JPH11175878A - Information providing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To calculate scheduled date and time of departure and to inform of the date and time when it approaches. SOLUTION: Data on a point of departure, positional data (latitude, longitude) on destination and data on scheduled date and time of arrival are received from an on-vehicle information terminal through an information center (a step S107), a route and required time from the point of departure to the destination are calculated based on these pieces of data, and the scheduled date and time of departure is calculated (steps S108, S109). The scheduled date and time of departure is transmitted from the information center to the on-vehicle information terminal (a step S110) and time to transmit an alarm message is simultaneously calculated based on alarm time set at the side of the on-vehicle information terminal, i.e., the time to indicate how many minutes before the scheduled time of departure the alarm message is to be transmitted (steps S111 to S115). And when the alarm transmission time comes, the alarm message that the scheduled date and time of departure comes is transmitted from the information center to a contact address previously registered from the information center.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information center for retrieving and transmitting predetermined information from various types of information such as event information relating to various events held in a plurality of recreational facilities and specific areas. And a vehicle-mounted information terminal that receives the information transmitted from the information center by designating the information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, a navigation device has been used as an in-vehicle information terminal, and the in-vehicle information terminal and the information center have been connected by a telephone line. A navigation device (vehicle information terminal) and an information center for receiving various information such as event information related to various events held in a specific area and the like, weather information of various places, or real-time information such as parking lot availability information. Has been proposed.

[0003] Briefly describing this information providing system, as shown in FIG. 16, an information center 1 stores various information such as event information, weather information, or parking space information for a plurality of recreational facilities and specific areas. Registered,
A stored database is provided, and the navigation device mounted on the car 2 and the information center 1 are connected by a telephone line using a mobile phone or a car phone.

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

[0005] In this case, a search request from the navigation device is made by inputting and setting an area and date and time at which information is to be obtained from the information center by operating the operation unit of the navigation device. This is the destination setting itself in the route guidance function which is a function.

By the way, the route guidance function of the navigation device is generally set at the present time at the time of departure. For example, a destination is set the day before or a few days ago, and the information is sent from the information center at the same time as departure. Usage such as starting reception and route guidance has also been performed conventionally.

[0007]

However, in the conventional case,
If you set your destination before the day of departure, you will not be informed of when it is best to depart, and the driver must know the departure date and time. The driver has no choice but to manage the optimal departure time to arrive at the destination at the scheduled time.

[0008] An object of the present invention is to calculate a scheduled departure date and time so that the user can be notified when the date and time approaches.

[0009]

Means for Solving the Problems According to the present invention, various types of information such as event information, weather information, parking space availability, etc. relating to various events held in a plurality of recreational facilities and specific areas are provided. An information center that searches the stored storage unit, searches for and transmits desired information, and a navigation device that accesses the information center to specify the desired information and receives the information transmitted from the information center An information providing system comprising an in-vehicle information terminal comprising: an in-vehicle information terminal, the in-vehicle information terminal comprising: an in-vehicle operation unit for inputting position data of a destination and an estimated date and time of arrival at the destination; An in-vehicle communication unit that transmits data of the destination and the estimated arrival date and time input by the operation of the side operation unit to the information center and receives information from the information center; An information unit configured to display or convert the information received from the information center received by the vehicle-side communication unit into a sound or output, and a vehicle-side control unit configured to control the vehicle-side communication unit and the notification unit; A center communication unit that receives the position data of the destination and the data of the expected arrival date and time from the in-vehicle information terminal, and departs based on the received position data of the destination and the data of the expected arrival date and time. The scheduled date and time is calculated, and the data of the scheduled date and time of departure is transmitted to the in-vehicle information terminal via the center side communication unit, and an alarm message indicating that the scheduled date and time of departure is approaching before the set time of the scheduled departure date and time is generated. A center-side control unit for transmitting to predetermined communication means via the center-side communication unit. That.

According to such a configuration, when the set time before the scheduled departure date and time calculated by the center control unit is reached, the center control unit issues an alarm to the predetermined communication means that the scheduled departure date is approaching. A message is sent to inform you that you should leave.

Therefore, the driver or the like can know that the scheduled departure time is approaching by an alarm message via the communication means. Therefore, even if the destination is set in the system one day before or several days ago, the conventional method is used. In this way, the driver does not need to know when to depart to the destination.

At this time, if the set time is a predetermined fixed time, an alarm message is always transmitted a predetermined time before the scheduled departure time. As described, when the set time is input by the operation of the vehicle-side operation unit,
The transmission timing of the alarm message can be set to suit the user's preference.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, when the communication means is a portable telephone or a home telephone, the user approaches the scheduled departure time while being away from the car. You can know.

Further, in the invention described in claim 5, the center-side control unit determines the scheduled departure date and time based on traffic conditions, weather conditions, and the like on a route to the destination a predetermined time before the scheduled departure date and time. When the newly calculated scheduled departure date and time is earlier than the previous time, the alarm message including the reason for the earlier departure before the set time of the new scheduled departure date and time is transmitted. It is characterized by:

According to such a configuration, when the required time is expected to be longer than expected due to traffic congestion, for example, from traffic conditions and weather conditions on the route to the destination, the departure schedule calculated again is calculated. An alarm message is sent indicating that the scheduled date and time is earlier than the previous time and that the scheduled departure date is earlier due to traffic congestion, etc., so the user can know why the scheduled departure date is earlier than expected by the alarm message. By departure at the newly calculated departure date and time, it is possible to reach the destination at the scheduled date and time.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (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, FIGS. 3 to 8 are operation explanatory diagrams, and FIGS. 9 to 12 are flowcharts for operation explanation.

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 unit as a storage unit storing various information such as event information for a plurality of recreational facilities and specific areas, weather information of various places, and parking lot free information. A communication unit on the center side for transmitting / receiving data to / from an in-vehicle information terminal including a navigation device using a telephone line.
Reference numeral 8 denotes a center-side operation unit comprising a keyboard, 9 denotes a storage unit for temporarily storing data, and 10 denotes a center-side control unit.

The center-side control unit 10 controls each unit, and outputs position data (latitude, latitude, etc.) of a departure point and a destination from an in-vehicle information terminal described later via the center-side communication unit 6.
Longitude), the data of the scheduled arrival date and time, and calculates the scheduled departure date and time based on the received data. When the scheduled departure date and time comes before the set time set on the in-vehicle information terminal, the center side communication unit 6 is activated. Reads a fixed alarm message indicating that the scheduled departure date is approaching from the built-in memory for storing message data and sends the read alarm message to the home telephone or mobile telephone of the user registered in advance. It has a function to do.

The center-side control unit 10 searches the center-side database unit 5 to read out predetermined information in response to a search request from an in-vehicle information terminal, which will be described later, and reads the information read out via the center-side communication unit 6. It also has the function of transmitting

As described above, the information center 11 is constituted by 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.

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

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 21 denotes a plurality of GPS (Glo
bal Positioning System) GPS consisting of a receiving circuit that receives radio waves from satellites and an arithmetic circuit that derives the current absolute position of the vehicle represented by latitude and longitude from the received radio waves
A gyro sensor for detecting a current relative direction of the vehicle represented by a relative direction (latitude, longitude) of the vehicle;
23 is a wheel speed sensor for detecting the traveling speed of the vehicle, 24,
Reference numeral 25 denotes an interface (hereinafter, referred to as an I / F), and the gyro sensor 2 is connected through these I / Fs 24 and 25.
2 and the output of the wheel speed sensor 23 are taken into a vehicle-side control unit, which will be described later, and the vehicle-side control unit estimates the current state of the vehicle based on the detected relative azimuth of the vehicle and the travel distance obtained from the vehicle speed. The position of the gyro sensor 22 and the wheel speed sensor 2 are determined while traveling in a place such as a tunnel where radio waves from GPS satellites are difficult to receive.
The current position of the own vehicle estimated from the output of No. 3 is used.

Further, in FIG. 2, reference numeral 27 denotes a tuner unit for receiving a radio wave; 28, an FM multiplex data demodulator for extracting an FM multiplex broadcast wave from the radio wave received by the tuner unit 27 and demodulating the multiplexed data; Is a map data storage unit comprising a CD-ROM storing road map data,
Reference numeral 30 denotes a display unit serving as a notifying unit for displaying information received from the information center 11 which is composed of a liquid crystal display or the like;
Reference numeral 1 denotes an in-vehicle operation unit, which includes a plurality of operation keys such as a cursor moving key and is operated by a key when selecting various key images provided on the display screen of the display unit 30. Through the operation, input of the position data of the departure point, the position data of the destination, the scheduled arrival date and time of the destination, and the like, an alarm time setting operation for notifying that the scheduled departure date and time are approaching, and the like are performed. .

In FIG. 2, an in-vehicle communication unit 32 dials the information center 5 under the control of an in-vehicle control unit, which will be described later, and performs transmission and reception using a telephone line between them.
Reference numeral 33 denotes an I / F provided between the in-vehicle communication unit 32 and a control unit to be described later, and 34 denotes an in-vehicle control unit which includes a microcomputer or the like, and includes a GPS receiving unit 21, an estimating unit 22,
Tuner 24, FM multiplexed data demodulator 25, display 2
7, a function for deriving an optimum route and a required time to the destination based on the position data of the departure point and the destination input by the in-vehicle operation unit 28, and guiding the derived optimum route. In order to read out predetermined message data and other message data including text data such as "Please turn right at the next intersection" from the built-in message data storage unit to output to a text / voice conversion unit to be described later. .

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 36 denotes a vehicle-side control unit 3.
A text / speech converter 37 for speech-synthesizing the message data composed of the text data from No. 4 constitutes a notification unit together with the text / speech converter 36 and the amplifier 37, and amplifies the speech signal converted by the text / speech converter 36. , A speaker for outputting guidance messages and other messages voiced by the text / voice converter 36 and amplified by the amplifier 37, a ROM 40 storing a control program and the like, and a temporary storage of data 41. RAM.

As described above, the GPS receiver 21, the gyro sensor 22, the wheel speed sensor 23, the tuner 27, the FM
Multiplexed data demodulation unit 28, map data storage unit 29, display unit 30, vehicle-side operation unit 31, vehicle-side communication unit 32, each I / F
24, 25, 33, the vehicle-mounted control unit 34, the text / voice conversion unit 36, the amplifier 37, the speaker 38, the ROM 40, and the RAM 41 constitute a vehicle-mounted information terminal 42.

By the way, the display screen of the display unit 30 will be briefly described. In a state where the system normally operates, the display unit 30 displays a road map around the current position of the own vehicle as shown in FIG. On this map screen, two key images, “destination” and “plan”, are displayed so as to be superimposed on the road map. Then, by operating the in-vehicle operation unit 31, for example, a mark “● ** park” on the road map of FIG. 3 is selected as a destination, and a key image of “Destination” on the display screen is selected. As shown in FIG. 4, a confirmation screen including the comment "Do you want to set as the destination?" Is displayed on the display unit 30, and by selecting the key image of "YES" in the confirmation screen, the destination screen is displayed. The setting input of the position data is completed.

On the other hand, when the key image of "plan" on the map screen shown in FIG. 3 is selected, a screen for setting the scheduled arrival date and time as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed. Here, the key image of "designation of departure point" is selected. Then, a road map based on the map data in the map data storage unit 29 or a pre-created point list is displayed, and by selecting a corresponding departure point from among them, the setting input of the position data of the departure point is completed.

After inputting the scheduled date and time of arrival on the display screen shown in FIG. 5, when the "OK" key image superimposed and displayed on this display screen is selected, as shown in FIG.
The input expected arrival date and time and the control unit 34 as described above
Is displayed on the display unit 30. On this display screen, two key images “Alarm” and “End” are superimposed and displayed. When the “Alarm” key image is selected, an alarm time setting screen as a setting time as shown in FIG. 7 is displayed. Is displayed, and after inputting the number of minutes before departure, the key image of "SET" is selected, thereby completing the setting of the alarm time. In addition, "end" of the screen shown in FIG.
When the key image is selected, the alarm time setting screen is not displayed.

Then, the information terminal 4 for in-vehicle use
When the in-vehicle operation unit 31 is operated to input the departure point, the destination position data, and the estimated arrival date and time,
These data are transmitted to the information center 11 via the vehicle-side communication unit 32. When these data are received by the center-side communication unit 6 of the information center 11, the departure date and time are calculated by the center-side control unit 10, and the alarm time which is separately input and transmitted by the operation of the in-vehicle operation unit 31 is transmitted. When the data is received by the center communication unit 6 and before the calculated alarm time of the scheduled departure date and time, the center communication unit 6 is controlled by the center control unit 10 as shown in FIG. Part 10
Is dialed to the user's home telephone HT or mobile telephone KT registered in advance, and an alarm message indicating that the scheduled departure date is approaching is transmitted to the home telephone HT or mobile telephone KT.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

First, the main routine will be described. As shown in FIG. 9, the GPS receiver 21 or the estimator 22 detects the current position of the vehicle (step S).
1) It is determined whether or not there is a key operation of the in-vehicle operation unit 31 (step S2). If the result of this determination is YES, a process corresponding to the key operation is executed (step S2).
3) If the decision result in the step S2 is NO, the process proceeds to the step S4 together with the process in the step S3.

In step S4, road map data around the current position of the vehicle detected in step S1 is read from the map data storage unit 29, and a road map based on the read road map data is displayed. It is determined whether or not it is displayed on the unit 30 (step S4). If this determination is NO, the process returns to step S1, and if the determination is YES, a predetermined mark indicating the current position of the vehicle is displayed. It is superimposed and displayed on the middle road map, and if necessary, the map display is updated (step S5), and thereafter, the process returns to step S1.

Next, the operation of setting the destination and the like in the vehicle-mounted information terminal 42 will be described. As shown in FIG. 10, a desired point on the map screen (see FIG. 3) displayed on the display unit 30 is displayed. Then, it is determined whether or not the key image of “Destination” on the map screen is selected (step S11). If the determination result is YES, a confirmation screen (see FIG. 4) is displayed on the display unit 30. (Step S12), it is determined whether or not a confirmation operation has been performed, that is, whether or not the key image of "YES" in the confirmation screen has been selected (step S13). If the result of this determination is YES The point selected in step S11 is set as a destination, and at the same time, an optimal route to the destination is derived (step S14), and then step S13
The operation ends as it is with the result of the determination of NO.

By the way, if the decision result in the step S11 is NO, it is decided whether or not the key image of "plan" on the map screen (see FIG. 3) displayed on the display unit 30 is selected. (Step S15) If this determination result is NO, it is determined whether or not there is a cancel operation (Step S16). If this determination result is NO, the process returns to Step S11 described above, and if the determination result is YES. If so, the operation ends.

On the other hand, if the decision result in the step S15 is YES
If so, the setting input of the scheduled date and time of arrival at the destination is performed based on the display screen as shown in FIG. 5 (step S1).
7) It is determined whether or not the “fixed” key image on the display screen has been selected (step S18), and if the determination result is NO, whether or not the “starting point designation” key image has been selected. Is determined (step S19), and if the determination is NO, the operation ends.

If the result of the determination in step S19 is YES
If so, a predetermined point is designated as a departure point from the display screen of the road map or the point list (step S2).
0), the process proceeds to step S21 together with the case where the result of the determination in step S18 is YES, the information center 11 is called by the in-vehicle communication unit 32, and the telephone line therebetween is connected (step S21). In response to this, a calculation request for the scheduled departure date and time is made (step S2).
2) A message notifying that a reply from the information center 11 is waiting is displayed on the display unit 30 (step S2).
3).

Subsequently, a determination is made as to whether or not it is in a state of waiting for a reply from the information center 11 (step S24). If this determination is YES, this determination is repeated until the determination becomes NO. Is NO, it is determined that there is a reply regarding the scheduled departure date and time from the information center 11, so the scheduled departure date and time transmitted from the information center 11 is received by the vehicle-side communication unit 32 and displayed on the display unit 30 ( Step S25).

Thereafter, an alarm setting screen as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed, and it is determined whether or not the key image "Alarm" in the display screen has been selected (step S2).
6) If the result of the determination is NO, the operation is terminated, and if the result of the determination is YES, an alarm time is input as a set time for notifying departure (step S2).
7) After the input alarm time data is transmitted to the information center 11 via the in-vehicle communication unit 32 (step S28), the operation ends.

Next, the operation of the information center 11 will be described. As shown in FIG. 11, it is determined whether or not there is an incoming call (step S101).
If it is O, an alarm message transmission process described in detail later is performed (step S102), and thereafter, step S10
1 again, if the determination result of the step is YES, the identification number ID assigned in advance to the in-vehicle information terminal 42 that has received the call is confirmed (step S103), and the request from the in-vehicle information terminal 42 is made. (Command) is received (step S104).

Then, it is determined whether or not the request received in step S104 is a request for calculation of the scheduled departure date and time (step S105). If the determination result is NO, a process corresponding to the request is performed (step S105). S106),
Returning to step S101, if the determination result is YES, the data of the departure point, the position data of the destination (latitude and longitude), and the data of the scheduled arrival date and time are received from the on-vehicle information terminal 42 (step S107). The route from the departure point to the destination and the required time are calculated based on the data (step S108), and the required time is subtracted from the received estimated date and time to calculate and derive the scheduled departure date and time (step S109). The scheduled departure date and time is transmitted to the in-vehicle information terminal 42 via the center communication unit 6 (step S110).

Subsequently, it is determined whether or not a reception completion signal has been received from the in-vehicle information terminal 42 (step S).
111), if the determination result is YES, the telephone line between the connected center-side communication unit 6 and the on-board communication unit 32 is disconnected (step S112), and thereafter, step S1 is performed.
01, if the decision result in the step S111 is NO, it is determined whether or not there is a request for setting the alarm time due to the operation of inputting the alarm time on the in-vehicle information terminal 42 (step S113). If the determination result is NO, the process returns to step S111.

On the other hand, if the decision result in the step S113 is YE
If S, the center-side communication unit 6 stores the alarm time input by operating the vehicle-side operation unit 31 of the vehicle-mounted information terminal 42, that is, the time data indicating how many minutes before the scheduled departure time the alarm message should be sent. (Step S114), the time at which the alarm time is received by the center communication unit 6 and the alarm message is sent out is calculated (step S115), and the center control unit 1
0, the identification number ID of the in-vehicle information terminal 42, which is the transmission destination, the alarm message transmission time, and the telephone number to be dialed are registered in the alarm reservation table managed at step S0 (step S116).
It moves to 12.

Next, the alarm message sending process in step S102 will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 12, first, the reference pointer of the above-mentioned alarm reservation table is initialized (step S201), and it is determined whether or not there is a reservation in the alarm reservation table, that is, whether or not the alarm reservation table is registered. (Step S202) If the determination result is NO, the process returns to the routine shown in FIG. 11. If the determination result is YES, the identification number ID of the in-vehicle information terminal 42 registered in the alarm reservation table and the alarm transmission are performed. The time and the telephone number as the contact are read (step S203).

Then, it is determined whether or not the current time is the alarm sending time (step S204).
If the result of this determination is NO, step S211 described later
To step S203 if the determination result is YES.
Is dialed (step S205), and it is determined whether or not a telephone line with this contact is connected (step S206). If the result of this determination is YES, departure After the alarm message indicating that the scheduled date and time is approaching is sent to the contact, the telephone line is disconnected (step S207), and the identification number ID, the alarm sending time, and the telephone number, which are the reservation contents for which the alarm message has been sent, are set to the alarm. It is deleted from the reservation table (step S208), and the process proceeds to step S211.

On the other hand, if the decision result in the step S206 is NO,
If, for example, three times are set as the number of redials, it is determined whether or not the number has been redialed three times (step S209). If the result of this determination is YES, the process proceeds to step S208 described above. , The judgment result is N
If it is O, the process waits for a redial interval time (step S210), and then returns to step S205 to repeat the same operation.

By the way, in step S211, the reference pointer of the above-mentioned alarm reservation table is advanced by "1" (step S211), and it is determined whether or not the alarm message transmission processing has been completed for all reservations (step S212). If this determination is NO, the process returns to step S203, and if the determination is YES, the process returns to the routine shown in FIG.

Therefore, according to the above-described first embodiment, when the alarm time which is the set time of the scheduled departure date and time calculated by the center-side control section 10 comes before the alarm time, the usage registered in advance by the center-side control section 10 is performed. Since the alarm message indicating that the scheduled departure date is approaching is transmitted to the portable telephone KT or the home telephone HT owned by the user, the user can know from the alarm message that the scheduled departure time is approaching, Even if the destination is set in the system the day before or several days before, the driver or the like does not need to know when to depart to the destination as in the related art.

Further, the user can easily know that the scheduled departure time is approaching while staying away from the car.

(Second Embodiment) A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

The configuration of the information center and the in-vehicle information terminal in this embodiment and their basic operations are the same as those in the first embodiment described above, and therefore, while referring to FIGS. In particular, differences from the first embodiment will be described.

This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the alarm message sending process in step S102 of FIG. 11 and is performed according to the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG.

That is, as shown in FIG. 13, first, the above-mentioned reference pointer of the alarm reservation table is initialized (step S301), and whether or not there is a reservation in the alarm reservation table, that is, whether or not the alarm reservation table is registered. Is determined (step S302), and the determination result is NO
If it is, the process returns to the routine shown in FIG.
If it is S, the identification number ID of the in-vehicle information terminal 42 registered in the alarm reservation table, the alarm sending time, and the telephone number as the contact address are read (step S30).
3).

Whether the recalculated flag indicating that the scheduled departure date and the alarm sending time of the read identification number ID of the in-vehicle information terminal 42 have been recalculated is set. It is determined whether or not the current time is a re-calculated new alarm sending time (step S30).
5) If the determination result is NO, the process proceeds to step S308, and if the determination result is YES, a message transmission process described in detail later is performed (step S306).

Subsequently, the identification number ID, the alarm transmission time, and the telephone number, which are the reservation contents for which the alarm message has been transmitted, are deleted from the alarm reservation table (step S).
307), the reference pointer of the alarm reservation table is advanced by "1" (step S308), and it is determined whether or not the alarm message sending process has been completed for all reservations (step S309). If there is, the process returns to step S303, and if the determination result is YES, the process returns to the routine shown in FIG.

On the other hand, if the decision result in the above step S304 is NO, it is decided whether or not the current time is the alarm sending time (step S310), and if this decision result is NO, step S308 is performed. To
If the determination result is YES, the required time from the departure point to the destination set on the in-vehicle information terminal 42 of the identification number ID read in step S303 is calculated again in consideration of traffic conditions and the like. Then, a new scheduled departure date and time is calculated again based on the result (step S311),
It is determined whether the calculated new departure date and time is earlier than the last time by a predetermined time (for example, one hour) or more (step S312).

Then, the determination result of step S312 is Y
If it is ES, the alarm sending time at which the alarm message is to be sent is newly calculated from the new calculated scheduled departure date and time and the alarm time set on the in-vehicle information terminal 42 (step S313). The transmission time update flag is set (step S314),
Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S315 together with the case where the determination result of step S312 is NO, and after the recalculation completion flag is set (step S315), the process proceeds to step S30.
Move to 8.

Now, the message sending process in step S306 in FIG. 13 will be described. As shown in FIG. 14, the telephone number of the contact read out in step S303 (see FIG. 13) is dialed (step S303). S401), it is determined whether or not the telephone line with this contact is connected (step S40).
2) If the result of this determination is YES, a determination is made as to whether the alarm transmission time update flag has been set (step S403).

If the determination result in step S403 is NO, it is determined that there is no change in the alarm sending time, so a message indicating that the scheduled departure date is approaching, for example, "This is the XX center. A normal alarm message such as "Please start" is transmitted (step S404). If the decision result in the step S403 is YES, it is determined that the alarm transmission time has been changed due to traffic congestion or the like, and the recalculation is performed. The reason that the scheduled departure date is early and the date is approaching, including the reason that the departure is early such as "This is the XX Center. Early departure is required due to traffic conditions. Please start preparations." An alarm message is transmitted (step S405), and after the process of step S404, the process proceeds to step S40. Migration to the telephone line is disconnected (step S406), returns to the routine of FIG. 13 described above.

On the other hand, if the decision result in the above step S402 is NO, for example, if the number of redials is set to three, it is determined whether or not redialing has been performed three times (step S407). Judgment result is Y
If ES, the process returns to the routine of FIG. 13 described above. If the determination result is NO, the process waits for a redial interval time (step S408), and then returns to step S401 to repeat the same operation.

Therefore, according to the second embodiment, when it is expected that traffic congestion will be encountered, for example, based on traffic conditions and weather conditions on the route to the destination, the recalculated scheduled departure date and time will be An alarm message is sent that includes the reason that the scheduled departure date is earlier due to traffic congestion, so the user can know the reason that the scheduled departure date is earlier than expected by the alarm message, and newly calculate By departing at the scheduled departure date and time, it is possible to reach the destination at the scheduled date and time.

(Third Embodiment) A third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 15, the in-vehicle information terminal 45 in the present embodiment comprises a navigation device without a map display function, and does not have the gyro sensor 22, wheel speed sensor 23 and I / Fs 24 and 25 in FIG. A CD-RO storing map data for route guidance in addition to a list of departure points and destinations instead of the map data storage unit 29 of FIG.
M46 is provided, and a display unit 47 composed of a liquid crystal display or the like displays character information such as traffic conditions by FM multiplex broadcasting, character information received from the information center 11, an arrow indicating a route for route guidance, and the like. No map is displayed.

The present invention can be embodied even in an information providing system including the on-board information terminal 45 having such a configuration. In this case, the information providing system is equivalent to the first and second embodiments. The effect can be obtained.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the alarm time indicating how many minutes before the scheduled departure date and time a message indicating that the scheduled departure date is approaching is sent to the in-vehicle operation unit 31.
Has been described, the alarm time may be a predetermined fixed time.

Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, a case has been described where the communication means to which the information center 11 should transmit the alarm message is a portable telephone or a home telephone owned by the user. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any device that can receive an alarm message may be used.

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

[0070]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the driver or the like can know that the scheduled departure time is approaching by the alarm message via the communication means. Even when the destination is set in the system, the driver or the like does not need to know when to depart to the destination unlike the related art, which is very convenient.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, an alarm message can always be obtained a fixed time before the scheduled departure time.

Further, according to the third aspect of the present invention, the timing at which the alarm message is transmitted can be freely set by operating the vehicle-side operation unit, so that the timing of transmitting the alarm message matches the user's preference. It can be set as follows.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the user can know that the scheduled departure time is approaching while staying away from the car.

Furthermore, according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the alarm message including the reason that the scheduled departure date is earlier due to traffic congestion or the like is transmitted. You will be able to find out why it is hasten, and you will be able to reach your destination on time and on schedule.

[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 first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an operation explanatory diagram of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an operation explanatory diagram of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an operation explanatory diagram of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an operation explanatory diagram of the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an operation explanatory diagram of the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the first embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the first embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the first embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the second embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a partial block diagram of a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram of an information providing system as a background of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 5 Center-side database unit (storage unit) 6 Center-side communication unit 10 Center-side control unit 11 Information center 30, 47 Display unit (notification unit) 31 In-vehicle operation unit 32 In-vehicle communication unit 34 In-vehicle control unit 36 Text / voice Conversion unit (notification unit) 37 Amplifier (notification unit) 38 Speaker (notification unit) 42, 45 In-vehicle information terminal

Claims (5)

[Claims] Claims 1. Event information and weather information on various events held in a plurality of entertainment facilities, specific areas, and the like.
Searching the storage unit storing various information such as parking space information, searching for and transmitting desired information and an information center, accessing the information center and specifying the desired information, An information providing system comprising an in-vehicle information terminal including a navigation device that receives transmitted information, wherein the in-vehicle information terminal performs an operation of inputting position data of a destination and a scheduled date and time of arrival at the destination. A vehicle-side operation unit for
The in-vehicle communication unit, which receives data from the information center by transmitting data of the destination and the estimated arrival date and time input by the operation of the in-vehicle operation unit, and the data received by the in-vehicle communication unit. An informing unit that displays or audibly outputs information from the information center, and an in-vehicle control unit that controls the in-vehicle communication unit and the informing unit, wherein the information center receives information from the in-vehicle information terminal. A center-side communication unit that receives the destination position data and the expected arrival date and time data, and calculates a scheduled departure date and time based on the received destination position data and the expected arrival date and time data to perform the center-side communication. The data of the scheduled departure date and time is transmitted to the in-vehicle information terminal via the unit, and the scheduled departure date and time approaches before the set time of the scheduled departure date and time. An information providing system, comprising: a center-side control unit that transmits an alarm message to the effect to predetermined communication means via the center-side communication unit. 2. The information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the set time is a fixed time set in advance. 3. The information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the set time is input by operating the vehicle-side operation unit. 4. The information providing system according to claim 1, wherein said communication means is a portable telephone or a home telephone. 5. The center-side control unit recalculates the scheduled departure date and time based on traffic conditions, weather conditions, and the like on a route to the destination a predetermined time before the scheduled departure date and time. When the new scheduled departure date and time is earlier than the previous scheduled date and time, the alarm message including the reason that the departure is earlier than the set time before the new scheduled departure date and time is transmitted. 4. The information providing system according to any one of 4.