JP2014009984A - Route search system, portable terminal, and route guiding method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technology for a portable terminal operated by a battery.SOLUTION: A route guiding system includes a portable terminal operated by a battery, and a server for communicating with the portable terminal. The route guiding system further includes: a switching unit for performing switching between a normal mode which is an operation mode enabling the portable terminal to execute route guiding by normal operation and a power saving mode which is an operation mode enabling the portable terminal to be operated by power consumption smaller than that of the normal mode; an arrival time prediction unit for predicting arrival time from a currens position of a user having the portable terminal to a guiding point which is a point to guide a route for the user; and an operation mode control unit for controlling the switching unit to set the operation mode to the power saving mode for a predetermined period until the user arrives at the guiding point and then switch the operation mode to the normal mode based on the predicted arrival time.

Description

  The present invention relates to a technology of a mobile terminal that is operated by a battery.

  As a technique for controlling the operation of a portable terminal that performs route guidance, the technique of Patent Document 1 below is known. Patent Document 1 listed below describes a technology that, in a navigation system including a terminal and a server, disconnects communication with the server when a predetermined time has elapsed, thereby reducing the communication amount and reducing the communication charge. ing.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-127856

  Since a portable terminal operates using an energy source having a limited capacity such as a battery, there is always a demand for reducing power consumption and extending usage time. However, in view of the nature of the service called route guidance, it is not possible to adopt the countermeasure of turning off the screen display and reducing the power consumption just because the user has not operated the mobile terminal for a predetermined time. This is because there is a possibility that the route guidance display is seen without operating the mobile terminal. Similarly, turning off processing such as communication with a network and identification of the current location by GPS only with a request for power saving may interfere with route guidance and cannot be adopted. For this reason, route guidance using a portable terminal has the advantage of being able to receive route guidance anywhere and anytime. However, if the route guidance is to be made constant by taking advantage of this advantage, it will put a burden on the battery of the portable terminal. . As a result, the use time is limited, and the advantage of being able to receive route guidance anywhere and anytime tends to be lost.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to solve at least one of the problems described above, and the invention can be implemented as the following forms.

(1) According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a route guidance system including a mobile terminal that is operated by a battery and a server that communicates with the mobile terminal. This route guidance system switches between a normal mode that is an operation mode in which the mobile terminal performs route guidance by a normal operation and a power saving mode that is an operation mode that operates with less power consumption than the normal mode. An arrival time prediction unit that predicts an arrival time from a current position of the user having the mobile terminal to a guidance point that is a point where the route should be guided to the user; and based on the predicted arrival time, An operation mode control unit configured to control the switching unit to switch the operation mode to a normal mode after the operation mode is set to a power saving mode for a predetermined period until the user reaches the guidance point. According to the route guidance system of this aspect, since the mobile terminal operates in the normal mode at the guidance point while operating in the power saving mode, the route guidance that achieves both reduction of power consumption of the mobile terminal and appropriate route guidance. It can be a system. In the present invention, a battery refers to a power source that supplies internal electricity to the outside, such as a battery, a secondary battery, a solar battery, and a capacitor. In addition, when the power consumption can be controlled in several stages by several types of operation modes, the normal mode is not necessarily the operation mode in which the power consumption is the maximum value, and if the power consumption is an operation mode other than the minimum value, Any operation mode can be adopted.

(2) In the route guidance system according to the above aspect, the operation mode control unit prohibits switching of the operation mode from the normal mode to the power saving mode when the predicted arrival time is shorter than a predetermined time. A switching prohibition unit may be provided. According to the route guidance system of this aspect, when the arrival time is short, it is possible not to switch to the power saving mode.

(3) In the route guidance system of the above aspect, the operation mode control unit determines a power saving operation time that is a time for operating in the power saving mode based on the arrival time, and at least the determined power saving operation During the time, the switching unit may be controlled so that the operation mode is a power saving mode. According to the route guidance system of this aspect, it is possible to secure a certain time for operating in the power saving mode.

(4) In the route guidance system according to the above aspect, the operation mode control unit is configured such that the distance from the current position of the user to the guide point is equal to or less than a predetermined distance even after the power saving operation time has elapsed. May control the switching unit so as not to switch the operation mode to the normal mode. According to the route guidance system of this embodiment, even after the power saving operation time has elapsed, the time for operating in the power saving mode is increased until the distance from the current position to the guidance point becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value. The power consumption of the battery can be suppressed.

(5) In the route guidance system according to the above aspect, the operation mode control unit may be provided in the server. According to the route guidance system of this aspect, the portable terminal has the operation mode control unit, and power consumption can be suppressed as compared with the case where power is supplied from the battery for the operation of the operation mode control unit.

(6) Moreover, the portable terminal which performs route guidance by the operation | movement by a battery as another form of this invention is provided. The portable terminal includes a switching unit that switches between a normal mode that is an operation mode that performs route guidance by a normal operation and a power saving mode that is an operation mode that operates with less power consumption than the normal mode; An arrival time prediction unit that predicts an arrival time from a current position of a user having a terminal to a guidance point that is a point where the route should be guided to the user; and based on the predicted arrival time, the user becomes a guidance point An operation mode control unit configured to control the switching unit so that the operation mode is set to a power saving mode and then the operation mode is switched to a normal mode for a predetermined period until reaching. According to the portable terminal of this embodiment, since it operates in the power saving mode for a predetermined period, the power consumption of the battery can be suppressed as compared with the case where the route guidance is always performed by operating in the normal mode.

(7) Furthermore, as another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a route guidance method for guiding a route using a portable terminal operated by a battery. In this route guidance method, the mobile terminal can be switched between a normal mode that is an operation mode that performs route guidance by a normal operation and a power saving mode that is an operation mode that operates with less power consumption than the normal mode. It is. Then, an arrival time from a current position of the user having the mobile terminal to a guidance point that is a point where the route should be guided to the user is predicted; based on the predicted arrival time, the user reaches the guidance point The operation mode is set to the power saving mode for a predetermined period until the operation is performed, and then the operation mode is switched to the normal mode. According to this route guidance method, since the mobile terminal operates in the power saving mode for a predetermined time, the power consumption of the battery can be suppressed as compared with the route guidance method that always operates in the normal mode and performs route guidance. it can.

  Note that the present invention can be realized in various modes. For example, the present invention can be realized in the form of a navigation device, a navigation method, a navigation system, a device, a method, a computer program for realizing the system, a non-temporary recording medium on which the computer program is recorded, and the like.

It is explanatory drawing explaining the structure of a route guidance system. It is the flowchart which showed the flow of the route guidance process. It is the flowchart which showed the flow of the route guidance process in 2nd Embodiment.

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the embodiment.
A. First embodiment:
(A1) System configuration:
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the configuration of a route guidance system 10 as an embodiment of the present invention. The route guidance system 10 is a system for searching for a recommended route from a departure point specified by a user to a destination and guiding the searched route (guidance route) to the user. The route guidance system 10 provides route guidance when the user is moving by various moving means, such as when the user is walking, riding in a vehicle, or riding a bicycle. The route guidance system 10 includes a mobile terminal 20 and a route search server 50. The portable terminal 20 and the route search server 50 can be connected to each other via the Internet INT. The portable terminal 20 can be connected to the Internet INT wirelessly via the base station BS.

  As shown in the figure, the mobile terminal 20 is configured with a main control unit 22 as a center, and a communication unit 32, a communication control unit 34, a touch panel 36, a display unit 38, an audio output unit 40, and a GPS receiver 42 are connected thereto. . The mobile terminal 20 includes a battery 44 and a power control unit 45. The power supplied from the battery 44 is supplied to each device including the main control unit 22 via the power control unit 45. The power control unit 45 controls supply / stop of power to each device under the control of the main control unit 22. The power control unit 45 supplies power to each device through two types of power transmission systems, VC and VD. VC is a power transmission system in which the power control unit 45 stops power transmission as necessary, and VD is a power transmission system that constantly transmits power. In the present embodiment, the battery is a secondary battery. In addition, as the battery, various batteries can be employed as long as the power source supplies internal electricity to the outside, such as a battery, a solar battery, and a capacitor.

  The main control unit 22 includes a CPU 24, a RAM 26, and a ROM 28. The main control unit 22 controls the overall operation of the mobile terminal 20. The ROM 28 stores a program (route guidance program) for performing route guidance processing described later, and the route guidance processing is realized by the CPU 24 reading and executing the program. The communication unit 32 is a circuit for performing data communication or voice communication with the base station BS. The communication unit 32 can access the route search server 50 via the base station BS. The communication control unit 34 is a circuit that performs incoming calls and calls for voice calls, conversion of voice signals and electrical signals, and the like. The portable terminal 20 also operates as a telephone by including the communication unit 32 and the communication control unit 34.

  The voice output unit 40 is a speaker that outputs voice for route guidance to the user when the route guidance process is executed. In addition, the voice output unit 40 outputs voice to the user when executing various applications included in the route guidance system 10. The GPS receiver 42 acquires the coordinates (longitude / latitude) of the current position of the mobile terminal 20 by receiving radio waves transmitted from artificial satellites constituting a GPS (Global Positioning System). When the route guidance process is executed, information on the current position of the user is acquired at predetermined intervals.

  Next, the route search server 50 will be described. The route search server 50 is a server for searching for a recommended route in response to a route search request from the mobile terminal 20 and transmitting the search result to the mobile terminal 20 via the Internet INT. The route search server 50 includes a communication unit 52, a control unit 54, and a route database (hereinafter also referred to as a route DB 56). The route search server 50 includes devices such as a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and a hard disk therein, and functions as a communication unit 52, a control unit 54, and a route database 56 by executing predetermined programs.

  The control unit 54 controls the operation of the entire route search server 50. Further, the control unit 54 executes route guidance processing in cooperation with the mobile terminal 20. The communication unit 52 communicates with the mobile terminal 20 via the Internet INT. The route database 56 stores network data NT representing a road network and map image data MPD representing a map. The network data NT is data representing road arrangements by links and nodes. Since the links and nodes constituting the network data NT are techniques used for general electronic map data, detailed description thereof is omitted. The map image data MPD is data obtained by recording a map image in a vector data format. The map image data MPD may be data in which a map image is recorded in a raster data format such as a bitmap format or a JPEG format instead of the vector data format.

  When executing the route guidance process, the control unit 54 reads the network data NT from the route database 56 in response to a route search request from the portable terminal 20, searches for a route according to the request, and communicates the search result as a guide route. It transmits to the portable terminal 20 via the unit 52. In addition to the transmission of the guide route, the control unit 54 reads a map image for displaying the guide route from the map image data MPD and transmits it to the mobile terminal 20. The route guidance system 10 performs route guidance processing with the configuration described above.

(A2) Route guidance processing:
Next, route guidance processing performed by the route guidance system 10 will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the flow of route guidance processing performed by the mobile terminal 20 and the route search server 50. The route guidance process is started when the user inputs a departure place and a destination via the touch panel 36 and operates an icon indicating the start of route guidance. When the route guidance process is started, the CPU 24 of the mobile terminal 20 transmits information (route search information) necessary for performing a route search to the route search server 50 (step S102). Specifically, the CPU 24 transmits the departure point and destination coordinates input by the user to the route search server 50.

  When receiving the route search information via the communication unit 52 (step S202: YES), the control unit 54 of the route search server 50 reads the network data from the route DB 56 based on the coordinates of the departure place and the destination, and recommends the recommended route. Is searched (step S204). Then, the control part 54 transmits a search result to the portable terminal 20 as a guidance route (step S206). Further, as described above, the control unit 54 reads map image data for displaying the guidance route from the map image data MPD, and transmits it to the mobile terminal 20 together with the guidance route.

  When receiving the search result from the route search server 50 (step S104: YES), the CPU 24 of the portable terminal 20 executes route guidance for the user based on the received search result (step S106). As the route guidance, the CPU 24 always displays a map image showing the guidance route and the current position on the display unit 38. Further, the CPU 24 obtains the current position coordinates for each predetermined period using the GPS receiver 42, obtains traffic information via the Internet INT, and a route guidance map from the route search server 50 as processing accompanying the route guidance. Acquire image data.

  Further, the CPU 24 should move forward at any time at a point where the route should be guided to the user (hereinafter also referred to as a guidance point) as route guidance, separately from the display of the map image showing the guidance route and the current position. The route guidance display and voice guidance are performed. Specific guidance points include points that change courses such as right and left turns, expressway entrances and exits, highway bypass entrances and exits, and destinations that users should be aware of when moving. It is done. At such a guidance point, the CPU 24 performs guidance display for changing the route, voice guidance, display that the entrance / exit of the highway is approaching, and voice notification. In addition, the position of the guidance point is not limited to the position where the course is changed or the position of the entrance / exit of the expressway itself. Points.

  During route guidance execution, the CPU 24 estimates the time (arrival time) until the user reaches the next guidance point (step S108). Specifically, the arrival time is calculated from the distance from the current position to the next guidance point and the moving speed of the user. After estimating the arrival time, the CPU 24 determines whether or not the arrival time is shorter than a predetermined set time (length) (step S110). When the arrival time is longer than the set time (step S110: NO), the CPU 24 transmits a notification (power saving mode notification) indicating that the operation mode of the mobile terminal 20 is switched to the power saving mode to the route search server 50 (step). S112). The CPU 24 transmits the time (power saving operation time) for operating in the power saving mode to the route search server 50 together with the power saving mode notification. Thereafter, the CPU 24 switches the operation mode of the mobile terminal 20 to the power saving mode by controlling the power control unit 45 and controlling the operation of each device (step S114). On the other hand, when the arrival time is shorter than the set time (step S110: YES), the CPU 24 does not switch the operation mode of the mobile terminal 20 to the power saving mode and continues route guidance (step S118).

  Here, the power saving mode refers to an operation mode of the mobile terminal 20 that consumes less power than an operation mode (normal mode) during normal route guidance execution. Specifically, the mobile terminal 20 sets the power saving mode to stop displaying the route guidance on the display unit 38 (display unit 38 display OFF), stop the operation of the GPS receiver 42, stop the route guidance by voice, route A device that reduces the power consumption of the battery 44 compared to the normal mode, such as stopping communication with the search server 50, stopping a program for route guidance processing (route guidance program), and reducing the number of clocks of the CPU 24. Limit the behavior of In the present embodiment, a power saving mode in which all the above functions are stopped is adopted. Note that the CPU 24 operates a function for receiving a route guidance start instruction (described later) from the route search server 50 even if the route guidance program is stopped. Further, the CPU 24 may be stopped as the power saving mode. This can be realized by the CPU 24 restarting the process by the interrupt process accompanying the reception of the route guidance start instruction.

  The set time used in step S110 can be any time such as 10 minutes, 20 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours. In the present embodiment, 30 minutes is adopted in consideration of the time during which the user does not feel troublesome to switch between the power saving mode and the normal mode. That is, when the estimated arrival time is longer than the set time of 30 minutes, the CPU 24 switches the operation mode to the power saving mode.

  The CPU 24 calculates the power saving operation time used in step S112 based on the arrival time. The power saving operation time is a period shorter than the arrival time, and is calculated in consideration of the time for performing route guidance to the user at the guidance point after the power saving mode ends. For example, the arrival time to the next guidance point is 50 minutes, the time required to guide the user to the route by voice and display at the guidance point after the power saving mode is finished, 3 minutes, and the user can start from the power saving mode. When the time for recognizing the switching to the normal mode is 2 minutes, the CPU 24 calculates the power saving operation time as 50-3-2 = 45 (minutes). Note that the time required to guide the route to the user by voice and display at the guidance point after the end of the power saving mode and the time for recognizing that the user has switched from the power saving mode to the normal mode are set in advance. The value stored in the ROM 28 is used. In step S112 described above, the CPU 24 transmits the power saving operation time calculated in this way to the route search server 50 together with the power saving mode notification. Thereafter, the CPU 24 switches the operation mode to the power saving mode.

  When receiving the power saving mode notification (including the power saving operation time) from the portable terminal 20 (step S208: YES), the control unit 54 of the route search server 50 measures the power saving operation time (step S210). Then, after the power saving operation time has elapsed (step S210: YES), the control unit 54 transmits a route guidance start instruction to the mobile terminal 20 (step S212).

  When receiving the route guidance start instruction from the route search server 50 (step S116: YES), the CPU 24 of the portable terminal 20 switches the operation mode to the normal mode and executes route guidance again (step S118). In this flowchart, for convenience of explanation, the CPU 24 is shown not to stop. However, in the case where the CPU 24 is stopped, the CPU 24 starts to start by receiving an interrupt by receiving a route guidance start instruction.

  As described above, since the current position of the user reaches the guidance point after a predetermined time has elapsed after the start of the route guidance, the CPU 24 guides the route by display or voice at the guidance point. The CPU 24 repeatedly performs the above-described processing of step S106 to step S118 until termination due to arrival at the user's destination or termination due to the user performing a termination operation via the touch panel 36 (step S120: NO). When the user arrives at the destination or when the user performs a route guidance process end operation using the touch panel 36 (step S120: YES), the CPU 24 transmits an end notification to the route search server 50 (step S122). Then, the process ends.

  The control unit 54 of the route search server 50 repeatedly performs the processing from step S208 to step S212 until an end notification is received from the mobile terminal 20 (step S214). Then, when an end notification is received from the mobile terminal 20 (step S214: YES), the control unit 54 ends the process.

  As described above, in the route guidance system 10, since the mobile terminal 20 operates in the power saving mode during the power saving operation time, the battery 44 is compared with the case where the mobile terminal 20 always operates in the normal mode during the route guidance processing. Power consumption can be reduced. As a result, the mobile terminal can operate for a longer time than when the battery is always operated in the normal mode with one battery charge. Further, even when there is a time during which the route guidance is not performed due to the power saving mode (power saving operation time), the route mode guidance is performed by switching to the normal mode before the guidance point, so that it is possible to perform appropriate route guidance for the user.

  In the present embodiment, since measurement during the power saving operation is performed by the route search server 50, the route guidance is stopped by the display unit 38 (display unit 38 is turned off), and the GPS receiver 42 is stopped operating as the power saving mode. The minimum necessary for switching to the normal mode by stopping the route guidance by voice, stopping the communication with the route search server 50, and stopping the program (route guidance program) for route guidance processing Only the function of receiving a simple route guidance start instruction can be operated. Therefore, power consumption can be greatly reduced compared to the normal mode.

  In the present embodiment, the set time is set, and when the arrival time is shorter than the set time, the mode is not switched to the power saving mode. Therefore, it can be avoided that the user feels bothersome due to the switching of the operation mode, as compared with the case of switching to the power saving mode every time when the arrival time exists.

B. Second embodiment:
Next, a second embodiment will be described. Since the second embodiment is different from the first embodiment only in part of the route guidance processing, description of the configuration of the route guidance system 10 is omitted. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of route guidance processing in the second embodiment. The newly added processes in the second embodiment are steps S302a and S304a in the mobile terminal 20, and steps S402a and S404a in the route search server 50. Since other processes are the same as those in the first embodiment, the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment are used for the respective processes.

  In the route guidance process in the second embodiment, the movement speed of the user is reduced while the mobile terminal 20 is operating in the power saving mode (power saving operation time), and even after the power saving operation time has elapsed, This is a process assuming a case where a certain distance (or time) exists from the position to the guidance point.

  In the flowchart of FIG. 3, the processing up to step S114 of the mobile terminal 20 and the processing up to step S120 of the route search server 50 are the same as those in the first embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted. As processing of the route search server 50, the control unit 54 measures the power saving operation time, and after the power saving operation time has elapsed (step S210: YES), the user's current position coordinate transmission request (current position information request). Is transmitted to the portable terminal 20 (step S402a).

  When receiving the current position information request (step S302a: YES), the CPU 24 activates the GPS receiver 42 to acquire the current position coordinates, and then transmits the current position coordinates to the route search server 50 (step S304a). The mobile terminal 20 also transmits the coordinates of the next guide point (guide point coordinates) simultaneously with the transmission of the current position coordinates.

  When receiving the current position coordinates and the guidance point coordinates from the mobile terminal 20, the control unit 54 determines whether or not a predetermined condition (hereinafter also referred to as guidance start condition) is satisfied (step S404a). In the present embodiment, the guidance start condition is that the separation distance between the current position of the mobile terminal 20 and the guidance point is equal to or less than a predetermined distance (set distance). In addition, the arrival time from the current position of the mobile terminal 20 to the guidance point may be calculated again, and the guidance start condition may be that the calculated arrival time is shorter than a predetermined time. When the guidance start condition is that the arrival time is shorter than the predetermined time, when the route search server 50 obtains the current position information from the mobile terminal 20 in step S304a, the arrival time is also obtained by obtaining the current user's moving speed. Can be calculated, and this guidance start condition can be adopted.

  When it is determined that the guidance start condition is satisfied based on the received current position information (step S404a), the control unit 54 transmits a route guidance start instruction to the mobile terminal 20 (step S212). Since the subsequent processing in the mobile terminal 20 and the route search server 50 is the same as that in the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

  As described above, in the route guidance process according to the second embodiment, while the mobile terminal 20 is operating in the power saving mode (power saving operation time), the moving speed of the user is reduced and the power saving operation time elapses. Later, in response to the case where a certain distance (or time) exists from the current position to the guidance point, the power saving operation time can be secured longer than the initially set power saving operation time. Therefore, the power consumption of the mobile terminal 20 can be reduced to the maximum in response to the case where the moving speed of the user is reduced.

C. Variations:
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and embodiments, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist thereof. For example, the following modifications are possible.
(C1) Modification 1:
In the above embodiment, as the power saving mode, the route guidance is stopped by the display unit 38 (display unit 38 is turned off), the GPS receiver 42 is stopped, the route guidance is stopped by voice, and the communication with the route search server 50 is performed. Stop and stop of the program for performing route guidance processing (route guidance program) are adopted, but only a part of them may be adopted to enter the power saving mode.

  Further, as the power saving mode, the operation of the GPS receiver 42 may not be stopped, but the number of acquisitions of the current position coordinates per unit time may be reduced as compared with the normal mode. In addition, the guide route and the current position may be periodically displayed on the display unit 38, or the power consumed by the display unit 38 is suppressed by reducing the brightness and brightness of displaying an image on the display unit 38. Alternatively, the display unit 38 may be turned off and always provide route guidance only by voice. In addition, when the user operates the touch panel 36 while the mobile terminal 20 operates in the power saving mode, the power saving mode may be canceled and the operation mode may be switched to the normal mode.

(C2) Modification 2:
In the above-described embodiment, the operation mode of the mobile terminal 20 is set to the two stages of the normal mode and the power saving mode. However, the operation mode is not limited thereto, and may include a plurality of operation modes depending on the power consumption. In this case, the normal mode does not indicate only the operation mode with the maximum power consumption among the operation modes in a plurality of stages, and the power saving mode does not indicate only the operation mode with the minimum power consumption. Absent. In short, the operation mode before and after switching is selected and the operation mode before and after switching to the power saving mode is selected so that the power consumption is smaller in the later step than before switching the operation mode to the power saving mode in step S114. Is the normal mode, and the subsequent operation mode is the power saving mode.

(C3) Modification 3:
The route search server 50 may include a part of the configuration included in the mobile terminal 20 in the embodiment, or the mobile terminal 20 may include all or part of the configuration included in the route search server 50. For example, the route search server 50 may perform the estimation of the arrival time (step S108) and the determination of the length of the arrival time and the set time (step S110). In this case, the power consumption of the battery of the mobile terminal 20 can be further suppressed in the power saving mode.

(C4) Modification 4:
As a fourth modification, the battery 44 is always operated in the normal mode until the remaining amount of power of the battery 44 becomes a predetermined amount or less, and when the remaining amount becomes the predetermined amount or less, the normal mode and the power saving mode are switched. The above processing for performing may be performed. In this case, it can be realized by installing a sensor for monitoring the remaining amount of power of the battery 44 and starting the above process when the control unit 54 detects that the remaining amount of power is below a predetermined amount. .

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Route guidance system 20 ... Portable terminal 22 ... Main control part 24 ... CPU
26 ... RAM
28 ... ROM
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 32 ... Communication part 34 ... Communication control part 36 ... Touch panel 38 ... Display part 40 ... Audio | voice output part 42 ... GPS receiver 44 ... Battery 50 ... Path search server 52 ... Communication part 54 ... Control part 56 ... Path | route database BS ... Base station NT ... Network data MPD ... Map image data INT ... Internet

Claims (7)

A route guidance system comprising a portable terminal operated by a battery and a server communicating with the portable terminal,
A switching unit that switches between a normal mode that is an operation mode in which the mobile terminal performs route guidance by a normal operation and a power saving mode that is an operation mode that operates with less power consumption than the normal mode;
An arrival time prediction unit that predicts an arrival time from a current position of the user having the mobile terminal to a guidance point that is a point where the route should be guided to the user;
Based on the predicted arrival time, the switching unit is controlled so that the operation mode is set to a power saving mode for a predetermined time until the user reaches the guidance point, and then the operation mode is switched to the normal mode. A route guidance system comprising: an operation mode control unit. The route guidance system according to claim 1,
The operation mode control unit includes a switching prohibition unit that prohibits switching of the operation mode from the normal mode to the power saving mode when the predicted arrival time is shorter than a predetermined time. The route guidance device according to claim 1 or 2,
The operation mode control unit determines a power saving operation time that is a time for operating in the power saving mode based on the arrival time, and saves the operation mode for at least the determined power saving operation time. A route guidance system that controls the switching unit to set a mode. The route guidance system according to claim 3,
The operation mode control unit switches the operation mode to the normal mode until the distance from the current position of the user to the guide point becomes a predetermined distance or less even after the power saving operation time has elapsed. A route guidance system for controlling the switching unit so as not to exist.   The route guidance system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the operation mode control unit is provided in the server. A portable terminal that provides route guidance by battery operation,
A switching unit that switches between a normal mode that is an operation mode that performs route guidance by a normal operation and a power saving mode that is an operation mode that operates with less power consumption than the normal mode;
An arrival time prediction unit that predicts an arrival time from a current position of the user having the mobile terminal to a guidance point that is a point where the route should be guided to the user;
Based on the predicted arrival time, the switching unit is controlled so that the operation mode is set to a power saving mode for a predetermined time until the user reaches the guidance point, and then the operation mode is switched to the normal mode. A portable terminal comprising an operation mode control unit. A route guidance method for guiding a route using a portable terminal operated by a battery,
The mobile terminal can be switched between a normal mode that is an operation mode that performs route guidance by a normal operation and a power saving mode that is an operation mode that operates with less power consumption than the normal mode,
Predicting the arrival time from the current position of the user having the mobile terminal to the guidance point, which is a point where the route should be guided to the user,
A route guidance method in which, based on the predicted arrival time, the operation mode is set to a power saving mode for a predetermined time until the user reaches a guidance point, and then the operation mode is switched to a normal mode.

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