JP2002323336A - Route information providing method, device, and system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] To provide uniform and continuous route information to a destination using a means of transportation according to the type of terminal even if the information terminal or travel plan is changed well. I do. When a route information providing center receives a departure point, a destination, and information terminal identification information from a user's information terminal and receives a route search request, the information processing center executes an information terminal determination program and receives the received information. Based on the terminal identification information, the type of the information terminal of the transmission source is identified like the personal computer 700, the car navigation device 500, the portable information terminal 600, and the like. Then, based on the result, a transportation method to be used is selected, and the route search program 136
From the received departure point to the destination, a route that can be moved using the selected moving means is searched. The searched route data and its guidance data are processed by the data processing program 138 into a format corresponding to the type of the information terminal, and transmitted to the information terminal that requested the route.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a route information providing method, apparatus, and system suitable for using different types of information terminals.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a system in which a travel plan or a travel plan made on the mobile side is stored in an information center and the information is shared among a plurality of information terminals including an in-vehicle device, for example,
There is a communication system using an information terminal disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3013759. This is an information terminal using communication system in which communication is performed between a plurality of information terminals including an in-vehicle information terminal and an information center, and desired information is obtained by the information terminal. Input means, transmitting means for transmitting input data to the information center, and receiving means for receiving information transmitted from the information center based on the input data are provided, and
The information center is provided with communication control means for classifying information to be transmitted based on the input data for each type of information terminal and transmitting the information for each type of information terminal.

Further, the travel support system and method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-143358 allow a travel plan to be made outside a moving body and allow the planned travel plan information to be easily transferred to a navigation device. Systems and methods are disclosed. This includes a travel data editing device for planning a trip and organizing records of travel destinations, a navigation device for guiding a route to a destination and obtaining information on travel destinations, and a travel data editing device. And a navigation device, a travel support server that enables the information held by each device to be used mutually, a communication path for a fixed station that performs data communication between the travel data editing device and the travel support server, and a mobile device. It is configured by a mobile station communication path for performing data communication between the body navigation device and the travel support server.

[0004]

However, according to the background art described above, even when a travel plan is once planned, if the situation at the time of planning is different from the situation at the time of execution, events such as road construction and train suspension that are not at the time of planning may cause There is a problem that the originally planned travel plan cannot be executed. Furthermore, even during the movement to the destination, if unexpected situations such as road congestion occur at the time of the initial planning, and if it becomes impossible to execute as planned, guidance can be provided well. There is a problem that the plan must be rebuilt from the beginning.

In recent years, not only navigation devices but also mobile phones and PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) have been developed.
Such portable information terminals have become widespread, and it has become possible for these information terminals to display map data and provide route guidance. However, when actually moving, it is not uncommon for the vehicle to travel in combination with public transportation such as a walk or a train, or a private car. In such a case, you will use a PDA or mobile phone when walking or using public transportation, and you will use a car navigation device when using a private car. It is extremely cumbersome to input the departure point and the destination in each of the PDA and the car navigation devices using the respective devices.

Therefore, it is conceivable to store the movement plan in the information center. However, as described above, if an action different from the original plan is taken during the movement, or if the situation changes, prompt response is required. Not only is it impossible, but there is a disadvantage that the original plan is wasted.

The present invention focuses on the above points,
A first object is to select a means of transportation according to the type of information terminal used by a user, search for a route using this means of transportation, and provide the route. The second purpose is
It is an object of the present invention to continuously and satisfactorily provide route information (route data and its guidance data) to a destination irrespective of the type of transportation. A third object is to provide unified and continuous route information to different types of information terminals such as portable information terminals, car navigation systems, and personal computers. A fourth object is to always provide an optimal route to a destination even if there is a change in a means of transportation, an information terminal, a movement plan, or a change in traffic conditions.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, a route information providing method according to the present invention provides a route information providing method for providing route guidance information in response to a request from an information terminal. , Departure information, destination information,
A receiving step of receiving information terminal identification information for identifying the type of the information terminal; a mobile means selection for identifying the type of the information terminal from the received information terminal identification information and selecting a mobile means to be used based on the result Step; a step of searching for a route from the received departure point to the destination, the path being moved using the selected moving means; and transmitting the searched route information to the information terminal. Transmitting step of performing the transmission.

A route information providing method according to another invention is a route information providing method for providing route guidance information in response to a request from an information terminal, wherein destination information and departure place information of a user are registered as user information. Registering and storing user information; receiving from the information terminal information terminal identification information for identifying the type of the information terminal and user identification information for identifying the user; the received information terminal A means of selecting the type of the information terminal from the identification information, and a means of selecting a mobile means to be used based on the result; a user is identified based on the user identification information, and the user is identified. A user information acquisition step of acquiring departure place information and destination information from the user information; a route from the acquired departure place to the destination, wherein the selected moving means is Route searching step searches for a route that moves in use; characterized in that it comprises a; the searched route information, transmitting step of transmitting to the information terminal.

A route information providing apparatus according to the present invention is a route information providing apparatus for providing route guidance information in response to a request from an information terminal. Receiving means for receiving information terminal identification information for identifying the type; moving means selection for identifying the type of the information terminal from the information terminal identification information received by the receiving means and selecting a moving means to be used based on the result Means: a route search means for searching for a route from the departure point to the destination received by the receiving means, which travels using the moving means selected by the moving means selecting means; The searched route information is
Transmitting means for transmitting to the information terminal.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a route information providing apparatus for providing route guidance information in response to a request from an information terminal, wherein destination information and departure point information of a user of the route information providing apparatus are provided. User information registration means for registering and storing information as user information; receiving means for receiving, from the information terminal, information terminal identification information for identifying the type of the information terminal and user identification information for identifying the user Moving means selecting means for identifying the type of the information terminal from the information terminal identification information and selecting a moving means to be used based on the result; identifying a user based on the user identification information and performing the use; User information acquisition means for acquiring departure place information and destination information from the user information corresponding to the user; a route from the acquired departure place to the destination, using the selected moving means. Route searching means searches for a route to be moved; characterized by comprising a; a is the search path information, said transmitting means for transmitting to the information terminal.

[0012] A route information providing system according to the present invention includes the route information providing device; and an information terminal that provides route guidance based on route information provided by the route information providing device. The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION <Overview of Embodiments> An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below. First, a basic outline of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an outline of an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, after a user 800 makes a route plan from a departure place to a destination using a personal computer 700 installed in a home or office, a route information providing device is provided by various information terminals. It is assumed that communication is performed with a route information providing center (hereinafter, simply referred to as a “center”) 100 to receive the route information, and to move to a destination based on the received route information.

First, the user 800 is connected to the personal computer 700.
Input user identification information, departure place, and destination together with information terminal identification information for identifying the type of information terminal by using input means such as a keyboard, and provide the route information via the Internet. It is transmitted to the center 100. As the information terminal identification information, for example, "0
1: personal computer (not portable) "," 02: notebook personal computer (portable) "," 03: car navigation system "," 04: portable telephone ",... In addition, a predetermined ID or the like is used as the user identification information. Center 100
When searching for a route from the received departure point to the destination, the information terminal identification information can determine that the information terminal that transmitted the route request is a personal computer,
The route information that can be displayed on the personal computer 700 is transmitted. That is, when the information terminal of the transmission source is the personal computer 700,
The route data is transmitted for both routes using public transportation such as trains and buses and routes traveling by car.

The user 800 can compare the two routes and make a plan on which transportation means is most suitable. At this time, detailed information such as a route search condition, for example, a stopover, a departure time, and whether or not to use an express train when using a train as public transportation is transmitted to the center 100, and further detailed information is transmitted. It is also possible to make a transfer plan. In the center 100, the departure point and the destination (the transit point may be set as one destination and a plurality of destinations including them may be set) received from the personal computer 700 are simultaneously transmitted to the user identification information. Is stored in the corresponding memory area for each user identified by.
The memory area is secured on a large-capacity hard disk, for example.

Next, when the user 800 gets on his / her car and starts moving, the car navigation device 500 provided in the own vehicle requests the center 100 for a route. The car navigation device 500 is provided with a sensor (GPS, gyro, etc.) for detecting the current position of the own vehicle, and when making a route request to the center 100, together with the above-described user identification information and information terminal identification information, The detected vehicle position is transmitted to the center 100. Upon receiving the user identification information from the car navigation device 500, the center 100 confirms that the destination and the departure place are stored in the memory area corresponding to the user 800, and the center 100 transmits the destination information and the departure place. The route is searched again to the destination stored in the center 100 using the current location data as a new departure point. At this time, the current route request is sent to the car navigation device 500 according to the information terminal identification information.
Since it is possible to determine that the route is issued from the vehicle, only the route that travels by car is searched, the route data is further processed into a format usable by the car navigation device 500, and this is transmitted to the user 800.

The formats usable in the car navigation apparatus 500 include, for example, node point information such as the coordinates of latitude and longitude (North and east longitude) of a plurality of node points, the presence or absence of a traffic light, and information on a link connecting the node points. The information is information such as width, road name, and one-way traffic regulation information. Further, when the node point corresponds to an intersection of a road, an image image of the intersection may be included. Further, it may include landmark data and voice data for providing route guidance.

The car navigation device 500 detects the position of the vehicle at any time by a position detection sensor, and periodically transmits the position of the vehicle to the center 100. Therefore, every time the vehicle position is transmitted, it is possible to search for a route from the current position to the destination. By doing so, it is possible to satisfactorily cope with a case where the optimum route to the destination changes due to a traffic accident or time-dependent traffic regulation. Further, at each time, in the center 100, the current location transmitted from the vehicle is stored as a starting point in the user information memory area. Therefore, when the user 800 gets off the vehicle and moves on foot or by other transportation, the current location transmitted immediately before getting off the vehicle is newly stored as the departure place of the user 800.

Therefore, when the user 800 moves after getting off the vehicle, the user 800 only needs to transmit the user identification information and the information terminal identification information from the portable information terminal 600 such as a mobile phone or a PDA to the center 100. The center 100 can search for the data of the departure place and the destination from the user information memory area of the user 800, search the route for them again, and transmit it to the user 800. In this case, the information terminal identification information determines that the information terminal requesting the route data is the portable information terminal 600, and thus the center 100 searches for a route that moves on foot or by public transportation. When searching for a route by public transportation, the center 100 can use public transportation from inside or outside the center,
For example, operation plan information of a train, a bus, or the like is obtained, a transportation method to be used is selected, and a route search is performed. Further, image information such as a map is processed in a data format (for example, text data) corresponding to the portable information terminal 600, or in a file format or range (file size, vertical and horizontal size of image data, etc.) that can be handled by the portable information terminal 600. And send this. The user 800 moves by train or the like from, for example, “XX station” to “XX station” according to the transmitted route information.

When the portable information terminal 600 has a position detecting sensor such as a GPS, the portable information terminal 60
From 0, the current position may be transmitted to the center 100. In this case, the center 100 searches again for the route from the newly transmitted current position to the destination already stored in the center 100, and the requesting portable information terminal 600
Send route information to. For example, when the station name (“XX station” in the illustrated example) is transmitted as the current location data to the center 100 at the station from which the user 800 gets off the train, the center 100
Re-searches the route to the destination stored in the center 100 with “XX station” as the departure point, processes the data into data that can be handled by the portable information terminal 600, and transmits the route information.

As described above, when the center 100 determines that the information terminal is an information terminal that is not normally carried, such as the personal computer 700, based on the information terminal identification information, the center 100 switches to public transportation including walking and taxis. A search is made for both the route used and the route when traveling from the departure place to the destination by car alone. Information terminal is a car navigation device 5
For example, in the case of an information terminal fixed to a vehicle such as 00, a search is made only for a route that travels by car, and when it is determined that the mobile information terminal 600 is used, a route using public transportation including foot or taxi is searched. Explore. In any case, the route data is processed so as to be displayed on each information terminal, and is provided to each information terminal.

Therefore, the user 800 does not need to worry about the type of the information terminal when requesting the route information. In addition, when using a plurality of different types of information terminals to obtain route information to a destination and moving, the route information can be input with a very small amount of labor without having to enter the destination and the means of transportation each time. Can be continuously obtained. In addition, every time the center 100 requests route data, the center 100 performs a route search based on the latest road traffic information, so that optimal route information to the destination can always be obtained.

<System Configuration> Next, a system configuration of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The route information providing center 100 includes a communication control device 1 that controls communication with the outside.
20, CPU 110 for performing various arithmetic processing, CPU 11
Program memory 1 for storing a program to be executed at 0
30, a data memory 140 for storing information obtained from outside, and a database 150 in which various kinds of information are accumulated.

The communication control device 120 includes a modem and a router, and various kinds of information terminals, for example, a car mounted on an automobile, through a telephone line exchange 300 (or may be the Internet 200) wirelessly or wiredly. It communicates with a navigation device 500, a portable information terminal 600 such as a mobile phone or PDA, a personal computer 700 installed in a home or office, and the like, and a traffic information center via the Internet 200 (or the telephone line exchange 300). It has a function of communicating with the H.400.

Among the information received from various information terminals such as the car navigation device 500, the portable information terminal 600, and the personal computer 700, the data such as the departure place and the destination is one of the data transmitted from the information terminal. The information is stored in the user information memory 142 for each user identified by the user identification information. On the other hand, the center 100 obtains the latest traffic information such as traffic congestion and regulations, information on the operation status of public transport, or the newly established roads and public transport routes from the traffic information center 400 via the Internet 200. I do. The obtained traffic information is used for updating the road map database 152 and the public transportation database 154, and temporary information such as traffic congestion information is stored in the traffic information memory 144.

The CPU 110 loads a necessary program from the program memory 130 and executes it. In other words, the data transmitted from the information terminal is analyzed, the type of the information terminal is determined from the information terminal identification information, and processing according to the type of the information terminal is performed. The processing for determining or adapting to the type of the information terminal transmitting the searched route data and the data for guiding the route is performed.

More specifically, the program memory 1
30 includes an information terminal determination program 132 that analyzes information terminal identification information transmitted from various information terminals, determines the type of information terminal, and determines a transportation method to be used during a route search according to the type of information terminal. (Corresponding to a means of selecting means of transportation), identifying a user based on user identification information transmitted from various information terminals, and extracting information such as a departure place and a destination from a user information memory of the corresponding user. User information acquisition program 134 (corresponding to user information acquisition means) A route search program 136 (route search means) for searching for a travel route by the travel means determined by the information terminal determination program 132 from the departure point or the current location to the destination. ), Route guidance such as route data, image data, and voice data searched by the route search program 136. Data processing program 138 (corresponding to data processing means) that processes data to be processed into a format suitable for the type of information terminal of the transmission destination, and various information such as user information such as departure point information and destination information for each user. Registration program 1 for registering
39 (corresponding to user information registration means), etc. are stored.

The route search program 136 stores the road map database 15 in accordance with the selected means of transportation.
2 and the public transportation database 154 are searched for a route from the departure place to the destination. At this time, when data relating to the departure place and the destination is newly received from the information terminal, the received data is referred to. If there is no corresponding received data, the user information acquisition program 1
34, the user is identified from the user identification information transmitted together with the route search request, and the data of the destination and the departure place are acquired by referring to the user information memory 142 corresponding to the user. A route is searched using the stored data.

The route data and the data relating to the route guidance searched in this manner are stored in the information terminal determination program 1.
In accordance with the type of the information terminal determined in step 32, the data processing program 138 processes the information terminal.
Is transmitted to various information terminals via the. At this time, the data format corresponding to the type of the information terminal determined by the information terminal determination program 132, that is, the center 1
00, the amount of data that can be transmitted, the information terminal can display data or express it by voice, for example, image size, image resolution, number of colors that can be displayed, whether only raster data can be displayed, or whether vector data can be processed. , Voice data can be processed, etc. are determined in advance, and the data processing program 138 processes the data into a form conforming to these determination results, and transmits the route data and its guidance data to the respective information terminals. .

<Operation of Embodiment> Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The center 100 first determines whether there is a route search request from the information terminal (step S100). If there is a request for a route search (Yes in step S100), it is determined whether or not the data transmitted from the information terminal includes the data of the departure place or the current location and the destination (step S1).
02). At this time, when both the data of the departure place and the data of the destination are transmitted (Yes in step S102), the process proceeds to step S104. When only the departure place data is included (Yes in step S200), the process proceeds to step S202. When neither the departure place nor the destination is transmitted (No in step S220), the process proceeds to step S240. In these descriptions, the expression “destination only” or “departure only” means either the departure place or the destination, and the above-described user identification information or information terminal identification information is replaced by It does not mean that they have not received any.

When the data of the departure point and the destination are both transmitted from the information terminal (Yes in step S102), the CPU 110 of the center 100 executes the information terminal determination program 132 and transmits the information terminal simultaneously transmitted. The type of the information terminal is determined from the identification information (step S104), and the moving means is selected according to the determination result (step S10).
6). Next, the route search program 136 is executed, and a route search is performed by referring to data corresponding to the selected moving means from the database 150 (step S108). At this time, the latest traffic information is read from the traffic information memory 144.
Alternatively, it obtains directly from the traffic information center 400 outside the center, and searches for the optimal route by referring to them. And
The registration program 139 is executed, the transmitted user identification information is analyzed, and the data of the departure place and the destination are stored in the user information memory 142 for each user (step S).
110). Further, the data processing program 138 is executed to process the route data and the guidance data searched in step S108 into a format according to the type of the determined information terminal, and transmit it to each information terminal (step S11).
2).

Next, when the data of the departure place and the data of the destination are not received together (No in step S102), the process proceeds to step S200, and it is determined whether or not only the data of the departure place is received (step S200). Here, if the information sent from the information terminal is only the departure place data (Yes in step S200), the user information memory 142 corresponding to the user 800 identified by the user identification information sent from the information terminal is stored. It is checked whether or not the destination data has already been stored (step S202). If the destination data is not stored (No in step S202),
Since the route search is impossible, error processing such as notifying the user 800 of the fact is executed (step S22).
2).

On the other hand, if it is confirmed in step S202 that the destination data is stored (step S2).
02, Yes), the type of the information terminal is determined by the information terminal determination program 132 (step S204), and a transportation method is selected based on the determination result (step S20).
6). Then, the route search program 138 is executed to move from the departure point transmitted from the information terminal to the destination stored in the user information memory 142 using the moving means selected in the step S206. The route to be searched is searched (step S208). Thereafter, if the old departure place data is stored in the user information memory 142, the old departure place data is deleted, the departure place received this time from the information terminal is stored as a new departure place, and this is updated (step S210). . Finally, the searched route data and its guidance data are processed and transmitted according to the type of the information terminal by the data processing program 138 (step S2).
12). Here, the data transmitted from the information terminal is stored in the car navigation device 500 or the portable information terminal 60.
Even if the current position data is detected by the position detection sensor provided at 0, the processing is performed in the same manner as the “departure point” in the above description.

Next, the data transmitted from the information terminal is
In the case of only destination data (Yes in step S220),
If neither the departure place nor the destination data is transmitted, and neither the departure place nor the destination is stored in the user information memory 142 (No in step S240), the departure place and the destination for the route search are both performed. Since the location cannot be specified, error processing is performed (step S222).

Next, when neither the departure place nor the destination is transmitted from the information terminal and the data of the departure place and the destination are stored in the user information memory 142 (step S).
(Yes in 240), the type of the information terminal is determined based on the transmitted information terminal identification information (step S242), and the moving means to be used is selected from the type of the information terminal (step S244). Then, the route search program 136 is executed to search for a route from the departure place to the destination stored in the user information memory 142 by using the selected moving means (step S246). The searched route data and its guidance data are processed by the data processing program 138 into a format corresponding to the type of the information terminal and transmitted (step S248).

In the above operation, the time data is received from the information terminal or the center measures the time, and the route search program 136 is executed based on the time.
However, it is also preferable to search for a departure time or a train name of an available means of transportation such as a bus or a train, add it to route information, and transmit the route information to an information terminal. As a result, it is possible to present to the user the name of the transportation means (train name, bus route name, etc.) and boarding time recommended for use on the route to the destination.

<Specific Example> Next, a specific example of the operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In these figures, an example of a screen displayed on each information terminal is shown. FIG. 5 shows a screen 701 of the personal computer 700. If the information terminal requesting the route search is a personal computer 700 that is not portable and has a high processing capacity, the center 100 transmits the departure and destination data and the information terminal identification information together with the route search request from the personal computer 700. Upon receipt, it determines that the information terminal is the personal computer 700, searches for a route using public transportation and a route that all travels by car, and transmits both. Then, the received data of the departure place and the destination is stored in the user information memory 142.

On the personal computer screen 701 of this embodiment, various menus 704 for making a detailed route plan are displayed. These menus 704 and programs for executing operations corresponding to the menus 704 are stored in a personal computer 70 in advance.
0, or when necessary, the center 100 may transmit these programs in addition to various information. The menu 704 includes, for example, designation of a departure place, designation of a destination, designation of a stopover, designation of a time, designation of a mode of transportation, designation of a condition for searching a route, facility information of a facility displayed on a map, and the like. Is mentioned. In this example, a map 702 is displayed on the screen 701 so that the user 800 can easily designate a departure place and a destination and confirm a searched route. Furthermore, a route outline 706 using public transportation and a vehicle outline 708a using a car can be displayed. Also, a route 710a by car is displayed on the map 702.

Next, referring to FIG. 6, the user 800
As an example of a travel plan, a case will be described in which a private car is used to travel to “XX Station” and then travels by public transportation.
The user 800 operates the menu screen 704 to display “XX
The station is designated as a stopover, and the center 100 is notified.
The center 100 re-searches the route based on the notified waypoint, transmits the result to the personal computer 700, and displays the screen 7
In the present example displayed at 01, the portion corresponding to the route 710a using a car in FIG. 5 is searched again so as to pass through "XX station", and the display is changed to the route 710b by car. The outline 708a of the route by car is 708
Modified to b. At this time, the center 100 stores the departure place and the destination (the 駅 station and the point D) in the user information memory 142.
To memorize.

Next, when the user 800 gets into the car and operates the car navigation device 500 to request a route search from the center 100, the center 100 searches the user information memory 142 for the departure place and the destination, and A route search during that time is performed. At this time, the center 100 determines, based on the transmitted information terminal identification information, that the information terminal requesting the route search is the car navigation device 500, searches only the route using the road, and returns the search result to the car navigation device. The data is processed into a format that can be processed by 500 and transmitted. In this example, for example, when traffic congestion or construction that has not occurred at the time of requesting the route search from the personal computer 700 is confirmed by referring to the traffic information memory 144, the center 100 avoids them. A possible route is obtained by re-searching, and the result is transmitted to the car navigation device 500. Car navigation system 5
00, the received information is displayed on the screen 501 as shown in FIG.
And the user 800 moves according to the route 710c displayed on the screen 501.

In this example, since the user 800 does not need to set both the departure place and the destination with the car navigation device 500, the burden of operating the information terminal is greatly reduced. Further, in order to consider traffic congestion information which has not been generated when the route plan was created by the personal computer 700, the route information reflecting the latest information is always stored in the user 800.
Provided to When the current position data is transmitted from the car navigation device 500 by a current position sensor or the like, the center 100 deletes the departure point information set on the personal computer 700 and newly transmits the departure position information from the car navigation device 500. The current location is set as a new departure location. Therefore, even if the departure place set on the personal computer 700 does not accurately indicate the position of the car, the route 710c on the car navigation device 500
Is displayed, the position of the vehicle is accurately set as the starting point.

Further, in this example, the current position is periodically transmitted from the car navigation device 500 to the center 100. Each time the center 100 receives the current position, the center 100 stores the received current position again as a new starting point and searches for a route to the destination again. Here, if the re-searched route is the same as the previously searched route 710c, it may be set so as not to transmit the route data. The user 800 arrives at “XX station”, and then the portable information terminal 6 shown in FIG.
00 to continue to obtain route information
Assuming that a route search request is made at 00, at this point, the center 100 stores the last position received from the car navigation device 500, that is, the vicinity of "XX station" as the departure place. Furthermore, in the center 100 of this example, “XX Station” was a destination as a stopover, but when the current location approaches the vicinity of the destination, the same as the normal car navigation operation, It is determined that the vehicle has arrived, and a route to the next stopover or destination is searched.

Therefore, when the user 800 requests the center 100 to search for a route from the portable information terminal 600 at “XX station”, as shown in FIG. 8, the route automatically starts at “XX station”. Is searched, and the result is transmitted to portable information terminal 600. At this time, the center 100 determines by the information terminal determination program 132 that the information terminal requesting the route is the portable information terminal 600. Therefore, the center 100 searches for a route using public transportation, and furthermore, the data processing program 1
38, a format that can be processed by the portable information terminal 600,
For example, the data is processed into a format such as character data, and the route data is transmitted. In portable information terminal 600, the received data is displayed on screen 601. Further, the current time may be received from the portable information terminal 600. In this case, a route search is performed by the route search program 136 in consideration of the received current time, and when the route is planned by the personal computer 700 as shown by the route 706 by public transportation in FIG. ○ Station ”9:20 train,
In FIG. 8, the result is that the train at 9:10
Will be automatically corrected.

Next, for example, when the user 800 enters "XX station"
When you arrive at, specify "xx station" as your current location,
When a route search request is made to the center 100, as shown in FIG. 9, a route from “xx station” to the final destination registered by the personal computer 700 is searched for by a route using public transportation, The result is transmitted to portable information terminal 600. In the case of this example, if a suitable route using public transportation that operates a route such as a bus or a train cannot be searched, a route using a taxi is presented.
If you ca n’t find an appropriate route using public transportation, for example,
If the time required for the route using public transportation is extremely large, it is determined that the use of public transportation is inappropriate.

<Effects of Embodiment> As described above, according to the present embodiment, the type of the information terminal that has made the route search request is determined, and the moving means to be used is selected according to the determination result. To change the route search method. Further, the departure place and the destination data are stored for each user in the user information memory of the route information providing center, and when new data is input, these are updated. The searched route and the guidance data are processed into a format corresponding to the determined information terminal and transmitted. Therefore, the following effects can be obtained. The user can obtain unified and continuous route information even when switching and using different types of information terminals for route planning and guidance. Even if different information terminals are used, the data of the destination once input can be continuously used. Even if the vehicle is located on a route different from the route searched initially, new route information to the destination can be automatically obtained by transmitting only the current position to the center. When switching between information terminals, the system automatically determines the mode of transportation to use and performs a route search. Provided. Each time a route search is requested, a new route search is performed and the result is transmitted, so that a route using the latest information is always provided.

<Other Embodiments> The present invention has many embodiments, and can be variously modified based on the above disclosure. For example, the following is also included. (1) The operation of the above-described embodiment is an example, and can be appropriately changed as needed. For example, user information memory 1
If there is no departure point or destination data corresponding to 42, that is, in the error processing of step S222 in FIG. 4, an instruction to prompt the user 800 to input missing data may be transmitted to the information terminal. Good. Also,
When only the data of the destination is received (step S220)
If the user information memory 142 stores the data of the departure point and the destination, the stored destination may be replaced with the newly received destination data to perform a route search. .

(2) It is not necessary to limit the number of routes to be searched to one. For example, if the route uses public transportation, two types of routes, that is, a case where an express train is used and a case where it is not used, are searched. You may make it transmit to an information terminal. Similarly, in the case of a route traveling by car, a plurality of routes may be searched and transmitted to the information terminal, for example, when a toll road is used and when it is not used.

(3) The route data once searched may be stored in the user information memory 142 and later stored for route verification and reference. In this case, in the above-described embodiment, when the current location data is transmitted from the information terminal, the departure location stored up to that point is deleted and replaced, but the old departure location data is not deleted and is not the latest. May be added and stored. Then, by storing the newest current location data as the latest departure location data at all times, an operation equivalent to that of the above-described embodiment can be realized.

(4) In the above-described embodiment, the movement plan is made with the personal computer 700 installed at home or office. However, the movement plan is made with a vehicle-mounted device such as the car navigation device 500, a mobile phone, a PDA, or the like. You may do so. In addition, the system configuration described above also
Various design changes are possible to achieve the same effect.

(5) The present invention is a preferred example in which a plurality of information terminals are used. However, even when only one information terminal is used, a route in a data format corresponding to the information terminal and guidance thereof are provided. Data can be obtained and the present invention can be applied.

[0051]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since the type of the information terminal that has made the route search request is determined, the transportation method to be used is selected according to the determination result, and the route search method is changed, the following effects are obtained. It is possible to provide information on a route using a moving means according to the type of the information terminal. Regardless of the type of transportation, route information to the destination can be provided continuously and satisfactorily. It is possible to provide unified and continuous route information to different types of information terminals such as portable information terminals, car navigation devices, and personal computers. It is possible to always provide an optimal route to a destination even if there is a change in a transportation means, an information terminal, or a travel plan.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a system configuration of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the personal computer screen of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another example of the personal computer screen of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a screen of the car navigation system of the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a screen of the portable information terminal of the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing another example of the screen of the portable information terminal of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 100 route information providing center (route information providing device) 110 CPU 120 communication control device 130 program memory 132 information terminal determination program 134 user information acquisition program 136 route search program 138 data processing program 139 registration Program 140 Data memory 142 User information memory 144 Traffic information memory 150 Database 152 Road map database 154 Public transport database 200 Internet 300 Telephone exchange 400 Traffic information center 500 Car navigation 501 Screen 600: portable information terminal 601: screen 700: personal computer 701: screen 702: map 704: menu 706: route overview by public transportation 708a, 708b: route overview by car 710a- 10c ... route by car 800 ... user

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G09B 29/10 G09B 29/10 A H04Q 7/20 H04Q 7/04 Z F term (Reference) 2C032 HB22 HB25 HB31 HC08 HC11 HC22 HD03 HD13 HD16 HD23 2F029 AA02 AB01 AB07 AB13 AC02 AC09 AC13 AC16 5H180 AA01 BB05 CC12 FF04 FF05 FF12 FF13 FF22 FF32 5K067 AA34 BB04 EE02 FF03

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A route information providing method for providing route guidance information in response to a request from an information terminal, comprising: an information terminal identification for identifying departure place information, destination information, and a type of the information terminal from the information terminal; A receiving step of receiving information; identifying a type of the information terminal from the received information terminal identification information; and a moving means selecting step of selecting a moving means to be used based on the result; A route searching step of searching for a route to be traveled using the selected moving means; and a transmitting step of transmitting the searched route information to the information terminal. Route information providing method. 2. A route information providing method for providing route guidance information in response to a request from an information terminal, wherein user destination information and departure place information are registered and stored as user information. Registration step; receiving from the information terminal information terminal identification information for identifying the type of the information terminal and user identification information for identifying the user; type of the information terminal from the received information terminal identification information Moving means selecting step of selecting a moving means to be used based on the result; identifying a user based on the user identification information; and departure place information from the user information corresponding to the user. And user information acquisition step of acquiring destination information; searching for a route from the acquired departure point to the destination, using the selected moving means. Route searching step; route information providing method characterized in that it comprises a; the searched path information, transmitting step of transmitting to the information terminal. 3. The information received by the receiving step includes departure place information transmitted from the information terminal, and updates departure place information registered as the user information with the received departure place information. The route information providing method according to claim 2, further comprising a user information updating step, wherein the route searching step performs a route search based on the updated departure point information. 4. The information received by the receiving step includes time information transmitted from the information terminal, and the route searching step performs a route search and is included in the selected moving means, The route information providing method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a search for available public transportation is performed based on the time information. 5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: processing the searched route and the guidance data according to the type of the information terminal identified by the information terminal identification information. The route information providing method according to any of the above. 6. A route information providing apparatus for providing route guidance information in response to a request from an information terminal, comprising: an information terminal identification for identifying departure place information, destination information, and a type of the information terminal from the information terminal; Receiving means for receiving information; moving means selecting means for identifying a type of the information terminal from the information terminal identification information received by the receiving means and selecting a moving means to be used based on the result; Route search means for searching for a route from the departure point to the destination using the moving means selected by the moving means selecting means; route information searched by the route searching means; Transmission means for transmitting the information to the information terminal; 7. A route information providing device for providing route guidance information in response to a request from an information terminal, wherein destination information and departure information of a user of the route information providing device are registered and stored as user information. User information registering means for receiving; receiving means for receiving information terminal identification information for identifying the type of the information terminal from the information terminal and user identification information for identifying the user; Means for selecting a type of information terminal and a means of transportation to be used based on the result; user information corresponding to the user by identifying a user based on the user identification information User information acquiring means for acquiring departure place information and destination information from the user; a route from the acquired departure place to the destination, which searches for a route to be moved using the selected moving means. Search means; route information providing apparatus characterized by comprising a; the searched path information, transmitting means for transmitting to the information terminal. 8. The receiving means further receives departure place information, and the user information registering means updates the departure place information stored as the user information with the received departure place information, The route information providing device according to claim 7, wherein the route search means searches for a route to a destination using the updated departure place information. 9. The receiving means further receives time information from the information terminal, and the route searching means performs a route search, is included in the selected moving means, and includes the time information. The route information providing device according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein a search for available public transportation is performed based on the information. 10. The method according to claim 6, wherein the destination information is a plurality of destinations including a transit point, and the route searching means searches for a route passing through the plurality of destinations. 10. The route information providing device according to any one of claims 9 to 9. 11. A data processing means for processing data of a route searched by the route searching means and its guidance according to the type of the information terminal identified by the information terminal identification information received by the receiving means. The route information providing device according to any one of claims 6 to 10, wherein 12. A route, comprising: the route information providing device according to claim 6; and an information terminal that provides route guidance based on route information provided from the route information providing device. Information system.