Service-rendering system, service-rendering apparatus and method, and navigation apparatus and method

• US 20020049529A1
• Filed: 07/31/2001
• Published: 04/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Ikeda, Kiyokazu
• Granted Patent: US 6,434,478 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/200
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network

Abstract

A service-rendering system is disclosed. In the system, control information is generated for controlling operations of a navigation apparatus provided on a movable body by cooperation of a terminal operated by the user and a service-rendering apparatus for rendering services, the control information is transmitted to the navigation apparatus located at a place separated from the terminal and from the service-rendering apparatus, and information on navigation is generated in advance prior to use of the movable body by the user.

Claims

1. A service-rendering system for transmitting data, which is used for controlling operations of a first apparatus provided on a movable body existing at a separated location, to said first apparatus, said service-rendering system comprising:

a service-rendering apparatus used for generating control data for controlling operations of said first apparatus and used for transmitting said generated control data to said first apparatus by way of a radio transmission apparatus connected to a network and used for transmitting data to said first apparatus by radio transmission;

a terminal connected to said service-rendering apparatus through said network and used for transmitting data to be used by said service-rendering apparatus for generating said control data to said service-rendering apparatus;

a communication apparatus connected to said service-rendering apparatus through said network and used for transmitting said control data received from said service-rendering apparatus to said first apparatus by radio transmission; and

a control apparatus provided on said movable body, connected to said communication apparatus by radio communication, used for receiving said control data from said radio transmission apparatus and used for controlling said first apparatus.

2. A service-rendering system according to claim 1, wherein said service-rendering apparatus comprises:

communication means for communicating data with said terminal and said communication apparatus through said network;

data storage means for storing data to be transmitted to said terminal connected through said network at said terminal'"'"'s request for rendering of a service;

authentication-data storage means for storing authentication data used for forming a judgment as to whether or not said terminal connected to said service-rendering apparatus through said network is entitled to said rendering of said service;

control-data storage means for storing said control data generated for each terminal entitled to said rendering of said service; and

control means for forming a judgment as to whether or not said terminal is entitled to said rendering of said service on the basis of authentication data stored in said authentication-data storage means and authentication request data for a service-rendering request received by said communication means;

transmitting data stored in said data storage means to said terminal entitled to said rendering of said service;

storing control data in said control-data storage means by classifying said control data by terminal on the basis of data received from said terminal to be used for generating said control data; and

controlling said communication means to transmit control data stored in said control-data storage means to said control apparatus associated with said terminal.

3. A service-rendering system according to claim 1, wherein said control apparatus comprises radio communication means for communicating data by radio communication with said communication apparatus;

storage means for storing said control data received by said radio communication means;

power-supply control means for controlling a power supply of said first apparatus; and

said control means for controlling said storage means to store said control data received by said radio communication means;

controlling said power-supply control means to turn on said power supply of said first apparatus; and

controlling said first apparatus on the basis of said control data.

4. A navigation apparatus, mounted on a movable body, for setting a navigation operation based on control data received from a service-rendering apparatus, said navigation apparatus comprising:

radio communication means for communicating data by radio communication;

storage means for storing said control data received by said radio communication means;

power-supply control means for controlling a power supply of said navigation apparatus;

time-measuring means for measuring the length of a time;

navigation-information-generating means for generating navigation information; and

control means for controlling said storage means to store said control data received by said radio communication means;

controlling said power-supply control means to turn on and off said power supply of said navigation apparatus on the basis of said control data and said time data measured by said time-measuring means; and

controlling said navigation-information-generating means to generate said navigation information based on said control data.

5. A navigation apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a reception means for receiving traffic data transmitted by radio communication, wherein said navigation-information-generating means generates said navigation information based on said traffic data received by said reception means.

6. A navigation apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said control means executes control to start generation of said navigation information at a time preceding a departure time by a predetermined time length based on said departure time included in said control data and time data generated by said time measuring means.

7. A navigation apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said power supply is turned off upon completion of said generation of said navigation information at a time preceding a departure time by a predetermined period till said power supply is turned on.

8. A service-rendering apparatus equipped with a radio communication function, used for generating control data for controlling a navigation apparatus installed on a movable body and used for transmitting said control data to said navigation apparatus, said service-rendering apparatus comprising:

communication means used for communicating with a radio communication apparatus for transmitting said control data to said navigation apparatus by radio transmission and used for communicating with a terminal operated by the user through a network;

authentication-data storage means for storing authentication data for authenticating an ID code received from said terminal by associating said authentication data with one of navigation-apparatus IDs for identifying said navigation apparatus;

content-generation-data storage means for storing content generation data used for generating a content transmitted to said terminal and used for requesting the user to enter a command to generate said control data;

control-data storage means for storing control data for each of said navigation-apparatus IDs; and

control means for executing the steps of authenticating an ID code received by said communication means from said terminal by comparison of said ID code with said authentication data stored in said authentication-data storage means and forming a judgment as to whether or not to establish a communication with said terminal;

generating a content based on said content generation data stored in said content-generation-data storage means for said terminal with said ID code thereof authenticated;

controlling said communication means to transmit said generated content to said terminal with said ID code thereof authenticated;

generating control data based on a command received by said communication means from said terminal with said ID code thereof authenticated and storing said generated control data in said control-data storage means by associating said control data with one of said navigation-apparatus IDs which is associated with said terminal'"'"'s ID code stored in said authentication-data storage means; and

controlling said communication means to drive said radio communication apparatus to transmit said control data to a navigation apparatus identified by said navigation-apparatus ID associated with said control data in said control-data storage means.

9. A service-rendering apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said control means controls said communication means to receive predetermined data from another service-rendering apparatus connected to said network at a request made by said authenticated terminal to receive said predetermined data presented as a service rendered by said other service-rendering apparatus.

10. A service-rendering apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a time-measuring means for generating time data, wherein said service-rendering apparatus transmits control data stored in said control-data storage apparatus to a predetermined navigation apparatus at a predetermined time based on said time data generated by said time-measuring means.

11. A service-rendering apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said service-rendering apparatus transmits said control data to said predetermined navigation apparatus at a time preceding a navigation start time included in said control data by a predetermined time length.

12. A service-rendering apparatus according to claim 8 wherein a content transmitted to said terminal is map data.

13. A service-rendering apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising an electronic-mail-transmitting means, wherein said control means controls said electronic-mail-transmitting means to generate an electronic mail containing predetermined data based on said control data and controls said communication means to transmit said electronic mail to a predetermined mail address at a predetermined time based on said control data.

15. A navigation apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising a navigation-information storage means for storing navigation information generated by said navigation-information-generating means,

wherein said control means executes control to store said navigation information into said navigation-information storage means.

16. A navigation apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising time-measuring means for generating time data,

wherein said control means controls said navigation-information-generating means to generate navigation information at a time preceding a navigation start time included in said control data by a time length based on said time data generated by said time-measuring means.

17. A navigation apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising a power-supply control means for controlling a main power supply of said navigation apparatus,

wherein said control apparatus controls said power-supply control means to turn on said main power supply of said navigation apparatus at a time said navigation information is generated.

19. A method for controlling a navigation apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said navigation information is generated prior to a navigation start time included in said control data.

20. A method for controlling a navigation apparatus according to claim 18, wherein a main power supply of said navigation apparatus is turned on before said navigation information is generated.

21. A method for controlling a navigation apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said generated navigation information is stored.

14. A navigation apparatus provided on a movable body communicating with a service-rendering apparatus generating control data used for navigating said movable body at a request made by the user by operating a terminal, said navigation apparatus comprising:

radio communication means for receiving control data generated by said service-rendering apparatus and transmitted by way of a radio communication apparatus;

storage means for storing said control means received by said radio communication means;

playback means for playing back geographical data used for navigation from a recording medium for storing said geographical data;

measurement means for measuring a present position of said movable body;

display means for displaying a map based on geographical data played back by said playback means;

navigation-information-generating means for generating navigation information based on travel-destination data included in said control data, present-position data measured by said measurement means, and geographical data played back by said playback means; and

control means for controlling said storage means to store control data received by said radio communication means;

controlling said measurement means to measure said present position of said movable body;

controlling said playback means to play back geographical data based on travel-destination data included in said control data and present-position data measured by said measurement means;

controlling said navigation-information-generating means to generate navigation information; and

controlling said display means to display a map generated on said basis of said reproduced geographical data and said generated navigation information.

18. A method for controlling a navigation apparatus provided on a movable body communicating with a service-rendering apparatus for generating control data used for navigating said movable body at a request made by the user by operating a terminal, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving said control data from said service-rendering apparatus;

storing said received control data in a storage means provided in said navigation apparatus;

measuring a present position of said movable body;

generating navigation information based on travel-destination data included in said control data and based on data on said present position; and

displaying said generated navigation on a display unit.

22. A service-rendering method for generating control data for controlling a navigation apparatus installed on a movable body and provided with a radio communication function and for transmitting said control data to said navigation apparatus, said service-rendering method comprising the steps of:

receiving an ID code transmitted by a terminal operated by the user;

authenticating said received ID code;

transmitting a content to said terminal if said terminal is authenticated successfully as a terminal having a right to receive a service allowed by authentication;

receiving a command from said authenticated terminal;

generating control data based on said received command; and

transmitting said generated control data to said navigation apparatus associated with said ID code.

23. A service-rendering method according to claim 22, further comprising the step of receiving predetermined data from another service-rendering apparatus at a request made by said authenticated terminal to collect said predetermined data from said other service-rendering apparatus.

24. A service-rendering method according to claim 22, further comprising the step of storing said generated control data by classifying said control data by ID code.

25. A service-rendering method according to claim 24 wherein said stored control data is transmitted to a predetermined navigation apparatus at a predetermined time.

26. A service-rendering method according to claim 25 wherein said stored control data is transmitted to said predetermined navigation apparatus at a time preceding a navigation start time included in said control data by a predetermined time length.

27. A service-rendering method according to claim 22, further comprising the step of transmitting an electronic mail including predetermined data to a predetermined mail address at a predetermined time on the basis of said control data.

29. An service-rendering system according to claim 28 wherein said control data is transmitted at a predetermined time prior to a time indicated by time data included in said control data.

28. A service-rendering system comprising:

a navigation apparatus provided with at least a radio communication terminal function, installed on a movable body and identified by a peculiar one of apparatus IDs which is assigned to said navigation apparatus as an apparatus ID inherent to said navigation apparatus;

a service server provided with a service-rendering function and used for storing said apparatus IDs each assigned to one of a plurality of navigation apparatuses each capable of rendering a service;

a user terminal;

one or more communication networks enabling communications between said navigation apparatus and said service server and communications between the user terminal and said service server;

access means for allowing the user terminal to make an access to said service server through said communication network;

control-data-generating means for generating control data for at least controlling operations of said navigation apparatus associated with the user terminal in accordance with an operation carried out on the user terminal already making an access to said service server and for requesting said service server to store said control data;

transmission means for transmitting said control data to a specific one of said navigation apparatuses which is accessed by said service server by using said apparatus ID assigned to said specific navigation apparatus; and

control means for controlling said navigation apparatus to carry out a predetermined operation based on received control data.

30. A navigation apparatus mounted on a movable body, comprising:

communication means for enabling a communication through a predetermined communication network with a service server for storing control data generated in accordance with data instructed through a communication with a user terminal associated with said navigation apparatus; and

control means for executing control to carry out a predetermined operation based on said control data received by said communication means to be used for controlling said predetermined operation of said navigation apparatus.

31. A navigation apparatus according to claim 30 wherein said control means is capable of executing control to carry out said predetermined operation at a predetermined time prior to a time indicated by time data included in said control data.

32. A navigation apparatus according to claim 30 wherein said control means is capable of carrying a route search based on positional data included in said control data as said predetermined operation.

33. A navigation apparatus according to claim 30, further comprising a traffic-data-acquiring means for receiving and acquiring data on traffic,

wherein said control means is capable of controlling said traffic-data-acquiring means to acquire said data on traffic as said predetermined operation.