JPH1188554A - Information service system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent undesired communication. SOLUTION: When a telephone line being a communication channel has been connected between an onboard information terminal 23 and an information center and the onboard information terminal 23 is set to an operation wait state of an onboard side operation section 18 and detection of a drive state of its own vehicle is continued for a prescribed timer time by a drive detection section 16, an onboard side control section 22 interrupts forcibly the telephone line between the onboard information terminal 23 and the information center and the onboard side section 22 reconnects the telephone line when the driver operates the onboard side operation section 18 after the forced interruption of the telephone line.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention transmits real-time information such as event information relating to various events held in a plurality of recreational facilities and specific areas, daily information such as weather forecasts, and parking lot free information. The present invention relates to an information providing system including an information center and an in-vehicle information terminal that accesses the information center and receives daily information and real-time information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a navigation system, which is an in-vehicle information terminal, is connected to an information center by a telephone line, and is held at a plurality of recreational facilities and specific areas registered and stored in a database from the information center. Navigation system (vehicle information terminal) equipped with a function for receiving real-time information such as daily event information such as event information and weather forecast relating to various events to be performed or parking lot free space information; It has been proposed to configure an information providing system including a center.

[0003] The information providing system will be briefly described. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, daily information such as event information and weather forecast and real-time information are registered in an information center 1 for each of a plurality of entertainment facilities and specific areas. The information center 1 is connected to the navigation system mounted on the car 2 by a telephone line using a mobile phone or a car phone.

[0004] Then, the information system 1 is called from the navigation system side, the telephone line is connected to enable mutual communication, and when there is a search request for certain event information from the navigation system, the request is sent to the information center. Is transmitted to the information center, the database is searched in the information center, the requested event information is read out, the read out event information is transmitted from the information center 1 to the navigation system, and the event received on the display screen of the navigation system The details of the information are displayed, and the driver or the like of the vehicle 2 can know what kind of event will be held from the display.

[0005]

However, in the above-described system, when the car 2 runs without displaying a screen on the navigation system and performing a predetermined operation for requesting the next detailed content, During traveling, the telephone line between the navigation system and the information center 1 remains connected, and there is an inconvenience that only the communication fee is charged even though substantial communication is not performed.

[0006] In order to prevent such inconveniences, the conventional driver must take measures such as hurrying the operation and quickly cutting off the telephone line before starting driving, which is very complicated.

An object of the present invention is to prevent unnecessary communication from occurring.

[0008]

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention according to claim 1 provides daily information such as event information, weather forecast, etc. relating to various events to be held in a plurality of recreational facilities and specific areas or parking lot free information. An information providing system comprising: an information center for transmitting real-time information such as information, and an in-vehicle information terminal for accessing the information center and receiving the daily information and the real-time information, wherein the information center includes a plurality of entertainment facilities. And a main data storage unit that stores the daily information and real-time information for each specific area, a center-side control unit that searches the main data storage unit and reads out predetermined information, and a read-out unit that is controlled by the center-side control unit. And a center communication unit that transmits the issued predetermined information and receives a request from the in-vehicle information terminal. The in-vehicle information terminal includes an in-vehicle communication unit that performs transmission and reception with the center-side communication unit, a notification unit that displays at least the daily information and real-time information, an information search request and details. A vehicle-side operation unit for input operation such as a request for obtaining information, a traveling detection unit that detects that the vehicle is in a traveling state, and a vehicle-side control unit that controls the vehicle-side communication unit and the notification unit. The communication path between the in-vehicle information terminal and the information center is connected, and when the in-vehicle information terminal is in a state of waiting for the passenger to operate the in-vehicle operation unit, the travel detection unit When the detection of the traveling state of the own vehicle continues for a predetermined time, the communication path between the on-board information terminal and the information center is forcibly disconnected by the on-board control unit. .

According to such a configuration, even if the own vehicle runs while the communication path between the onboard information terminal and the information center is connected, the communication path is forcibly disconnected. As described above, the driver does not need to rush the operation, and unnecessary communication can be prevented beforehand and unnecessary communication charges can be eliminated.

At this time, after the communication path is forcibly disconnected, the in-vehicle control unit controls the notification unit to maintain the display of the screen immediately before disconnection, and displays the display screen. When the occupant operates the vehicle-side operation unit, the communication path may be reconnected by the vehicle-side control unit, thereby restarting transmission / reception from a state immediately before the forced disconnection of the communication path. Becomes possible.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(First Embodiment) A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 is a block diagram of an information center, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an in-vehicle information terminal, and FIGS. 3 to 5 are flowcharts for explaining operations.

First, FIG. 1 showing an information center constituting an information providing system will be described.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 5 denotes a center-side database serving as a main data storage unit for storing daily information such as event information and weather forecasts for a plurality of recreational facilities and specific areas, or real-time information such as parking lot availability information. And 6, a center communication unit for transmitting and receiving data to and from an in-vehicle information terminal to be described later using a telephone line, 7 a display unit such as a liquid crystal display or a CRT, and 8 updating data of the center database unit 5. A center operation unit 9 including a keyboard used for the like, a storage unit 9 for temporarily storing data, and a center control unit 10 for controlling each unit, and an on-vehicle unit to be described later via a center communication unit 6 Receiving a search request from the business information terminal, a request for obtaining detailed information, and the like, searches the center side database unit 5 based on the received request, and It reads daily information and real-time information, and transmits the read information via the center-side communication unit 6.

As described above, the center side database unit 5, the center side communication unit 6, the display unit 7, the center side operation unit 8, the storage unit 9, and the center side control unit 10 constitute an information center 11.

Next, FIG. 2 showing an in-vehicle information terminal constituting the information providing system will be described.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 15 denotes an on-vehicle communication unit that transmits and receives data to and from the center communication unit 6 of the information center 11 using a telephone line. A running detection unit for detecting that the vehicle is in a running state, a timer unit 17 for counting a predetermined timer time (for example, one minute), and a driving unit 18 for moving a cursor for inputting a search request, a request for obtaining detailed information, and the like. An in-vehicle operation unit having a plurality of operation keys, 19 is a display unit as a notification unit formed of a liquid crystal display, and 20 is a voice synthesizer for navigation information, daily information from the information center 11, real-time information, and the like. An audio output unit as a notifying unit to output, 21 is a storage unit for temporarily storing data, 22 is a vehicle-side control unit that controls each unit, Vehicle-side communication unit 1 controls the signal section 15
A telephone line, which is a communication path between the communication unit 5 and the center-side communication unit 6, is connected, and a search request and a request for obtaining detailed information by operating the in-vehicle operation unit 18 are transmitted to the center-side communication unit 6. The center side database unit 5 by the control unit 10
When the in-vehicle communication unit 15 receives the daily information and the real-time information transmitted after being searched for, the display unit 1
9 has a function of displaying the received daily information and real-time information, and controlling the audio output unit 20 to output the received daily information and real-time information as appropriate.

As described above, the in-vehicle communication section 15, the traveling detection section 16, the timer section 17, the in-vehicle operation section 18, the display section 1
9, audio output unit 20, storage unit 21, and vehicle-side control unit 22
Thus, the on-vehicle information terminal 23 is configured.

At this time, the response between the in-vehicle information terminal 23 and the information center 11 is premised on an interactive format. First, for example, a region, a date, a genre indicating the type of event, etc. are designated from the in-vehicle information terminal 23. When the search request is transmitted to the information center 11, the information center 11 performs a search according to the search request, transmits a list of the results, and displays a list of the search results on the display unit 19. When the driver (user) selects a desired event from the display, a request for obtaining detailed information requesting detailed information of the selected event is transmitted from the vehicle-mounted information terminal 23 to the information center 11, and the detailed information is transmitted. The detailed information content on the event selected in response to the acquisition request is transmitted from the information center 11 to the in-vehicle information terminal 23.

The in-vehicle control unit 22 is connected to a telephone line between the in-vehicle communication unit 15 and the center-side communication unit 6 and waits for a driver or the like to operate the in-vehicle operation unit 18 while traveling. When the traveling state of the own vehicle is detected by the detecting unit 16, the timer unit 17 is started, and when the traveling of the own vehicle continues for a predetermined timer period by the timer unit 17, the on-vehicle communication unit 15 is controlled to control the on-vehicle communication. The telephone line between the unit 15 and the center-side communication unit 6 is forcibly disconnected, and when the driver operates the vehicle-side operation unit 18, the vehicle-side communication unit 15 is controlled to control the vehicle-side communication unit 15. It also has a function of reconnecting the telephone line between the communication center 6 and the center side communication unit 6 and transmitting a request for obtaining detailed information to the information center 11 side.

Next, the operation of the information center 11 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3, it is determined whether or not there is a request for connection of a telephone line from the vehicle-side communication unit 15 of the vehicle-mounted information terminal 23 to the center-side communication unit 6 (step S1). If the result of the determination is NO, this determination is repeated until the vehicle passes by YES, and if the result of the determination is YES, the telephone line is connected to the in-vehicle information terminal 23 that has requested connection (step S2). Subsequently, it is determined whether a search request has been received (step S3).

Then, the decision result in the step S3 is YES.
If so, a search request is issued from the center-side control unit 10 to the center-side database unit 5 (step S4), and it is determined whether or not there is a search result (step S5). This determination is repeated until the vehicle passes by YES, and if the determination result is YES, the search result of the daily information such as event information is transmitted to the center side communication unit 6.
Is transmitted to the in-vehicle information terminal 23 (step S
6) Then, the process proceeds to step S7.

On the other hand, if the decision result in the step S3 is NO, it is decided whether or not a request for obtaining detailed information is received (step S7), and the decision result is YES.
If so, the detailed information corresponding to the request for obtaining the detailed information is transmitted to the in-vehicle information terminal 23 (step S8), and thereafter, the process proceeds to step S9 with the determination result in step S7 being NO, and It is determined whether or not the connection with the telephone line to the telephone line 23 has been disconnected (step S9). If this determination is NO, the process returns to step S3. If the determination is YES, the process returns to step S1.

Next, the operation of the in-vehicle information terminal 23 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a request from the user is read by operating the in-vehicle operation unit 18 (step T1), and the information center is read. It is determined whether there is an information acquisition request from the information center 11 (step T2). If the determination result is YES, the telephone line to the information center 11 is connected (step T3), and the information center 11 is connected.
Is transmitted (step T4), and it is determined whether or not information from the information center 11 has been received (step T5). If the determination result is NO, this determination is repeated until it passes with YES. If the result of the determination in step T5 is YES, a list of the search results is displayed on the display unit 19 (step T6), and thereafter, a later-described step T13
Move to

On the other hand, if the decision result in the above step T2 is NO, it is decided whether or not the operation waiting flag is set (step T8), and the decision result is N
If O, the process returns to step T1, and if the determination result is YES, it is determined whether or not the operation of the in-vehicle operation unit 18 is performed (step T9). If this determination result is NO, the process returns to step T1, If the determination result is YES, the in-vehicle communication unit 15 is controlled to connect the telephone line with the center communication unit 6 (step T10), the operation waiting flag is reset (step T11), and thereafter, step T14 described later. Move to

Then, in step T13, it is determined whether or not the operation of the in-vehicle operation unit 18 has been performed (step T13). If the determination result is YES, the detailed information based on the operation of the in-vehicle operation unit 18 is determined. An acquisition request is transmitted to the information center 11 (step T14), and the information center 1
1 (step T15), the telephone line to the information center 11 is disconnected thereafter (step T16), and the detailed information received in step T15 is displayed on the display unit 19 and the audio output unit 20. After the audio is appropriately converted and output (step T17), the process returns to step T1.

If the result of the determination in step T13 is NO, it is determined from the output of the travel detecting section 16 whether or not the own vehicle is traveling (step T19). Returning to step T13, if the determination result is YES, the timer unit 17 is started and counting is started (step T20), and it is determined whether or not the vehicle-side operation unit 18 is operated (step T21).
If the result of this determination is YES, the process returns to step T14.

On the other hand, if the decision result in the step T21 is NO, a decision is made by the timer section 17 as to whether or not the counting of a predetermined timer time has ended (step T2).
2) If the determination result is NO, the process returns to step T21. If the determination result is YES, the telephone line with the information center 11 is forcibly disconnected (step T23), and the search displayed on the display unit 19 is performed. After the operation waiting flag indicating that the input operation is waiting for the list of results is set (step T24), the process returns to step T1.

As described above, while the telephone line between the on-board information terminal 23 and the information center 11 is connected, and the on-board information terminal 23 is waiting for the driver to operate the on-board operation unit 18, the traveling detection unit When the detection of the traveling state of the own vehicle by the timer 16 continues for a predetermined timer time counted by the timer unit 17, the telephone line between the vehicle-mounted information terminal 23 and the information center 11 is forcibly set by the vehicle-side control unit 22. When the driver next operates the vehicle-side operation unit 18, the vehicle-side control unit 22 reconnects the telephone line.

Therefore, according to the first embodiment, even if the vehicle runs while the telephone line between the in-vehicle information terminal 23 and the information center 11 is connected, the telephone line is forcibly changed. Since the disconnection is performed, the driver does not need to rush the operation as in the related art, and it is possible to prevent a useless communication fee from being charged.

Further, even if the telephone line between the vehicle information terminal 23 and the information center 11 is forcibly disconnected, the telephone line is reconnected by operating the vehicle operation unit 18 thereafter. The operation of dialing the information center 11 for reconnection can be omitted, and the operation can be simplified.

(Second Embodiment) A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. However, FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the information center 11, and FIGS. 7 and 8 are flowcharts for explaining the operation of the in-vehicle information terminal 23.

In the second embodiment, the information center 1
1 and the in-vehicle information terminal 23 are almost the same as those in the first embodiment described above, and thus the duplicate description is omitted, and the first and second configurations in the information center 11 and the in-vehicle information terminal 23 are omitted. Differences from the embodiment will be described below.

In the present embodiment, as a function of the vehicle-mounted control unit 22, a screen number previously assigned to a screen displayed on the display unit 19 when the vehicle-mounted operation unit 18 is operated is set to a request for obtaining detailed information. They are sent together. Also,
When the information center 11 receives the transmitted screen number, the information center 11 determines which screen is the screen number in order to transmit the detailed information corresponding to the received screen number to the in-vehicle information terminal 23 side. Then, on the screen, it is determined which event is selected to request the detailed information, and the detailed information content regarding the event is transmitted.

The operation of the information center 11 is as shown in the flowchart of FIG.
1 to U6 and U9 are steps S1 to S6 in FIG.
Step S7 of FIG. 6 has the same contents as S9, respectively.
U8 is different from steps S7 and S8 in FIG.

That is, as shown in FIG. 6, in step U7, a request for obtaining detailed information from the in-vehicle information terminal 23 and a determination as to whether or not the screen number has been received are made. The corresponding detailed information is transmitted to the in-vehicle information terminal 23 side.

The operation of the in-vehicle information terminal 23 is shown in FIG.
As shown in the flowchart of FIG.
Steps V1 to V6, V8 to V11, V13, V1
6, V17, V19 to V24 correspond to steps T1 to T6, T8 to T11, T13, T15 to T in FIGS.
17 and the same contents as T19 to T24, respectively.
Steps V14 and V15 correspond to steps T14 and T15 in FIG.
15 and different.

That is, as shown in FIG. 8, in step V14, the screen number of the display screen of the display unit 19 at the time of operating the vehicle-side operation unit 18 in step V9, V13, or V21 together with a request for obtaining detailed information is displayed at the information center. 1
Then, the detailed information corresponding to the screen number is transmitted to the first side in step V15.

Therefore, according to the second embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained, and the telephone line between the onboard information terminal 23 and the information center 11 can be obtained. When the telephone line is reconnected after being forcibly disconnected, transmission / reception between the in-vehicle information terminal 23 and the information center 11 can be resumed from a state immediately before the telephone line is forcibly disconnected. Become.

It is needless to say that the in-vehicle information terminal 23 in each of the above embodiments may have a so-called navigation function.

In each of the above embodiments, the operation in the case where the daily information is transmitted / received and updated has been described. Needless to say, the same operation is performed.

Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications other than those described above can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0043]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, even if the own vehicle runs while the communication path between the on-board information terminal and the information center is connected, the vehicle is forcibly forced. Since the communication path is disconnected, the driver does not need to rush the operation as in the related art, and it is possible to prevent a useless communication fee from being charged.

Further, according to the second aspect of the present invention,
After forcibly disconnecting the communication path, maintain the screen display immediately before disconnection,
Based on this display screen, when the passenger operates the in-vehicle operation unit, the in-vehicle control unit reconnects the communication path, so that communication can be resumed from the state immediately before the forced disconnection of the communication path. Become.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial block diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of another part of the above.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the above.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the above.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the same operation.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the above.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the above operation.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of an information providing system as a background of the present invention.

[Description of Signs] 5 Center-side database unit (main data storage unit) 6 Center-side communication unit 10 Center-side control unit 11 Information center 15 Vehicle-side communication unit 16 Running detection unit 17 Timer unit 18 Vehicle-side operation unit 19 Display unit ( Notification unit) 22 In-vehicle control unit 23 In-vehicle information terminal

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI H04M 3/42 H04B 7/26 E

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An information center for transmitting event information relating to various events held in a plurality of recreational facilities, specific areas, etc., daily information such as weather forecasts, or real-time information such as parking lot availability information, and the information. An information providing system comprising an in-vehicle information terminal that accesses a center and receives the daily information and real-time information, wherein the information center stores the daily information and real-time information for each of a plurality of entertainment facilities and specific areas. A main-data storage unit, a center-side control unit that searches the main-data storage unit and reads out predetermined information, and transmits and reads the predetermined information controlled and read by the center-side control unit. A center communication unit that receives a request from the information terminal; An in-vehicle communication unit that transmits and receives data to and from the center communication unit; a notification unit that displays at least the daily information and real-time information; and an in-vehicle side for inputting a search request for information or a request to obtain detailed information. An operation unit, a traveling detection unit that detects that the own vehicle is in a traveling state, and a vehicle-side control unit that controls the vehicle-side communication unit and the notification unit, the vehicle-mounted information terminal and the information center, When the communication path is connected and the in-vehicle information terminal is in a state of waiting for the operation of the in-vehicle side operation unit, the detection of the traveling state of the own vehicle by the traveling detection unit continues for a predetermined time. An information providing system, wherein a communication path between the onboard information terminal and the information center is forcibly disconnected by a side control unit. 2. After the communication path is forcibly disconnected, the in-vehicle-side control unit controls the notification unit to maintain the display of a screen immediately before disconnection, and based on the display screen, the occupant controls the in-vehicle-side operation unit. 2. The information providing system according to claim 1, wherein, when an operation is performed, the communication path is reconnected by the vehicle-side control unit.