the data stored in the searched route data 28.
As shown in FIG. 3, the search route data 28 indicates that the entire travel route to the vehicle destination is divided into segment units such as a divided route 1, a divided route 2,... As illustrated in FIG. Divided. Each divided route data includes a data head, intersection information, road information, node information, landmark information, etc., as shown in FIG.

The database 40 includes route search data 42 for searching for a recommended route, guidance data 44 in which route guidance data is accumulated, communication area data 46 in which data related to a communication area is accumulated, and a telephone number and address for setting a destination. Destination setting data 48 such as, user data 50 that collects various information about the user, parking data 52 that collects the parking lot location and congestion status, and a route to the final destination searched in the non-vehicle mode is simply displayed. Data necessary for route search and route guidance, such as map picture creation data 54 that collects map pictures to be stored, is stored.
The route search data 42 includes data regarding intersections, data regarding roads, data regarding node points, and the like. The route search data 42 includes pedestrian-only roads such as pedestrian bridges and pedestrian crossings used in non-vehicle mode searches, and transportation means other than vehicles and walks (cable cars, monorails, ropeways, trains, trains, ships). , Buses, taxis, moving walkways, etc.) (including station names, point data, distances between points, timetables, etc.).
The guidance data 44 includes various types of guidance data such as map data of intersections and roads, landmark data indicating major facilities, and voice guidance data.
The communication area data 46 includes data relating to the communication status such as areas where radio waves do not reach and areas where communication is weak even if the radio waves are weak.

The destination setting data 48 includes a destination name, a destination code number, coordinates (latitude, lightness), a telephone number, an address, and a zip code for facilities, places, points, etc. that can be set as destinations. The ground data is stored. Stored settable destinations include not only facilities that can be reached by vehicle, but also facilities that require shuttle buses and walking from the middle, such as Oze's mountain hut, from the viewpoint of nature conservation, It also stores places that require a ropeway and walking from the middle, such as Owakudani in Hakone.
These destination data are stored in a database with a hierarchical destination list, and as destination-related information necessary for destination setting, genre data in which all destinations are classified by genre, classified by region Regional data is also stored.
The destination setting data 48 includes explanatory information on the destination, for example, if the destination is a ryokan, commentary on the presence or absence of a hot spring and the effectiveness of the hot spring, and if the destination is an amusement park, Space (number of cars that can be parked) and target age (for children over 3 years old, for children over elementary school age, for adults, etc.), admission fees, closed days, etc. If available, commentary information such as play fees is also stored for each destination. In this way, by collecting and storing abundant commentary information, a search condition such as “a place where children under 5 years old can play in nature in Kamakura” is received from the user of the navigation device 100, and the corresponding facility It is possible to search for a place and set a destination. In the case of such destination setting, a destination request (search condition) may be acquired by voice call, and an appropriate destination setting may be performed with the assistance of an operator.

Further, the destination setting data 48 includes a mobile information terminal and a navigation device that do not have the destination setting program and the destination setting data, via the Internet using browser software of WWW (World Wide Web). Web destination information (destination setting screen) to be transmitted when a destination setting request is made is stored.
Further, in the destination setting data 48, parking lot presence / absence data indicating whether or not there is a parking lot corresponding to each destination data is also stored as attached data.

FIG. 4 conceptually shows data stored in the user data 50.
User data 50 includes a user name, a user identification number (ID), a navigation device connection destination, a portable information terminal connection destination, a vehicle current position, a vehicle destination, a final destination, a passing point, for each user who uses the navigation system. Departure date and time, parking request, password, e-mail address, etc. are stored.
The navigation device connection destination stores a telephone number such as a car phone connected to the navigation device 100, a mobile phone to be connected, and a PHS.
In the portable information terminal connection destination, a telephone number of the portable information terminal 200 that may communicate with the information center 10 is stored. The telephone number stored in the portable information terminal connection destination is one telephone number for calling when the information center 10 makes a call request, and the telephone number for user authentication that accepts the call request from the portable information terminal ( (One or more) is stored.
The departure date and time are stored in association with the vehicle destination and the final destination. When this departure date and time is specified, a plurality of destinations (vehicle destination and final destination) are set. Be able to.
The user data 50 may store various other data such as a password used for user authentication.

As shown in FIG. 2, an external information collection unit 70 is connected to the database 40.
The external information collected by the external information collection unit 70 includes traffic jam information (congested location and distance, degree of traffic jam), construction information (construction section and construction period), accident location (accident location, accident grade, There are various kinds of traffic information such as whether or not the vehicle can pass and the estimated processing end time, etc., which are all used in the route search processing in the route search program 20 of the arithmetic processing unit 14.
The external information collection unit 70 also establishes and changes roads, intersections, traffic rules (route search data 42), establishes facilities (guidance data 44, destination setting data 48), and changes communication areas (communication). Area data 46), information on parking lots full, empty cars, congestion, etc. (parking lot data 52), etc. are collected, and data stored in the database 40 is updated as needed.
The external information collection unit 70 collects the external information using a communication means such as a telephone line or a dedicated line.

Next, the configuration of the navigation device 100 will be described.
The navigation device 100 includes an arithmetic processing unit 101, a memory 102, a position measuring unit 104, an input unit 105, a display unit 106, an audio output unit 107, and a communication control unit 108.
The arithmetic processing unit 101 is configured by a microcomputer system including a ROM and a RAM centered on the CPU, and uses various data stored in the data storage area 102B according to various programs stored in the program storage area 102A of the memory 102. Control is to be performed.

  The program storage area 102A of the memory 102 includes a destination setting confirmation program 142 executed when the ignition is turned on, a destination setting program 144 for setting a destination as a final destination, and route data and guidance data transmitted from the information center 10. Based on the route guidance program 150 for displaying the route and landmark on the display unit 106 or outputting the voice of the route guidance from the voice output unit 107, comparing the current vehicle position with the received route / guidance data, This is a storage medium for storing programs executed by the arithmetic processing unit 101, such as a data request program 152 for requesting route / guide data for a route and a control program 154 for controlling the overall operation.

The data storage area 102B of the memory 102 functions as a working area that is used as appropriate when executing the program. For example, the route / guide data (route data and guide data) 160 transmitted from the information center 10 and the information center 10 Vehicle destination to be transmitted, final destination data 161, vehicle-specific ID data 162 to be transmitted to the information center 10, vehicle position data (longitude / latitude) 164 measured by the position measuring unit 104, destination setting data 166 , A storage medium for storing requested road length data 168 and the like.
The destination setting data 166 includes destination data, destination related information, commentary information, and the like similar to the destination setting data 48 except for data collected and changed by the external information collection unit 70 of the information center 10. Stored. The destination setting data 166 may be changed by newly establishing a facility or the like.
As the requested road length data 168, an initial value stored in the memory 18 of the normal information center 10 is used.

  The vehicle position data 164 includes a plurality of past position data in addition to the current position data of the vehicle measured by the position measurement unit 104 at predetermined time intervals. For example, position data of measurement points included in a certain distance or position data of a certain number of measurement points is stored. When the position measurement unit 104 newly performs measurement, the latest position data is stored, and the oldest stored position data is deleted. By connecting the plurality of position data, a travel locus of the vehicle can be obtained. This travel locus is used for so-called map matching for specifying the road on which the vehicle is traveling.

The position measuring unit 104 is for measuring the position of the vehicle using so-called GPS, and receives a signal from a plurality of GPS satellites to measure the absolute position of the vehicle. A speed sensor, a direction sensor, and the like are provided.
Speed sensors and azimuth sensors are used for autonomous navigation. The relative position measured by these sensors is used to obtain the current vehicle position in a tunnel where the GPS receiver cannot receive radio waves from satellites, or to correct the positioning error of the absolute position measured by the GPS receiver. Is done.

The input unit 105 includes various switches, a touch panel attached to the display surface of the display unit 106, a remote controller, a data input device using voice recognition, and the like.
On the touch panel, when a user touches an icon or the like displayed on the display unit 106 with a finger, corresponding data and commands are input.
In a data input device using voice recognition, corresponding data and commands are input when a user utters a voice.

The display unit 106 is a display such as a liquid crystal or CRT, and the touch panel is disposed on the surface as described above.
The voice output unit 107 includes a voice synthesizer and a speaker, and guides voice when performing route guidance to the destination, for example, guidance voice such as “the intersection is 100 m ahead in the right direction.” The information is synthesized based on the route guidance data of 102B and output from the speaker. Such a speaker that outputs a guidance voice may be used also as a speaker for in-vehicle audio, and a dedicated speaker may be arranged on the upper part of the driver's seat or the upper part of the windshield (the upper center part, the upper part on the driver's seat side, etc.). It may be.
The communication control unit 108 is a communication device for transmitting / receiving data to / from the information center 10 side, and is configured by communication devices including a transmission device and a reception device. Similarly to the center side, a system such as a car phone, a mobile phone, or a PHS may be used.

Next, the configuration of the portable information terminal 200 will be described.
The portable information terminal 200 mainly corresponds to a mobile phone, PHS, electronic notebook, handheld PC, and other personal digital assistants (PDAs) capable of data communication.
The portable information terminal 200 illustrated in FIG. 2 represents a configuration common to these various devices when performing various processes in the present embodiment, and is required only for functions unique to each supply such as a cellular phone and an electronic notebook. The configuration to be performed is omitted as appropriate.

The portable information terminal 200 includes an arithmetic processing unit 201, a memory 202, an input unit 205, a display unit 206, an audio output unit 207, and a communication control unit 208.
The arithmetic processing unit 201 of the portable information terminal 200 is constituted by a microcomputer system including a CPU and a ROM and a RAM, and is stored in the data storage area 202B according to various programs stored in the program storage area 202A of the memory 202. Control using various data is performed.

A program storage area 202A of the memory 202 receives a non-vehicle route such as a map picture from the information center 10 and a destination setting program 250 that sets a destination as a final destination and transmits it to the information center 10 and displays it on the display unit 206. This is a storage medium for storing programs to be executed by the arithmetic processing unit 201 such as a non-vehicle route display program 252 to be displayed and a control program 254 for controlling the operation of the entire portable information terminal 200.
The data storage area 202B functions as a working area that is used as appropriate when executing the program. For example, the route / guidance data (non-vehicle route data and guidance data) 260 transmitted from the information center 10 and the portable information terminal 200 Correspondingly, it is a storage medium for storing the ID data 262 and destination setting data 266 of the navigation device 100 registered in the information center 10.
The destination setting data 266 stores destination data, destination related information, and the like similar to the destination setting data 48 except for data collected and changed by the external information collection unit 70 of the information center 10. Yes. Note that the destination setting data 266 may store only a part of genre information and destination data, for example, in order to reduce the data amount of the portable information terminal 200. As part of the destination data, for example, only the destination name and destination code number, only the telephone number and destination name, only the telephone number and destination code number, and the like are stored. Furthermore, in order to reduce the amount of retained data, some or all of these data may be stored only in some areas.
The destination setting data 266 does not store destination commentary information.

  In addition to various dedicated switches, switches such as a numeric keypad that can select a soft switch displayed on the display screen are used for the input unit 205, but depending on the portable information terminal 200, it is attached to the display surface of the display unit 206. In some cases, an input device using a touch panel, a remote control, or voice recognition is used.

The display unit 206 is a display using liquid crystal or the like. As described above, depending on the portable information terminal 200, a touch panel may be disposed on the surface.
The communication control unit 208 is a communication device for transmitting / receiving data to / from the information center 10 side, and is configured by communication devices including a transmission device and a reception device.

The navigation device 100 and the portable information terminal 200 illustrated in FIG. 2 have the above-described configuration. However, the navigation device and the portable information terminal that can communicate with the information center 10 using this navigation system have different versions and models. It is possible to adopt different configurations depending on the case. For example, a simple navigation device 100 or a portable information terminal 200 that does not have the destination setting data and the destination setting program and sets the destination by Web information from the information center 10 can be used.
In addition, the navigation device 100 described does not include route search data and a route search program. However, when the navigation device 100 includes data and a program at the same level as the information center, the navigation device 100 includes simple route search data and a route search program. In this case, it is possible to provide route search data in a limited area (Kanto region, Tokai region, etc.) and a route search program at the same level as the information center 10.
Moreover, although the portable information terminal 200 does not include a position measurement unit, the position may be independently measured by providing a GPS receiver.

Next, the operation of the navigation system configured as described above will be described. First, as an outline of the operation, a typical series of operations according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 5 shows a typical example of data exchange between the information center 10, the navigation system 100, and the portable information terminal 200.
In the illustration of FIG. 5, typical route guidance by the navigation system includes a prior destination setting process, a navigation start process by ignition, and a non-vehicle movement route guidance process to the final destination.
The prior destination setting process is a process of setting a destination at a point other than the departure point and registering it in the information center 10 in advance (in E0 to E2, Es, and Ee) before leaving the information center 10 toward the destination. Show). The navigation start process by ignition on is a process (indicated by F0 to Fn, Fs, Fe) that confirms the presence or absence of destination setting by ignition on and guides the route to the vehicle destination while acquiring the search route from the information center 10 in a divided manner. ). The non-vehicle movement route guidance process to the final destination is a process (G0 to G2, Gs, Ge) for guiding the non-vehicle movement route to the final destination after the vehicle arrives at the vehicle destination.

  In FIG. 5, communication between the portable information terminal 200 and the information center 10 is represented by a dotted line, and communication between the navigation apparatus 100 and the information center 10 is represented by a one-dot chain line. Communication starts with Es, Fs, and Gs (transmission of call request packet CR in the case of packet communication, and call (off-hook) in the case of circuit switching), and communication ends with Ee, Fe, and Ge ( In the case of packet communication, a disconnection confirmation packet is received, and in the case of circuit switching, it is disconnected (on-hook).

When the destination is pre-registered in the information center 10, the destination setting is performed in advance in the portable information terminal 200 as indicated by the arrow E0. Then, as indicated by the arrow E1, the installed destination, passing point, parking request, and ID of the corresponding navigation device 100 are transmitted to the information center 10. The passing point and the parking lot request are transmitted when selected in the destination setting, and are not transmitted when not selected.
As shown in FIG. 5, it is typical to transmit a destination or the like from the portable information terminal 200 to the information center 10. In addition, the destination is set in advance by the navigation device 100 and the information center 10. When sending to a device (when sending from your own device or from another navigation device), when setting a destination on an information processing terminal such as a home or office personal computer or a word processor In some cases, the destination is set and transmitted from a public telephone capable of data communication.
In the information center 10, when the destination and ID set by the destination setting process are transmitted, the final destination and the vehicle destination are determined from the received destination, as will be described later with reference to FIG. Register in the user data corresponding to the ID. This destination determination process is not limited to the case where the destination is set in advance, but is also executed when the destination is set by the navigation device 100 of the vehicle when the vehicle departs.

When the vehicle equipped with the navigation device 100 is turned on, route guidance to the vehicle destination is started.
That is, as shown by the arrow F0 in FIG. 5, when the ignition of the vehicle on which the navigation device 100 is mounted is turned on, communication between the navigation device 100 and the information center 10 is established (Fs). F4 destination setting confirmation processing (FIGS. 9 and 10) is performed.
If the destination is registered in advance in the information center 10, the navigation device 100 requests the information center 10 for the current position, ID, requested road length, and route guidance acquisition request (see FIG. 5). Not shown). The requested road length is transmitted when the requested road length data 168 is stored in the data storage area 102B of the navigation device 100.
As will be described later with reference to FIG. 11, the information center 10 performs route search (vehicle mode), segment division, and requested guidance data extraction based on the received data, as indicated by an arrow F <b> 6. Then, as indicated by an arrow F7, the obtained route / guidance data is transmitted to the navigation device 100.

The operation in the information center 10 will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6, when the information center 10 receives a destination from the portable information terminal 200 or the navigation device 100, the information center 10 sets the received destination as the final destination PT and cannot reach the final destination PT by a vehicle. The vehicle destination PA is set in the case (including the case of guiding to the surrounding parking lot based on the parking lot request).
L1 indicated by a thick solid line is a travel route searched (vehicle mode) from the terminal position PD of the received divided route to the vehicle destination PA, and L2 indicated by a thick dotted line is from the vehicle destination PA to the final destination PT. This is a route that has been searched (non-vehicle mode). M is a mark indicating the vehicle position displayed corresponding to the current position of the vehicle.
The search route L1 is divided into five segments S1 to S5 when a predetermined distance (for example, 2 km) is used as a unit, and segment division points are P1 to P4. If the requested road length is LR, the transmission road length> the requested road length in the segments S1 and S2, the route data and guidance data of the segments S1 and S2 are transmitted to the navigation device 100.

  On the other hand, in the navigation device 100, as will be described later with reference to FIG. 12, as shown by an arrow F8 in FIG. 5, route guidance is performed based on the route / guidance data received in a divided manner. Note that route / guide data that is no longer needed is discarded. Here, when the route guidance continuation data is required, the current center and the route guidance acquisition request (request) are again notified to the information center 10, as indicated by the arrow F9. Thereafter, the same operation is repeated until reaching the destination. When the vehicle arrives at the vehicle destination, the current center and the arrival at the destination are notified to the information center 10 as indicated by the arrow Fn, and the navigation device 100 Communication between the information centers 10 is terminated.

When the vehicle center arrival is received from the navigation device 100, the information center 10 stores the current position of the received vehicle as indicated by an arrow G0, and performs a route search in the non-vehicle mode from the current position to the final destination. This is performed (described later in FIG. 13). Then, as shown by the arrow Gs, communication with the mobile terminal connection destination corresponding to the user data 50 of the corresponding ID is started, and the guidance data by the map picture to the final destination created by the route search as shown by the arrow G1. It transmits to the portable information terminal 200.
In the portable information terminal 200 that has received the map picture, as will be described later with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15, the received map picture is displayed in sequence according to the user's operation, thereby non-vehicle means to the final destination. The route is guided by (G2).

In addition, although FIG. 5 demonstrates the case where a prior destination setting process, the navigation start process by ignition, and the non-vehicle movement both route guidance process to a final destination are performed as a series of processes, it is independent. Can be executed.
That is, when the final destination matches the vehicle destination, the non-vehicle movement route guidance process to the final destination is not executed.
Further, the destination set in the advance destination setting process is always used in the navigation start process by ignition-on, but the advance destination setting process itself is not necessarily a process necessary for the navigation start process by ignition-on. The navigation start process by ignition on in the absence of the advance destination setting process can be executed.
That is, in the first embodiment, the navigation start process by ignition-on is an essential process, and the advance destination setting process or / and the non-vehicle movement route guidance to the final destination are executed incidentally.

Next, details of each operation by the devices constituting the above navigation system will be sequentially described.
(A) Destination Setting Operation (a) First, destination setting processing in the portable information terminal 200 and the navigation device 100 provided with the destination setting programs 250 and 144 and the destination setting data 266 and 166 will be described. In the following description, processing by the portable information terminal 200 will be described. Similarly, in the navigation device 100, each part having the same name (each part having the same last two digits) is similarly performed.
When the destination setting is selected, the destination setting process is executed, and the arithmetic processing unit 201 (the arithmetic processing unit 101 corresponds to the navigation apparatus 100. The same applies to the other units below) is displayed on the display unit 206. As the destination setting screen, for example, input methods of “designation from the area list”, “designation from the genre list”, “input telephone number”, and “input address” are displayed as images.
Then, of the four input methods displayed by the setter's input, after the cursor is moved to the display of the desired input method by the input unit 205 (joystick or key), the enter key is pressed, Is input by voice or the like, and the destination input method is selected.
When “designation from the area list” or “designation from the genre list” is selected, a classification list of areas and genres is read from the destination setting data 266 and displayed on the display unit 206. Here, after acquiring the selection of the area and genre selected by the setter, the name of the destination divided into the selected area and genre is displayed, and the destination is acquired.
Further, when “input telephone number” or “input address” is selected as the selection method, the telephone number and address are acquired by input from the input unit 205 (voice input or numeric keypad), etc. The destination is acquired from the correspondence between the telephone number or address stored in the data 266 and the destination.

  When the destination is acquired, the arithmetic processing unit 201 next checks whether or not there is a parking lot request and whether or not a departure date is specified. That is, a confirmation screen for the presence or absence of a parking lot is displayed to confirm the presence or absence of a request to the setter, and then a departure date and time input screen is displayed to confirm the departure date and time. When the transmission key is selected by the setter at the time when the destination is determined, it is handled that neither the parking lot request nor the departure date / time is specified.

After the destination and, if selected, a parking lot request and / or departure date and time are confirmed, data such as the destination is transmitted to the information center 10 together with the ID of the corresponding navigation device by selecting a transmission key. .
In the case of a destination by the portable information terminal 200, the ID of the corresponding navigation device 100 may be registered in advance in the portable information terminal 200, or may be input individually when setting the destination. Also good. On the other hand, in the case of destination setting by the navigation device 100, the ID read from the ID data 162 is transmitted, but another ID may be designated by the input of the setter. By allowing other IDs to be specified, when the vehicle has two vehicles (and the navigation device 100), the destination for driving with one vehicle can be set from the other vehicle. it can.

(B) Next, the destination setting process in the portable information terminal 200 and the navigation apparatus 100 that do not include the destination setting programs 250 and 144 and the destination setting data 266 and 166 will be described. Although the portable information terminal 200 will be described in this case as well, the navigation apparatus 100 operates in the same manner.
FIG. 7 shows a process when a destination is set in the information center 10 via the Internet using WWW browser software in a portable information terminal 200 (which is often a mobile phone or PHS) that does not have the destination setting program 250 or the like. It is a representation.
As a premise that the destination setting process shown in FIG. 7 is executed, a menu screen unique to each portable information terminal is displayed on the display unit 206 of the portable information terminal 200. This menu screen, other screens, The destination setting can be selected using the function keys. In the menu screen or the like, a navigation menu key (name is not limited as long as it is a destination setting key) is selected. As a menu screen unique to each portable information terminal 200, for example, in the case of a mobile phone, in addition to the “navigation menu” key, a “phone menu” key, a “data communication menu” key, etc. are displayed. In addition to the “navigation menu” key, a “schedule” key, an “address book” key, and the like are displayed.
In some cases, the key is selected by a dedicated key for setting a destination (a hard key such as a switch instead of a soft key selected by software from the display screen).

The arithmetic processing unit 201 of the portable information terminal 200 monitors the selection of the “navigation menu” in the destination setting process, and starts communication with the information center 10 when the navigation menu is selected (step 10; Y). Then, the information center 10 is requested to transmit the navigation menu, and the navigation menu screen (Web information) transmitted in response to the request is acquired (step 11).
Then, the arithmetic processing unit 201 displays the acquired navigation menu screen on the display unit 206 (step 12). On this navigation menu screen, for example, keys for selecting various operations such as “1. Determine destination” key, “2. Search” key, and “3. Setting” key are displayed on the screen. Each of these keys is a software-selectable soft key. After selecting one of the keys displayed on the screen using the scroll key, or after specifying the number displayed before each key using the numeric keypad, press the select button. A key is selected by pressing it.

When the “determine destination” key is selected on the navigation menu screen (step 13; Y), the destination setting process is continued, and the arithmetic processing unit 201 requests the information center 10 to transmit a destination list. The destination list transmitted in response to this request is received (step 14).
Then, the arithmetic processing unit 201 displays the acquired destination list on the display unit 206 (step 15), and monitors and confirms the selection of the destination by the setter (step 16; Y). The confirmed destination (and the passing point if selected) and the ID of the navigation device 100 registered corresponding to the portable information terminal 200 are transmitted to the information center 10.

Next, the arithmetic processing unit 201 receives the parking request confirmation screen transmitted from the information center 10 by transmitting the destination and the like, displays it on the display unit 206, and sets whether or not to set the destination. (Step 18). When the parking request is selected on the parking request confirmation screen (step 18; Y), the arithmetic processing unit 201 transmits the parking request to the information center 10 (step 19).
The departure date / time setting screen transmitted from the information center 10 is received when the parking request is not transmitted or the parking request is not issued, and is displayed on the display unit 206 to determine whether or not to set the departure date / time. An inquiry is made (step 20). When it is selected to set the departure date and time (step 20; Y), the arithmetic processing unit 201 displays a departure date and time designation screen on the display unit 206 (step 21), and inputs the departure date and time by the setter. Monitor (step 22).
When the departure date and time or the departure date is entered and the confirmation key is pressed (step 22; Y), the arithmetic processing unit 201 transmits the confirmed departure date and time (or departure date) to the information center 10. (Step 23), the destination setting process is terminated.

In the destination setting process described above, the case where the destination list is displayed on the screen of the display unit 206 has been described. However, since there are a large number of destinations that can be set, conditions for selecting the destination are sequentially set. The final destination may be set by sequentially narrowing down the hierarchical destination information obtained and selected as Web information.
For example, after requesting / acquiring / displaying / selecting a region list, requesting / acquiring / displaying / selecting a genre list, and then requesting / acquiring / displaying / selecting a narrowed destination list may be performed. In this case, if the selected genre is further hierarchized, a genre request may be made a plurality of times until the genre at the lowest level is reached. Further, narrowing down by genre may be performed from the beginning without requesting the area list.
In addition, as a list of methods for determining the destination, "Determine by genre", "Determine by phone number", "Determine by address", "Determine by name", and "Determine by purpose" were requested / obtained / displayed. You may make it select the destination according to a system. When “Determine by name” is selected, destinations in the order of the Japanese syllabary are sequentially transmitted and displayed. This “determined by name” may be an item that can be selected after a genre or region is designated. When “determined by purpose” is selected, for example, the purpose of driving the vehicle such as “overnight trip”, “date”, “meal”, etc. is displayed.

(C) Destination Determination Process FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the destination determination process performed at the information center 10 when the destination and ID are transmitted from the portable information terminal 200 or the navigation device 100. This destination determination process is executed when a destination is received. In addition to the case where the destination is set in advance before the vehicle departs, the case where the destination is set in the vehicle immediately before the departure, etc. It is executed including the case of.

  The arithmetic processing unit 14 of the information center 10 monitors the transmission of the destination from the user via the communication control unit 12 (step 31), receives the destination (step 31; Y), and uses the received destination as the final destination. It is stored in the user data 50 of the corresponding ID as the ground. That is, the received destination is stored in the final destination of the user data 50, and when a passing point, a parking lot request, and a departure date designation are also received, these are also stored in the user data 50 of the corresponding ID.

Then, the arithmetic processing unit 14 determines whether or not there is a parking lot request in the received data (step 33; Y), and if there is a parking lot at the final destination (received destination). Is determined from the data attached to the destination setting data 48 (step 34).
When there is no parking lot at the final destination (step 34; N), the arithmetic processing unit 14 searches the parking lot data 52 for a parking lot existing around the parking lot (step 35), and uses the searched parking lot as a vehicle purpose. It is stored in the user data 50 of the corresponding ID as a place (step 36), and the process returns to the main routine by the system control program 26.

On the other hand, when there is no parking lot request in the data received from the user (step 33; N), the arithmetic processing unit 14 determines whether or not the vehicle can travel to the final destination (step 37).
When the vehicle can travel to the final destination (step 37; Y), and when there is a parking lot request and there is a parking lot at the final destination (step 33; Y, step 34; Y), the arithmetic processing unit 14 The final destination, that is, the destination received from the portable information terminal 200 or the navigation device 100 is stored as the vehicle destination in the user data 50 of the corresponding ID (step 38), and the process returns to the main routine.
When the final destination is a point where the vehicle cannot travel (Step 37; N), the arithmetic processing unit 14 stores the nearest travelable point from the final destination as the vehicle destination in the user data 50 of the corresponding ID. Then (step 39) returns to the main routine.
Note that the arithmetic processing unit 14 determines whether there is a parking lot (step 34) and whether or not the vehicle can travel to the final destination (step 37), and searches for a nearby parking lot from the parking lot data ( In step 35), it is determined whether it corresponds to the region and period that are subject to personal car regulations and vehicle regulations.

In this way, the information center 10 stores the received destination as the final destination, and automatically sets the vehicle destination separately from the final destination. Therefore, there is no need to check if there is a parking lot when setting a destination, or to search for a nearby parking lot when there is no parking lot. It can be set as a destination.
For example, if you want to go to Myojin Pond in Kamikochi, the destination setter can set the Myojin Pond as a destination without having to check whether there are any car regulations or parking lots in Kamikochi. Since the Sawado parking lot is set as the vehicle destination as (or parking lot), the destination setting can be easily performed.
The movement from the vehicle destination to the final destination by means other than the vehicle (the host vehicle) can be reached by receiving the map picture created in the final destination search process described later by the portable information terminal 200. It becomes possible.

(B) Route Guidance to Vehicle Destination Next, an overall process for performing route guidance to the vehicle destination set at the information center will be described.
(A) Destination setting confirmation processing (on-vehicle device; navigation device)
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the destination setting confirmation process when the ignition is turned on in the vehicle device.
The navigation device 100 is automatically turned on in conjunction with the ignition being turned on. When the ignition is turned on (step 41; Y), the navigation device 100 immediately enters the information center 10 via the communication control unit 108. A destination confirmation request and an ID are transmitted (step 42), and the information center 10 waits for a destination confirmation result to be transmitted.
When the destination unset is received as the destination confirmation result from the information center 10 (step 43; N), the arithmetic processing unit 101 monitors whether or not the destination setting process is selected by the input unit 105 ( Step 44).
When the destination setting process is selected (step 44; Y), the arithmetic processing unit 101 executes the destination setting process by the on-vehicle device described above (step 45), and if the destination (and is set) A parking lot request and / or departure date / time) is transmitted to the information center 10 (step 46). When the destination is transmitted, the information center 10 executes the above-described destination determination process (FIG. 8).
Then, the arithmetic processing unit 101 receives the vehicle destination and final destination data 166 continuously transmitted from the information center 10, stores it in the data storage area 102B (step 47), and will be described later with reference to FIG. The request / route guidance process is executed (step 48), and the process returns to the main routine by the control program 154.

On the other hand, when the arithmetic processing unit 101 receives destination set as a confirmation result for the destination confirmation request (step 43), since the destination has already been set, the vehicle destination continuously transmitted from the information center 10 The final destination data 166 is received and stored in the data storage area 102B (step 47), and the request / route guidance process is immediately executed (step 48).
As described above, when the destination is set in the information center 10 in advance, the user who gets on the vehicle performs a series of operations from turning on the power of the navigation device 100 to setting the destination by turning on the ignition before starting the traveling. Without any operation, it is possible to immediately execute the request / route search process and start traveling while receiving route guidance toward the destination.

(B) Destination setting confirmation processing (information center)
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the destination setting confirmation process in the information center 10.
The arithmetic processing unit 14 of the information center 10 monitors the destination confirmation request from the navigation device 100. When there is a request (step 50; Y), the user data 50 of the corresponding ID is confirmed (step 51). It is confirmed whether the vehicle destination and departure date and time are stored (steps 52 and 53).
When both the vehicle destination and the departure date / time are stored (step 52; Y, step 53; Y), it is further confirmed whether the stored departure date is today (step 54).
When the departure date is today (step 54; Y), and when the vehicle destination is stored but the departure date is not specified (step 53; N), the arithmetic processing unit 14 performs the destination setting confirmation process. As a confirmation result, the destination set already is transmitted to the navigation device 100 (step 55), and the set vehicle destination and final destination are further transmitted to the navigation device 100 (step 59). Then, a route search / guidance data transmission process (FIG. 11) described later is executed (step 60), and the process returns to the main routine by the system control program 26.

On the other hand, when the vehicle destination is not stored in the user data 50 of the corresponding ID (step 52), and when the vehicle destination and the departure date / time are stored but are not today's departure (step 54; N), the calculation is performed. The processing unit 14 transmits the destination unset as a destination setting confirmation result to the navigation device 100 (step 56).
The arithmetic processing unit 14 monitors whether or not the destination setting process (step 45 in FIG. 9) is executed in the navigation device 100 by the transmission without setting the destination and the destination is transmitted (step 46 in the same) (step 46). FIG. 10; step 57). When the destination is received (step 57; Y), the destination determination process described with reference to FIG. 8 is executed (step 58), and the vehicle destination and final destination set in this destination determination process are displayed on the navigation device. 100 (step 59). Thereafter, route search / guidance data transmission processing is executed (step 60), and the process returns to the main routine.
If the destination is not received (step 57; N), it can be determined that the vehicle travels without requiring route guidance, so the arithmetic processing unit 101 terminates communication with the navigation device 100 without searching for a route or the like. (Step 61), the process returns to the main routine.

  Next, the route search / guidance data transmission process (FIG. 11) on the information center 10 side for dividing and transmitting the travel route searched to the vehicle destination in predetermined units, and the vehicle destination while sequentially requesting the transmission of the divided route A request / route guidance process (FIG. 12) on the navigation device 100 side that guides the route up to will be described.

(C) Route Search / Guidance Data Transmission Processing As shown in FIG. 11, the arithmetic processing unit 14 of the information center 10 monitors whether a route guidance data acquisition request (request) has been received from the navigation device 100 (on-vehicle device). If it is received (step Y), the current vehicle position included in the received information is extracted (step 66).
Next, when the requested road length is designated in the received information (step 67; Y), the designated requested road length is stored in the requested road length data 27 of the memory 18 (step 68), and is not designated. In this case (step 67; N), an initial value prepared in advance as the required road length is set in the required road length data 27 and stored (step 69).

Next, the arithmetic processing unit 14 searches for a route from the vehicle current position to the vehicle destination (step 70). The route search is performed with reference to route search data 42 in the database 40, that is, intersection data, road data, and node data. This route search processing is known, and is performed by the method disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 1-173297 and 1-173298, and the condition that the route having the shortest distance is the optimum route is used. To set the recommended route.
In this embodiment, every time a request is received from the navigation device 100 (step 65; Y), a route from the vehicle current position to the vehicle destination is searched. In the information center 10, the external information collecting unit 70 obtains road information and traffic information such as traffic conditions and distances, traffic impossibility due to accidents, construction sections, etc. from the outside, and the database 40 is updated to the latest information. ing. For this reason, by performing a route search for each request from the vehicle side, a recommended route based on the latest data and its guidance data are always provided to the vehicle side, such as avoiding traffic congestion.

  Next, the arithmetic processing unit 14 executes the segment processing program 22 stored in the memory 18, and divides the travel route to the searched vehicle destination for each segment which is a unit of navigation (step 71). The unit to be divided may be a constant data size (for example, one segment is 1024 bytes), a road length is constant (for example, 1 km, 2 km, etc.). All the searched routes are divided into a divided route 1, a divided route 2,... As shown in FIG. Each divided path is one segment. As shown in FIG. 3B, each divided route data includes a data head, intersection information, road information, node information, landmark information, and the like.

  By segmenting such data, (i) even if the communication between the information center 10 and the navigation device 100 is interrupted, the route guidance can be performed as it is for the segment that has been transmitted at the time of the interruption. (Ii) There is an effect that retransmission may be performed from the segment that was being transmitted at the time of interruption. In other words, the segment is an information unit that can be decoded on the vehicle side. For example, if route / guidance data of 10 km is transmitted to the vehicle side as a single file as a whole and cannot be decoded on the vehicle side, route guidance cannot be performed for all of the 10 km. However, by dividing into 2 km segments and creating a file, the file can be decoded and route guidance can be provided for each segment.

Next, the arithmetic processing unit 14 sequentially adds one segment closest to the vehicle position within the searched route range (step 72), and calculates the road length of the transmission road (step 73). That is, the transmission road length (total road length of the segment) = the transmission road length before the segment addition + the road length of the added segment is repeatedly performed to add the segments one by one.
Then, segments are added until the total transmission road length obtained by adding the lengths of roads included in each segment becomes longer than the requested road length stored in the user data 50 of the ID (step) 74; N).

As a result, when transmission road length> requested road length (or transmission road length ≧ requested road length) (step 74; Y), the arithmetic processing unit 14 executes the guidance data extraction program 24 stored in the memory 18. Referring to the guidance data 44 in the database 40, the guidance data in the range corresponding to the transmission road length is searched and extracted, and stored in the extracted guidance data 29 in the memory 18 (step 75).
The route data and guidance data obtained as described above are transmitted to the navigation device 100 having the requested ID via the communication control unit 12 (step 76). At this time, the segmented route / guidance data is transmitted to the vehicle in order from the closest to the current vehicle position.

(D) Request / Route Guidance Processing Next, the request / route guidance processing executed by the navigation device 100 in response to the route search / guidance data transmission processing by the information center 10 described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
As shown in FIG. 12, the arithmetic processing unit 101 of the navigation device 100 transmits the current vehicle position and request (route guidance data acquisition request) and the requested road length to the information center 10 (step 80). Here, the requested road length is transmitted only when the requested road length data 168 is stored and for the first time.

Then, the arithmetic processing unit 101 monitors whether or not the route / guide data (divided road data) divided according to the requested road length is received from the information center 10 (step 81). The route / guidance data 160 is stored in the memory 102, and the route guidance by the route guidance program 150 in the memory 102 is executed (step 82).
For example, the arithmetic processing unit 101 displays a route map or landmark on the display unit 106 as route guidance, and refers to the current position of the vehicle in the position measurement unit 104 before a predetermined distance before the intersection where the course should be changed. The voice output unit 107 outputs voice guidance such as “the intersection about 200 m ahead is in the right / left direction”.

In this embodiment, the route / guidance data received from the information center 10 is not the data of all the travel routes up to the vehicle destination, but the divided routes extracted from the travel routes newly searched for every request of the divided routes. To do. In the route search newly performed in response to the request, the latest traffic information and road information collected by the external information collection unit 70 are always used. Therefore, a route different from the travel route searched for at the time of departure may be extracted as a divided route due to a change in road conditions (congestion, accident, etc.) during travel. As described above, even when the road condition changes during the traveling, by receiving the divided route, it is possible to always receive and guide the current optimum route. In addition, it is possible to flexibly cope with a change of destination.
Furthermore, only the divided route having the route length (transmission road length) corresponding to the required road length required can be received from the information center 10, and data reception according to the memory capacity of the navigation device 100 is possible.
In addition, receiving the divided route corresponding to the requested road length reduces the amount of received data and completes the reception of the divided route in a short time. Can start early.
In addition, since a route search from the current vehicle position to the vehicle destination is performed for each request, for example, even when the vehicle deviates from the route, a request to the current vehicle position on the deviated road can be made. Route / guide data can be obtained, and driving can be performed with peace of mind.

During route guidance, the arithmetic processing unit 101 acquires the current location of the vehicle from the position measurement unit 104 at predetermined time intervals, and the vehicle is a fixed distance (for example, 200 m) from the end of the divided route stored in the route / guidance data 160. It is monitored whether or not the front position has been reached (step 83). If it has not been reached (N), the process returns to step 82 to continue route guidance.
When the vehicle reaches the position a certain distance before the end of the divided route (step 83; Y), the arithmetic processing unit 101 determines whether or not the end of the divided route matches the vehicle destination. (Step 84). If the end of the divided path does not coincide with the vehicle destination (step 84; N), the process returns to step 80 and the current vehicle position and request (route guidance data acquisition request) is transmitted to the information center 10 again to receive the next divided path. Continue route guidance.

When the end of the divided path coincides with the vehicle destination (step 84; Y), the arithmetic processing unit 101 determines whether or not the vehicle has arrived at the vehicle destination (step 85), and has arrived at the vehicle destination. If not (Step 85; N), the process returns to Step 82 to continue route guidance.
On the other hand, when arriving at the vehicle destination (step 85; Y), the arithmetic processing unit 101 transmits the current vehicle position and arrival at the vehicle destination to the information center 10 (step 86). Return to routine.
Whether the vehicle has arrived at the vehicle destination is determined not only when the vehicle has actually reached the vehicle destination, but also when the travel distance to the vehicle destination is within 500 m and the last route guidance point by voice is used. It is determined that the vehicle has arrived at the vehicle destination when the position after passing (around the vehicle destination) is reached.

(C) Route Guidance to Final Destination Next, guidance to the final destination after the vehicle arrives at the vehicle destination will be described.
(A) Final Destination Search Process FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the operation of the final destination search process in the information center 10.
The arithmetic processing unit 14 of the information center 10 monitors the transmission of the vehicle destination arrival from the navigation device 100 (step 90), and when the vehicle destination arrival is received (step 90; Y), the vehicle current transmitted simultaneously. The position is stored in the user data 50 of the corresponding ID (step 91). Here, although the vehicle destination is stored in the user data 50, the current vehicle position is stored separately for the vehicle destination set in the destination determination process (FIG. 8) of the information center 10. This is because it may not be arrived, and for example, it may be possible to arrive at another parking lot or the like. In addition, since the vehicle destination is deleted at a predetermined time (the vehicle destination arrival time, the final destination arrival time, etc.) for the next destination setting, the current vehicle position is stored separately from the final destination. This is because the information center 10 can recognize the vehicle position.

The arithmetic processing unit 14 determines whether or not the stored current vehicle position matches the final destination (step 92). If they match (step 92; Y), the main routine by the system control program 26 is determined. Return to
On the other hand, when the current vehicle position is not the final destination (step 92; N), the arithmetic processing unit 14 searches for a route from the current vehicle position to the final destination in the non-vehicle mode (step 93). That is, the arithmetic processing unit 14 is a pedestrian bridge such as a pedestrian bridge or a pedestrian crossing used in the search in the non-vehicle mode, or a moving means (cable car, monorail, ropeway, train, train, ship, By using route search data 42 including data (station name, point data, distance between points, timetable, etc.) regarding routes that can be moved by buses, taxis, moving walkways, etc., the route to the final destination can be determined. Explore.

Then, according to the travel route to the final destination found, the arithmetic processing unit 14 creates a travel route based on the map picture by using the map picture of the map picture creation data 54 (step 94).
FIG. 14 exemplifies a map picture to the final destination that is created by the information center 10 and is movable only by walking.
As shown in FIG. 14, as a map picture, an overall route view including the current vehicle position M (indicated by a black symbol mark in a circle) and the final destination PT (indicated by a symbol mark ☆). a) and intersection diagrams (b) to (d) for major intersections and intersections turning left and right are created.
The road to be displayed is displayed as a straight line passing through each intersection. The road is displayed with a thickness corresponding to the actual road width. Both the overall route map (a) and intersection maps (b) to (d) of facilities (stations, hospitals, police boxes, schools, gas stations, hotels, restaurants, shrines, parks, etc.) that will be used as route guides along the way The symbol mark and / or name is displayed in the map picture. The landmark of the guidance data 44 may be used as the symbol mark of the facility serving as a landmark.
Also, in the entire route map, the intersection numbers assigned in the order of passing from the current vehicle position are displayed as circled numbers, and the intersection numbers with the specified numbers are displayed by specifying these numbers with the numeric keypad. .
In the intersection map, the same intersection number as the intersection number in the overall route diagram (a) is displayed as a circled number. Moreover, the advancing direction after passing through each intersection is indicated by an arrow P.
In this way, instead of a detailed road map, a simple map picture composed of straight roads and symbol marks is created, so that the amount of data transmitted to the portable information terminal 200 is reduced and the image display area is narrow ( Even the display unit 206 with a small number of dots can be displayed. In addition, the symbol mark makes it easy to intuitively recognize the movement route to the final destination.

FIG. 15 illustrates a map picture in the case of moving to the final destination using non-vehicle means such as a train other than walking. In the example in this figure, the final destination is Tokyo EQ-R (Equus Research Co., Ltd.), and the area from Hamamatsucho Station to Ochanomizu cannot be moved by vehicles due to road restrictions, etc. It is an example when a parking lot is set.
In such a case, the movement outline diagram of FIG. 15A, the entire route diagram of FIG. 15B, and an intersection diagram (not shown) (for example, FIGS. 14B to 14B) are created.
In the movement outline diagram of FIG. 15A, it is displayed that the vehicle travels from the Hamamatsucho station of the vehicle destination to Ochanomizu on the JR Yamanote line, and then moves from Ochanomizu station to the final destination of Tokyo EQ-R on foot. As shown in FIG. 15A, when a means other than walking is used, a movement outline diagram is created, and the movement means and the movement section (movement facility name) by the movement means are displayed. Then, for the moving section by walking, an overall route diagram of FIG. 15B and an intersection diagram (not shown) are created as necessary.
In addition, each map picture is hierarchized, and is hierarchized in order of a movement conceptual diagram, a whole route map, and an intersection map. The movement concept diagram and the entire route diagram are further hierarchized when there are a plurality of diagrams in the same hierarchy as in the intersection diagram, for example, a movement concept diagram (overall diagram) and a movement concept diagram (details). There may be.

  When the above map picture is created, the arithmetic processing unit 14 connects the line with the mobile terminal connection destination stored in the user data 50 of the corresponding ID (for example, by making a call), and reaches the created final destination. Is transmitted to the portable information terminal 200 (FIG. 13; step 95), and the process returns to the main routine by the system control program.

(B) Route guidance by map picture of portable information terminal 200 When portable information terminal 200 receives route / guidance data (map picture) 260 transmitted from information center 10, it stores it in data storage area 202B and receives the received map. The uppermost map picture in the picture is displayed on the display unit 206.
Note that the display unit 206 may only display that a map picture has been received, and may display the map picture when the input unit 205 selects the map picture display.
After displaying the top layer map picture, the portable information terminal 200 displays the next screen when the next key or the next screen selection key (“→” key, “▽” key, etc.) is designated by the user. To do. In addition, when a number corresponding to a number displayed on the screen (a circled number in FIG. 14A) is designated with a numeric keypad, a corresponding intersection diagram is displayed.

  The user confirms the display screen of the portable information terminal 200, moves in the direction of the traveling direction arrow P displayed on the screen while taking correspondence between the actual target and the symbol mark, and displays the next screen according to the movement. It is possible to reach the final destination.

The navigation device 100 according to the first embodiment described above has been described for the case where the navigation device 100 does not include the route search data and the route search program. However, the navigation device 100 may include the route search data and the route search program. Further, guidance data may be provided (Modification 11).
In this case, when the ignition is turned on, the navigation apparatus 100 transmits a destination confirmation request and an ID to the information center 10 to confirm whether or not the destination is set in advance.
If the destination is not set in the user data 50 corresponding to the ID in the information center 10 (including the case where the destination is not satisfied, but the destination date is not satisfied) Send to end communication. When the destination is set, the destination (or the vehicle destination and the final destination) is transmitted to the navigation device 100 and the communication is terminated.

When the navigation device 100 receives a destination not set or a destination (or a vehicle destination and a final destination), the communication is terminated. When the destination (or the vehicle destination and the final destination) is received, the navigation apparatus 100 searches for a travel route from the current position of the vehicle to the destination, and performs route guidance according to the searched travel route.
Also in the modified example 11, when the vehicle destination and the final destination (vehicle destination ≠ final destination) are received, the navigation apparatus 100 finishes the route arrival to the vehicle destination and the vehicle arrives at the destination. The current position is transmitted to the information center 10, and when the information center 10 receives the destination arrival, the map picture created by searching the non-vehicle movement route from the current position of the vehicle to the final destination in the non-vehicle mode is assigned to the corresponding ID. It transmits to the portable information terminal 200.

In this modified example 11, the navigation device 100 may be able to select a mode in which the route search to the destination is performed within the own device and a mode performed in the information center (modified example 12).
In this case, for example, the navigation device 100 searches for a route with its own device in the case of a relatively close destination, and early acquisition of a travel route in the case of a far destination (for example, when the distance is 100 km or more). Therefore, the travel route is received from the information center 10. When receiving a travel route, as described in the first embodiment, the request is made to the information center 10 and the divided routes are received in order to reflect the latest traffic information and the like on all routes to a distant destination. Can guide a simple route.

Further, depending on the navigation device 100, the ignition destination may receive a preset destination (or vehicle destination and final destination) from the information center 10 and perform a route search to the destination etc. within the own device. The data may be received from the information center 10 for the purpose of supplementing the data used for guidance of the travel route that the navigation device 100 does not have (Modification 13).
For example, in order to reduce the size of the memory 102, the navigation device 100 does not hold data such as an enlarged intersection view. And the intersection expansion on the travel route to the destination searched for by the navigation device 100

In the first embodiment described above, the navigation apparatus 100 registered as a user in the information center 10 and assigned an ID has been described with respect to the navigation apparatus 100 described with reference to FIG. 1, but the configuration of each navigation apparatus is not necessarily limited. The navigation device described in the first embodiment, the navigation device described in Modification Example 11, and other various navigation devices having different programs, data, and functions may be used (Modification Example 14).
In this case, the navigation apparatus 100 transmits to the information center 10 transmission desired information specifying data for specifying information desired to be transmitted after confirming the destination setting to the information center 10 by turning on the ignition. In the information center 10, the destination, the vehicle destination and the final destination, the entire travel route to the destination or the final destination, the divided route to the destination or the final destination (the first route) according to the desired transmission information designation data. , Etc. are transmitted in response to a request on the divided path described in the embodiment.

Moreover, although the destination determination process (FIG. 8) demonstrated in 1st Embodiment demonstrated when performing when the information center 10 received the destination and ID, the destination determination process is performed at the time of reception of the destination. If the destination is set in advance, it may become impossible to reach the set vehicle destination due to a change in traffic regulations or the like until the departure date and time.
Therefore, the destination determination process may be executed when the first request is met or when the destination confirmation request is met (Modification 15). This makes it possible to determine the optimum vehicle destination and final destination at the departure date and time.

Even in the case of the modification 15, for example, there is a possibility that the parking lot set as the vehicle destination becomes full and cannot be parked. In such a case, the vehicle destination is reached also in the modification 15. It will not be possible.
Therefore, the information center 10 may perform the destination determination process including the full information on the parking lot whenever there is a request for the divided route based on the traffic information collected by the external information collecting unit 70. Good (Modification 16).
The destination determination process may be executed when the vehicle destination is reached within a predetermined distance (for example, 10 km) from the initially set vehicle destination (Modification 16 ′).

  In the first embodiment described, in the final destination search process (FIG. 13), the travel route from the current vehicle position to the final destination is searched in the non-vehicle mode (step 93), and a map picture of the travel route is created. (Step 94), the map data including the vehicle destination and the final destination, and the data of the vehicle destination point and the final destination point are transmitted to the portable information terminal 200 (step 95). 200 may be transmitted (Modification 17).

In the final destination process (FIG. 13), when the vehicle destination arrival is received and the current vehicle position does not match the final destination, the route search in the non-vehicle mode (step 93) and the map picture creation ( Step 94) is performed every time, but a frequently used vehicle destination (current vehicle position) and a picture map for the final destination are created in advance and stored in the database 40 together with the combination of the vehicle destination and final destination. (Modification 18).
In this case, the information center 10 searches whether or not the combination of the vehicle destination and the final destination corresponding to the received current vehicle position is in the database 40, and if not, executes Steps 93 and 94 in FIG. If there is, the picture map stored with the combination is read and transmitted to the portable information terminal 200 (step 95).

In the final destination process (FIG. 13), when the map picture is created, the arithmetic processing unit 14 connects the line with the mobile terminal connection destination of the corresponding ID (for example, by making a call), and creates the final destination created. Although the map picture up to the ground is directly transmitted to the portable information terminal 200 (step 95), the created map picture data may be transmitted as an e-mail to the e-mail address of the corresponding ID (modified example). 19).
In this case, the mobile information terminal 200 or other information processing apparatus can be used to download and display data such as a map picture from its own mail address.

(3) Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment will be described. Note that the configurations of the information center 10, the navigation device 100, and the portable information terminal 200 in each of the second and subsequent embodiments are substantially the same as those in the first embodiment, and therefore different configurations from the first embodiment will be described. The same part will be omitted as appropriate.
In the first embodiment, the destination can be set in advance in the information center 10 before the vehicle departs, but the setting destination is only for the user data 50 of one person (mainly own ID). Only set the destination. However, there are cases where a plurality of vehicles travel toward the same destination at the same date and time, as in the case of golfing with a plurality of members. In such a case, according to the first embodiment, it is necessary to repeat presetting of the same destination number of times for each member, and redundant operations are duplicated.

Therefore, in the second embodiment, destination setting for a plurality of members can be performed by one destination setting by one person. That is, in the second embodiment, the destination setting is performed in a broadcast manner.
Therefore, the portable information terminal 200 and the navigation device 100 according to the second embodiment include the destination transmission member setting processing program according to the present embodiment and the candidate list data of members for setting the destination, or the information center. WWW browser software for acquiring a member candidate list screen for selecting a destination transmission member from 10 as Web information.
On the other hand, in the information center 10 in the second embodiment, the destination determination program for the second embodiment is stored in the memory 18 instead of the destination determination program 25, and the member candidate list is stored in the database 40. . The member candidate list is stored in the corresponding user data 50 for each user of each ID.

  FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the operation of the destination transmission member setting process executed in portable information terminal 200 and navigation device 100. In the following description of the operation, the processing is performed by the portable information terminal 200, but the same processing is performed in the navigation device 100. In this case, similarly to the destination setting process in the first embodiment, the description of the operation of each unit of the portable information terminal 200 is the operation of each unit of the navigation device 100 in which the last two digits are the same. For example, the arithmetic processing unit 201 in the portable information terminal 200 corresponds to the arithmetic processing unit 101 in the navigation device 100.

The arithmetic processing unit 201 first executes destination setting processing (step 101). This destination setting process is the same as the destination setting process described in the first embodiment. When the portable information terminal 200 includes the destination setting program 250 and the destination setting data 266, the destination setting process is performed. The destination selected from the data (including parking request and departure date / time) is transmitted to the information center 10.
On the other hand, when there is no such program or data, the destination setting process based on the Web information described with reference to FIG. 7 is performed. In this case, including other processes, a selection screen on which keys and items are displayed for selecting necessary items, a user list, and the like are also acquired from the information center 10 using Web information, and the selected items and data are stored in the information center 10. Will be sent to. Hereinafter, although the case where it has a program and data is demonstrated, the case where it is based on Web information is performed similarly.
Note that when the destination broadcast setting is performed according to the present embodiment, the normal departure date and time are set in this destination setting process, but there are also cases where the departure date is set, so the setting of the departure date and time exists. Is not necessarily a mandatory setting.

Thereafter, the arithmetic processing unit 201 determines whether or not “member setting” is selected from the display screen by the user (step 102). The display of the selected key may be other display such as “Send to other person”.
When the member setting is not selected (step 102; N), the process returns to the main routine by the control program 254.
On the other hand, when the eye case setting is selected (step 102; Y), the arithmetic processing unit 201 acquires a member candidate list from the data storage area and displays it on the display unit 206 (step 104).
FIG. 17 shows an example of a display screen displayed on the display unit 206 in the present embodiment. (A) is a destination transmission member setting screen on which a candidate list of members is displayed, and (b) is a new member. The setting screen, (c) shows a mail screen transmitted to a user whose destination is set by another person.
As shown in FIG. 17A, on the destination transmission member setting screen, a user list unique to the destination setter is displayed. In other words, the other party who has set a destination for another person in the past, the other person who has set his or her destination, or another person who has set a separate member may send a destination. It is registered in the data storage area 202B as a member candidate. A candidate list of registered members is displayed. Then, on the destination transmission member setting screen, as shown in FIG. 17A, the user name and the user ID are displayed.
A number is displayed in front of each user name. By specifying this number with a numeric keypad, the corresponding display location is highlighted or selected by touching the display location or by operating the cursor movement key. Thus, when a user name is selected, a check mark (displayed with a dot) indicating that the user name has been selected is displayed in the left frame of the selected user name.

In this manner, the destination setter selects a member who sets the destination on the destination transmission member setting screen. If no member is displayed in the currently displayed member candidates, other member candidates are displayed in the same manner by selecting “0th screen” in the same manner.
When a new member not registered in the destination setter member candidate list is selected, the “#new member” key illustrated in FIG. 17A is selected.
When the arithmetic processing unit of the portable information terminal 200 detects the selection of the “#new member” key (step 105; Y), a new member setting screen shown in FIG. 17B is displayed on the display unit 106 (step 106). ).
The destination setter specifies a new member who sets the destination on the new member setting screen. Input items for specifying a new member include the ID, name, email address, telephone number, and recitation number of the new member. In this embodiment, it is not necessary to input all these items. In order to specify a member (user), input of at least two items of ID and another item is required. However, three or more items, four or more items, or all items may be requested in order to perform user authorization more accurately. Alternatively, only one item may be accepted, and when the user cannot be specified with this one item, the input of another item may be requested.

When the “* confirm” key is selected by the destination setter after selecting the destination transmission member on the above destination transmission member setting screen or new member setting screen, the arithmetic processing unit detects this (step 107; Y), the ID of the destination transmission member selected at the time of confirmation is transmitted to the information center 10 (step 108).
When a new member is set, other items input together with the ID are also transmitted.
The set new member is automatically registered in the user candidate list for the destination setter.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing the destination setting process of this embodiment performed in the information center.
The arithmetic processing unit 14 of the information center 10 performs processing from user destination reception monitoring (step 31) to vehicle destination storage (steps 36, 38, 39). The processes in steps 31 to 39 are the same as steps 31 to 39 in the destination determination process described with reference to FIG.
After the above processing, the arithmetic processing unit 14 confirms whether or not the member ID is transmitted together with the destination or after the destination, and if there is a member ID (step 120; Y), the user data of each member ID The vehicle destination and the final destination are stored in 50 (step 121).

The arithmetic processing unit 14 automatically creates an email indicating that the destination has been set by another person from the user data 50 regarding the destination setter and the received data such as the destination for the user of each member ID. And transmit (step 122). When sending an email, the email address stored in the user data 50 of the corresponding ID is used.
FIG. 17C illustrates the mail created by the arithmetic processing unit 14. As illustrated in FIG. 17 (c), the name of the destination setter is used for “Takahashi Takahashi” in the first row, and the departure date and time is used for the date and time portion in the third row. The destination name is used for the part of the eye, the destination setter “Mr.” is used for the part “Takahashi” on the fifth line, and “Home” on the fifth line is the current vehicle position of the user data Is used, and the departure date and time is used as the scheduled departure time on the sixth line.
In addition, the description below “details” on the last line is a URL (Uniform Resource Locators) for acquiring the target file and displaying it in the Web browser.
A user who has received an e-mail from the information center 10 (the receiving device may be a personal computer, a navigation device 100, etc. in addition to the form information terminal 200) designates this URL, thereby allowing another person (FIG. 17 (c)). ) Allows you to edit your destination settings set by Takashi Takahashi). For example, when another member A is placed on the way between the set destinations, the home of the member A can be set as a passing point.
As described above, the data related to the destination edited for the user after designating the URL displayed in the mail is stored in the user data 50 of the corresponding ID edited by the information center 10.

After sending the mail to the user of each member ID, the arithmetic processing unit 14 determines whether or not a new member for the destination setter is set (step 123). Whether or not the member is a new member is determined based on whether or not a member ID not in the member candidate list stored in the user data 50 corresponding to the destination setter ID is received.
When a new member is set (step 123; Y), the arithmetic processing unit 14 stores the name and ID of the new member in the member candidate list of the destination setter (step 124), and the control program 254. Return to the main routine.

As a result of the above processing, a user whose destination is set by another person (user B) can confirm that the destination is set by checking the mail addressed to himself / herself.
Then, as in the case where the user B himself / herself presets the destination in the information center 10, the user B turns on the ignition on the date set by the other person to thereby perform the destination setting confirmation processing (FIG. 9) A request / route guidance process (FIG. 12) is executed, and if the vehicle destination and the vehicle destination are different points, a map picture of the non-vehicle route is further received by the portable information terminal 200.
As described above, according to the second embodiment, destinations for a plurality of members including oneself are registered in the user data 50 of the information center 10 by one destination setting by one destination setter. Can do.

  In the second embodiment described above, the information center 10 transmits the mail illustrated in FIG. 17C to each received member ID. However, when there is a member that cannot transmit the mail, the information center 10 transmits the mail. You may make it notify that the member who was not able to exist, member ID, and a name with respect to the portable information terminal 200 or the navigation apparatus 100 which set the destination (modification 21). In the portable information terminal 200 or the like that has received this, the presence of a member that could not be sent by e-mail and the name and ID of the member are displayed on the display unit. By confirming this display, the destination setter can notify the member that the destination has been set or that the mail could not be sent by means other than e-mail, for example, telephone.

Moreover, in 2nd Embodiment demonstrated, it was made to store in the same area of the user 50, without distinguishing between the destination set by others and the destination set by the self, You may make it store (modification 22).
In this case, when the destination setting confirmation process is performed, the information center 10 sets the destination set by the other person to the user who has requested the destination setting confirmation when the destination set is set by another person. It is confirmed whether or not it is possible to transmit route / guidance data to the destination (vehicle destination). The information center 10 performs route search / guidance data transmission processing (FIG. 11) when confirmation that the destination set by another person is acceptable is transmitted from the navigation device 100.

(4) Third Embodiment Next, a third embodiment will be described.
In the described first embodiment, the information center 10 searches for a non-vehicle route from the vehicle destination to the final destination and transmits a map picture to the portable information terminal 20 so that the user of the portable information terminal 20 can walk or the like. To reach the final destination.
In the third embodiment, separately from or in addition to the first embodiment, the current position of the vehicle on which the navigation device 100 is mounted is determined from the current position of the portable information terminal 200 for which the destination is preset. A non-vehicle route up to this point is searched and a map picture is transmitted to the portable information terminal 200. It should be noted that the destination setting process performed in advance can include a case where the destinations of other users described in the second embodiment are set in advance at the same time.

FIG. 19 shows an example of data exchange between the information center 10, the navigation system 100, and the portable information terminal 200 in the present embodiment.
As indicated by an arrow E0 ′ in FIG. 19, the portable information terminal 200 sets the destination and the current position by the operation described in the first embodiment.
When the portable information terminal 200 includes a GPS receiver, the current position is set as a current position by a coordinate value specified by latitude and longitude specified by the GPS receiver. When a position measuring unit such as GPS is not provided, the address or telephone number of the place input by the user (destination setting person) is set as the current position.
In the case of the portable information terminal 200 having the destination setting data 266, the current facility or the like is designated from the destination setting data 266 in the same manner as the destination setting process by the destination setting program 250. Is set as the current position. In this case, the destination setting program designates a facility or the like by a genre or the like as described in the first embodiment, and then selects “Set to destination”, “Set to transit point”, or “Set to current position”. By selecting, it is determined whether to set the destination, waypoint (passing point), or current position.
Further, when the portable information terminal 200 performs destination setting for the information center 10 via the Internet using the WWW browser software, as shown in FIG. To set the current position.

When the portable information terminal 200 sets the destination and the current position by any of the methods described above as indicated by the arrow E1 ′ in FIG.
When the data such as the destination is received, the information center 10 determines whether or not the current position of the portable information terminal 200 is included in the received data as indicated by an arrow E2 ′. Similarly to the first embodiment, the destination determination process (FIG. 8) is executed, and the final destination and the vehicle destination are stored in the user data 50 of the corresponding ID.

On the other hand, when the current position is included in the received data, it is determined that there has been a request for a travel route to the vehicle destination, and the current vehicle position is read from the user data 50 corresponding to the received ID, The route search from the received current position of the portable information terminal 200 to the current vehicle position is executed in the non-vehicle mode.
That is, the arithmetic processing unit 14 of the information center 10 uses a pedestrian-only road such as a pedestrian bridge and a pedestrian crossing used for the search in the non-vehicle mode, and a moving means other than a vehicle or a walk (cable car, monorail, ropeway, train, Vehicles from the current position using route search data 42 including data (station name, point data, distance between points, timetable, etc.) regarding routes that can be moved by trains, ships, buses, taxis, moving walkways, etc.) The travel route to the current position is searched.
Then, the arithmetic processing unit 14 of the information center 10 uses the map picture of the map picture creation data 54 according to the searched travel path to the final destination, and uses the map picture illustrated in FIGS. As shown by the arrow E 3 ′, the guidance data by the map picture to the created vehicle destination is transmitted to the portable information terminal 200.
The mobile information terminal 200 that has received the map picture guides the route by the non-vehicle means to the vehicle destination by sequentially displaying the received map picture according to the user's operation (E4 ').

  In the information center 10 in the third embodiment, it is necessary to be able to always recognize the current vehicle position. Therefore, the navigation device 100 acquires the current vehicle position from the position measurement unit 104 and transmits it to the information center 10 when the vehicle ignition is off. The information center 10 can always recognize the current position of the vehicle by storing the transmitted vehicle current position in the user data of the corresponding ID.

As described above, according to the third embodiment, the user of the portable information terminal 200 can easily set the destination for the navigation device 100 and receive the map picture from the current position to the current position of the vehicle. The current position can be reached.
Thus, since the map picture (non-vehicle movement route) up to the current vehicle position can be received, even when going to an unguided place, it is possible to move away from the vehicle with peace of mind.

  In the third embodiment described above, the mobile information terminal 200 transmits the current position to the information center 10 instead of the movement route search request. However, the information center 10 transmits the request data for the movement route search to the vehicle current position together with the current position. (Modification 31). In this case, the information center receives the request data for the travel route search together with the current position of the portable information terminal 200, thereby executing the travel route search in the non-vehicle mode up to the current vehicle position.

In the third embodiment described above, the case where the destination for the navigation device 100 is set in advance from the portable information terminal 200 has been described as an example. You may make it perform the search of the movement path | route by the non-vehicle mode from the present position of the information terminal 200 to a vehicle present position (modification 32).
In this case, the portable information terminal 200 transmits to the information center 10 a current position that also serves as a request for a non-vehicle movement route search to the current position and the vehicle current position, or a request for a non-vehicle movement route search to the vehicle current position. .
On the other hand, if the information center 10 receives a current position that also serves as a non-vehicle movement route search request to the current position and the vehicle current position, or a non-vehicle movement route search request to the vehicle current position, Without performing the determination process (FIG. 8), the above-described search for the non-vehicle mode movement route from the current position to the vehicle current position and a map picture are created and transmitted to the portable information terminal 200.

Furthermore, a facility or point other than the current vehicle position may be set as the destination of the portable information terminal 200, and a travel route to this destination may be searched in the non-vehicle mode (Modification 33).
In this case, the portable information terminal 200 receives the destination, the data indicating that the destination is the destination of the portable information terminal 200, the current position, and the request for the travel route search in the non-vehicle mode (the current position is this). Request may be shared) to the information center. The setting of the destination by the portable information terminal 200 is performed by any of the methods described in the first embodiment.
The information center 10 searches for the non-vehicle mode travel route from the current position to the vehicle current position and creates a map picture and transmits it to the portable information terminal 200 without performing the destination determination process (FIG. 8). .

(5) Fourth Embodiment Next, a fourth embodiment will be described.
In the first embodiment described above, when the vehicle (navigation apparatus 100) gets off the vehicle arriving at the vehicle destination and heads for the destination by walking or the like, the vehicle (navigation device 100) notifies the information center 10 of the current vehicle position when the vehicle destination arrives. Based on this, the server transmits a simplified guide map (map picture) up to the final destination to the mobile phone.
However, if the arrival point of the vehicle (usually the vehicle destination) is a place where radio waves for communication such as an underground parking lot do not reach, the navigation device 100 notifies the information center 10 of the current vehicle position and the arrival of the vehicle destination. You may not be able to.
In the fourth embodiment, when it is impossible to communicate with the information center 10 at the final vehicle arrival point in this way, the vehicle current position is transmitted to the portable information terminal 200, and after moving to a point where communication is possible, the portable information terminal 200 The vehicle arrival and the current vehicle position are transmitted to the information center 10.

FIG. 20 illustrates an example of data exchange between the information center 10, the navigation system 100, and the portable information terminal 200 according to the fourth embodiment.
The process of setting the destination of the navigation device 100 from the portable information terminal 200 to the information center 100 (arrows E0 to E2), and the destination setting confirmation process after the ignition on (arrow F0) of the vehicle on which the navigation device 100 is mounted ( Arrows F1 to F4; FIGS. 9 and 10), split route request (navigation device 100) and route / guide data transmission (information center 10) processing (arrows F5 to F9,...) Are the same as in the first embodiment. It is.

If the data cannot be transmitted to the information center 10 when the navigation device 100 arrives at the destination, the arithmetic processing unit of the navigation device 100 is a position measurement unit 104 as indicated by an arrow Fn-2 ′ in FIG. The measured vehicle current position is transmitted to portable information terminal 200. The vehicle current position is transmitted by wireless communication such as infrared communication or SS (spread spectrum) communication, wired communication such as serial communication or parallel communication, packet switching method, or circuit switching method.
In the case where the communication with the information center is based on the packet switching method, the navigation device 100 unilaterally terminates the communication with the information center 10 when the current vehicle position is transmitted to the portable information terminal 200.

When the mobile information terminal 200 receives the current vehicle position from the navigation device 100, the mobile information terminal 200 stores the received current vehicle position in the data storage area 202B, as indicated by an arrow Fn-1 'in FIG.
Then, after carrying the portable information terminal 200 away from the vehicle and moving to a place where communication with the information center 10 is possible, the user moves the vehicle from the portable information terminal 200 to the information center 10 as indicated by an arrow Fn ′. The current position, ID, and vehicle destination arrival are notified.

On the other hand, in the information center 10, when the current vehicle position, ID, and arrival at the vehicle destination are received from the portable information terminal, the current vehicle position is stored in the user data 50 of the corresponding ID as indicated by the arrow G0. The travel route is searched in the non-vehicle mode from to the final destination. This search for the travel route is the same as the final destination search process (FIG. 13) described in the first embodiment. Then, as shown by the arrow G1, the map picture created by the final destination search process is transmitted to the portable information terminal 200.
In the information center 10, when communication with the navigation device 100 is based on the packet switching method, the communication is unilaterally terminated when the current vehicle position or the like is received from the portable information terminal 200.

  The mobile information terminal 200 that has received the map picture from the information center 10 to the final destination displays the map picture on the display unit 206 as shown by the arrow G2 to display the map picture to the final destination. Give guidance.

FIG. 21 shows a request / route guidance process in the fourth embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 21, in the request / route guidance process in the fourth embodiment, the processes from step 80 to step 85 are the same as those in the first embodiment (see FIG. 12).
When the vehicle arrives at the vehicle destination (step 85; Y), the arithmetic processing unit 101 of the navigation device 100 determines whether or not communication with the information center 10 is possible (step 130), and communication is possible. If so (step 130; Y), as in the first embodiment, the vehicle current position and arrival at the vehicle destination are transmitted to the information center 10 (step 86), and the control program 154 returns to the main routine. .
On the other hand, when communication with the information center 10 is not possible, the arithmetic processing unit 101 transmits the current vehicle position measured by the position measurement unit 104 to the portable information terminal 200 and forcibly ends communication with the information center 10. (Step 131), the process returns to the main routine.

As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, the current position (vehicle current position) can be acquired even by a portable information terminal that does not include a current position detection device such as a GPS receiver.
The vehicle current position acquired from the navigation device 100 can be used as the current position of the portable information terminal 200 in Modification 33 of the third embodiment (Modification 41). The portable information terminal 200 requests the information center 10 for a travel route based on a map picture from a current position (= current position of the vehicle) to an arbitrary destination (a destination that is moved by non-vehicle means).

In the third embodiment, the vehicle current position is transmitted from the navigation device 100 to the information center 10 with the ignition off, but the fourth embodiment can also be applied to this third embodiment (Modification). 42).
In other words, when communication with the information center 10 is not possible when the ignition is off, the navigation device 100 transmits the current vehicle position to the portable information terminal 200. The user transmits the current vehicle position from the portable information terminal 200 to the information center 10 after moving to a place where communication is possible.
Thereby, even when the ignition is turned off in an area where the vehicle cannot communicate, the information center 10 can store and recognize the current vehicle position.

In the fourth embodiment, the navigation device 100 transmits the current vehicle position to the portable information terminal 200 when arriving at a vehicle destination or the like. However, the navigation device 100 is always at regular intervals (for example, every 5 minutes, n minutes). The vehicle current position may be transmitted to the portable information terminal 200 at a necessary timing or in response to a user request (variation 43). The necessary timing includes, for example, the timing of traveling a predetermined distance (for example, 100 m, 200 m, 500 m, etc.), the timing of changing the course of an intersection, the timing of ignition off, and the like.
In this case, the current position of the portable information terminal 200 in the modified example 33 (= the current vehicle position) is also obtained in the case where the vehicle is temporarily parked in the middle of the travel route and goes out to a specific destination (the destination moved by the non-vehicle means). ) Can be used.
Each modification of the fourth embodiment including the modification 43 can be applied even when the route guidance by the navigation device 100 is not performed (modification 44).

(6) Fifth Embodiment Next, a fifth embodiment will be described.
In the first embodiment described, the navigation device 100 includes the display unit 106, and the display unit 106 displays a destination setting, a travel route for route guidance, and a current position. In the first embodiment, the mobile terminal is used for setting the destination in the information center 10 and / or for receiving and displaying the non-vehicle movement route (map picture), and for displaying the vehicle travel route. Not used for.
On the other hand, in the fifth embodiment, the portable information terminal 200 can be connected to the navigation device 100 by wire or wireless and used as a display unit and an input unit of the navigation device 100 and / or as a part of the display unit and the input unit. It is what I did.

Thus, by using the display function and / or the input function of the portable information terminal 200 as a part of the navigation device 100, the navigation device 100 can be configured at a low cost or can be expanded.
That is, by using the portable information terminal 200 as a display device, the display device of the navigation device 100 becomes unnecessary, and by using the portable information terminal 200 as a part of the input device, the configuration of the input unit of the navigation device 100 is simplified. Can be Further, the display function can be expanded by using the display function of the portable information terminal 200 in the navigation device 100 having the display device.

Specifically, by using the display unit 206 of the portable information terminal 200 in the navigation device 100, various display data are output from the navigation device 100 and displayed on the display (display unit 206) of the portable information terminal 200.
For example, when it reaches the vicinity of the guidance target intersection (for example, before 200), the map screen displayed so far is switched to the intersection guidance map, or the intersection guidance map is displayed on a part of the screen. By using the display screen of the portable information terminal 200, only the intersection guide map can be displayed on the display unit 206 of the portable information terminal 200 while the map screen is displayed on the display unit 106 of the navigation device 100 as it is.
Further, even a user who does not have an in-vehicle display (display unit 106) for the navigation apparatus 100 can view a navigation guide map (route guide map) using only the portable information terminal 200.
Furthermore, by displaying various menus selectable on the navigation device 100 on the display unit 206 of the portable information terminal 200, the map can be viewed on the display unit 106 of the navigation device 100 even during menu display.
On the other hand, when the input unit of the portable information terminal 200 is used by the navigation device 100, an input interface is not necessary for the navigation device 100 by transmitting a signal from the portable information terminal 200 to the navigation device 100 by communication.

In the case of the fifth embodiment, the portable information terminal 200 and the navigation device 100 each include a dedicated data transmission / reception unit and a data transmission / reception buffer that is also used as the communication control unit 208 or 108. Both data transmission / reception units are provided with communication interfaces such as infrared communication (IrDA standard, IrTran-P standard, etc.), wireless communication such as SS (spread spectrum) communication, and wired communication such as serial communication and parallel communication.
Further, when a mobile phone is used as the portable information terminal 200, a hands-free call can be made, and a call can be safely made with hands-free even when a guidance screen is displayed on the display unit 206.
In addition, the navigation apparatus 100 of 5th Embodiment is provided with the route search function to the destination, and demonstrates the case where it has the route search program for that purpose, the data for route search, and the data for guidance. Also, a case will be described in which the portable information terminal 200 of the fifth embodiment does not have a destination setting program and destination setting data and does not have a function for setting a destination alone.

Next, the operation in the fifth embodiment will be described.
FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing the operation of the destination setting process by portable information terminal 200.
The arithmetic processing unit of the portable information terminal 200 displays a mode selection screen on the display unit 206 (step 141). That is, the arithmetic processing unit 201 uses an “iMode” key that is a data communication menu for setting specific data communication as illustrated in FIG. 23A as a mode selection screen unique to each portable information terminal 200, A “telephone menu” key for selecting a telephone function and a “navigation menu” key for selecting a function of this embodiment are displayed on the display unit 206. If the mobile information terminal 200 is a mobile phone, in addition to the “navigation menu” key, a “telephone menu” key, a “data communication menu” key, etc. A “schedule” key, an “address book” key, and the like are displayed on the display unit 206.
These mode selection keys have been described as soft keys displayed on the screen, but may be hard keys such as switches.

When the navigation menu is selected on the mode selection screen (step 141; Y), the arithmetic processing unit 201 of the portable information terminal 200 supplies an activation signal via the interface and activates the connected navigation device 100 ( Step 143).
Then, the arithmetic processing unit 201 transmits a navigation menu request signal to acquire the navigation menu from the navigation device 100 (step 144), and displays the acquired navigation menu on the display unit 206 (step 145). In this navigation menu screen, as exemplified in FIG. 23B, various operations such as “1. Decide destination” key, “2. Search” key, and “3. Setting” key are selected. The key is displayed on the screen. Each of these keys is a software-selectable soft key. After selecting one of the keys displayed on the screen using the scroll key, or after specifying the number displayed before each key using the numeric keypad, press the select button. A key is selected by pressing it.

When the “determine destination” key is selected on the navigation menu screen (step 146; Y), the arithmetic processing unit 201 transmits a destination list request signal to acquire the destination list from the navigation device 100 (step 146). 147), the destination list is displayed on the display unit 206 of the portable information terminal 200 (step 148).
When the selection of the destination by the setter is monitored and confirmed (step 149; Y), the arithmetic processing unit 201 transmits the confirmed destination (and the passing point if selected) to the navigation device 100 ( Step 150), the navigation flag is turned on (Step 151), and the process returns to the main routine by the control program 254.

FIG. 24 illustrates route setting processing by the navigation device 100 according to the fifth embodiment.
The arithmetic processing unit 101 of the navigation device 100 monitors the transmission of the destination from the portable information terminal 200. When the destination is acquired (step 161; Y), the current position of the vehicle is acquired from the position measuring unit 104. (Step 162).
Then, the travel route from the acquired current vehicle position to the destination is searched and stored in the route guidance data 160 in the data storage area 102B (step 163). If the navigation device 100 has a destination determination process (FIG. 8) function, the vehicle destination and final destination are determined when the destination is received from the portable information terminal 200, and FIG. In this route setting process, a route from the current vehicle position to the vehicle destination is searched.
After completing the route search, the arithmetic processing unit 101 turns on the route setting flag indicating that the route has been searched (step 164), and returns to the main routine by the control program 154.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing a process for transmitting route guidance data from the navigation device 100.
The arithmetic processing unit 101 of the navigation device 100 confirms whether or not the route search is completed from the route setting flag, and when the flag is on (step 171; Y), acquires the current vehicle position from the position measuring unit 104 (step). 172).
Then, the arithmetic processing unit 101 determines whether there is guidance data to be transmitted to the portable information terminal 200, and if there is guidance data to be transmitted (step 173), transmits the guidance data to the portable information terminal 200 (step 173). Step 174). Examples of data to be transmitted to the portable information terminal 200 include a vehicle current position, a map, an enlarged intersection map, and a travel route.

  The arithmetic processing unit 101 of the navigation device 100 transmits the route guidance data to the portable information terminal 200 in a timely manner until the vehicle arrives at the destination and the route guidance ends (step 175; N), and the vehicle arrives at the destination. When the route guidance is completed (step 175; Y), the navigation flag off is transmitted to the portable information terminal 200, the route setting flag set in step 164 of the route setting process is turned off, and the process returns to the main routine.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing the process of the portable information terminal 200 for displaying the guidance data acquired from the navigation device 100 on the display unit 206.
The arithmetic processing unit 201 of the portable information terminal 200 monitors the transmission of guidance data from the navigation device 100 (step 181). When the arithmetic processing unit 201 receives the guidance data (step 181; Y), the arithmetic processing unit 201 displays the received guidance data such as the current vehicle position, the map, the enlarged intersection map, and the travel route on the screen of the display unit 206 (step 182). When displaying the guidance data, the arithmetic processing unit 201 can easily recognize the guidance data by turning on the backlight as necessary at night or the like.
The arithmetic processing unit 201 continues to receive and display the guidance data until the vehicle arrives at the destination and a navigation flag off instruction is transmitted from the navigation device 100 (step 183; N). When the instruction is received (step 183; Y), the navigation flag is turned off (step 184), and the process returns to the main routine.

FIG. 27 shows a route guidance screen displayed in the fifth embodiment.
FIG. 27A shows an outline of a guidance screen displayed when the navigation device 200 includes the display device 206, and the vehicle position M and the travel route L are displayed on the map screen.
Then, as shown in FIG. 27b, when the next vehicle position is a predetermined distance (for example, 500 m, 700 m, 1 km, etc.) or more to the guidance intersection, the navigation apparatus 100 sends the portable information terminal 200 to the next guidance intersection. An arrow B2 indicating that the distance B1 and the course change direction indicate the change direction is transmitted as guidance data and displayed. In FIG. 27B, a distance B1 and a course change direction arrow B2 are displayed so as to turn right 2 km ahead. When the distance to the guidance intersection is greater than or equal to the predetermined distance, as shown in FIG. 27 (b), the distance B1 and the route change direction arrow B2 are displayed, and the travel route, landmark, etc. are not displayed.
When the distance to the guidance intersection is less than the predetermined distance, as illustrated in FIG. 27C, an enlarged view of the intersection where the map screen B3 and the arrow B4 displayed along the travel route are displayed is navigation. It is transmitted from the device 100 to the portable information terminal 200 and displayed. Although not displayed in FIG. 27C, landmarks and the like are appropriately displayed in the enlarged intersection view.

Next, when a mobile phone is used as the portable information terminal 200, processing when there is an incoming call during route guidance will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
The arithmetic processing unit 201 of the mobile phone (portable information terminal 200) monitors whether there is an incoming call, and if there is an incoming call (step 191; Y), determines whether the navigation flag is turned on. (Step 192). When there is no incoming call (step 191; N), and when there is an incoming call but the navigation flag is off (step 192; N), the process returns to the main routine.
If the navigation flag is on (step 192; Y), the portable information terminal 200 continues to display the guide map of the guidance data transmitted from the navigation device 100, including during a call, without switching, and receives an incoming call for a hands-free call. A sound is output (step 193).
Then, when the hands-free call switch is turned on or when a certain time has elapsed after the incoming call (step 194; Y), the arithmetic processing unit 201 starts a hands-free call (step 195). Since the portable information terminal 200 is connected to the navigation device 100 via a cable and is fixed in the vehicle (in the case of wireless communication, fixed at a communicable position), a dedicated hands-free unit is used, or an in-vehicle microphone And a speaker are used as a hands-free unit.
The arithmetic processing unit 201 continues the call until the hands-free call ends (step 196; N), and when the call ends due to selection of the call end key or the like (step 196; Y), returns to the main routine.

  In the fifth embodiment described above, the case where a destination (including a passing point) is set and transmitted to the navigation device 100 has been described. However, the portable information terminal 200 is a parking lot as in the first embodiment. A request (when the navigation device 100 has a destination determination process (FIG. 8) function) and / or a departure date and time (when advance destination setting is performed for the navigation device 100) is set and the navigation device 100 is set. (Modification 51).

Further, the case has been described where the navigation device 100 of the fifth embodiment described above has a route search function to the destination and the portable information terminal 200 does not have a single destination setting function, but is similar to the first embodiment. In addition, the navigation device 100 may not have a route search function, and / or the portable information terminal 200 may have a single destination setting function.
For example, when the navigation device 100 does not have a route search function and performs a route search or the like at the information center 10, the portable information terminal 200 displays the set destination (passage point, parking lot request, departure date / time) and navigation. The ID of the device 100 is transmitted to the information center 10 (Modification 52). In this modification 52, the information center 10 stores the received destination (vehicle destination) in the user data 50 of the corresponding ID. As in the first embodiment, the destination determination process (FIG. 8) and the destination confirmation determination process (FIGS. 9 and 10) are executed.
Thereafter, the information center 10 searches for a travel route to the vehicle destination and transmits it to the navigation device 100 via the portable information terminal 200 or directly. In this case, the travel route transmitted to the navigation device 100 may be an entire travel route to the vehicle destination, or may be a divided route according to a request from the navigation device 100 as in the first embodiment.
Guidance data corresponding to the received entire travel route or divided route and the current vehicle position is transmitted from the navigation device 100 to the portable information terminal 200 and displayed on the display unit 206 of the portable information terminal 200.

  Furthermore, when the advance destination setting described in the first embodiment is performed for the information center 10, the set destination is transmitted to the information center 10 regardless of the presence or absence of the route search function of the navigation device 100. You may make it do.

(7) Sixth Embodiment Next, a sixth embodiment will be described.
In the sixth embodiment, for example, the information center 10 performs point search, route search, travel schedule setting, and the like, and the user moves to the parking lot near the destination by the guidance of the on-vehicle navigation device 100, from which the mobile phone is carried. The present invention is applied to a system (seamless navigation system) that uses the information terminal 200 to guide to a destination.
In the first embodiment to the fifth embodiment and each modification, the case where the portable information terminal 200 is connected to the navigation apparatus 100 by wireless or wired use has been described, but in the sixth embodiment, each of these In the embodiment and the modification, when the user moves out of the vehicle together with the portable information terminal 200, a problem caused by forgetting to transmit necessary data to the portable information terminal 200 is solved.

The navigation device 100 according to the sixth embodiment includes a wireless or wired communication device with the portable information terminal 200 and a position supplement device (position supplement means) that supplements the position of the portable information terminal 200.
The portable information terminal 200 includes a web browser software that displays various information, a communication device with the navigation device 100, and a communication control unit that mediates communication between the information center 10 and the navigation device 10 through mobile communication such as a mobile phone. 208 is provided.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing a processing operation in which the navigation device 100 according to the sixth embodiment supplements the position of the portable information terminal 200.
The arithmetic processing unit 101 of the navigation device 100 monitors the portable terminal (step 201), and determines whether or not the portable information terminal 200 is moving from the inside of the vehicle to the outside of the vehicle (step 202).
That is, when the portable information terminal 200 is wirelessly connected by infrared communication or the like, the arithmetic processing unit 101 of the navigation device 100 periodically exchanges position confirmation data with the portable information terminal 200, so that the portable information terminal 200 The distance is calculated, and when the distance is longer than a predetermined distance, it is recognized that “move outside the vehicle”. As the data for position confirmation, data including an identification code is transmitted and received so that both sides can identify each other, and the distance of the portable information terminal 200 is calculated based on the intensity of the radio wave (infrared rays) or the amount of change in the intensity. Is done. In addition to the identification code, the electric field strength and error rate may be exchanged, and the detailed data format conforms to the data communication standard used between the two.
In addition, when the portable information terminal 200 is connected to the navigation device 100 in a wired manner for charging or power feeding, the arithmetic processing unit of the navigation device 100 detects that the wired connection has been released, thereby “moving outside the vehicle”. Recognize.

When the movement of the portable information terminal 200 from the inside of the vehicle to the outside of the vehicle is detected (step 202; Y), the arithmetic processing unit 101 obtains the current position from the position measuring unit 104 (step 203) and identifies it to the portable information terminal 200. Data is transmitted (step 204), and the process returns to the main routine by the control program 154.
Here, the navigation device 100 wirelessly transmits the vehicle current position or the map data of the vehicle current position and the vehicle current position to the portable information terminal 200 as the specific data.
Note that the current vehicle position may be transmitted to the information center 200 through the portable information terminal 200 in accordance with a user selection operation or a preset option setting.

As described above, since the mobile information terminal 200 always automatically acquires the current vehicle position and stores it in the data storage area, for example, by applying this embodiment to the first embodiment, the information center 10 and the navigation device Since the vehicle current position is always stored in the portable information terminal 200 when communication with 100 is not possible, the inconvenience that the user cannot transmit the vehicle current position or the like to the information center 10 after reaching a communicable place is avoided.
In addition, since the current position of the vehicle is automatically stored in the portable information terminal 200 whenever the user leaves the vehicle, the information center 10 is requested to search for the movement route in the non-vehicle mode to the vehicle after leaving the vehicle. In addition, the stored vehicle current position can be transmitted to the information center 100 as the final destination of the non-vehicle mode movement route search, and it is possible to leave the vehicle safely even in an unguided land. The current position transmitted from the portable information terminal 200 to the information center 10 is set by the facility name, telephone number, address, etc. when present.

As described above, according to the sixth embodiment, the current vehicle current position is automatically transferred to the portable information terminal 200 using the radio without any special operation by the user, so that the user can perform the data transfer operation. The burden can be reduced.
Further, it is possible to prevent the data from being transferred because the connection is canceled before the data is transferred, which is likely to occur in a wired connection.

The sixth embodiment described above can be configured as follows.
(A) An in-vehicle device and a portable information terminal are provided,
The in-vehicle device is configured to determine whether or not the portable information terminal is about to move from the inside of the vehicle to the outside of the vehicle, and when the determination unit determines that the portable information terminal is about to move from the inside of the vehicle to the outside of the vehicle A transmission means for transmitting specific data to the portable information terminal,
The mobile information terminal includes a storage device and a reception unit that receives specific data transmitted by the transmission unit and stores the received data in the storage device.
(B) The determination unit determines that the portable information terminal is about to move from the inside of the vehicle to the outside when the distance between the portable information terminal and the vehicle exceeds a threshold value. Vehicle data processing system.
(C) When the portable information terminal and the vehicle are connected by a power supply cable or a data communication cable, the determination unit determines that the portable information terminal can be The vehicle data processing system according to (A), wherein it is determined that the vehicle is going to move outside the vehicle.
(D) The portable information terminal includes processing means for executing a specific process using data stored in the storage device by the receiving means (A), (B), or The vehicle data processing system according to (C).
(E) The specific data is vehicle position data;
The vehicle data processing system according to (D), wherein the specific process displays a vehicle position together with a map on a screen of a portable information terminal.

(F) determining means for determining whether or not the portable information terminal is about to move out of the vehicle;
In-vehicle data processing comprising: transmission means for transmitting specific data to the portable information terminal when the determining means determines that the portable information terminal is about to move from the inside of the vehicle to the outside of the vehicle apparatus.
As the in-vehicle data processing device, for example, a navigation device is applied.
(G) The determination unit determines that the portable information terminal is about to move from the inside of the vehicle to the outside of the vehicle when the distance between the portable information terminal and the vehicle exceeds a threshold value. In-vehicle data processing device.
(H) When the portable information terminal and the vehicle are connected by a power supply cable or a data communication cable, the determination means determines that the portable information terminal is removed from the vehicle interior when the connection by the cable is released. The in-vehicle data processing device according to (F), wherein it is determined that the vehicle is going to move outside the vehicle.
(I) The in-vehicle data processing device according to (F), (G), or (H), wherein the specific data is vehicle position data.

(J) A portable information terminal comprising: a storage device; and a reception unit that receives specific data transmitted from the in-vehicle data transmission device when moving from the inside of the vehicle to the outside of the vehicle and stores the specific data in the storage device.
(K) The portable information terminal according to (J), further comprising processing means for executing a specific process using data stored in the storage device by the receiving means.
(L) The portable information terminal according to (K), wherein the specific process displays a vehicle position together with a map on a screen of the portable information terminal.

(8) Seventh Embodiment Next, a seventh embodiment will be described.
In the seventh embodiment, for example, the information center 10 performs point search, route search, travel schedule setting, and the like, and the user moves to the parking lot near the destination by the guidance of the navigation device 100 mounted on the vehicle, and from there The present invention is applied to a system (seamless navigation system) that uses the information terminal 200 to guide to a destination.
In the first embodiment, the navigation device 100 is configured to acquire data such as a preset destination from the information center 10 when the ignition is turned on. However, in the seventh embodiment, the portable information terminal 200 is connected from outside the vehicle. It is detected that the vehicle is about to move into the vehicle or has moved, and the destination data registered in advance in the information center 10 is automatically acquired.

The navigation device 100 according to the seventh embodiment includes a wireless or wired communication device with the portable information terminal 200 and a position supplement device (position supplement means) that supplements the position of the portable information terminal 200.
The portable information terminal 200 includes a web browser software that displays various information, a communication device with the navigation device 100, and a communication control unit that mediates communication between the information center 10 and the navigation device 10 through mobile communication such as a mobile phone. 208 is provided.
In addition, the navigation apparatus 100 of this embodiment communicates with the information center 10 via the portable information terminal 200, and does not include the communication control unit 108 that communicates with the information center 10 alone.

FIG. 30 is a flowchart showing a processing operation in which the navigation device 100 according to the seventh embodiment supplements the position of the portable information terminal 200.
The arithmetic processing unit 101 of the navigation device 100 monitors the portable terminal (step 211), and determines whether or not the portable information terminal 200 is moving from the outside of the vehicle into the vehicle (step 212).
That is, when the portable information terminal 200 is wirelessly connected by infrared communication or the like, the arithmetic processing unit 101 of the navigation device 100 periodically exchanges position confirmation data with the portable information terminal 200, so that the portable information terminal 200 The distance is calculated, and when moving closer than a predetermined distance, it is recognized that “move into the vehicle”. As the data for position confirmation, data including an identification code is transmitted and received so that both sides can identify each other, and the distance of the portable information terminal 200 is calculated based on the intensity of the radio wave (infrared rays) or the amount of change in the intensity. Is done. In addition to the identification code, the electric field strength and error rate may be exchanged, and the detailed data format conforms to the data communication standard used between the two.
In addition, when the portable information terminal 200 is connected to the navigation device 100 in a wired manner for charging or feeding, the arithmetic processing unit of the navigation device 100 detects that the wired connection has been connected, thereby “moving into the vehicle”. Recognize.

  When the movement of the portable information terminal 200 from the outside of the vehicle to the inside of the vehicle is detected (step 212; Y), the arithmetic processing unit 101 acquires the set destination information from the information center 10 (step 213). That is, the arithmetic processing unit 101 requests the portable information terminal 200 to acquire the set destination information from the information center 10. In response to this request, the portable information terminal 200 acquires the set destination information from the information center 10 and transmits it to the navigation device 100. The arithmetic processing unit 101 of the navigation device 100 stores the set destination information acquired from the information center 10 via the portable information terminal 200 in the data storage area 102B, and returns to the main routine.

  The navigation apparatus 100 that has acquired the set destination information from the information center 10 via the portable information terminal 200 searches for a travel route from the current vehicle position to the acquired destination and provides travel guidance.

As described above, according to the seventh embodiment, the objective information set and stored in advance in the information center 10 is automatically transferred to the portable information terminal 200 using radio without any special operation by the user. This can reduce the user's burden of setting the destination.
In addition, it is possible to prevent a case where a data transfer cable or the like is forgotten to be connected due to a wired connection, or that data cannot be transferred due to a connection error or the like.
Furthermore, since the most time-consuming communication is performed when getting into the automobile, the travel route guidance by the navigation device 100 can be started immediately after boarding.

In the embodiment described above, the navigation device 100 communicates with the information center 10 via the portable information terminal 200, and includes the communication control unit 108 that communicates with the information center 10 alone. However, the navigation device 100 may include the communication control unit 108 that communicates with the information center 10 alone (Modification 71).
In this case, when the arithmetic processing unit 101 of the navigation device 100 detects the movement of the portable information terminal 200 from the outside of the vehicle to the inside of the vehicle (step 212; Y), the set destination information is directly transmitted to the information center via the communication control unit 108. Get from 10.

In the seventh embodiment described above, the navigation apparatus 100 has acquired the set destination information from the information center, but searches the information center 10 for a travel route to the set destination by transmitting the current vehicle position. The searched route / guidance data may be acquired from the information center 10 (Modification 72).
In this case, the travel route acquired by the navigation device 100 may be the entire travel route to the vehicle destination, or a divided route according to a request from the navigation device 100 may be acquired as in the first embodiment.

The seventh embodiment described above can be configured as follows.
(A) an information center capable of transmitting specific data to the in-vehicle device;
Determining means for determining whether or not the portable information terminal is being brought into the vehicle from outside the vehicle, or whether or not the portable information terminal is brought into the vehicle from outside the vehicle;
When it is determined by the determining means that the portable information terminal is about to move from the outside of the vehicle to the inside of the vehicle, or when the portable information terminal is brought into the vehicle from the outside of the vehicle, the information center sends the information to the in-vehicle device. A transmission means for transmitting specific data;
The in-vehicle device uses a storage device, a reception unit that receives specific data transmitted by the transmission unit and stores the specific data in the storage device, and uses the specific data stored in the storage device by the reception unit. And a vehicle data processing system comprising: processing means for executing a specific process.
(B) The determination means determines that the portable information terminal is about to move from the outside of the vehicle into the vehicle when the distance between the portable information terminal and the vehicle is equal to or less than a threshold value (a) ) Vehicle data processing system.
(C) The determination unit determines that the portable information terminal is brought into the vehicle from outside the vehicle when the portable information terminal and the in-vehicle device are connected by a power supply cable or a data transmission cable. The vehicle data processing system as described in (a) characterized by the above-mentioned.
(D) The specific data is guidance data for guiding the vehicle to the destination,
The vehicle processing system according to (a), wherein the processing means guides the vehicle to a destination as the specific processing.
(E) the specific data is destination data;
It has a road data storage device that stores road data for route setting.
The processing means includes, as the specific processing, setting means for setting a route to the destination using road data and destination data (a), (b), ( The vehicle data processing system according to c) or (d).

(F) storage means;
Determining means for determining whether or not the portable information terminal is being brought into the vehicle from outside the vehicle, or whether or not the portable information terminal is brought into the vehicle from outside the vehicle;
When the determination means determines that the portable information terminal is about to move from outside the vehicle or that the portable information terminal is brought into the vehicle from outside the vehicle, specific data is received from the information center. Receiving means for storing in the storage means;
An in-vehicle data processing apparatus comprising: processing means for executing specific processing using specific data stored in the storage device.
As this in-vehicle data processing device, for example, a navigation device is used.
(G) The determination means determines that the portable information terminal is about to move from the outside of the vehicle into the vehicle when the distance between the portable information terminal and the vehicle is equal to or less than a threshold value (f) The in-vehicle data processing device according to).
(H) When the portable information terminal is connected by a power supply cable or a data transmission cable, the determination means determines that the portable information terminal has been brought into the vehicle from outside the vehicle. The in-vehicle data processing device according to (f).
(I) The specific data is guidance data for guiding the vehicle to the destination,
The in-vehicle data processing apparatus according to (f), (g), or (h), wherein the processing means guides the vehicle to a destination as the specific processing.
(J) the specific data is destination data;
It has a road data storage device that stores road data for route setting.
The processing means includes, as the specific processing, setting means for setting a route to a destination using road data and destination data, (f), (g), ( The in-vehicle data processing device according to h) or (i).

  In each of the embodiments and modifications described above, the destination setting confirmation process (FIG. 9) is performed when the ignition is turned on, but the destination setting confirmation process may be performed when the navigation device 100 is switched on.

  The navigation system of the present invention can also be applied to a system that transmits and receives data through a unique communication network such as a taxi, a bus, a transportation vehicle, and a center that delivers them.

In each of the embodiments and modifications described above, the case where destination data is transmitted when the destination is set in the information center 10 has been described. However, the user of the navigation device 100 or the portable information terminal 200 and the information center 10 The operator may set the destination in the corresponding user data 50 of the information center 10 by conversation with the operator.
In addition, the destination or waypoint transmitted from the portable information terminal 200 to the information center 10 may be a telephone number, 50 sounds of an address, a genre, a facility name, a zip code, or the like. Alternatively, the destination or waypoint may be transmitted to the center by voice, the transmitted voice may be recognized by the center, and the recognition result may be registered as the destination or waypoint.

In each of the embodiments and modifications described above, when the navigation device and the portable information terminal are connected by a data communication cable, the user can perform data communication from the portable information terminal even though communication is being performed. There is a possibility that the cable may be disconnected or may be disconnected due to contact.
Therefore, when communicating via the data communication cable, means for preventing the data communication cable from being disconnected from the portable information terminal can be provided.
For example, by inserting the connector itself into the socket of the portable information terminal into the connector of the data communication cable, the portable information terminal is engaged, and in this engaged state, it is elastic by being brought close to each other by the user. Two claws are provided to be deformed and disengaged. An elliptical cam whose rotation is controlled by a motor is provided between the two claws. During data communication, the rotation of the motor is controlled so that the elliptical long sides of the cams come into contact with the respective claws so that they cannot be brought close to each other even by user operations. On the other hand, when data communication is not being performed, the motor is controlled to rotate so that the short side of the ellipse of the cam faces each of the claws so that the user can perform a proximity operation on the two claws.
In addition, for example, a light emitting element such as an LED is embedded in the connector of the data communication cable so that the light emitting element does not emit light when data communication is not in progress. By making them equal, the user may be informed that data communication is in progress. In addition, a display color when data communication is not being performed or when data communication is being performed may be changed using a two-color LED or the like.

  Although the embodiments and modifications have been described above, these embodiments and modifications can be executed alone, but can be combined with other embodiments and modifications, and other embodiments and modifications. It is possible to add to the above or replace corresponding portions of other embodiments and modifications.

Moreover, it is also possible to comprise for the following based on embodiment and each modification which were demonstrated. (1) Configuration 1 “detection means for detecting ignition on of the vehicle;
Confirmation means for confirming the presence or absence of setting information set in advance in the information center when ignition on is detected by the detection means;
Receiving means for receiving specific data transmitted from the information center based on the confirmation of the confirmation means;
And a specific processing means for performing a specific process based on the specific data received by the receiving means. "
(2) Configuration 2 “Detection means for detecting ignition on of the vehicle;
Confirmation means for confirming the presence or absence of setting information registered to the information center when ignition on is detected by the detection means;
When it is confirmed by the confirmation means that there is setting information registered for itself, an acquisition means for obtaining the setting information from the information center;
And a specific processing means for performing a specific process based on the setting information acquired by the acquisition means. "
(3) Configuration 3 “The setting information registered for the self is destination information for setting a destination,
3. The configuration 2 according to Configuration 2, wherein the specific processing unit performs a travel route search to a destination set by the destination information acquired by the acquisition unit or guides the searched travel route as the specific processing. Navigation device. "
(4) Configuration 4 “The setting information registered for the self is guidance information for a travel route,
The navigation apparatus according to Configuration 2, wherein the specific processing unit performs guidance based on travel route guidance information acquired by the acquisition unit as the specific processing. "
(5) Configuration 5 “The configuration information is configuration information transmitted from an information processing device such as a portable information terminal, a personal computer, and a navigation device. Configuration 1, Configuration 2, Configuration 3 or Configuration 4 The navigation device described in. "
(6) Configuration 6 “arrival determining means for determining whether or not the vehicle has arrived at the destination;
When the arrival determining means determines that the vehicle has arrived at the destination, the information center comprises destination arrival transmitting means for transmitting the destination arrival and the current vehicle position to the information center. The navigation device according to any one of the configurations. "
(7) Configuration 7 “The arrival determination means determines that the vehicle has arrived at the destination when the current vehicle position matches the destination or when the distance between the current vehicle position and the destination is a predetermined distance or less. The navigation device according to Configuration 6, wherein:
(8) Configuration 8 ”When the vehicle arrives at the vehicle destination and cannot communicate with the information center at the vehicle destination, the current vehicle position is transmitted to the portable information terminal. The navigation device described in any one of the configurations. "
(9) Configuration 9 “Setting information receiving means for receiving setting information transmitted from an information processing device such as a portable information terminal, a personal computer, and a navigation device;
Setting information storage means for storing setting information addressed to a specific destination received by the setting information receiving means;
Setting information is stored in the setting information storage means based on a confirmation request for the presence or absence of setting information registered for itself from the navigation device described in any one of the configurations 1 to 7. A confirmation means for confirming whether or not
A transmission means for transmitting the setting information to the navigation device when the confirmation means confirms that the setting information for the navigation device that has requested the confirmation is stored; Information center to do. "
(10) Configuration 10 “The information processing device, the setting information storage area in the setting information storage unit, and the navigation device are associated with each other by an ID for each user.
When the received content of the setting information receiving unit includes a setting request for another user, the setting information storing unit stores the received setting information in the setting information storing unit corresponding to the requested other user ID. 10. The information center according to configuration 9, wherein the information center is stored in a storage area. "
(11) Configuration 11 “The information center according to Configuration 9 or Configuration 10, wherein the setting information is destination information for setting a destination.”
(12) Configuration 12 “When the received setting information is stored in the storage area of the setting information storage unit corresponding to the requested ID of the other user by the setting information storage unit, to the other user The information center according to Configuration 10, further comprising notification means for informing the user. "
(13) Configuration 13 “If the sender of the setting information is different from the specific destination, a notification means for notifying that the setting information has been registered or the content of the setting information to the specific destination The information center according to the ninth aspect, comprising:
(14) Configuration 14 “The configuration according to Configuration 12, wherein the notification means notifies the other user of the fact by electronic mail, facsimile, data communication, or voice communication using voice synthesized voice data. Information center. "
(15) Configuration 15 “The setting information receiving unit receives destination information for setting a destination as the setting information,
Vehicle arrival determination means for determining whether or not the destination set by the destination information is a point that can be reached by the vehicle;
Vehicle destination setting means for setting, as the vehicle destination, a point that can be reached by the vehicle around the destination when the vehicle arrival determining means determines that the destination cannot be reached by the vehicle; Prepared,
The information center according to any one of Configurations 9 to 14, wherein the transmission unit transmits vehicle destination information of the vehicle destination to the navigation device. "
(16) Configuration 16 “Destination information receiving means for receiving destination information transmitted from an information processing device such as a portable information terminal, a personal computer, and a navigation device;
Vehicle arrival judgment means for judging whether or not the destination set by the destination information received by the destination information receiving means is a point that can be reached by the vehicle;
Vehicle destination setting means for setting, as a vehicle destination, a point that can be reached by the vehicle around the destination when the vehicle arrival determining means determines that the destination cannot be reached by the vehicle;
Non-vehicle movement route search means for searching for a movement route for arriving with the non-vehicle movement means other than the own vehicle from the vehicle destination set by the vehicle destination setting means to the destination;
An information center comprising: a travel route transmitting means for transmitting information on the travel route searched by the non-vehicle travel route searching means to the portable information terminal. "
(17) Configuration 17 ”includes destination arrival receiving means for receiving destination arrival information transmitted from the navigation device and a current vehicle position,
The movement route transmitting means transmits the movement route to a portable information terminal when the current vehicle position received by the destination arrival information receiving means is a vehicle destination set by the vehicle destination setting means. The information center according to Configuration 15. "
(18) Configuration 18 “The non-vehicle moving means is at least one of public vehicles such as taxis and buses, cable cars, monorails, ropeways, trains, trains, ships, moving walkways, and walks. Information center according to Configuration 15 ”
(19) Configuration 19 “Vehicle current position storage means for receiving and storing the vehicle current position from the navigation device;
A portable information terminal position receiving means for receiving the current position from the portable information terminal;
Non-vehicle movement route search for searching for a movement route for arriving by the non-vehicle movement means other than the vehicle from the current position received by the portable terminal position reception means to the vehicle current position stored in the vehicle current position storage means Means,
An information center comprising: a travel route transmitting means for transmitting the travel route searched by the non-vehicle travel route searching means to the portable information terminal. "
(20) Configuration 20 “Detection means for detecting ignition on of the vehicle, confirmation means for confirming presence or absence of setting information set in advance in the information center when ignition on is detected by the detection means, and A navigation device comprising: receiving means for receiving specific data transmitted from the information center based on confirmation by the confirmation means; and specific processing means for performing specific processing based on the specific data received by the receiving means;
A setting information receiving means for receiving setting information transmitted from an information processing device such as a portable information terminal, a personal computer, and the navigation device; a setting information storing means for storing setting information received by the setting information receiving means; Based on a confirmation request from the navigation device, a confirmation means for confirming whether the setting information is stored in the setting information storage means, and when the confirmation information is confirmed to be stored by the confirmation means, specific data An information center comprising a specific data transmission means for transmitting the information to the navigation device. "
(21) Configuration 21 “The guidance system according to Configuration 20, wherein the setting information is destination information, and the specific data is destination information or travel route guidance information.”
(22) Configuration 22 “A path transmission device provided outside a portable information terminal,
A route transmission apparatus comprising: a transmission unit configured to transmit a route from a vehicle destination to a final destination before the vehicle reaches the vehicle destination. "
(23) Configuration 23 “A path transmission device provided outside the portable information terminal,
A route transmission apparatus comprising: a transmission unit configured to transmit a route from a vehicle destination to a final destination when the vehicle reaches the vehicle destination. "

According to this configuration, it is possible to immediately acquire and acquire specific data such as a destination and a travel route by turning on the ignition.
In addition, setting information such as a destination for another navigation device can be set.
Further, immediately after reaching the vehicle destination, the final destination or map data up to the final destination can be acquired.
Moreover, even if the vehicle position is unknown, a map and travel route data up to the vehicle position can be obtained using the portable information terminal.
Even if the arrival point of the vehicle is a point where communication is not possible, the information center can be notified of the arrival position and arrival using the portable information terminal.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Information center 12 Communication control part 14 Arithmetic processing part 18 Memory 20 Route search program 22 Segment processing program 24 Guide data extraction program 25 Destination determination program 26 System control program 27 Request road length data 28 Search route data 29 Extraction guide data 40 Database 42 Route Search Data 44 Guidance Data 46 Communication Area Data 48 Destination Setting Data 50 User Data 52 Map Picture Creation Data 70 External Information Collection Unit 100 On-vehicle Navigation Device 101 Arithmetic Processing Unit 102 Memory 102A Program Storage Area 102B Data Storage Area 104 Position Measurement Unit 105 Input Unit 106 Display Unit 107 Audio Output Unit 108 Communication Control Unit 142 Destination Setting Confirmation Program 144 Destination Setting Program 150 Route Guidance Program Program 152 Data request program 154 Control program 160 Route / guide data 161 Vehicle destination, final destination data 162 ID data 164 Vehicle position data 166 Destination setting data 168 Request road length data 200 Portable information terminal 201 Operation processing unit 202 Memory 202A Program storage area 202B Data storage area 204 Position measurement unit 205 Input unit 206 Display unit 208 Communication control unit 250 Destination setting program 252 Non-vehicle route display program 254 Control program 260 Route / guide data 262 ID data 266 Destination setting data

Claims (6)

In-vehicle device and portable information terminal
The in-vehicle device comprises an in-vehicle device side transmission means for transmitting specific data to the portable information terminal,
The portable information terminal includes a receiving means for receiving specific data transmitted from the in-vehicle device, a storage device for storing the received specific data, and information for transmitting the stored specific data to an information center. A vehicle data processing system comprising: a terminal-side transmission unit. The in-vehicle device includes a determination unit that determines whether the portable information terminal is about to move from the inside of the vehicle to the outside of the vehicle,
The vehicle-mounted device side transmitting means transmits specific data to the portable information terminal when the determining means determines that the portable information terminal is about to move from the inside of the vehicle to the outside of the vehicle,
The vehicle data processing system according to claim 1.   3. The vehicle data according to claim 2, wherein the determination unit determines that the mobile information terminal is about to move out of the vehicle when the distance between the mobile information terminal and the vehicle exceeds a threshold value. Processing system.   When the portable information terminal and the vehicle are connected by a power supply cable or a data communication cable, the determination unit moves the portable information terminal from the inside of the vehicle to the outside of the vehicle when the connection by the cable is released. The vehicle data processing system according to claim 2, wherein it is determined that an attempt is made. The portable information terminal includes processing means for executing a specific process using the specific data stored in the storage device by the receiving means.
The vehicle data processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the vehicle data processing system is characterized in that: The specific data is vehicle position data,
The specific process is to display a vehicle position together with a map on the screen of the portable information terminal.
The vehicle data processing system according to claim 5.