JPH114483A - Navigation system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To acquire proper information from an information center by using position information generated from a navigation function section. SOLUTION: A browser function section 30 is provided with a navigation extension tag analysis section 34, that analyzes a position information transmission request from an information center. Upon the receipt of the position information transmission request, a navigation/browser interlocking function control section 24 allows a navigation extension function section 22 to generate position information to the browser function section 30. The browser function section 30 sends the position information to the information center. The information center retrieves a database, based on the position information and sends the retrieved result to the navigation device. A navigation extension function section 22 generates a current position of a vehicle, that is being driven as the position information and uses a road map for the navigation function for generating position information of a selection position which has been entered.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a navigation device which is mounted on a moving body such as a vehicle and has a communication function unit for communicating with an information center. The present invention also relates to a navigation system having such a navigation device and an information center.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a navigation device for assisting driving in an automobile has been mounted on a vehicle. A navigation device is a device that has a position detection device and a display device, and has a basic function of detecting the current position of a vehicle and displaying the detected current position on a road map in a superimposed manner. Such a navigation device may be provided with a route guidance function for guiding a route to a destination or a communication function for taking in necessary information by communicating with an information center as needed.

In one embodiment for incorporating information from an information center into a navigation device, a WWW (World Wide Web) browser is incorporated in the navigation device, and a mobile phone is connected. That is,
By connecting to the Internet via a mobile phone, necessary information such as weather information can be obtained from an appropriate homepage published by an information center.

[0004]

However, in the above configuration, the navigation device can only acquire information via the Internet, and this function and the basic function of the navigation device are not linked at all. For example, if you want to search for recommended spots (restaurants, amusement parks, etc.) or weather information near the current location of the vehicle, you must enter the vehicle's location information using the input device after the Internet connection. No. The input of the position information is performed by, for example, selecting one of a plurality of options prepared on a homepage, and the position information cannot be input using the navigation function.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned technical problems, and to provide a navigation device and a navigation system capable of acquiring appropriate information from an information center using position information generated by a navigation function unit. It is to provide.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a navigation apparatus mounted on a moving body, wherein the navigation apparatus includes position information generating means. A function unit, a communication function unit for communicating with the information center, and position information generated by the position information generating means of the navigation function unit are transmitted to the information center via the communication function unit. A navigation device including the navigation function unit and a coordination function control unit that controls the communication function unit so that corresponding information is received from an information center via the communication function unit.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a navigation system having a navigation device mounted on a moving body and used, and an information center capable of providing information to the navigation device. A navigation function unit having a generating unit, a communication function unit for communicating with the information center, and transmitting the position information generated by the position information generating unit of the navigation function unit to the information center via the communication function unit. And a coordination function control unit that controls the navigation function unit and the communication function unit so as to receive information corresponding to the position information from the information center via the communication function unit. Based on the position information transmitted from the communication function unit of the navigation device. Information retrieval means for retrieving information have a navigation system, characterized in that an information transfer means for transferring the retrieved information to the navigation device.

According to the present invention, the position information generated by the position information generating means of the navigation function unit is used to
Appropriate information can be obtained from the information center. That is,
By appropriately coordinating the navigation function unit and the communication function unit, it becomes possible to obtain desired information from the information center much more easily than before. In this case, the position information generated by the position information generating means may indicate the current position of the moving object, may indicate the destination of the moving object, or may indicate the destination on the moving route. May represent a point. Further, it may represent an arbitrary point input from the position input means of the navigation function unit.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the information center further includes a position information transfer request generating means for generating a request for transferring position information from the navigation device to the information center, and a cooperative function control unit of the navigation device. Wherein, in response to receiving the position information transfer request, transmitting the position information generated by the position information generating means of the navigation function unit to the information center via the communication function unit. Item 3. The navigation system according to item 2.

According to this configuration, the information center requests the navigation device to transfer the position information, and the position information is transmitted from the navigation device in response to the request. Can be uploaded to the information center, and the user does not need to be conscious of transmitting the location information. This allows
Acquisition of information from the information center becomes easier.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the position information generating means includes a position detecting means for detecting a position of the moving body and generating information indicating the position of the moving body. A navigation device according to claim 1 or a navigation system according to claim 2 or 3. According to this configuration, since the information indicating the position of the moving body is generated by the position information generating means, it is possible to obtain appropriate information corresponding to the position of the moving body from the information center.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the position information generating means includes position information input means and means for generating position information input from the position information input means. A navigation device according to claim 1 or a navigation system according to claim 2 or 3. According to this configuration, the position information input using the position information input means of the navigation function unit can be uploaded to the information center, so that the input of the position information becomes easy.

In this case, the position information input means includes map display means for displaying a map, and an input device capable of visually inputting a position on the map displayed on the map display means. Is preferred. Thereby, position information can be generated using the map information of the navigation function unit. The position information generating means includes both position detecting means for detecting the position of the moving body and generating information representing the position, and means for generating position information input from the position information input means. Is also good.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining a hardware configuration of a navigation device according to one embodiment of the present invention. This navigation device is used by being mounted on a vehicle as a moving body, and includes a display device 1 comprising a liquid crystal panel or a CRT arranged in an appropriate place such as on a dashboard of the vehicle.
The basic function is to display a road map on (map display means) and to display the current position of the vehicle on the road map.

This navigation device has a CPU, RA
An apparatus main body 2 having a microcomputer including an M and a ROM is provided. This device body 2 includes
A CD-ROM drive 3 loaded with a CD-ROM or the like in which road map data is stored, a wheel speed sensor 4 for detecting a wheel speed, an angular speed sensor 5 including a gyro for detecting a turning angular speed of the vehicle, and a GPS (Grobal Posit
ioning System) A GPS receiver 6 for receiving a radio wave from a satellite to detect the current position of the vehicle, a modem 8 for connection to a mobile phone 7, a remote controller 9 as an input interface, and the above display device 1 are connected. Further, a PC card 15 as an external storage device composed of, for example, a flash memory is connected to the device main body 2.

The current position of the vehicle is calculated by calculating the travel distance of the vehicle by accumulating the output of the wheel speed sensor 4 and determining the turning angle of the vehicle by accumulating the output of the angular speed sensor 5. . That is, if the initial position of the vehicle is given from the remote controller 9, a subsequent change in the position of the vehicle is detected using output signals from the wheel speed sensor 4 and the angular speed sensor 5. The position information output by the GPS receiver 6 is used to correct the detection error of the current position of the vehicle thus obtained. As described above, in this embodiment, the wheel speed sensor 4, the angular speed sensor 5, the GPS receiver 6, and the device main body 2 constitute a position detecting means.

The apparatus main body 2 stores the road map information near the current position of the vehicle obtained as described above in a CD-ROM.
It is obtained from the drive 3 and the road map is displayed on the display device 1. At this time, the apparatus main body 2 displays the car mark C representing the current position of the vehicle on the road map in a superimposed manner. Thereby, the driver and the fellow passenger can recognize the current position of the vehicle.

The apparatus body 2 also has a WWW browsing function. That is, the apparatus main body 2 has a function as a communication function unit that controls the mobile phone 7 via the modem 8 and starts a call with the Internet connection point. Then, when the connection with the connection point is established, the apparatus main body 2 thereafter moves to the information center 10 having a host computer on the Internet.
To obtain necessary information, and display the information on the display device 1.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the apparatus main body 2. The function of the apparatus main body 2 is actually realized by the operation of the CPU based on software stored in the ROM or the RAM. Therefore, the functional block diagram of FIG. 2 is nothing but the structure of the software. The apparatus main body 2 receives the information via the Internet from an existing navigation function unit 21 that realizes functions provided in a conventional navigation apparatus, such as calculation of the current position of the vehicle and route guidance from the current position to the destination. A browser function unit 30 (communication function unit) for displaying information to be displayed, a navigation extension function unit 22 for providing the browser function unit 30 with information on the current position of the vehicle and point information specified by the user.
A navigation / browser I / F (interface) unit 23 that mediates the exchange of information between these function units, a navigation function unit including an existing navigation function unit 21 and a navigation extension function unit 22, and a browser function unit 30 And a navigation / browser cooperation function control unit 24 for controlling the cooperation of the two.

The browser function unit 30 receives the received HTML
Analyze file tags and send information to HTM
An HTML processing unit 31 for preparing an L file format, an HTTP processing unit 32 for performing control related to an HTTP protocol which is one of protocols for Internet connection, a modem 8 and a mobile phone 7. And an Internet connection unit 33 for control. The browser function unit 30 further includes a navigation extension tag analysis unit for extracting and analyzing a special extension tag for effectively achieving the cooperation between the navigation function and the browser function from the received HTML file. 34 are provided.

The extension tags analyzed by the navigation extension tag analysis unit 34 are tags other than the existing HTML tags, and are created for cooperation between the navigation function and the browser function according to this embodiment. The extension tags include the following. 1. NAVINPUT tag The NAVIINPUT tag is the IN of the HTML FORM.
It is similar to the PUT tag, and is a tag for automatically uploading information from the navigation device to the host computer. HTML FORM INP
The UT tag is a tag for urging the user to input character information or the like. In contrast, NAVINPUT
The tag is a tag for generating position information using the function of the navigation function unit.

The format of the NAVIINPUT tag is as follows. <NAVIINPUT TYPE = XXXX NAME = XXXX> In this format, TYP
E (attribute) represents the type of information to be uploaded,
NAME represents the name of information to be uploaded. T
The YPE includes, for example, an SOF corresponding to the version information of the browser software installed in the apparatus main body 2.
TVERSION or PA indicating user login information
SSWORD and POSITI indicating information about the position
ON and so on. Also, for example, the location information (POSITIO
The following NAMEs correspond to N).

CUR POS Current Location CUR POS TEXT Description of current location (place name etc.) DST POS Destination DST POS TEXT Destination description (place name etc.) SEL POS selected location SEL POS TEXT Description of selected location (place name etc.) The "position" is a position where the vehicle is currently traveling. The “destination” is a destination that the user has previously operated by operating the remote controller 9. Further, the “selected place” is a point that the user inputs each time. The input of the selected place is the same as the input of the destination, for example, by displaying a road map on the display device 1 and further operating the remote controller 9 to move, for example, a cross cursor on the screen, and Achieved by pointing to a point. That is, in this case, the remote controller 9 is an input device having a function as a pointing device.
In addition, the display device 1 and the remote controller 9 constitute a position information generating unit. A process for supporting the input of the selected place is performed in the navigation extension function unit 22.

Furthermore, the TYP of the NAVINPUT tag
E has a SUBMIT 2 for automatically uploading position information generated from the navigation function unit to the information center 10. This attribute SUBM
IT2 is the attribute SUBMI of the HTML INPUT tag.
Although similar to T, in this SUBMIT, information upload is performed, for example, in response to a selection operation of a send button. On the other hand, SUBMIT2
Specifies that the user should start uploading information without performing any operation. Therefore, on the information center 10 side, the NAV specifying the attribute SUBMIT2 is specified.
By describing the IIMPUT tag in the HTML file, a request for automatic transfer of the position information generated by using the navigation function unit can be given to the navigation device. 2. NAVIDATA tag The NAVIDATA tag is a tag used when information is downloaded from the information center 10 to the navigation device. The format of the NAVIDATA tag is as follows.

<NAVIDATA TYPE = XXXX SCR = XXXX FILE = XXXX> TYPE
Represents the type of information to be downloaded, and SCR represents
Data location (URI (UNIFORM RESOURCE)
CE IDENTIFIER)), and FILE is P
The file name when information is stored in the C card 15 is shown. There are the following types in TYPE.

POSDATA Position data HYPER Hyper icon MAP Block diagram data CENTER Information center connection destination IMG Image data TEXT Text data BIN Binary data CNTPARAM Center download parameter The “position data” is, for example, destination point information (coordinates).
Represents The “hyper icon” is, for example, an icon composed of a figure imitating the sun, clouds, and umbrella to provide weather information. “Block diagram data” is detailed map data. The “destination of the information center” is the location (URL) of the connected information center. The “center download parameter” refers to items specified at the time of download.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a flow of processing when searching for a recommended spot near the current position of the vehicle. When the connection between the navigation device and the information center 10 is established and the HTML file is transferred from the information center 10 to the navigation device, a display screen corresponding to the content of the HTML file appears on the screen of the display device 1. In the example of FIG. 3, the following HTLM document is described on the homepage H1 of the information center 10.・ ・ ・ ・ <LI><AHREF=http://www.・・・・・・> Recommended spot information </A><LI> ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・... In this case, a plurality of options including an option of "recommended spot information" are displayed in a bulleted list on the display device 1 (step S1). The user moves a pointer (for example, an arrow) displayed on the screen using the remote controller 9, points to a desired option, and performs a selection operation. For example, if you select "Recommended spot information"
In the above page H1, the anchor tag corresponding to the recommended spot information is selected (step S
2) The browser function unit 30 sets the page H2 at the position (the position on the Internet) described in the anchor tag.
Establish a connection with This page H2 describes, for example, the following HTML document. ······· Searching for recommended spots. <FORM ACTION = http: // www. ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ METHOD = GET><NAVIINPUT TYPE = POSITION NAME = CUR POS><NAVIINPUT TYPE = SUBMIT2></FORM> ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・・ ・ In this case, <FORM ACTION = http: // www. ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ METHOD = GE
T> provides a CGI (Common Gatew
ay Interface) The position (URI) of the script is specified, and GET (request for information) is specified as a method of transmitting information to the CGI script (step S3).
Then, according to <NAVIINPUT TYPE = POSITION NAME = CUR POS>, the upload of the current position information from the navigation device to the information center 10 is requested (step S).
3). Furthermore, <NAVIINPUT TYPE = SUBMIT2> requests that the requested information should be automatically uploaded from the navigation device to the information center 10 (step S3).

At this time, in the navigation device, a message “Searching for recommended spots” is displayed on the display device 1. Further, the navigation extension tag analysis unit 34 of the navigation device includes a NAVINP
The UT tag is analyzed, and the request content from the information center 10 is passed to the navigation / browser cooperation function control unit 24 via the navigation / browser I / F 23. As a result, the navigation / browser cooperation function control unit 24 generates the current position of the vehicle from the navigation extension function unit 22 and transmits the generated current position information to the navigation extension tag analysis unit 34 via the navigation / browser I / F 23. Hand over. Then, information indicating the current position of the vehicle is transmitted to the information center 10 by the HTML processing unit 31 or the like using the CGI framework (Step S).
4).

On the information center 10 side, the CGI script at the specified position is started. Thereby, a database search is performed, and a recommended spot near the current position sent from the navigation device is searched (step S5). And the search result is HTML
It is converted into a file (step S6) and transferred to the navigation device (step S7).

Thus, in the navigation device, the searched recommended spot information is displayed on the display device 1 by the function of the browser function unit 30. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the flow of the search processing for spot weather information. The spot weather information is information for displaying local weather information as an image using an icon imitating the sun, clouds, or an umbrella.

The homepage H11 of the information center 10 has, for example, the following description.・ ・ ・ ・ <LI><AHREF=http://www.・・・> Spot weather information </A><LI> ・ ・ ・... By transferring the HTML file of this content to the navigation device (step S11), a plurality of options including “spot weather information” are displayed on the display device by the operation of the HTML processing unit 31 and the like. Is displayed in a bulleted list. The user uses the remote controller 9 to point to one of the options and performs a selection operation. Thereby, the page H1 described by the anchor tag corresponding to the option
2 is accessed (step S12), and this page H1 is accessed.
The HTML file described in No. 2 is transferred to the navigation device (step S13).

The page H12 has, for example, the following description.・ ・ ・ ・ <FORM ACTION: http: www ・ ・ ・ METHOD = GET><NAVTINPUT TYPE = POSITION NAME = SEL POS><NAVIINPUT = SUBMIT2></FORM> ・ ・ ・ ・ ・・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ As above, <FORM ACTION: http: www ・ ・ ・ METH
The location of the required CGI script is indicated by the tag of OD = GET>. And <NAVTINPUT TYPE = POSITION NAME =
With the SEL POS> tag,
The selected position is requested, and the <NAVIINPUT = SUBMIT2> tag requests automatic transmission of the selected position.

In the navigation device, NAVI
The INPUT tag is analyzed by the navigation extension tag analysis unit 34, and the analysis result is provided to the navigation / browser cooperation function control unit 24 via the navigation / browser I / F23. In this case, the navigation / browser cooperation function unit 24 requests the selected place from the navigation extension function unit 22. In response,
The navigation extension function unit 22 displays a screen for supporting input of a selected place on the display device 1. That is, a road map and, for example, a cross cursor for inputting a selected place are displayed. The cursor can be freely moved by operating the remote controller 9. When the cursor reaches the edge of the display area, the displayed map scrolls, and the cursor can be moved freely on the map. Is available.

After moving the intersection of the cross cursor to the position of the desired point, the user performs a predetermined operation from the remote controller 9 and inputs the point as a selected place. The selected place thus input is sent from the navigation function extension unit 23 via the navigation / browser I / F 23 to the navigation extension tag analysis unit 3.
4 given. Then, according to the <NAVIINPUT = SUBMIT2> tag, the user automatically performs
The information of the selected place is transmitted to the information center 10 using the CGI framework (step S14).

In the information center 10, the CGI script is activated, and spot weather information is retrieved from the database based on the information on the selected place transmitted from the navigation device (step S15). The search result is converted into the following HTML document (step S16), and N
The data is transferred to the navigation device using the AVIDATA tag (step S17). ... <NAVIDATA TYPE = HYPER WEATHER SRC = ...> ... In this HTML document, HYPER WEATHER is
An icon indicating the weather condition of the selected place is shown, followed by the location of the data of the icon (SRC).

In the navigation device, <NAVIDAT
The tag of A TYPE = HYPER WEATHER SRC = ...> is analyzed by the navigation extension tag analysis unit 34, and the analysis content is notified to the navigation / browser cooperation function control unit 24 via the navigation / browser I / F23. Is done. Then, the navigation / browser cooperation function control unit 24 determines that the navigation device is <NAVIDATA TYPE
= HYPER WEATHER... >> controls the browser function unit 30 to access the location (SRC) of the icon data described in the tag, and downloads the notified icon data to the PC card 15. (Step S1)
8).

The downloaded icon data is
This is provided to the navigation extension function unit 23, and the navigation extension function unit 2
By the operation of 3, the icon is superimposed and displayed at the position of the selected place on the map displayed on the display device 1. Thereby, the user can visually recognize the weather condition of the selected place. As described above, in this embodiment, N is an extension tag for cooperation between the navigation device and the browser.
AVIINPUT and NAVIDATA are introduced,
By using these extension tags, cooperation between the navigation function and the browser function is achieved. That is, NAV
By using the IINPUT tag, the position information (current position, destination, or position information of the selected place) generated by the navigation function unit of the navigation device is automatically transferred to the information center 10, and information corresponding to the position information is obtained. Is searched, and the search result is automatically transferred to the navigation device using the NAVIDATA tag.

Therefore, as compared with the prior art in which the position information generated by the navigation function unit cannot be utilized in the browser, the usability of the navigation device is remarkably improved, and the user can easily obtain necessary information. Can be obtained from the information center 10 on the Internet. Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described, the present invention can be implemented in other embodiments.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, an extension tag is used to link the navigation function and the browser function. Therefore, the browser function unit 30 includes:
The navigation extension tag analysis unit 34 is required. But,
There is a means for realizing the same function without preparing software having such a navigation extension tag analyzing unit on the navigation device side in advance. For example, java or actionX
Some programs developed in such a programming language as described above are configured so that not only data but also programs are downloaded to a terminal when an information center 10 (homepage) on the Internet is accessed. Therefore, a program that uploads position information from a navigation function unit in response to a request from an information center from an information center (homepage) that provides information that may be required in the navigation device. , The same processing as in the above embodiment can be performed.

In the above embodiment, the navigation device transfers the position information to the information center 10 in response to a request from the information center (homepage). Is specified in advance, the transfer request of the position information from the information center to the navigation device can be omitted. That is, for example, when a certain homepage is accessed, the location information of the navigation device is automatically sent out, and in response to this, recommended spot information and weather information are automatically transferred from the information center 10. It may be.

In addition, various design changes can be made within the scope of the technical matters described in the claims.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a navigation device to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram for explaining a configuration of software executed by the apparatus main body.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a processing flow when searching for a recommended spot based on vehicle position information.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a flow of processing when information of a selected place is input using a road map of a navigation device and weather information near the selected place is searched.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 display device 2 device main unit 4 wheel speed sensor 5 angular speed sensor 6 GPS receiver 7 mobile phone 9 remote control 10 information center 21 existing navigation function unit 22 navigation extension function unit 24 navigation / browser cooperation function control unit 30 browser function unit 31 HTML Processing unit 32 HTTP processing unit 33 Internet connection unit 34 Navigation extension tag analysis unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI H04Q 7/34 H04B 7/26 106A

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A navigation device mounted on a moving body and used, comprising: a navigation function unit having position information generating means; a communication function unit for communicating with an information center; and position information of the navigation function unit. The navigation function unit and the navigation function unit transmit the position information generated by the generation unit to the information center via the communication function unit, and receive information corresponding to the position information from the information center via the communication function unit. A navigation device, comprising: a coordination function control unit that controls a communication function unit. 2. A navigation system comprising a navigation device mounted on a moving body and used, and an information center capable of providing information to the navigation device, wherein the navigation device has a navigation function having position information generating means. Unit, a communication function unit for performing communication with the information center, and the position information generated by the position information generating means of the navigation function unit is transmitted to the information center via the communication function unit. The navigation function unit and a coordination function control unit that controls the communication function unit so as to receive the corresponding information from the information center via the communication function unit. Search for information based on location information sent from the functional unit Navigation system, characterized in that it comprises a distribution search means, and information transfer means for transferring the retrieved information to the navigation device. 3. The information center further includes a position information transfer request generating means for generating a position information transfer request from the navigation device to the information center. 3. The navigation system according to claim 2, wherein the location information generated by the location information generating means of the navigation function unit is transmitted to an information center via the communication function unit in response to the reception of the navigation information. . 4. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said position information generating means includes a position detecting means for detecting a position of the moving body and generating information indicating the position of the moving body. The navigation system according to claim 2 or 3. 5. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said position information generating means includes position information input means and means for generating position information input from said position information input means. The navigation system according to claim 2 or 3.