JP2012220306A - Information providing system and information providing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information providing system in which, even in the case where information on a network is targeted, a position relating to the information can be provided and displayed more easily on a map, and an information providing method.SOLUTION: An information providing system comprises a navigation device 22 which displays a map on a display device 23, and is configured to refer to disclosed information on a public network 40 over the public network 40. The information providing system further comprises a POI information creation section 16 which refers to a home page 30 on the basis of a URL indicating a place of the home page 30 on the network, acquires positional information corresponding to the referenced home page 30 from the home page 30 and converts the acquired positional information into display information that is a coordinate system for display of the navigation device 22. The navigation device 22 provides and displays a position indicated by the display information acquired from the POI information creation section 16 on the map displayed on the display device 23.

Description

  The present invention relates to an information providing system and an information providing method for providing and displaying map information on a mobile object, particularly a vehicle.

  In recent years, vehicles are often equipped with navigation devices as systems for providing and displaying map information. The navigation device moves the vehicle from the current position to the destination based on the installed map information, the set destination, and the detected current position of the device, that is, the current position of the vehicle. This is a well-known device that provides information to assist the driver of the vehicle. It is also well known that in order to obtain support from such a navigation device, a destination must be set in the navigation device.

  Here, this destination can be searched from a map if it is a well-known place, or can be selected from a list prepared in advance if it is a famous place, In such a case, the destination can be set relatively easily by operating the navigation device. However, it is not easy to set a destination as a destination that is not normally prepared in the list, such as a place that is difficult to search from a map, such as a first place, or a private house. In addition, when a place where the address or name is mistakenly remembered or where the memory is uncertain, it is almost impossible to set the destination by operating the navigation device.

  Therefore, for example, Patent Document 1 describes an example of a technique that can easily set a location found on the Internet as a destination of a navigation device. The system described in Patent Document 1 includes a navigation device, a web server that can communicate with the navigation device, and a browser that is connected to the web server via the Internet and displays an electronic document obtained from the web server. And an arithmetic unit. In the system, when the destination object included in the electronic document referred to by the browser is activated by the user, the arithmetic device navigates the location based on the location information included in the destination object. Add to the device as a destination.

Special table 2010-50993 gazette

  As described above, according to the system described in Patent Document 1, the navigation apparatus can set the position of the destination object as the destination by selecting the destination object with the browser and starting it. It becomes like this. However, the destination object can be used when the destination document is included in an electronic document such as a home page or the browser has a function for creating a destination object corresponding to the electronic document being referenced. Limited to For this reason, even if it is the said system, the destination cannot be set to a navigation apparatus from the homepage, the browser, etc. which do not respond | correspond to the destination object similarly to the past. Even if the destination can be set in the navigation device based on the above-described operation, the complexity of the operation itself cannot be ignored if the destination is diverse.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and the purpose of the present invention is to provide and display the position related to the information on the map more easily even when the information is on the network. An information providing system and an information providing method are provided.

  Hereinafter, means for solving the above-described problems and the effects thereof will be described.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an invention according to claim 1 is an information providing system configured to have a navigation device that displays a map on a screen and to be able to refer to public information on the network via the network. The public information is referred to based on an identifier indicating the location of the public information on the network, the positional information corresponding to the public information is acquired from the referenced public information, and the acquired positional information is used as the navigation device. A conversion device that converts display information that is a display coordinate system, and the navigation device provides and displays the position indicated by the display information acquired from the conversion device on a map displayed on the screen. The gist.

  In order to solve the above problem, the invention described in claim 10 provides information using a navigation device that displays a map on a screen and a function of referring to public information on the network via the network. The information providing method refers to the public information based on an identifier indicating the location of the public information on the network, acquires location information corresponding to the public information from the referenced public information, and acquires the location information Converting to display information which is a coordinate system for display of the navigation device, and providing and displaying the position indicated by the converted display information on a map displayed on the screen of the navigation device. Is the gist.

  According to such a configuration or method, the position corresponding to the public information on the network converted into the coordinate system of the navigation device is provided and displayed on the screen of the navigation device. At this time, the conversion device refers to the public information specified by the identifier, acquires position information corresponding to the public information, and converts the acquired position information into display information that can be displayed on the screen of the navigation device. Therefore, public information and identifiers disclosed on the network can be used as they are. Thereby, even when the position of the public information on the network is targeted, the position of the public information can be easily displayed on the navigation device. Further, if the position provided and displayed on the screen of the navigation device in this way is used for setting the destination of the navigation device, the destination setting can be performed without performing an input operation such as a facility name or an address. This makes it possible to set the destination easily.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the information providing system according to the first aspect, the identifier is included in information registered as a bookmark, and the conversion device is configured to refer to the public information. The gist is to obtain the identifier from the bookmark.

  According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the information providing method according to the tenth aspect, in the step of giving the identifier to information registered as a bookmark and converting the information into the display information, the public information is referred to. The gist is to acquire an identifier for the bookmark from the bookmark.

  Usually, a bookmark includes character information and the like together with an identifier. For this reason, according to such a configuration or method, the identifier can be managed by character information included in the bookmark. Since the character information enables identification and search by the user, the use of the bookmark further enhances the convenience of display provided to the navigation device based on the identifier.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the information providing system according to the second aspect, the bookmark is held in a server connected to the network, and the conversion device is held in the server. The gist is to use existing bookmarks for reference to the public information.

  The invention described in claim 12 is the information providing method according to claim 11, wherein the bookmark is stored in the server in the step of causing the server connected to the network to convert the bookmark into the display information. The gist is to use a bookmark for referring to the public information.

  According to such a configuration or method, since the bookmark is held in the server on the network, the operation state of the conversion device or the navigation device does not affect the management of the bookmark. That is, the degree of freedom in managing bookmarks is increased, and convenience as an information providing system using bookmarks is improved. Specifically, since the user can freely manage the registration, deletion, or correction of bookmarks to the server, the convenience of bookmarks held in the server can be improved, and as such Convenience as an information providing system using managed bookmarks is also improved.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the information providing system according to the third aspect, wherein the bookmark is a bookmark previously registered in the server by a user of the navigation device.

  The invention according to claim 13 is the information providing method according to claim 12, wherein a bookmark registered in advance in the server by the user of the navigation device is used as the bookmark.

  According to such a configuration or method, since the bookmark of the server is registered in advance by the user of the navigation device, it is convenient for the user who uses the navigation device to use the bookmark on the navigation device. improves.

  The invention according to claim 5 is the information providing system according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the server holds a plurality of bookmarks, and the navigation device stores at least a part of the plurality of bookmarks. It is obtained from the server and displayed on the screen, and the conversion device refers to relevant public information based on the bookmark selected by the user from the displayed bookmarks.

  According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the information providing method according to the twelfth or thirteenth aspect, the server holds a plurality of bookmarks, and the navigation device stores at least a part of the plurality of bookmarks in the server. In the step of acquiring the information from the bookmark and displaying it on the screen and converting it to the display information, the gist is to refer to the corresponding public information based on the bookmark selected by the user from among the displayed bookmarks.

  According to such a configuration or method, convenience can be improved by handling a plurality of bookmarks, and since the plurality of bookmarks can be selected on the screen of the navigation device, the position of the public information is provided and displayed on the screen. Can be done easily.

  A sixth aspect of the present invention is the information providing system according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the identifier is indicated by a URL.

  According to such a configuration, a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) that is normally used for specifying the location of public information on the Internet can be used as an identifier. In this way, convenience is improved by using a highly versatile URL as an identifier. In particular, if bookmarks can be used, bookmarks that can be created via a web browser can be used to provide and display on the navigation device screen. The display can be performed very easily.

  The invention according to claim 7 is the information providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the network includes the Internet, and the identifier is selected by the user on the Internet. The gist is to indicate the location of the public information on the network.

  According to such a configuration, since the position corresponding to public information on the Internet, that is, a so-called homepage can be provided and displayed on the screen of the navigation device, the objects that can be provided and displayed are expanded and the convenience is increased. Will improve. In particular, the target home page that you want to provide and display the position on the map of the navigation device often includes latitude and longitude, and in that case, display based on the latitude and longitude obtained by referring to the home page You will be able to create information. In addition, even if the target homepage that you want to provide and display does not contain latitude and longitude, the homepage usually has a latitude and longitude such as a map, target, postal code, address, or telephone number. In many cases, display information can be created by referring to a home page.

  The invention according to claim 8 is the information providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the navigation device is connected to a center that provides various services to the navigation device so as to be capable of wireless communication. The gist of the invention is that the conversion device is provided in the center.

  According to such a configuration, the center performs processing for creating display information from public information, and the processing load of the navigation device can be reduced. In addition, the communication load between the center and the navigation apparatus performed by wireless communication can be reduced.

  The invention according to claim 9 is the information providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the navigation device includes at least one piece of information included in the public information together with the position information from the conversion device. The gist is to display a part of the acquired public information together with the provision display displayed on the screen.

  According to such a configuration, since part of the public information is displayed together with the provision display on the screen, the user or the like can obtain detailed information on the provision / display position. . As a result, the position related to the public information can be easily confirmed on the screen of the navigation apparatus, and it is also possible to support the determination regarding whether or not to set it as the destination.

The block diagram which shows the schematic structure about one Embodiment which actualized the information provision system which concerns on this invention. The schematic diagram which shows typically the outline | summary of operation | movement of the information provision system. The flowchart which shows the process sequence which the same information provision system sets a bookmark to the destination.

  An embodiment embodying an information providing system according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the information providing system includes an information management device 13 as a conversion device provided in the management center 10 and a navigation device 22 mounted on a vehicle 20 as a moving body such as an automobile. The navigation device 22 can wirelessly communicate with the information management device 13. The management center 10 is connected to a public network 40 such as the external Internet so that data can be transmitted and received.

  The public network 40 is a so-called Internet. At least a first data server 41, a second data server 42, a search server 43, a terminal device 44 such as a personal computer, and a mobile phone 45 are connected to the public network 40 so that they can communicate with each other. Yes. In addition to these, various servers (not shown) are connected to the public network 40. Various services provided by these various servers, such as services for detecting latitude and longitude from addresses, addresses from postal codes and telephone numbers, etc. It is possible to use a service for detecting the location and a service for determining a point from the access method.

  Each terminal device 44 and mobile phone 45 have, for example, a browser that can access public information published on the Internet, and the first or second data server 41, 42 via the public network 40 through the browser or the like. The public information is referred to, and the public information or the like is registered in the first or second data server 41 or 42. That is, the public information on the Internet can be referred to by the terminal device 44 from home and the mobile phone 45 from the outside.

  The first data server 41 has a function of holding one or a plurality of home pages 30 as various types of public information and referring to the public information in response to an external request. Among these homepages 30, homepages 30 related to so-called POI (Point of Interest) such as stores and facilities usually include information indicating the location of the stores or facilities, so-called location information, for attracting customers. . The location information included in the home page 30 includes an access method, an address, a postal code, a telephone number, and the like, and information on the latitude and longitude of the location is often included in order to display the location on a map. . The POI includes a dining facility, a sales facility, an accommodation facility, a sightseeing spot (point), an event venue (point), and the like.

  The second data server 42 has a dedicated area for each user, a shared area for a plurality of users, and the like, and has a function that allows data to be stored and referenced in these areas. In particular, the second data server 42 is provided with a social bookmark service 42 </ b> A that is a service that enables registration and management of the bookmark 31. The second data server 42 functions as a so-called bookmark aggregation site.

  The bookmark 31 is a type of user interface provided by a browser, the social bookmark service 42A, etc. in order to facilitate the review of the home page 30 that the user wants to see again. Data that can be created arbitrarily by operation. More specifically, the bookmark 31 is information in which the position of the homepage 30 on the Internet is recorded, and includes a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) as an identifier indicating the position on the Internet. Thus, by operating the bookmark 31 in the browser, the home page 30 specified in the URL of the bookmark 31 can be referred to immediately.

  In addition, the bookmark 31 usually includes character information related to the homepage 30 such as the name of the store or facility of the homepage 30 specified by the URL, and the user or the like identifies the content of the homepage 30 by the name. Or search based on the name. Note that the bookmark 31 created by the social bookmark service 42A includes HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) text. For example, when a user refers to a facility (such as a store), a product, a person, or a place (spot) such as a meeting on the homepage 30 that is anxious, the user registers the bookmark 31 on the homepage 30 to register the bookmark 31. Can be recorded in the data server 42.

  The social bookmark service 42A allows the user to register and save one or a plurality of bookmarks 31 in the exclusive area or shared area of the second data server 42, and saves the bookmark 31 registered in the shared area by the user. It is a service that can be shared with other users and made public. For this reason, the social bookmark service 42 </ b> A provides a user with a function that allows the user to register, delete, or edit the bookmark 31 using each terminal device 44 or the mobile phone 45.

  The search server 43 has a function of searching for information that matches a specified keyword or the like from various types of public information that is disclosed to the first data server 41 that can be accessed via the public network 40. For example, the search server 43 detects latitude and longitude using an address as a keyword, detects an address using a postal code or a telephone number as a keyword, or detects a latitude / longitude or address of a point determined by using an access method as a keyword. Can be done. These detections are services provided by various servers connected to the public network 40, such as services for detecting latitude and longitude from addresses, services for detecting addresses from postal codes and telephone numbers, and access. This is realized by using a service that determines a point from the method.

  The management center 10 is a center for providing various services to the vehicle 20, and provides these services to the vehicle 20 of a user who desires these services. Only the vehicle 20 of the user who has access authority can access the management center 10. That is, the management center 10 cannot be accessed from a vehicle of a user without access authority or from the public network 40 of a user without access authority. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the vehicle 20 can access the management center 10.

  The management center 10 includes a network communication device 11 that performs mutual data communication with the public network 40 and an anti-vehicle communication device 12 that performs mutual data communication with the vehicle 20 by wireless communication. Thereby, the information management apparatus 13 can perform data communication with the public network 40 and can perform data communication with the vehicle 20.

  The network communication device 11 is connected to the public network 40 by a wired line or a wireless line. The first and second data servers 41 and 42 connected to the public network 40, the search server 43, and the like are connected to the management center 10. Enables data communication with the.

  The vehicle-to-vehicle communication device 12 enables various data communications between the management center 10 and the vehicle 20. Through this data communication, the management center 10 receives a processing request transmitted from the vehicle 20 and transmits data corresponding to the processing request to the vehicle 20.

  In response to a request from the navigation device 22, the information management device 13 provides information corresponding to the request. That is, when the information management apparatus 13 is requested by the navigation apparatus 22 to acquire the bookmark 31 registered in the second data server 42 of the public network 40, for example, the information management apparatus 13 receives the request from the second data server 42 based on the request. The required bookmark 31 is acquired. Then, the information management device 13 converts the acquired bookmark 31 into information that can be handled by the navigation device 22 and distributes the information to the navigation device 22.

  Further, the information management device 13 acquires position information from the home page 30 specified by the bookmark 31 instructed from the navigation device 22. Then, the information management device 13 converts the acquired position information into the coordinate system of the navigation device 22 and distributes it to the navigation device 22. At this time, if the acquired position information is latitude / longitude information, the latitude / longitude information is converted into display information which is a coordinate system of the navigation device 22. In addition, when the acquired position information is an access method, an address, a postal code, a telephone number, etc., the latitude and longitude are acquired from the position information using the service of the search server 43, and the acquired information is acquired. Convert the latitude / longitude to display information. On the other hand, when the position information cannot be acquired from the home page 30 specified by the bookmark 31, the information management device 13 may transmit the fact to the navigation device 22 or may not return a response. Note that the conversion from latitude / longitude to display information is a so-called coordinate system conversion, and is performed by arithmetic processing using a conversion formula determined based on the specifications of the coordinate system of the map displayed on the navigation device 22.

  More specifically, the information management device 13 is provided with an arithmetic device (not shown) mainly composed of a microcomputer. That is, the microcomputer is provided with an arithmetic device, a storage device, a non-volatile memory (ROM), a volatile memory (RAM), and the like, and various data and programs based on various data and programs stored in the storage device and each memory. Information processing is executed by the microcomputer. In the present embodiment, the information management device 13 includes a communication control unit 14 that controls data communication with the vehicle 20, a list information creation unit 15 that generates a list of bookmarks 31 to be displayed on the screen of the navigation device 22, and A POI information creating unit 16 that generates display information from the position information of the designated bookmark 31 is provided. In other words, the information management apparatus 13 holds programs and parameters executed as the communication control unit 14, the list information creation unit 15, and the POI information creation unit 16, and based on arithmetic processing of these programs and parameters. Various functions of the communication control unit 14, the list information creation unit 15, and the POI information creation unit 16 are realized.

  The communication control unit 14 determines necessary processing according to communication with the vehicle 20 and adjusts the information management device 13 to perform necessary processing.

  The list information creation unit 15 acquires the target bookmark 31 using the social bookmark service 42 </ b> A of the second data server 42 in response to a request for the bookmark 31 from the navigation device 22. At this time, information necessary for using the social bookmark service 42A, such as a user ID and a password, is also sent from the navigation device 22 as necessary. In addition, the list information creation unit 15 analyzes the HTML text of the acquired bookmark 31, configures the acquired bookmark 31 into list information that can be displayed on the navigation device 22, and transmits the list information to the navigation device 22. The list information includes the name of the bookmark 31, the HTML text of the corresponding bookmark 31, and the like so as to be associated with the display related to the bookmark 31.

  Based on the bookmark 31 instructed from the vehicle 20, the POI information creation unit 16 refers to the home page 30 specified by the bookmark 31 and acquires position information from the referenced home page 30. That is, the POI information creation unit 16 determines the location information of the home page 30 based on information included in the referenced home page 30, for example, text information displayed on the browser, tag information or link information included in the source code, and the like. So-called POI position information is acquired. In addition, when acquiring position information from the homepage 30, position information with higher priority is acquired with priority. For example, latitude and longitude, address, postal code, telephone number, access in order of priority. Although the order of the methods is set, the priority setting order is not limited to this.

  The POI information creation unit 16 is set with a conversion formula for converting latitude and longitude into display information. Thereby, the POI information creation unit 16 performs a calculation process for converting the acquired latitude and longitude into display information based on the conversion formula, and transmits the converted display information to the communication control unit 14 as information to be transmitted to the vehicle 20. To do. Further, the POI information creation unit 16 transmits the name given to the bookmark 31 used for acquiring the position information to the vehicle 20 together with the display information. In addition, when a name is not attached to the bookmark 31, an appropriate name or the like may be acquired from the home page 30 from which the position information has been acquired.

  The vehicle 20 includes an automobile and the like, and includes the in-vehicle communication device 21 for wireless communication with the management center 10 and the above-described navigation device 22 connected to the in-vehicle communication device 21 so as to be able to perform data communication.

  The in-vehicle communication device 21 is an in-vehicle wireless communication device for enabling wireless communication between the management center 10 and the navigation device 22. The wireless communication between the in-vehicle communication device 21 and the management center 10 may be direct communication or a known communication method using a mobile phone network or a wireless LAN. The in-vehicle communication device 21 transmits the processing request for the management center 10 output from the navigation device 22 to the management center 10. Therefore, the navigation device 22 requests the management center 10 for list information, a request for display information for the selected bookmark 31, and the like. The in-vehicle communication device 21 receives various information transmitted from the management center 10 to be provided to the vehicle 20 and transmits the information to the navigation device 22. Therefore, the navigation device 22 can acquire the list information created by the list information creation unit 15 of the management center 10 and the POI position information created by the POI information creation unit 16 of the management center 10 by wireless communication. .

  The navigation device 22 can detect the current position of the vehicle 20 by using a global positioning system (GPS) or the like (not shown), and includes a screen that displays an image such as a map. 23. Then, the navigation device 22 refers to the map information stored in the memory based on the detected current position of the vehicle 20, thereby providing the driving route guidance of the vehicle 20 to the driver or the like to the travel destination. Specifically, the travel route guidance is provided by image display such as a map display on the display device 23 or voice guidance from a speaker (not shown).

  The image display function by the display device 23 is controlled by the navigation device 22, and the display device 23 displays map information transmitted from the navigation device 22, character information, Display image information. The navigation device 22 sets a display coordinate system suitable for route guidance or the like on the display device 23, and a map for route guidance or the like is displayed on the display device 23 based on the display coordinate system. It is like that. That is, an image such as a provision display additionally displayed on the map is also displayed on the display device 23 together with the map by controlling the display in the same coordinate system as the map. The navigation device 22 also includes various operation switches for providing a navigation function to the user, a character input function used for selecting a destination, a function for moving a cursor for selecting an option displayed on the display device 23, In addition, the touch panel provided in the display device 23 has an input function for inputting a user operation. Operations such as requesting list information from the user are also performed via these input functions.

  The navigation device 22 is provided with an arithmetic device (not shown) mainly composed of a microcomputer. That is, the microcomputer is provided with an arithmetic device, a storage device, a non-volatile memory (ROM), a volatile memory (RAM), and the like, and various data and programs based on various data and programs stored in the storage device and each memory. Information processing is executed by the microcomputer. That is, the navigation device 22 is provided with a current position detection program, a route guidance program, and a display control program for the display device 23, and these programs are executed to provide each function. It has become.

  In the present embodiment, the navigation device 22 is provided with a list information processing unit 22A and a POI information processing unit 22B.

  In response to the request for list information, the list information processing unit 22 </ b> A displays a display related to one or a plurality of bookmarks 31 on the display device 23 based on the list information acquired from the management center 10. The associated name is also displayed. In addition, one or more bookmarks 31 selected as a POI by the user can be extracted from the display related to one or more bookmarks 31 displayed on the display device 23. As a result, the list information processing unit 22A specifies the HTML text of the bookmark 31 associated with the display related to each bookmark 31 selected on the display device 23, and the HTML text of the specified bookmark 31 is displayed on the map. Is sent to the management center as a request for the display information of the POI to be displayed.

  The POI information processing unit 22B displays the provision display of the POI based on the POI position information obtained from the management center 10 on a map displayed on the display device 23, and performs an operation on the provided and displayed POI, for example, Make it possible to perform destination setting operations. In the destination setting operation, inquiries about whether or not to set the POI as the destination in response to the selection of the provided displayed POI, and the POI set as the destination is set as the destination in the function for guiding the travel route. Can be. As a result, the POI provided and displayed based on the bookmark 31 can be set in the navigation device 22 as the destination.

  Next, the operation of the information providing system of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 2, for the sake of convenience, two display devices 23 are shown in the navigation device 22 in order to show two images displayed on the display device 23 of the navigation device 22.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the home page 30 of the first data server 41 can be referred to from the user terminal device 44 or the mobile phone 45 through the public network 40. The user can store the bookmark 31 of the home page 30 in the second data server 42 when the so-called POI home page 30 is found in the referred home page 30. . That is, since the user can save the bookmark 31 when the vehicle 20 is not being driven, an operation such as saving can be easily performed or can be immediately performed when found. Further, since the bookmark 31 registered by another person is also stored in the social bookmark service 42A, it is possible to select a POI to be visited from such bookmarks 31. As described above, the bookmark 31 of the home page 30 of one or a plurality of POIs is stored in the second data server 42 using the public network 40.

  The position (location) of the bookmark 31 of one or a plurality of POI home pages stored in the second data server 42 can be provided and displayed on the map of the navigation device 22 by a simple operation.

  That is, based on the request for list information by the operation of the navigation device 22 by the user, the navigation device 22 acquires the POI bookmark 31 stored in the second data server 42 (step S10 in FIG. 3). The navigation device 22 transmits the address (for example, URL) of the second data server 42 in which the bookmark is stored at the time of the bookmark acquisition request (request for list information), and is released to the second data server 42. To be able to get bookmarks. Published bookmarks include bookmarks registered by others. Further, by transmitting a user ID and a password as necessary, a bookmark in a user-dedicated area or an area to which the user has access rights can be acquired. The user ID and password are input by the user from the navigation device 22, but may be preset in the navigation device 22. The management center 10 that has received the bookmark acquisition request acquires the bookmark 31 from the second data server 42 based on the acquisition request, creates list information, and transmits it to the navigation device 22.

  Thereby, the navigation device 22 acquires list information including the bookmark 31 composed of HTML text, and displays a list of displays 23A indicating the bookmark 31 on the display device 23 of the navigation device 22 based on the list information (FIG. 3 step S11). In the list display, names associated with the bookmarks 31 are also displayed.

  In the navigation device 22, selection of the display 23A related to the bookmark 31 to be set as the destination from the display 23A related to the bookmark 31 displayed in a list on the display device 23 and setting operation using the setting button 23B are performed based on the user's operation. (Step S12 in FIG. 3). The display 23A related to the bookmark 31 in the navigation device 22 is selected, for example, by selecting the display 23A related to one bookmark 31 from the list displayed by the operation of the touch panel or the button, and the setting button 23B while maintaining the selection state. This is performed by pressing the button. Then, the navigation device 22 transmits the selected bookmark 31 (HTML text) to the management center 10 based on the operation of the setting button 23B.

  The management center 10 acquires position information from the home page 30 accessed based on the received bookmark 31, and converts the acquired position information into display information (step S13 in FIG. 3). The converted position information is transmitted from the management center 10 to the navigation device 22.

  The navigation device 22 that has received the display information displays the map 23M on the display device 23, and provides and displays the mark 23P at a position on the displayed map 23M that is indicated by the display information (FIG. 3). Step S14). Thereby, the position (location) of the bookmark 31 selected by the navigation device 22 is provided and displayed as the mark 23P on the display device 23 of the navigation device 22.

  Then, when the user selects the mark 23P on the display device 23 and performs the destination setting operation, the mark 23P is set as the route guidance destination of the navigation device 22 (step S15 in FIG. 3). As a result, driving assistance with the mark 23P as the destination is performed by the navigation device 22.

  As described above, the information providing system according to this embodiment has the effects listed below.

  (1) The position corresponding to the home page 30 on the network converted into the coordinate system of the navigation device 22 is provided and displayed on the display device 23 of the navigation device 22. At this time, the POI information creation unit 16 refers to the home page 30 specified by the identifier (URL) to acquire the position information (location) corresponding to the home page 30, and uses the acquired position information of the navigation device 22. The information is converted into display information that can be displayed on the display device 23. For this reason, the home page 30 and identifier (URL) disclosed on the network can be used as they are. Thereby, even when the position of the home page 30 on the network is targeted, the position of the home page 30 can be easily displayed on the navigation device 22. Further, if the position provided and displayed on the display device 23 of the navigation device 22 in this way is used for setting the destination of the navigation device 22, etc., it is not necessary to input the facility name or address. The destination can be set and the destination can be easily set.

  (2) Normally, the bookmark 31 includes character information and the like together with an identifier (URL). Therefore, according to such a configuration, the identifier (URL) can be managed by the character information included in the bookmark 31 or the like. Since the character information can be identified and searched by the user, the use of the bookmark 31 further enhances the convenience of display provided to the navigation device 22 based on the identifier (URL).

  (3) Since the bookmark 31 is held in the second data server 42 on the network, the operation state of the information management device 13 and the navigation device 22 does not affect the management of the bookmark 31. That is, the degree of freedom of management of the bookmark 31 is increased, and the convenience as an information providing system using the bookmark 31 is improved. Specifically, since the user can freely manage the registration, deletion, or correction of the bookmark 31 with respect to the second data server 42, the convenience of the bookmark 31 stored in the second data server 42 is convenient. The convenience as an information provision system using the bookmark 31 managed in this way can be improved.

  (4) Since the bookmark 31 of the second data server 42 is registered in advance by the user of the navigation device 22, the user who uses the navigation device 22 also uses the bookmark 31 with the navigation device 22. Convenience is improved.

  (5) Convenience is improved because a plurality of bookmarks 31 can be handled, and since the plurality of bookmarks 31 can be selected by the display device 23 of the navigation device 22, the position of the home page 30 is provided and displayed on the display device 23. Can be done easily.

  (6) Normally, a URL used for specifying the location of the home page 30 on the Internet is used as an identifier. In this way, convenience is improved by using a highly versatile URL as an identifier. In particular, if the bookmark 31 can be used, the bookmark 31 that can be created by using a web browser can be used for display on the display device 23 of the navigation device 22. Can be saved and displayed on the screen very easily.

  (7) Since the position corresponding to the public information on the Internet, that is, the so-called homepage 30, can be provided and displayed on the display device 23 of the navigation device 22, the objects that can be provided and displayed are expanded and the convenience is increased. improves. In particular, the target homepage 30 for which the position is desired to be provided and displayed on the map of the navigation device 22 often includes latitude and longitude. In this case, the latitude and longitude acquired with reference to the homepage 30 are included in the latitude and longitude. Display information can be created based on this. In addition, even if the target homepage 30 that you want to provide and display does not contain latitude and longitude, the homepage 30 is usually a map, target, postal code, address, telephone number, etc. Since information that can be converted into latitude and longitude is often included, display information can be created by referring to the home page 30 in many cases.

  (8) Since the management center 10 performs a process of creating display information from the home page 30, the processing load on the navigation device 22 can be reduced. In addition, the communication load between the management center 10 and the navigation device 22 performed by wireless communication can be reduced.

  (9) Since the display device 23 displays the name of the homepage 30 as part of the information on the homepage 30 along with the provided display, the user or the like can obtain detailed information on the provided and displayed position. It becomes like. As a result, the position of the home page 30 can be easily confirmed on the display device 23 of the navigation device 22, and the determination on whether or not to set it as the destination can be supported. Become.

(Other embodiments)
In addition, the said embodiment can also be implemented with the following aspects.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the vehicle is configured by one vehicle 20 and one management center 10 is illustrated. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of vehicles may communicate with one management center. Thereby, the use of a large number of vehicles of the information providing system, that is, the user is facilitated, and the utility value of the system is improved.

  In the above embodiment, the case where one first data server 41 and one second data server 42 are connected to the public network 40 is illustrated. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and there are a plurality of public networks. A first data server or a second data server may be connected, or other servers may be connected. If multiple servers are connected, more services can be used.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the public network 40 is the Internet has been illustrated. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the network to which the information providing system is connected may be a network that can be used only by a defined user. As a result, a system with improved information management can be constructed.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the position information is acquired from the home page 30 is illustrated. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the position information may be acquired from various types of information published on the network, for example, information published as a file, other than the home page. Thereby, the possibility of acquisition of position information is enhanced, and the convenience of the information providing system is enhanced.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the POI information creation unit 16 transmits the name of the bookmark 31 together with the display information to the navigation device 22 is illustrated. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the POI information creation unit adds, as additional information, information included in the acquired homepage, for example, information such as an address, a telephone number, business hours, a charge, and a facility description to the navigation device. Further, it may be transmitted. Accordingly, by selecting the provided display displayed on the display device, the additional information can be referred to by the navigation device. Thus, by making it possible to refer to the additional information, it is possible to suitably perform the determination relating to the destination setting in the navigation device.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the list information creation unit 15 is created from the acquired bookmark 31 is illustrated. At this time, bookmarks used for creating the list information may be narrowed down. For example, by setting all or part of a character string from the navigation device, list information including only bookmarks having names that match the set character string can be created. This narrowing may be performed at the time of bookmark acquisition, and the bookmark to be acquired may be narrowed down, or may be performed at the time of creating a list so that the bookmark included in the list is narrowed down. Thereby, the bookmark selection operation in the navigation device can be suitably performed.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the HTML information of the bookmark 31 is included in the list information created by the list information creating unit 15 is illustrated. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and HTML text may not be included in the list information. In this case, in the management center, the POI information creation unit that has received the information for identifying the bookmark selected from the list information provides the specific information to the list information creation unit, and the list information creation unit provides the specific information provided. The HTML text of the bookmark associated with is retrieved, acquired, and returned to the POI information creation unit. As a result, the degree of freedom in designing the bookmark processing in the management center or the vehicle is increased.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the bookmark 31 includes HTML text is illustrated. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the format of data included in the bookmark is not limited to HTML text, and may be described in other formats. In this case, the information management apparatus may be configured to analyze other formats. As a result, the degree of freedom in designing the information providing system is improved.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the list information creating unit 15 of the information management device 13 generates the list information of the bookmark 31 to be displayed on the screen of the navigation device 22 is illustrated. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the information management apparatus may transmit the acquired bookmark as it is to the navigation apparatus. In this case, the list information processing unit of the navigation device may analyze the bookmark and display it on the display device of the navigation device.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the management center 10 is a facility has been illustrated. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the management center is a small computer such as a personal computer as long as the computer can communicate with the vehicle. May be. Thereby, the use possibility as this vehicle data acquisition system is expanded.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the information management device 13 is provided in the management center 10 and the navigation device 22 is provided in the vehicle 20 is illustrated. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a navigation device and an information management device may be provided in the vehicle. As a result, the vehicle can be configured to include the information management device. In this case, the vehicle may be connected to the public network without going through the management center.

  Further, an information management device may be provided in the navigation device. According to this, it becomes possible to make a configuration including an information management device in a single navigation device. In this case, the navigation device may be connected to the public network without going through the management center.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Management center, 11 ... Network communication apparatus, 12 ... Vehicle communication apparatus, 13 ... Information management apparatus, 14 ... Communication control part, 15 ... List information creation part, 16 ... POI information creation part, 20 ... Vehicle, 21 ... In-vehicle communication device, 22 ... navigation device, 22A ... list information processing unit, 22B ... POI information processing unit, 23 ... display device, 23A ... display, 23B ... setting button, 23M ... map, 23P ... mark, 30 ... homepage, 31 ... bookmark, 40 ... public network, 41 ... first data server, 42 ... second data server, 42A ... social bookmark service, 43 ... search server, 44 ... terminal device, 45 ... mobile phone.

Claims (14)

An information providing system having a navigation device that displays a map on a screen and configured to be able to refer to public information on the network via the network,
The public information is referenced based on the identifier indicating the location of the public information on the network, and the position information corresponding to the public information is acquired from the referred public information, and the acquired position information is used for display of the navigation device. A conversion device that converts the display information to the coordinate system of
The navigation device provides and displays a position indicated by display information acquired from the conversion device on a map displayed on the screen. The identifier is included in information registered as a bookmark,
The information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the conversion device acquires an identifier for referring to the public information from the bookmark. The bookmark is held in a server connected to the network,
The information providing system according to claim 2, wherein the conversion device uses a bookmark held in the server for referring to the public information. The information providing system according to claim 3, wherein the bookmark is a bookmark registered in advance in the server by a user of the navigation device. The server holds a plurality of bookmarks,
The navigation device acquires at least a part of the plurality of bookmarks from the server and displays them on the screen, and the conversion device corresponds based on a bookmark selected by the user from among the displayed bookmarks. The information providing system according to claim 3 or 4, wherein public information is referred to. The information providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the identifier is indicated by a URL. The network includes the Internet,
The information providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the identifier indicates a location on a network of public information selected by a user on the Internet. The information according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the navigation device is connected to a center that provides various services to the navigation device so that wireless communication is possible, and the conversion device is provided in the center. Offer system. The navigation device acquires at least a part of information included in the public information together with the position information from the conversion device, and in addition to a provision display displayed on the screen, a part of the acquired public information The information providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 8. An information providing method for providing information using a navigation device that displays a map on a screen and a function of referring to public information on the network via a network,
The public information is referenced based on the identifier indicating the location of the public information on the network, and the position information corresponding to the public information is acquired from the referred public information, and the acquired position information is used for display of the navigation device. Converting to display information that is a coordinate system of
And a step of providing and displaying the position indicated by the converted display information on a map displayed on the screen of the navigation device. The identifier is given to information registered as a bookmark,
The information providing method according to claim 10, wherein in the step of converting into the display information, an identifier for referring to the public information is acquired from the bookmark. Holding the bookmark on a server connected to the network;
The information providing method according to claim 11, wherein, in the step of converting to the display information, a bookmark held in the server is used for referring to the public information. The information providing method according to claim 12, wherein a bookmark registered in advance in the server by a user of the navigation device is used as the bookmark. Causing the server to hold a plurality of bookmarks;
In the navigation device, at least a part of the plurality of bookmarks is acquired from the server, displayed on the screen, and converted into the display information, the bookmark selected by the user from the displayed bookmarks The information providing method according to claim 12 or 13, wherein corresponding public information is referred to based on.

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