JPH10153440A - Navigation station - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make various services obtainable by providing a digital broadcasting receiving means, a 2-way communicating means, a position detecting means, a map information accumulating means, and a data processing means. SOLUTION: The navigation station 116 has a sensor interface in addition to an information communicating radio antenna for receiving information, and the sensor input is used as a trigger for measuring the elapsed time. The navigation station 116 has an accumulating part having a buffer for accumulating a frequency used map and the information attached thereto in order to reduce the communication load, and it has the function of renewing the information accumulated in the buffer according to frequency of use. Thus, a network represented by GPS and Internet and, further, data broadcasting are united, whereby various services, in which immediate property is imparted to information, can be obtained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a GPS (Glob).
The present invention relates to a network typified by the Al Positioning System and the Internet, and further relates to a navigation station that can provide various services by integrating data broadcasting and providing information with immediacy.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a service for specifying a position on a map by GPS and a service for congestion information have been provided.

[0003]

However, the conventional GPS
Then, the map information was individually provided on a storage medium, and updating the map required rewriting or exchanging the medium. Further, in the conventional service, only the service of congestion information by extracting information included in the storage medium or by communication is provided.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide a navigation station which can provide various services by integrating data broadcasting with a network typified by the GPS and the Internet and by providing information with immediacy.

[0005]

To achieve the above object, a navigation station according to the present invention comprises a digital broadcast receiving means, a two-way communication means, a position detecting means, a map information storing means, and a data processing means. And characterized in that:

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a navigation station according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 is a BS satellite, reference numeral 102 is a GPS satellite, reference numerals 103 and 110 are the Internet, reference numerals 104 and 105 are on-demand servers, reference numeral 106 is a host server, and reference numerals 107 to 109 are local. Server, reference numeral 111 denotes an information server such as a GS (gas station), and reference numeral 112 denotes St.
ore (restaurant) or the like, reference numeral 113 denotes other information servers, reference numeral 114 denotes beacons, reference numeral 11
Reference numeral 5 denotes FM teletext, reference numeral 116 denotes a navigation station main body, and reference numeral 117 denotes a PDA (Personal).
Digital Assistant).

[0008] The on-demand server 104 is a BS satellite 1
It receives video information and the like sent from the Internet 103 and provides a service of the video information to the Internet 103. Further, the on-demand server 105 receives a position detection signal sent from the GPS satellite 102 and provides a service of position detection information to the Internet 103. On-demand server 10
The Internet 103 connected to 4 and 105 is further connected to a first connection terminal of the host server 106.

A second connection terminal of the host server 106 is connected to the local servers 107 to 109, and supplies information sent via the Internet 103 to the local servers 107 to 109. Local server 1
08 is a connection terminal to the host server 106, and further,
It is connected to another Internet 110. Info servers 111 to 113 are connected to the Internet 110. For example, information about gas stations is supplied from the Info server 111 to the Internet 110, and restaurant information is supplied from the Info server 112 to the Internet 110.

Each of the local servers 107 to 109 has a wireless antenna for information communication.
The information is wirelessly transmitted to 16. The wireless transmission of this information
Although a wireless telephone line or the like is used, it may be based on the beacon 114 or may be based on the FM teletext 115. The information transmitted at this time includes not only map information but also traffic congestion information and congestion information of surrounding facilities.

The navigation station 116 has a sensor interface in addition to the information communication wireless antenna for receiving such information, and the sensor input is used as a trigger for measuring the passage of time. In addition, the navigation station 116 is a PDA 11
7 and an interface for connecting to personal information and a network, for example, a charging process such as a high-speed fee can be performed.

The navigation station 116 has a storage unit,
In order to reduce the communication load, it has a function of buffering and storing frequently used maps and accompanying information, and updating the information stored in the buffer according to the frequency of use. In addition, necessary user information can be stored in advance in the storage unit by downloading a required map set in advance.

Next, the host server 106 shown in FIG.
On-demand servers 104 to 105, local servers 107 to 109, and info servers 111 to 1
13 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 200 denotes a host server, and reference numeral 2 denotes a host server.
Reference numeral 10 denotes an on-demand server, reference numeral 220 denotes a local server, and reference numeral 230 denotes an info server.

The host server 200 comprises an on-demand index 201, a request means 202, an entire map database 203, management software 204, and an expressway database 205. The on-demand server 210 includes a transmission unit 211 and an on-demand database 212. The local server 220 includes a local map updating robot 221, a local map database 222, a receiving unit 223, and a transmitting unit 224. The information server 230 includes a search unit 231, a transmission unit 232,
It is composed of an accompanying information database 233.

The local server 220 has a receiving unit 223
It is also possible to wirelessly transmit and receive information via the transmitting means 224, and to wirelessly connect to the navigation station. This local server is located at a predetermined geographical location, and can be connected to any of the local servers 220 from the navigation station at all times.

The local map database 222 in the local server 220 stores a local map update robot 221
Will be updated on a regular basis. This update is performed by the local map update robot 221 periodically communicating with the host server 200 to determine whether the local map database needs to be updated.

The host server 200 is a local server 2
When a map update check request is received from 20, the local server 220 checks whether there is update information in the map under the jurisdiction of the local server 220, and updates the local map database 222 of the local server 220 offline if necessary.

When there are various on-demand requests from the user via the local server 220, the on-demand index registered in advance is collated with this request.
Request means 2 if service is available
02, the on-demand request information is transmitted to the on-demand server 210.

Upon receiving the request from the host server 200, the on-demand server 210 transmits the information stored in the on-demand database 212 to the local server 22 via the host server 200 by the transmission means 211.
Transmit to 0. The local server 220 transmits this information to the navigation station via the transmission means 224.

When the local server 220 receives a search request from a navigation station, the local server 220
23 to the info server 230 directly. The information server 230 searches the accompanying information database 233 based on the search request, and transmits a search result to the local server via the transmission unit 232. Local server 220
Transmits a search result from the info server 230 directly to a mobile communication device such as a navigation station from a transmission unit.

Next, the configuration of the navigation station will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 301 denotes a data broadcasting receiving unit, reference numeral 302 denotes a text multiplex broadcasting receiving unit, and reference numeral 30 denotes a receiving unit.
3 is a server information receiving unit, 304 is a traffic jam information receiving unit,
Reference numeral 305 denotes a map information receiving unit, reference numeral 306 denotes a position information receiving unit, reference numeral 307 denotes a sensor receiving unit, reference numeral 308 denotes a user interface, reference numeral 309 denotes a PDA interface,
Reference numeral 310 denotes a CPU, reference numeral 311 denotes a map drawing controller, reference numeral 312 denotes a text output controller, reference numeral 31
3 is a voice synthesis unit, 314 is a voice recognition unit, 315
Is a VRAM, 316 is a display unit, 317 is a speaker, 318 is a microphone, 319 is a memory, and 3
Reference numeral 20 denotes a user information transmitting unit, reference numeral 321 denotes a storage unit, and reference numeral 322 denotes a position information transmitting unit.

Data broadcast receiving section 301, teletext broadcast receiving section 302, server information receiving section 303, congestion information receiving section 304, map information receiving section 305, position information receiving section 30
6, sensor receiving unit 307, user interface 30
8, PDA interface 309, and voice recognition unit 3
14 is input to the CPU 310 and is stored in the memory 31.
9, and the CPU 310 reads out these pieces of information from the memory 319 as necessary, processes them,
The data is output to the map drawing controller 311, the text output controller 312, and the voice synthesizer 313. Information input to the map drawing controller 311 and the text output controller 312 is stored in the VRAM 315 and output to the display unit 316 as an image signal. Also,
The information output to the voice synthesizer 313 is
Is output as an audio signal.

The memory 319 is connected to the large-capacity storage unit 321 and stores temporary information as necessary.
1, or the storage unit 321 can be used as a buffer for reducing the communication load.
The memory 319 is further connected to the user information transmitting unit 320 and the position information transmitting unit 322, and transmits the user information or transmits the current position information to the server side, thereby turning on the user. It is configured so that demand can be realized.

Next, a specific form of service of the navigation station according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 4 shows not only map information but also congestion information of surrounding facilities using the navigation station according to the present invention.
4 shows the flow of processing of a navigation service that provides comprehensive information.

In FIG. 4, steps (hereinafter referred to as “SP”)
That. ) 400 indicates the start of the processing of this service.
In SP401, a local server corresponding to the current position is specified to obtain a map near the current position of the navigation station. In SP402, it is determined whether or not the map information on the navigation station needs to be updated. As described with reference to FIG. 3, since the navigation station includes the storage unit 321, the frequently used map information data is stored in the storage unit in advance. Therefore, if the necessary map information already exists in the navigation station, there is no need to update the map information, and the process proceeds to SP405. On the other hand, if the necessary map information does not exist in the navigation station, new map information is downloaded from the local server in SP403, the data stored in the storage unit of the navigation station is updated in SP404, and the process proceeds to SP405.

At SP405, it is determined whether or not there is a request from the user. The request includes information other than the map, for example, a request for obtaining position information of a gas station or a restaurant near the current position from a running vehicle, and a request accompanying the information. The accompanying request includes gasoline prices and service contents in the case of a gas station, and congestion status and menu contents in the case of a restaurant. An information server is installed in a facility such as a gas station or a restaurant as described with reference to FIG. 1, and information corresponding to the type of each facility is provided in response to a request from a user (SP406).

At SP407, map information and other information transmitted from the local server are displayed on the navigation station. When continuing navigation from a running vehicle, the current position may be changed.
In 408, the process returns to SP401, and the above-described process is repeated. If the navigation is not to be continued, the process proceeds to SP409 and ends the navigation.

FIG. 5 shows the flow of processing of a high-speed toll time discount service using the navigation station according to the present invention.

SP500 indicates the start of processing. In the present highway, the fare is determined by the distance, and the fare remains unchanged whether or not it takes a long time due to traffic congestion. Therefore, in order to measure the travel time on the highway,
In SP501, first, the time count is started when the vehicle enters the highway, and the time is recorded on a PDA such as an IC card. And at the gate out SP5
At 06, the time count ends, and at SP507, the PDA
From the gate-in time and the gate-out time recorded in, the required time for traveling on the highway is calculated by the navigation station, and the travel section or the traveling distance is calculated by the navigation station.

However, in the above-described processing flow, a time period during which the vehicle takes a break in the parking area on the highway is also counted. Therefore, a sensor capable of detecting the passage of the traveling vehicle is provided at the entrance of the parking area. When the vehicle equipped with the Navi Station enters the parking area, sensing information is sent from the sensor to the Navi Station, it is determined that a sensor input has been made at SP503, and the stoppage time at the parking area is started at SP504. . When the vehicle leaves the parking area, sensing information is sent from a sensor at the exit of the parking area to a navigation station mounted on the vehicle,
In SP505, the counting of the stop time is ended. In this case, when calculating the required time in SP507 described above, the stop time is subtracted.

The information calculated by the navigation station in SP507 is transmitted to the host server in SP508, and the fee is settled on the host server. At this time, when charging using electronic money or the like, a personal digital assistant (PDA)
The personal ID can also be transmitted to the host server through the connection between the terminal and the navigation station, and charging can be performed.

FIG. 6 shows the flow of processing of an on-demand service using a navi station according to the present invention in response to a user request.

SP600 represents the start of the process. SP60
At 1, it is determined whether or not a user has requested an on-demand service. If there is no request, the request waits again. If there is a request, the request from the user is transmitted to the host server through the local server in SP602, and the service is collated with the host server. That is, since the on-demand service is provided by each demand server, the host server manages the index that can be serviced, and the on-demand service request from the user is compared with the index managed by the host server. . The service includes, for example, Music On Demand for listening to desired music and Informat which provides information other than management of a local server.
ion On Demand and the like.

If it is determined in SP603 that the request from the user is a service provided by the host server, the information is transmitted from the demand server to the local server via the host server, and the local server navigates. Information is sent to the station. If it is determined that the request from the user is not a service provided by the host server, the process returns to SP601 to wait for the request from the user again.

[0036]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the navi-station of the present invention, a variety of networks, such as the GPS and the Internet, and the data broadcasting are integrated to provide the information with immediacy. Service can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a navigation station.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram between servers.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a navigation station.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a navigation station service in a congested state and a congested state.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a time discount service for a high-speed toll.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an on-demand service.

[Explanation of symbols]

101: BS satellite, 102: GPS satellite, 103/11
0: Internet, 104, 105: On-demand server, 106: Host server, 107, 108, 109
... local server, 111 ... GS (gas station)
Info servers such as 112 (Store), 113 ... Other info servers, 1
14 ... beacon, 115 ... FM teletext, 116 ...
Navi Station main unit, 117 ... PDA (Person
al Digital Assistant), 200
... Host server, 201 ... On-demand index,
202 request means, 203 whole map database, 204 management software, 205 highway database, 210 on demand server, 211 transmission means, 212 on demand database, 220 local server, 221 local map update robot , 2
22: local map database, 223: receiving means,
224: transmission means, 230: info server, 231 ...
Search means 232 transmission means 233 accompanying information database 301 data broadcast receiving section 302 text multiplex broadcast receiving section 303 server information receiving section 304 traffic jam information receiving section 305 map information receiving section 306: Position information receiving unit, 307: Sensor receiving unit, 308: User interface, 309: PDA interface, 310:
CPU, 311 ... Map drawing controller, 312 ... Text output controller, 313 ... Speech synthesis unit, 314 ...
Voice recognition unit, 315 ... VRAM, 316 ... display unit, 31
7 Speaker, 318 ... Microphone, 319 ... Memory, 32
0: User information transmission unit, 321: Storage unit, 322: Position information transmission unit

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A navigation station comprising digital broadcast receiving means, two-way communication means, position detecting means, map information storing means, and data processing means. 2. The navigation station according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor input unit and a time measurement unit. 3. The navigation station according to claim 1, further comprising a personal information authentication interface. 4. The navigation station according to claim 1, further comprising connection means for connecting to a local server having a local map database and having a function of updating the map database from a host server. 5. The navigation station according to claim 4, wherein said host server has index information.