JP4231435B2 - Navigation terminal device and communication control method thereof - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a navigation terminal apparatus and a communication control method thereof in a communication type navigation system that provides traffic-related information such as route guidance information to vehicles traveling mainly on a road via a communication network.

  In recent years, vehicle-mounted navigation devices that provide route guidance information to a destination based on map information recorded on a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) or the like are rapidly spreading. On the other hand, not only PDAs (Personal Digital Assistance) but also mobile phones themselves are connected to the Internet via mobile phone lines and the like, and these play a role as mobile communication terminals connected to various systems. It has become. As for vehicle navigation, a communication navigation service has been started that provides a map and route guidance information from a server of a ground base station using a line such as a mobile phone.

  In communication-based navigation, even if a new road is constructed or a place name is changed, the user can always obtain the latest map, and also obtain road traffic information and weather information that change daily. It becomes possible. However, since the user needs to obtain the information via the communication line every time the vehicle is driven, the communication cost when connecting to the server is anxious. Therefore, communication carriers such as mobile phones provide users with a service for connecting to a communication line at a fixed amount. By using this service, the user can receive various information provision from the server without worrying about communication costs.

On the other hand, telecommunications carriers employ a communication method called a dormant method, in particular, in order to improve the use efficiency of communication lines using radio waves. In the dormant method, when a terminal device is connected to a server such as an ISP (Internet Services Provider) via a network and no data is transmitted / received for a predetermined time or more, the terminal device and the server Open the communication channel that was used without disconnecting the logical connection of the network between them, and when data transmission / reception is performed thereafter, assign the communication channel again and transmit / receive the data. Refers to the communication method. Here, the state in which the communication channel is released without disconnecting the logical connection of the network between the terminal device and the server is called the dormant state, and communication can be performed by receiving the communication channel assignment. The state is called active state.
By adopting this dormant method, even if many users receive a communication line connection service for a fixed amount and continue to occupy the assigned communication channel, if the frequency of data transmission / reception performed at that time is not high, it is limited. It is now possible to effectively use the specified number of communication channels.

  Since the transition to the dormant state and the return from the dormant state to the active state are automatically performed, the user does not need to be aware of the dormant state. However, once the communication channel is released due to the dormant state, the next transmission / reception of data takes extra time to reassign the communication channel. Therefore, it seems to the user that the responsiveness of the server has decreased. Therefore, a user who dislikes a decrease in the responsiveness of the server tries to prevent the transition to the dormant state, for example, by periodically transmitting and receiving dummy data. In this case, the effect of adopting the dormant method by the telecommunications carrier is diminished.

Therefore, in Patent Document 1, the duration of the non-communication state in which the state transits to the dormant state is not set to a constant value, but is appropriately optimized depending on the amount and type of data to be transmitted / received or the application for transmitting / receiving data. A technique for enhancing the effect of the dormant method by setting the value is disclosed. In other words, empirically or as the nature of data or applications, if the data transmission / reception interval is large, the transition to the dormant state is made earlier, and if the data transmission / reception interval is short, the communication to the dormant state is not performed. Set the duration of the state to be slightly longer so that it is difficult to transition to the dormant state. This avoids a situation where a dormant state occurs for only a short time, and reduces the number of times the communication channel is released and reconnected. Therefore, the usage efficiency of the communication channel is improved. In addition, a user who requests data with a short data transmission / reception interval is generally a user who requests fast responsiveness, and since transmission / reception performed by such a user is unlikely to be in a dormant state, a decrease in responsiveness due to the dormant state is avoided. Will be.
JP 2003-37874 A (paragraphs 0014 to 0047, FIGS. 1 to 26)

In general, data communication between a server and a terminal device is performed in a form that requests provision of information from the terminal device side to the server side. Therefore, it is easier to predict the transition to the dormant state by the terminal device. However, the technique for avoiding a decrease in responsiveness disclosed in Patent Document 1 is a technique that can be implemented in a communication line control apparatus managed by a communication carrier, and is not a technique that can be applied to a terminal apparatus.
In addition, the environment for mobile wireless communication in which a mobile phone or the like is mounted on a vehicle is not always good quality. For example, when a vehicle enters a tunnel or the like, the electric field strength of the radio wave is significantly reduced, and in some cases, the radio wave may not reach. For this reason, the communication state of the terminal device may be in a dormant state or the line connection may be disconnected.
In addition, the current mobile phone communication methods include packet switching and circuit switching methods, and charging methods include pay-as-you-go systems that depend on the communication time and data volume, and flat-rate systems that do not depend on them. Exist in a cross. The communication fee is paid by the user, so the cheaper the better.

  In view of the above, first, the problem of the present invention is that, even if the state of the communication line connected to the navigation terminal device is a dormant state or a disconnected state, the navigation terminal device It is to provide a communication control means and method capable of avoiding a decrease in responsiveness of an information provision request to the server side, and secondly, it can be implemented without making the user aware of the communication control means and method. And to reduce billing.

In order to solve the above-described problem, in the present invention, the navigation terminal device is connected to a wireless communication unit that communicates with a wireless communication base station connected to a navigation server via a network. In the navigation system, a charging method setting unit that sets charging method information of a line to be used, a communication state determination unit that determines a communication state of the wireless communication unit, and a communication control process for the wireless communication unit are predicted to be executed thereafter. when a predetermined process is performed that, event information issuing means for issuing the event information for identifying the predetermined processing, the communication control instruction information for instructing the communication control processing to the execution is predicted , event information, the communication control instruction information storing means for storing in advance in association with the set of communication and billing method information When the event information issuing means issues an event information, event information, by referring to the communication control instruction information storing means based on the set of communication and billing system information, obtains the communication control instruction information of the communication control processing to be executed, a communication control instruction means for outputting the communication control instruction information, when the communication control instruction information from the communication control instruction means is output, the communication to perform pre-associated with the communication control processing in the communication control instruction information And a control means. Furthermore, the present invention is a communication control method realized by the above means.

  In the navigation terminal device configured as described above and its communication control method, the event information issuing means issues event information for identifying the process when a predetermined process is performed in the course of performing the navigation process. Since there are many typical types of navigation processing, it is possible to predict with high accuracy what kind of data communication processing will or will not be performed thereafter by event information. Therefore, information on communication control processing to be performed in advance is stored in advance in the communication control instruction information storage unit for each event information, communication state, and accounting method. Then, the communication control instruction means determines a communication control process to be executed in advance according to the event information when the event is issued, the communication state, and the charging method information, and instructs the communication control means. The communication control means executes the instructed communication control process.

  Here, the communication state determination means is an active state in which the wireless communication means has an assignment of a communication channel for performing communication, an assignment of a communication channel for performing communication, and a navigation terminal. A dormant state that maintains a logical connection between the device and the navigation server, and a disk that does not have a communication channel assignment for communication and does not have a logical connection between the navigation terminal device and the navigation server. It is determined which of the communication connection states includes the connection state.

  Prior to the data communication process to be actually performed, the communication control means executes a communication control process for improving the responsiveness in accordance with the communication state and charging method at that time. For example, when the communication state of a communication line is a dormant state or a disconnected state and a certain event that is known to send / receive information is issued shortly thereafter, the navigation terminal device sends / receives dummy information, Connection process. In this case, when transmitting / receiving actual information, there is a high possibility that the information is already in the active state, so that the time for returning from the dormant state or the time for connecting the line becomes unnecessary or shortened. Therefore, the response of transmission / reception of information actually performed is improved.

In an embodiment to be described later , the communication state determination unit further determines the electric field strength of the radio wave received by the wireless communication unit and the state of the remaining battery level. Furthermore, the navigation terminal device of the present invention comprises a throughput measuring means for measuring the throughput of data communication with the navigation server. As a result, the communication control can be performed more realistically and finely according to the actual communication state of the wireless communication means.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to avoid a decrease in responsiveness of data communication due to a dormant state or a line disconnection state by performing communication control that activates the communication state prior to actual data communication. . Further, since the communication control can be performed according to the communication state and the charging method, the charging can be reduced.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a communication navigation system to which the present invention is applied. In FIG. 1, a navigation terminal device 1 is connected to a wireless communication device 2, and from the wireless communication device 2 to a wireless communication base station 3 via a wireless communication line, and further from the wireless communication base station 3 via the Internet 4. Are connected to the navigation server center 6. The navigation server center 6 includes a portal server 62, a map distribution server 63, a route search server 64, a destination search server 65, a weather information server 66, a traffic information server 67, and the like. Has been.

  The navigation terminal device 1 accepts a request for information provision by a driver such as a vehicle, and sends the request to the navigation server center 6 via the wireless communication device 2, the wireless communication base station 3, and the Internet 4. Ask for the offer. In the navigation server center 6, the portal server 62 accepts the request for information provision, sorts the content of the request, and requests provision of information to the server corresponding to the request via the intranet 61. For example, if the obtained information is a map, the map distribution server 63 is requested to distribute the map. Each server 63, 64, 65, 66, 67 requested to provide information in this way generates the requested information and sends it to the portal server 62. The portal server 62 sends the information to the navigation terminal device 1 via the Internet 4, the wireless communication base station 3, and the wireless communication device 2. As described above, the navigation terminal device 1 in the communication navigation system acquires information to be displayed from the navigation server center 6 via the communication means such as the wireless communication device 2 and displays it.

  In the present embodiment, the wireless communication device 2 is assumed to be outside the navigation terminal device 1, but may be incorporated in the navigation terminal device 1. The wireless communication device 2 refers to a mobile phone including a PHS (Personal Handy phone System), but may be a communication module such as a mobile Internet terminal having a wireless communication function similar to that of a mobile phone.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a block configuration of the navigation terminal device 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the navigation terminal apparatus 1 includes a communication control instruction information storage unit 11, an event information issue unit 12, a communication state determination unit 13, a communication control instruction unit 14, a communication control unit 15, and a billing The system setting unit 16, the transmission / reception data generation unit 17, the navigation processing unit 18, the display unit 19, the input instruction unit 20, the current location detection unit 21, and the wireless communication device interface 22 are configured.

  In FIG. 2, the navigation processing unit 18 is a part that executes various functions imposed on the navigation terminal device 1, and includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a memory (not shown). The display unit 19 is a means for displaying various information in the processing executed by the navigation processing unit 18, and is constituted by an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) display device or the like. The input instruction unit 20 is an input unit for inputting information requested by a driver or the like to the navigation processing unit 18 and includes a keyboard (not shown) and a soft keyboard and buttons displayed on the display unit 19. Further, the current location detection unit 21 obtains the current location of the terminal position based on GPS data obtained from a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiving device and notifies the navigation processing unit 18 of the current location.

  On the other hand, the transmission / reception data generation unit 17 temporarily stores transmission / reception data when the navigation processing unit 18 transmits / receives data to / from the navigation server center 6, and also performs a process of decomposing or combining data associated with packet formation or disassembly. I do. Further, the communication control unit 15 performs processing such as packet formation or decomposition of transmission / reception data, error control of transmission / reception data, transmission / reception of control messages accompanying transmission / reception. Further, the communication control unit 15 transmits / receives data to be transmitted / received to / from the wireless communication device 2 via the wireless communication device interface 22 and sends a command for controlling the operation of the wireless communication device 2. The wireless communication device interface 22 mediates transmission / reception of transmission / reception data between the communication control unit 15 and the wireless communication device 2, transmits various control signals to the wireless communication device 2, and indicates various states of the wireless communication device 2. The signal is transmitted to the communication control unit 15 and the communication state determination unit 13.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in this embodiment, the navigation terminal device 1 of the present invention includes a communication control instruction information storage unit 11 that is a communication control instruction information storage unit and event information that is an event information issuing unit. Issuing unit 12, communication state determination unit 13 as communication state determination unit, communication control instruction unit 14 as communication control instruction unit, communication control unit 15 as communication control unit, and charging method as charging method setting unit And a setting unit 16. Hereinafter, in addition to this FIG. 2, it demonstrates in detail using FIG. 3 thru | or FIG.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of the communication state of the wireless communication apparatus 2 in the present embodiment, where (a) shows the mutual state transition between the communication states, and (b) shows the assignment of the communication state ID. FIG. The example of the communication state of the wireless communication device 2 shown in FIG. 3 is a communication state indicating a connection state between the wireless communication base station 3 and the navigation server center 6, and the communication state indicating the connection state includes an active state. There are three states, a dormant state and a disconnect state.

  Here, the active state is a state in which the wireless communication device 2 has a communication channel assignment for communicating with the wireless communication base station 3, and is between the wireless communication device 2 and the wireless communication base station 3. A state where a physical communication path is secured. Therefore, the navigation terminal device 1 can log in to the portal server 62 of the navigation server center 6 and transmit / receive data to / from the portal server 62 when in the active state. In addition, the dormant state is a state in which the wireless communication device 2 has lost allocation of a communication channel for communicating with the wireless communication base station 3, but a logical connection between the navigation terminal device 1 and the portal server 62, that is, A state where the logged-in state is maintained. In the disconnected state, the wireless communication device 2 has no communication channel assignment for communicating with the wireless communication base station 3, and has a logical connection between the navigation terminal device 1 and the portal server 62. It means no state.

  In FIG. 3A, the state transition between the disconnected state and the active state is normally performed by a predetermined dial-up connection or disconnection procedure. The state transition from the active state to the dormant state is performed when data transmission / reception is not performed for a predetermined time or longer, for example, 30 seconds or longer. The state transition from the dormant state to the active state is automatically performed when a data transmission / reception request is generated. However, at this time, since the communication channel assignment process between the wireless communication apparatus 2 and the wireless communication base station 3 is performed, execution of data transmission / reception is awaited. Note that the state transition between the dormant state and the disconnect state does not normally occur, but may occur in the event of an abnormality such as a power shutdown.

  The communication state determination unit 13 determines whether the wireless communication device 2 is in an active state, a dormant state, or a disconnected state via the wireless communication device interface 22. And the determined communication state is memorize | stored as communication state ID shown in FIG.3 (b).

  4A and 4B show examples of the charging method of the wireless communication apparatus 2 in the present embodiment. FIG. 4A shows an example of a display screen for setting the charging method, and FIG. 4B shows a charging method ID. FIG. There are a packet switching system and a circuit switching system as a switching method for a wireless communication device in a current mobile phone or the like, and there are three types of charging systems for each switching system: time-based, data-based and fixed-rate. There is a charging method. Therefore, the billing method setting unit 16 performs screen display as shown in FIG. The user selects the radio button for the corresponding exchange method and billing method in this screen display. Then, the charging method setting unit 16 stores the selected information as the charging method ID shown in FIG.

  FIG. 5 shows a part of an example of event information issued by the event information issuing unit 12 in the present embodiment. The event information issuing unit 12 is provided in a distributed manner as if constituting a part of the navigation processing unit 18. That is, the event information issuing unit 12 issues event information (event ID in FIG. 5) for identifying a predetermined process when the navigation processing unit 18 performs a predetermined process in the course of performing the navigation process. This refers to the part that performs the process.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the event ID is issued, for example, when the destination setting is started, or when the download of the map is completed, an event for predicting whether the next data communication is performed or not is executed. Issued to etc. For example, when setting of the destination is started, it is predicted that data such as a place name and a facility name for setting the destination will be transmitted subsequently. Further, when downloading of the map is completed, it is possible to guide the route based on the map for a while, so that it is predicted that there is a high possibility that data transmission / reception will not be performed.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a part of an example of a communication control instruction table constituting the communication control instruction information storage unit 11 (see FIG. 2) in the present embodiment. The communication control instruction table predetermines a communication control process to be executed by the communication control unit 15 when the event indicated by the event ID is executed for each communication state and charging method ID, and sets the communication control instruction information as communication control instruction information. Is stored in a memory (not shown). In the communication control instruction table of FIG. 6, for example, in the case of destination setting start (event ID = 1), “connection” is indicated when the communication state is disconnected, and “empty” is indicated when the communication state is active and dormant. “Packet transmission” is stored. This is because when the communication state is disconnected when the destination setting is started, the communication control instruction unit 14 performs the “connection” process of the communication line to the communication control unit 15 at that time. Means to direct. In addition, when the communication state is active or dormant when the destination setting is started, the communication control instruction unit 14 instructs the communication control unit 15 to perform “empty packet transmission” processing. is doing.

  Similarly, in the communication control instruction table, when the map download is completed (event ID = 2), if the communication state is the active state or the dormant state and the charging method is time-based, the communication control instruction unit 14 instructs the communication control unit 15 to perform a process of “disconnecting” the communication line, and in other cases, performs no process (indicated by “−” in FIG. 6).

  In FIGS. 5 and 6, the event ID issuance is not limited to the example of the event shown in FIG. 5, and is appropriate when the designer of the navigation terminal device 1 designs the detailed flow of the navigation process. Events can be set and issued appropriately. Also, the communication control instruction information that is the content of the communication control instruction table in FIG. 6 is not limited to this example, and can be set as appropriate by the designer.

  For example, in FIG. 6, for the destination setting start event (event ID = 1), the communication state is active and the charging method is fixed (charging method ID = 3 and 6) as “empty packet transmission”. This may be, for example, “traffic information request packet transmission”. By doing so, the user can know traffic information such as traffic congestion on the road when setting the destination. In addition, the burden on the user does not increase because it is a fixed charge system. As will be described later, “empty packet transmission” has the effect of preventing the transition from the active state to the dormant state, and “traffic information request packet transmission” has the same effect. That is, in this example, it can be said that the communication control in which a large amount of information is obtained is instructed if the same effect can be obtained with the same fee.

  Next, an example of the operation of the communication control instruction unit 14 in the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 7, FIG. 8, and FIG.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of the flow of processing executed by the communication control instruction unit 14 (see FIG. 2) in the present embodiment. The communication control instruction unit 14 always refers to the event ID (S71) and waits for the event ID to be issued (No in S72). Then, when the event ID is issued (Yes in S72), the communication state ID determined by the communication state determination unit 13 is referred to (S73), and the charging method ID set and stored in the charging method setting unit 16 is stored. (S74). Next, the communication control instruction unit 14 refers to the communication control instruction table based on the event ID, communication state ID, and billing method ID (S75), and acquires communication control instruction information. Then, the communication control instruction information is output to the communication control unit 15 (S76).

  In this way, based on the communication control instruction information output to the communication control unit 15, the communication control unit 15 executes the instructed communication control process. The communication control instructing unit 14 confirms that the communication control processing has been executed, and displays a message on the display unit 19 indicating that communication control such as “the communication line has been disconnected” has been executed. (S77).

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a process flow related to the destination setting process in the navigation process of the present embodiment.
When the user requests destination setting, the navigation processing unit 18 (see FIG. 2) first displays the destination setting initial screen 81 on the display unit 19 (S81). Then, the event information issuing unit 12 sets the event ID = 1 (S82) and notifies the communication control instruction unit 14 that the event ID has been issued. Next, the user views the destination setting initial screen 81 and instructs the destination setting to be performed, for example, with the name “facility” as shown in the display screen 82. Initial data for setting is input (S83). In order to narrow down the “facility”, the display screen 83 for selecting the “category” of the facility is displayed (S84), and the category name designated by the user, for example, category data “restaurant” is input (S85). Thereafter, as shown in the display screen 84, when the user presses the send button, the navigation processing unit 18 adds data indicating “facility”, “restaurant”, etc. to the portal server 62 of the navigation server center 6. The ground search request information is transmitted (S86). The transmitted destination search request information is transferred from the portal server 62 to the destination search server 65, the “facility” corresponding to the search request information is searched, and search result information, for example, “restaurant” list data is obtained. It is returned via the portal server 62. The navigation processing unit 18 receives the destination search result information (S87).

  On the other hand, when the event ID = 1 is issued (S82), the communication control instruction unit 14 (see FIG. 2) follows the process flow described with reference to FIG. Based on the ID and the charging method ID obtained from the charging method setting unit 16, the communication control instruction table to be instructed is read with reference to the communication control instruction table. In the example of the communication control instruction table shown in FIG. 6, the communication control instruction information is “empty packet transmission” in the active state and the dormant state regardless of the charging method ID when the event ID is 1. When disconnected, it is “connected”. The communication control unit 15 executes a communication control process instructed by the communication control instruction information. In this example, an empty packet transmission process is executed when the communication state is an active state and a dormant state, and a connection process is executed when the communication state is a disconnection state.

  The operations of the communication control instruction unit 14 and the communication control unit 15 as described above characterize the present embodiment. Therefore, the effect of the operation will be described below.

  In FIG. 8, actual transmission / reception of data is performed in steps S86 and S87. However, when the destination setting is started (step S81), it can be predicted that the data will be transmitted / received. Therefore, the event information issuing unit 12 issues an event ID when the destination setting is started and it is predicted that data transmission / reception is performed as in this example. Then, data transmission / reception preparation processing is performed as operations of the communication control instruction unit 14 and the communication control unit 15 activated by issuing the event ID.

  In the example of FIG. 8, the transmission / reception preparation process corresponds to the case where the event ID is 1 in the communication control instruction table shown in FIG. That is, when the communication state is disconnected, “connection” processing is performed as data transmission / reception preparation processing. When the communication state is active and dormant, “empty packet transmission” processing is performed as data transmission / reception preparation processing.

  It can be said that the data transmission / reception preparation process is a process for changing the communication state to the active state so that the data transmission / reception process can be performed immediately. Therefore, when the communication state is the disconnection state, a connection process, that is, a process of logging in to the portal server 62 upon receiving an assignment of a wireless communication channel communicating with the wireless communication base station 3 is executed. Further, when the communication state is the dormant state, the wireless communication channel for the transmission is assigned by transmitting an empty packet, and the transition to the active state is achieved. Further, when the communication state is the active state, the communication state is prevented from changing to the dormant state by transmitting an empty packet.

  As described above, if the communication state is already set to the active state in advance when data transmission / reception is performed, the wireless communication channel is assigned or the portal server 62 (see FIG. 1) during the time required for data transmission / reception. Does not include time to log in to. Therefore, the total time required for data transmission / reception, in other words, the response time from the transmission of the information provision request to the portal server 62 until the portal server 62 provides the information, in the case of the example of FIG. It is possible to reduce the time from instructing transmission of search request information to receiving destination search result information.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a process flow related to a map download process in the navigation process of the present embodiment.
When the navigation processing unit 18 (see FIG. 2) performs the route guidance process which is the main body process of navigation (S91), it always determines whether or not it has arrived at the destination (S92), and determines that it has arrived at the destination. If so (Yes in S92), an event ID (not shown in FIG. 5) indicating the end of the route guidance process is issued (S93), and the route guidance process is terminated. On the other hand, when it is determined that the destination has not been reached (No in S92), it is determined whether or not the terminal has approached the end of the map that has been downloaded and used for route guidance (S94). As a result, if it is not close to the end of the previously downloaded map (No in S94), the process directly returns to step S91 to repeat the route guidance process. If the end of the downloaded map is approached (Yes in S94), event ID = 3 is issued (S95), the process returns to step S91, and the route guidance process is repeated.

  When event ID = 3 is issued, the communication control instruction unit 14 extracts communication control instruction information to be instructed to the communication control unit 15 from the communication control instruction table of FIG. In the example of FIG. 6, when the charging method is a fixed amount, the map is downloaded (after disconnecting in the disconnected state), but the charging method is time-based and the communication state is active or dormant. In the case of the state, a disconnection process, that is, a process of logging out from the portal server 62 and abandoning the communication channel assignment with the radio communication base station 3 is performed.

  By performing such communication control, billing can be reduced. That is, when the charging method is a fixed amount, the charging amount does not increase no matter how much map data is received. On the other hand, in the case of a billing method according to time or the amount of data, since the map data is charged when downloaded, the map is not downloaded in order to reduce the charge. Moreover, when the charging method is time-based, the communication channel assignment is also abandoned by the disconnection process. In the navigation system to which this embodiment is applied, the route guidance to the destination is displayed based on the route guidance information downloaded separately from the map information, so the situation of the intersection and the route instruction are displayed. do not need.

  As described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9, according to the embodiment of the present invention, when the communication state is in the dormant state or the disconnection state prior to the actual transmission / reception of data, Since the communication control to make the active state is performed, it is possible to avoid a decrease in data transmission / reception responsiveness due to a dormant state or disconnection of the communication line. Further, since the communication control performed at that time can be performed according to the charging method as well as the communication state, the charging can be reduced. Moreover, the user of the navigation terminal device 1 does not have to be aware of the implementation of these communication controls.

<Modification 1 of Embodiment>
Next, an embodiment will be described in which a communication state in which the communication state is classified by the electric field strength of the received radio wave in addition to the communication state in which the communication state is classified by the connection state of the active state, the dormant state, and the disconnect state. This embodiment is different from the above-described embodiment in that the number of communication states increases. That is, the communication state determination unit 13 (see FIG. 2) receives two electric field intensities via the wireless communication device interface 22 depending on, for example, whether the electric field intensity of the received radio wave is greater than or equal to a predetermined value. The state of is determined. Then, since two states of electric field strength exist independently from each other in the three states of the connection state, there are six states in total.
In the present specification, when a value is expressed as “a certain value is equal to or greater than a predetermined value and equal to or less than a predetermined value”, when the value is a predetermined value, the value is included on the side of the predetermined value or greater, or If it is determined in advance which side is included, it can be included on either side. Therefore, for example, in this specification, it is assumed that the predetermined value is included on the side below the predetermined value.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a part of an example of the communication control instruction table in the first modification of the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 10, the communication state includes an active state, a dormant state, and a disconnect state in each state where the electric field strength is equal to or higher than a predetermined value and the electric field strength is equal to or lower than a predetermined value. Communication control instruction information is set for each event ID and each accounting method ID. In the communication control instruction table of FIG. 10, illustration is omitted for cases where the charging method ID is 4 to 6 in order to avoid complexity.

  FIG. 10 shows an example of communication control instruction information for an event with event ID = 4 and “the non-communication state has continued for a predetermined time or more during download”. The contents of the communication control instruction will be described below.

  When an event with event ID = 4 is issued, if the electric field strength is below a predetermined value and the communication state is an active state, the navigation terminal device 1 and the wireless communication device 2 enter the incommunicable region. Therefore, when the charging method is time-based, the connection to the wireless communication line and the portal server 62 is disconnected in order to avoid unnecessary charging. Further, when the charging method is not time-dependent or when the communication state is a disconnected state, extra charging is not performed, and it may be left as it is.

  On the other hand, when an event with event ID = 4 is issued, if the electric field strength is in a state of a predetermined value or more and the communication state is an active state or a dormant state, connection to the portal server 62 is caused for some reason. It is predicted that the portal server 62 has been disconnected or cannot operate. Therefore, in such a case, the connection to the wireless communication line and the portal server 62 is once disconnected and reconnected. If the communication state is a disconnection state, connection is attempted again.

  As described above, by introducing a state that is classified according to a predetermined electric field strength as a communication state, communication control can be performed more finely, and effects such as a reduction in charging can be achieved. In this example, two states are assumed as the states classified by the electric field strength, but there may be three or more states.

<Modification 2 of Embodiment>
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a part of an example of the communication control instruction table in the second modification of the embodiment. In this example, the remaining battery level of the wireless communication device 2 (see FIG. 1) is determined as the communication state. Here, it is assumed that the remaining amount of the battery is a small amount equal to or smaller than a predetermined value and a state where the remaining amount is equal to or larger than the predetermined value. As in the case of FIG. 10, in order to avoid complexity, the illustration is omitted for cases where the charging method ID is 4 to 6.

  FIG. 11 shows an example of a communication control instruction for an event with event ID = 3 and “approaching the end of the downloaded map”. Therefore, when this event occurs, it is reasonable to download a new map, at least if the billing method is fixed. However, in this example, if the remaining battery level is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the map is not downloaded. This is because, as described above, the guidance information is displayed up to the destination only by the route guidance information, so it is determined that the map is unnecessary. In addition, when the remaining battery level is equal to or less than a predetermined value and in an active state or a dormant state, the connection to the wireless communication line and the portal server 62 is disconnected. This is to save battery consumption depending on the communication state.

  As described above, by introducing a state classified by a predetermined remaining battery level as a communication state, communication control can be performed more finely, and effects such as not only a reduction in charging but also a reduction in battery consumption can be achieved. In this example, the state classified by the remaining battery level is assumed to be two states, but there may be three or more states. Moreover, you may coexist with the state classified according to the above-mentioned electric field strength.

<Modification 3 of embodiment>
The navigation terminal device according to the third modification of the embodiment is configured such that the navigation terminal device 1 of FIG. 2 includes a throughput measurement unit that measures the throughput when information is downloaded (not shown). This throughput measuring unit corresponds to the throughput measuring means in the claims.
When the download of information is started, the throughput measuring unit counts the number of received data by the reception counter, and reads the contents of the reception counter every predetermined time, for example, and calculates the download throughput. Then, when the throughput falls below a predetermined value, for example, an event indicating a decrease in throughput is issued.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a processing flow of the throughput measurement unit according to Modification 3 of the embodiment. In FIG. 12, when information download is started (S100), two processes are activated. One is a process of counting received data at the time of download, and the other is a process of measuring time and calculating the download throughput.
In the reception data counting process, when downloading of information is started (S100), the reception counter is first reset (S101). Next, every time data is received (S102), the reception counter is incremented (S103), and steps S102 and S103 are repeated (No in S104) until the download is completed (Yes in S104).

  In the process of calculating the throughput, when downloading of information is started (S100), first, the timer is reset (S121), and the process waits for a predetermined period of time (No in S122). When the predetermined time has elapsed (Yes in S122), the value of the reception counter at that time is acquired (S123), and the download throughput is calculated based on the value and the elapsed time (S124). If the throughput is equal to or less than the predetermined value (Yes in S125), an event “Event ID = 5” “the throughput drops below the predetermined value during download” is issued. If the throughput is equal to or greater than the predetermined value (No in S125), the process returns to step S121 and the processes in steps S121 to S125 are repeated.

  When event ID = 5 is issued as described above, the communication control instruction unit 14 determines a predetermined communication control instruction table (see FIG. 6 based on the communication state and charging method at that time. ID = 5 is not shown), communication control instruction information is obtained, and the communication control unit 15 is instructed to execute communication control instructed thereby. This makes it possible to take measures when the throughput drops below a predetermined value during information download. For example, as one of countermeasures, there is a method of switching the exchange method. For example, if the communication between the wireless communication device 2 and the wireless communication base station 3 is a packet switching method and the download throughput drops below a predetermined value, the communication line is predicted to be very busy. Is done. Therefore, the switching system is switched to the circuit switching system. Then, since the communication line can be used exclusively, the problem of throughput reduction can be solved.

  FIG. 13 shows an example of the flow of processing for switching the exchange method in the third modification of the embodiment. In FIG. 13, first, it is checked whether the switching method may be switched (S131). Information on whether or not to switch is set, for example, on the charging method setting screen shown in FIG. In FIG. 4A, the “Yes” button of the “automatic switching setting of exchange method” radio button is turned on. Therefore, if “the switching method may be switched” (Yes in S131), first, the wireless communication device 2 (see FIG. 1) is disconnected (S132), and the switching method is switched (S133). Next, communication connection processing of the wireless communication device 2 is performed (S134), information download is resumed (S134a), and the download is completed (No in S135). When the download is completed (Yes in S135), the wireless communication device 2 is disconnected (S136), the exchange method is switched (S137), the exchange method is restored, and the communication connection process of the wireless communication device 2 is performed. (S139). On the other hand, when “Can the switching method be switched” is set to No (No in S131), the wireless communication device 2 is simply disconnected (S138) without switching the switching method. ) The communication connection process of the wireless communication device 2 is performed (S139).

  As described above, according to the third modification of the embodiment, it is possible to detect a decrease in download throughput and take measures to improve the throughput.

It is a figure which shows the example of the whole structure of the communication type navigation system to which this invention is applied. It is a figure which shows the example of the block configuration of the navigation terminal device in embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed the example of the communication state of the radio | wireless communication apparatus in embodiment of this invention, (a) is a figure which shows the mutual state transition between each communication state, (b) is a figure which shows assignment of communication state ID It is. 1A and 1B show an example of a charging method of a wireless communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1A shows an example of a display screen for setting a charging method, and FIG. FIG. 4 shows a part of an example of event information issued by an event information issuing unit in an embodiment of the present invention. It is the figure which showed a part of example of the communication control instruction table which comprises the communication control instruction information storage part in embodiment of this invention. 2 shows an example of a flow of processing executed by a communication control instruction unit in an embodiment of the present invention. It is the figure which showed the example of the flow of the process which concerns on the destination setting process in the navigation process of embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed the example of the flow of the process which concerns on the download process of the map in the navigation process of embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed a part of example of the communication control instruction | indication table in the modification 1 of embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed a part of example of the communication control instruction | indication table in the modification 2 of embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed the example of the flow of a process of the throughput measurement part in the modification 3 of embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed the example of the flow of the process which switches the exchange system in the modification 3 of embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Navigation terminal apparatus 2 Wireless communication apparatus 3 Wireless communication base station 4 Internet 6 Navigation server center 12 Event information issuing part 13 Communication state determination part 14 Communication control instruction | indication part 15 Communication control part 16 Charge system setting part 17 Transmission / reception data generation part 18 Navigation Processing unit 19 Display unit 20 Input instruction unit 21 Current location detection unit 22 Wireless communication device interface 62 Portal server

Claims (8)

A navigation terminal device that is connected to a wireless communication means that communicates with a wireless communication base station connected to a navigation server via a network, and that performs navigation processing related to route guidance of a mobile body,
Communication state determination means for determining a communication state of the wireless communication means;
In the navigation processing, when a predetermined process is performed thereafter the execution of the communication control processing to the wireless communication means is predicted to, and event information issuing means for issuing the event information for identifying the predetermined processing ,
Communication control instruction information for preliminarily storing communication control instruction information for instructing a communication control process to be executed in association with a set of the event information and a communication state obtained from the wireless communication state determination unit Storage means;
When the event information is issued by the event information issuing unit, with reference with the event information, the communication control instruction information storing means based on the set of the communication state obtained from the communication state determining means, said Communication control instruction means for obtaining the communication control instruction information associated with a set of event information and the communication state, and outputting the obtained communication control instruction information ;
A navigation terminal device comprising: a communication control unit that executes a communication control process associated in advance with the communication control instruction information when the communication control instruction information is output from the communication control instruction unit. A navigation terminal device that is connected to a wireless communication means that communicates with a wireless communication base station connected to a navigation server via a network, and that performs navigation processing related to route guidance of a mobile body,
Charging method setting means for setting charging method information of a line used by the wireless communication means;
Communication state determination means for determining a communication state of the wireless communication means;
In the navigation processing, when a predetermined process is performed thereafter the execution of the communication control processing to the wireless communication means is predicted to, and event information issuing means for issuing the event information for identifying the predetermined processing ,
Communication control instruction information for instructing a communication control process that is predicted to be executed, the event information, a communication state obtained from the wireless communication state determination unit, and charging method information set by the charging method setting unit Communication control instruction information storage means stored in advance corresponding to the set, and
When the event information is issued by the event information issuing unit, the event information and the communication state obtained from the communication status determination unit, a set of accounting mode information set by the billing method setting means The communication control instruction information storage means is referred to to obtain the communication control instruction information associated with the set of the event information, the communication state, and the charging method information, and the obtained communication control instruction information Communication control instruction means for outputting ,
A navigation terminal apparatus comprising: a communication control unit that executes a communication control process associated with the communication control instruction information in advance when the communication control instruction information is output from the communication control instruction unit. The communication state determination means includes
The wireless communication means is
An active state having communication channel assignments for communication; and
A dormant state in which a communication channel for communication is lost and a logical connection between the navigation terminal device and the navigation server is maintained;
Whether the communication connection state is a communication connection state including a disconnection state that does not have a communication channel assignment for performing communication and does not have a logical connection between the navigation terminal device and the navigation server. The navigation terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the navigation terminal device is determined. The communication state determination means further includes
The battery remaining state of the wireless communication means is determined as to which battery remaining state is a battery remaining state divided by one or more predetermined battery remaining values. The described navigation terminal device. A communication control method in a navigation terminal device that is connected to a wireless communication means that communicates with a wireless communication base station connected to a navigation server via a network, and that performs navigation processing related to route guidance of a moving body,
A communication state determination step of determining a communication state of the wireless communication means;
In the navigation processing, when a predetermined process is performed thereafter the execution of the communication control processing to the wireless communication means is predicted to, and event information issuing step of issuing an event information for identifying the predetermined processing ,
Communication control instruction information for instructing a communication control process that is predicted to be executed is stored in advance in a storage device in association with a set of the event information and the communication state obtained in the wireless communication state determination step A control instruction information storage step;
Wherein the event information issuing step when the event information is issued, and the event information, by referring to the storage device based on the set of the communication state obtained by the communication state determination step, and the event information A communication control instruction step for obtaining the communication control instruction information associated with the pair with the communication state and outputting the obtained communication control instruction information ;
A communication control method for a navigation terminal device, comprising: a communication control step of executing a communication control process associated with the communication control instruction information in advance when the communication control instruction information is output . A communication control method in a navigation terminal device that is connected to a wireless communication means that communicates with a wireless communication base station connected to a navigation server via a network, and that performs navigation processing related to route guidance of a mobile body,
A charging method setting step for setting charging method information of a line used by the wireless communication means;
A communication state determination step of determining a communication state of the wireless communication means;
In the navigation processing, when a predetermined process is performed thereafter the execution of the communication control processing to the wireless communication means is predicted to, and event information issuing step of issuing an event information for identifying the predetermined processing ,
The communication control instruction information for instructing the communication control process predicted to be executed, the event information, the communication state obtained in the wireless communication state determination step, and the charging method information set by the charging method setting means A communication control instruction information storage step for storing in a storage device in advance in association with
When the event information is issued in the event information issuing step, the event information, and the communication state obtained by the communication state determination step, to said billing method set the accounting mode information set in step A communication control instruction for obtaining the communication control instruction information associated with the set of the event information, the communication state and the charging method information , and outputting the obtained communication control instruction information, with reference to the storage device Steps,
A communication control method for a navigation terminal device, comprising: a communication control step of executing a communication control process associated with the communication control instruction information in advance when the communication control instruction information is output . The communication state determination step includes
The wireless communication means is
An active state having communication channel assignments for communication; and
A dormant state in which a communication channel for communication is lost and a logical connection between the navigation terminal device and the navigation server is maintained;
Whether the communication connection state is a communication connection state including a disconnection state that does not have a communication channel assignment for performing communication and does not have a logical connection between the navigation terminal device and the navigation server. The communication control method for a navigation terminal device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the communication control method is a step of determining The communication state determination step further includes:
The step of determining whether the remaining battery level of the wireless communication means is in a remaining battery level state classified by one or more predetermined remaining battery level values. Item 8. The communication control method of the navigation terminal device according to Item 7.

Images