JP3769121B2 - Navigation control method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a navigation control method, and more particularly to a navigation control method for an in-vehicle system that performs navigation control using map information obtained from the Internet.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Currently, there are in-vehicle audio devices such as radio / CD / tape, navigation devices, and automobile telephones as in-vehicle devices. However, these devices are individually operated and function without mutual cooperation.
On the other hand, with the advancement of communication technology, the development of communication networks, the development of various electronic devices, and the like, the momentum of using a car as one mobile office is increasing. For this reason, a personal computer is mounted on a car so that e-mail and WWW (World Wide Web) can be used via the Internet, and in-vehicle devices are managed centrally, and the functions of each device are linked. Therefore, there is a demand for an in-vehicle control system that performs control.
[0003]
In order to construct such an in-vehicle control system, it is necessary to consider the special characteristics of the automobile. That is, an automobile moves, and an in-vehicle control system that does not consider such a point causes a problem in safe driving. Also, driving or not driving in an automobile is very different, and a driver and a mere passenger cannot be regarded as equivalent. For this reason, the vehicle-mounted control system designed considering all passengers as equivalent causes problems in safe driving.
[0004]
Therefore, the inventor of the present application provides a front control unit for the front seat occupant and a rear control unit for the rear seat occupant so that they can communicate with each other, and distributes the functions to be executed by the front control unit and the rear control unit. Proposed in-vehicle system. In this in-vehicle system, for example, a navigation control function, a security control function, an audio control function, etc. are assigned to the front control unit, and an Internet communication function, a navigation control function, a game and video control function, an audio control, etc. are assigned to the rear control unit. Entertainment control functions such as functions are assigned to distribute functions. In other words, the front side mainly has functions necessary for driving, and the rear side mainly has functions having entertainment elements.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, some Internet homepages provide more detailed map information than the map information that the navigation device has. According to this map information, there are various map search methods, and a map of a desired area can be searched and displayed. If the in-vehicle system has an Internet function, such map information can be acquired and the map can be displayed on the monitor. For this reason, it is convenient if map information obtained from the Internet Web (homepage) can be used for navigation control.
[0006]
From the above, an object of the present invention is to make it possible to use map information obtained from the Internet Web for navigation control.
Another object of the present invention is to easily set a destination using a map obtained from the Internet Web and input it to a navigation device.
Another object of the present invention is to make it easy to obtain detailed information on various stores such as gas stations, restaurants, supermarkets, convenience stores, etc. and various service shops such as banks and hotels shown on the map. is there.
Another object of the present invention is to make it possible to use a map on the Internet using the latest map information already received even if the reception state is bad.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  According to the present invention, the above problem isIn a navigation control method in an in-vehicle system having a navigation control function and an Internet function, map information is acquired as homepage information by Internet communication, a map with landmarks is displayed based on the map information, and a predetermined landmark point is used. When it is specified as a place, the detailed information of the store indicated by the landmark is acquired and displayed, and if the store can be reserved, the reservation process is performed, and the input reservation information is mailed to the store, In addition, the route to the landmark point is searched and displayed using the longitude and latitude of the landmark.Is achieved.
  In this way, it is possible to guide the user to the landmark point simply by specifying landmarks such as various stores and various service shops displayed on the map. Further, by including detailed information such as the store indicated by the landmark in the map information, it is possible to display the detailed information of the store corresponding to the specified landmark. In addition, by storing the homepage information received by Internet communication when the reception state is good, it is possible to use the map on the Internet using the received map information stored even if the reception state deteriorates. .
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(A) Network environment to which the present invention can be applied
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a network environment to which the present invention can be applied. In the figure, 1a, 1b,... 1n are vehicles, 2 is an information center, 3 is a mobile telephone network, 4 is a public network, 5 is an Internet provider, 6 is the Internet, and 7 is an external center. Each vehicle 1a to 1n is equipped with a Vehicle Computing and Communication System (VCC system). The VCC system is equipped with an on-board server (front server, rear server) with a personal computer configuration. (1) Browsing of e-mail and WWW (homepage) is possible via Internet communication. (2) Car audio, navigation, automobile In-vehicle devices such as telephones and Internet terminals can be centrally managed, and (3) the functions of each device can be controlled in coordination.
[0009]
The information center 2 has a center server that accepts connections from each vehicle. The in-vehicle server is connected to the center server of the information center 2 via the mobile phone network 3 to acquire and display the content on the center server, receive the service of the center server, or after connecting the center server, Further, it can be connected to the Internet provider 5 via the public line network 4 and can use e-mail and WWW.
The external center 7 acquires and responds to accidents generated during the condition and driving of each device of the vehicle via the mobile phone network 3 from the vehicle. In addition, if an accident occurs during driving, the in-vehicle server automatically reports the failure status of the equipment constituting the vehicle to the external center 7 (emergency), or automatically reports the failure status of the equipment constituting the vehicle. To the external center 7 (remote maintenance).
[0010]
(B) Communication system
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a communication system including the vehicle 1a, the information center 2, and the external center 7, and the same parts as those in FIG.
The in-vehicle server CSV of each vehicle has a front VCC (front server) 11 for passengers in the front seat and a rear VCC (rear server) 12 for passengers in the rear seats so that they can communicate with each other. Each VCC 11, 12 is connected to a modem 13, 14, and a cellular phone 15, 16 is connected to these modems. The center server CTSV of the information center 2 has a remote access server 21 that accepts connections from vehicles, and a gateway server 22 that connects to the Internet. Each server is connected by a LAN, and modems 23 and 24 are connected. The external center 7 includes a personal computer 71 and a modem 72 and manages the state of the vehicle sent from the front server 11. The in-vehicle server CSV and the center server CTSV have the following functions.
[0011]
(1) Center server connection function
This function is a function for receiving the service of the center server by connecting the rear server 12 to the center server CTSV. As shown in FIG. 3, Proxcy 97 (connection software) on the rear server 12 connects the rear server 12 to the remote access server 21 on the center server CTSV via the mobile phone line 3 in response to a request from the Web browser. . After the connection, the Web server 21a of the remote access server 21 that has received the request sends the content (database information) corresponding to the request to the rear server 12. The rear server displays the received content (database information) on the center server CTSV, and can receive the service of the center server CTSV.
[0012]
  (2) Internet connection function (gateway function)
This function is a function that enables the rear server 12 to be connected to the Internet and browse contents of e-mail and Internet Web. As shown in FIG. 4, when an Internet connection request is received from a Web browser, Proxy 97 on rear server 12 connects to center server CTSV using cellular phone line 3. The request from the rear server 12 is further connected to the Internet server (Internet provider) 5 via the Proxy 97 on the gateway server 22. That is, if the request from the browser on the rear server 12 is an Internet connection request, after connecting to the center server, the public line 4 is used to connect to the Internet provider 5 from there.
  After connecting to the Internet, Mapion is one of e-mail and Internet Web( Mapion is a registered trademark, and the same applies to the following. The same applies to the drawings. )Content (map information) and other Internet Web content can be viewed. Information from the Internet is sent to the rear server 12 along the reverse route.
[0013]
(3) Linkage function with car navigation
This function is a function for selecting a destination on a mapion map (Internet map) acquired from the Internet, inputting it to the navigation system, the navigation system performing a route search to the destination, and displaying the searched route. .
That is, as shown in FIG. 5 (a), the user connects the rear server 12 to the Internet 6, acquires the contents (map information) of Mapion, which is one of the Internet Web, and displays it on the monitor (FIG. 5 ( b)). Next, a point on the map, for example, a landmark LM is designated to select a destination, and a position set button is pressed, and position information embedded in the mapion map is input to the car navigation system NV as a destination. As a result, the navigation system NV displays a route obtained by performing a route search to the destination. The landmarks are marks indicating various stores such as gas stations, restaurants, supermarkets, convenience stores, and various service shops such as banks and hotels.
[0014]
(C) Configuration of VCC system
FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of the in-vehicle VCC system, in which 101 is a front-side VCC system configuration, and 102 is a rear-side VCC system configuration, realizing a multi-user system.
On the front side 101, 11 is a front server (front VCC) composed of a personal computer, 11a is an AM / FM radio tuner, 11b is a DSP amplifier, 11c is a CD changer player, 11e is a television, 11f is a navigation device, and 11g is Voice control switch, 11h is a microphone for voice input, 11i is a front server monitor, 11j is various buttons of the front server, 15 is a hands-free mobile phone, and 17 is a vehicle state detection sensor for detecting the state of each part of the vehicle ( Air bag sensors, various oil gauge sensors, etc.).
[0015]
On the rear side 102, 12 is a rear server (rear VCC) configured with a personal computer, and 12a and 12b are Internet terminals configured with personal computers, which have a relationship between the rear server 12 and a server / client. 12c is a DVD video deck, 12d is a digital camera, 12e is a game terminal, 12f is a voice control switch, 12g is a microphone for voice input, 12h₁~ 12h_ThreeIs the rear server and each Internet terminal monitor, 12i₁~ 12i_ThreeAre buttons on the rear server and the Internet terminal, and 16 is a hands-free mobile phone. The front server 11 and the rear server 12 are connected via a LAN so that they can communicate with each other.
FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the arrangement of the important parts constituting the VCC system. The front server 11 is in the front dashboard, the rear server 12 is in the rear part of the armrest, and the Internet terminals 12a and 12b are in the rear of the headrests of the driver seat and the passenger seat. Embedded in the part.
[0016]
(D) Function distribution
The front server 11 is mainly provided with functions necessary for operation, and the rear server 12 is mainly provided with entertainment functions. That is, the front server 11 has (1) audio equipment control function, (2) navigation control function, (3) external communication function (communication to the external center 7), and (4) voice recognition function for voice input. I have it. Also, the rear server 12 has (1) audio equipment control function, (2) navigation control function, (3) other application start function, (4) external communication function (Internet), and (5) voice input. Voice recognition function and {circle around (6)} video input function.
[0017]
The “audio device control function” is a function for the front server 11 and the rear server 12 to control the car audio already mounted on the vehicle.
The “navigation control function” is a function for the front server 11 and the rear server 12 to control a navigation device already mounted on the vehicle. The rear server 12 transmits the longitude and latitude information of the destination acquired from the mapion map to the navigation device 11f via the front server 11, and the navigation device 11f performs route search to the destination to guide the route. Control is possible. Since navigation control is the basis of the present invention, it will be described later.
The “external communication function” of the front server notifies the external center 7 of the condition of the equipment constituting the vehicle, the accident that occurred during driving, etc. via the modem 13 (FIG. 2) connected to the front server 11. It is a function to do. This external communication function is mounted on the front server 11, but is a function that automatically operates due to factors other than user operation, not a function directly used by the user.
[0018]
  The “start function of another application” of the rear server is a function for calling another application from the rear server 12. For example, applications that can be called from the rear server 12 include mail software that supports speech recognition and speech synthesis, Internet Mail, and Internet Explorer.(Registered trademark)and so on. The “external communication function (Internet)” of the rear server is a function of connecting the rear server 12 to the Internet by the modem 14 (FIG. 2) and the mobile phone 16, and currently provided functions are WWW and e-mail. is there. The rear server 12 acquires a map with landmarks and longitude / latitude information of landmark points from a WWW mapion by Internet Explorer and displays them on a monitor. Then, the destination is set using the landmark, and the longitude and latitude of the destination are transmitted to the navigation system.
[0019]
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the operation target of the front server 11 and controls television, radio, CD, digital sound processor (DSP), navigation, in-vehicle computer, manager, and telephone. When the main menu screen (FIG. 9A) of the front server 11 is opened, these operation target selection menus are displayed, and if a predetermined operation target menu is selected, the operation target can be operated. For example, when RADIO is selected, the radio operation menu screen is opened as shown in FIG. 9B, and operations such as volume up / down, AM / FM band switching, road traffic information reception, up seek, down seek, etc. Can do.
[0020]
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of the operation target of the rear server 12, such as television, radio, CD, digital sound processor (DSP), navigation device, in-vehicle computer, manager, network (internet-mail, Web, E-mai Reader, etc.) A digital camera or the like is a control target. When the main menu screen (FIG. 11A) of the rear server 12 is opened, these operation target selection menus are displayed so that a desired operation target can be selected. For example, when a network (NET) is selected, a sub menu screen (internet-mail, Web, E-mai Reader, etc.) is opened as shown in FIG. 11B, and a predetermined function can be selected. E-mail Reader is a function that reads out a message received by e-mail.
[0021]
(E) Internet terminal operation
FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of menus displayed on the monitors of the Internet terminals 12a and 12b (FIG. 6).
When the power of the Internet terminals 12a and 12b is turned on, the browser is activated, an opening animation is displayed, and an initial menu screen is displayed after a predetermined time. On the initial menu screen, (1) Center server / Internet connection menu, (2) Community menu, (3) News & Weather menu, (4) Game & Entertainment menu, and (5) Manufacturer homepage menu can be selected.
The center server / Internet connection menu is: (1) When connecting to the center server and receiving the service, (2) When connecting to the Internet and using any Internet Web content, (3) Saved in the rear server 12 This is selected when using each homepage information (offline mode).
[0022]
The Community menu, News & Weather menu, and Game & Entertainment menu are menus by genre, and are used when displaying the contents by connecting to a predetermined Internet Web by genre with a simple operation. For example, when the Community menu is selected, a mapion that provides map information, a parking that provides parking space availability, a hospital that provides hospital information, and the like are displayed. Therefore, when a predetermined Web, for example, a mapion is selected, the content (map information) can be displayed by connecting to the mapion. The same applies when another genre-specific menu (News & Weather menu, Game & Entertainment menu) is selected. The initial menu screen described above is an example, and another genre-specific menu can be adopted. In addition, the genre-specific menu can be hierarchized so that desired contents can be easily selected and displayed.
[0023]
(F) Online / offline control
FIG. 13 is an online / offline control processing flow of the Internet terminal by the rear server.
On the initial menu screen (FIG. 12) of the Internet terminals 12a and 12b (FIG. 6), the center server / Internet connection menu is selected, and then the Internet is selected (step 201).
In such an online mode, a homepage is specified by inputting an Internet address of a predetermined Internet Web, for example, an Internet address of Mapion (step 202). If a genre-specific menu is selected and a predetermined Internet Web, such as Mapion, is selected, a homepage can be specified without inputting an Internet address.
[0024]
Next, the rear server 12 takes in the received signal strength input from the mobile phone 16 (FIG. 6) and checks whether the reception state is good (step 203). If the reception state is good, the specified Internet Web ( (Mapion) (step 204). Thereafter, content (map information) is received from the Internet Web (Mapion), and the content is input to the Internet terminals 12a and 12b (step 205). Further, since the rear server 12 stores the latest contents of each received Internet Web, the storage information of the Internet Web (Mapion) is updated with the received contents (Step 206).
On the other hand, if the reception state is poor in step 203, the Internet terminals 12a and 12b are notified that the current connection to the Internet is impossible, and wait for the reception state to improve (Internet connection reservation state, step 207, 208). In the Internet connection reservation state, the Internet terminals 12a and 12b can use homepage information stored in the rear server 12 in the offline mode.
[0025]
In such a state, if the reception state becomes good, the Internet Web (mapion) specified in step 202 is connected (step 209). After the connection is completed, the completion of the connection is notified to the Internet terminals 12a and 12b (step 210), and thereafter the content (map information) received from the Internet Web (mapion) is input to the Internet terminals 12a and 12b (step 205). The rear server 12 updates the stored information of the Internet Web (Mapion) with the received content (step 206).
On the other hand, in step 201, if the center server / Internet connection menu is selected and then offline is selected, the offline line mode is set (step 201). In the offline mode, the Internet terminals 12a and 12b can use each genre homepage stored in the rear server 12. That is, in the offline mode, the Internet terminals 12a and 12b use the genre-specific menu to select the Internet Web as if in the online mode. As a result, the rear server 12 sends the stored Internet Web homepage information to the Internet terminals 12a and 12b.
[0026]
  (G) Use of Internet map information and map display
  FIG. 14 is a processing flow for searching for a route by inputting a destination from an Internet terminal, FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram for displaying an Internet map, and FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram for landmarks.In addition, the landmark of each facility shown in FIG. 16 is a registered trademark.
  If the internet terminals 12a and 12b obtain the internet map (mapion map) according to the process of FIG. 13, the landmark LM as shown in FIG.₁, LM₂Is displayed (steps 301 and 302). As shown in FIG. 16, the landmarks are marks indicating various stores such as gas stations, restaurants, supermarkets and convenience stores, and various service shops such as banks and hotels, and are accompanied by point information (latitude and longitude information). .
[0027]
In this state, a predetermined landmark, for example, landmark LM₁(Step 303), the Internet terminal receives detailed information of the store corresponding to the instructed landmark from the Internet and displays it (step 304). Detailed information is created in advance, but the store's exterior photo, store name, bargain, time service, store promotion, restaurant menu, restaurant reservation time, number of reservations, e-mail address, etc. Is included.
Next, the user inputs whether or not the landmark position is the destination (step 305). If the destination is the destination, whether or not to make a reservation (restaurant, hotel, etc.) is input (step 306) and the reservation is made. If there is, the user is allowed to input the reservation time, the number of reservations, reserved dishes, and the like. The internet terminals 12a and 12b e-mail these reservation information to the reservation destination store via the rear server 12 (step 307).
[0028]
Next, the Internet terminals 12a and 12b input the latitude and longitude of the landmark point to the navigation device 11f as the longitude and latitude of the destination via the rear server 12 and the front server 11 (step 308). The navigation device 11f performs a route search using the input longitude and latitude of the destination, and displays the searched route on the monitor of the front server 11 (step 309).
The present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments. However, the present invention can be variously modified in accordance with the gist of the present invention described in the claims, and the present invention does not exclude these.
[0029]
【The invention's effect】
  As described above, according to the present invention,Map information is acquired as homepage information by Internet communication, a map with a landmark is displayed based on the map information, and when a predetermined landmark point is specified as a destination, details of the store indicated by the landmark Information is acquired and displayed, and if it is a store that can be reserved, the reservation process is performed, the input reservation information is mailed to the store, and the route to the landmark point using the longitude and latitude of the landmark Search for and displaySince it did in this way, a user can be route-guided to this landmark point only by specifying the landmark which shows various stores displayed on a map, various service industry stores, etc.
[0030]
Further, according to the present invention, by including detailed information such as the store indicated by the landmark in the map information, it is possible to display the detailed information of the store corresponding to the specified landmark, the restaurant, If it is a hotel or the like, it is possible to make a reservation using the detailed information.
In addition, according to the present invention, since the homepage information received by the Internet communication is saved when the reception state is good and can be used as appropriate, the latest received map information stored even if the reception state is bad. You can use the map on the Internet.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a network environment to which the present invention can be applied.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a communication system.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a center server connection function.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an internet connection function (gateway function).
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a cooperation function with car navigation.
FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of an in-vehicle VCC system according to the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the arrangement of the VCC system according to the present invention.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of an operation target of the front server.
FIG. 9 is a menu screen of the front server.
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a rear server operation target.
FIG. 11 is a menu screen of a rear server.
FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of menus of the Internet terminal.
FIG. 13 is an online / offline control processing flow of an Internet terminal by a rear server.
FIG. 14 is a processing flow for searching for a route by inputting a destination from an Internet terminal.
FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of display of an Internet map.
FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram of landmarks.
[Explanation of symbols]
1a, 1b, ... 1n, vehicle
2. Information center
3. Mobile phone network
4. Public network
5. Internet provider
6. Internet
7. External Center
11. Front VCC (front server)
12. Rear VCC (rear server)
12a, 12b ... Internet terminal
15. Mobile phone
16. Mobile phone
21. Remote access server
22. Gateway server
CSV / In-vehicle server
CTSV Center server
LM₁, LM₂··Landmark

Claims (1)

In a navigation control method in an in-vehicle system having a navigation control function and an Internet function,
Obtain map information as homepage information via Internet communication, display a map with landmarks based on the map information,
When a predetermined landmark point is specified as a destination, the detailed information of the store indicated by the landmark is acquired and displayed, and if the store can be reserved, a reservation process is performed, and the input reservation information To the store,
And, the route to the landmark point is searched and displayed using the longitude and latitude of the landmark,
A navigation control method characterized by the above.

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