Method and device for providing information related to activity of user

• US 20020058520A1
• Filed: 11/13/2001
• Published: 05/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Nakagawa, Katsuya
• Granted Patent: US 7,266,376 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.3
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096741 where the source of the transmitted information selects which information to transmit to each vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard

Abstract

An information providing system includes a mobile terminal and an information providing device. The mobile terminal includes a communication circuit transmitting positional information representing a position of the mobile terminal to the information providing device in response to an inquiry from the information providing device. The information providing device includes a storage circuit storing plan information representing a plan to be executed by the user of the mobile terminal, and a control circuit generating traveling information related to traveling for the user to execute the plan and transmitting the traveling information to the mobile terminal based on the positional information received from the mobile terminal and the plan information stored in the storage circuit. The mobile terminal further includes a display circuit displaying the traveling information received from the information providing device.

Claims

1. An information providing system, comprising a mobile terminal and an information providing device,

said mobile terminal including

a communication circuit communicating with said information providing device,

a detection circuit detecting a position of said mobile terminal,

an output circuit outputting information, and

a control circuit connected to said communication circuit, said detection circuit and said output circuit, and controlling said mobile terminal,

said control circuit including a circuit controlling said detection circuit and said communication circuit such that positional information representing a position of said mobile terminal is transmitted to said information providing device,

said information providing device including

a communication circuit communicating with said mobile terminal,

a first storage circuit storing plan information representing a plan to be executed by a user of said mobile terminal, and

a control circuit connected to said communication circuit and said first storage circuit, and controlling said information providing device,

said control circuit of said information providing device including a circuit controlling said communication circuit such that information related to an activity for executing said plan is transmitted to said mobile terminal, based on said positional information received from said mobile terminal and said plan information stored in said first storage circuit,

said control circuit of said mobile terminal further including a circuit controlling said output circuit such that the information related to the activity for executing said plan received from said information providing device is output.

2. The information providing system according to claim 1, wherein

said plan information includes location information representing an execution location where said plan is executed, and

said control circuit of said information providing device includes

a circuit conducting a search for a route of traveling from a position of said mobile terminal to said execution location, based on said positional information and said location information, and

a circuit controlling said communication circuit such that information representing said route of traveling is transmitted to said mobile terminal.

3. The information providing system according to claim 1, wherein

said plan information includes location information representing an execution location where said plan is executed and time information representing execution time at which said plan is executed, and

said control circuit of said information providing device includes

a circuit conducting a search for a route of traveling from a position of said mobile terminal to said execution location, based on said positional information and said location information,

a circuit calculating time required for said traveling, based on said execution time and said route, and

a circuit controlling said communication circuit such that information representing said route of traveling and information representing said time required for traveling are transmitted to said mobile terminal.

4. The information providing system according to claim 3, wherein

said information providing device further includes a second storage circuit storing event information in connection with a location where an event is held and time required for execution of the event, and

said control circuit of said information providing device further includes

a circuit calculating spare time before start of traveling, based on said time required for traveling,

a circuit conducting a search for an event that can be executed by a user of said mobile terminal, from event information stored in said second storage circuit, based on said spare time, said positional information, said location where the event is held, and said time required for execution of the event, and

a circuit controlling said communication circuit such that event information representing the event retrieved as a result of said search is transmitted to said mobile terminal.

5. The information providing system according to claim 3, wherein

said information providing device further includes

a second storage circuit storing event information in connection with a location where an event is held, time required for execution of the event, and a detail of the event, and

a third storage circuit storing preference information representing a preference of said user, and

said control circuit of said information providing device further includes

a circuit calculating spare time before start of traveling, based on said time required for traveling,

a circuit conducting a search for an event that can be executed by a user of said mobile terminal, from the event information stored in said second storage circuit, based on said spare time, said positional information, said location where the event is held, said time required for execution of the event, and a degree of matching between said preference information and said detail of the event, and

a circuit controlling said communication circuit such that event information representing the event retrieved as a result of said search is transmitted to said mobile terminal.

6. The information providing system according to claim 3, wherein

said information providing device further includes

a search circuit searching for weather information representing weather, and

a second storage circuit storing event information in connection with a location where an event is held, time required for execution of the event, and weather suitable for the event, and

said control circuit of said information providing device further includes

a circuit searching for weather information representing weather at a position specified by said positional information, using said search circuit,

a circuit calculating spare time before start of traveling, based on said time required for traveling,

a circuit conducting a search for an event that can be executed by an user of said mobile terminal, from event information stored in said second storage circuit, based on said spare time, said positional information, said location where the event is held, said time required for execution of the event, and a degree of matching between said weather information and said weather suitable for the event, and

a circuit controlling said communication circuit such that event information representing the event retrieved as a result of said search is transmitted to said mobile terminal.

7. An information providing device used in an information providing system including a mobile terminal and an information providing device, wherein

said mobile terminal transmits positional information representing a position of said mobile terminal to said information providing device, and outputs information received from said information providing device,

said information providing device comprises

a communication circuit communicating with said mobile terminal,

a first storage circuit storing plan information representing a plan to be executed by a user of said mobile terminal, and

a control circuit connected to said communication circuit and said first storage circuit, and controlling said information providing device, and

said control circuit includes a circuit controlling said communication circuit such that information related to an activity for executing said plan is transmitted to said mobile terminal, based on said positional information received from said mobile terminal and said plan information stored in said first storage circuit.

8. The information providing device according to claim 7, wherein

said plan information includes location information representing an execution location where said plan is executed, and

said control circuit includes

a circuit searching for a route of traveling from the position of said mobile terminal to said execution location, based on said positional information and said location information, and

a circuit controlling said communication circuit such that information representing said route of traveling to said mobile terminal.

9. The information providing device according to claim 7, wherein

said plan information includes location information representing an execution location where said plan is executed and time information representing execution time at which said plan is executed, and

said control circuit includes

a circuit searching for a route of traveling from the position of said mobile terminal to said execution location, based on said positional information and said location information,

a circuit calculating time required for said traveling, based on said execution time and said route, and

a circuit controlling said communication circuit such that information representing said route of traveling and information representing said time required for traveling are transmitted to said mobile terminal.

10. The information providing device according to claim 9, further comprising:

a second storage circuit storing event information in connection with a location where an event is held and time required for execution of the event,

said control circuit further including

a circuit calculating spare time before start of traveling based on time required for said traveling,

a circuit conducting a search for an event that can be executed by a user of said mobile terminal, from the event information stored in said second storage circuit, based on said spare time, said positional information, said location where the event is held, and said time required for execution of the event, and

a circuit controlling said communication circuit such that event information representing the event retrieved as a result of said search is transmitted to said mobile terminal.

11. The information providing device according to claim 9, further comprising:

a second storage circuit storing event information in connection with a location where an event is held, time required for execution of the event, and a detail of the event, and

a third storage circuit storing preference information representing a preference of said user,

said control circuit further including

a circuit calculating spare time before start of traveling, based on said time required for traveling,

a circuit conducting a search for an event that can be executed by a user of said mobile terminal, from the event information stored in said second storage circuit, based on said spare time, said positional information, said location where the event is held, said time required for execution of the event, and a degree of matching between said preference information and said detail of the event, and

a circuit controlling said communication circuit such that event information representing said event retrieved as a result of said search is transmitted to said mobile terminal.

12. The information providing device according to claim 9, further comprising:

a search circuit searching for weather information representing weather, and

a second storage circuit storing event information in connection with a location where an event is held, time required for execution of the event, and weather suitable for the event,

said control circuit further including

a circuit searching for weather information representing weather at a position specified by said positional information, using said search circuit,

a circuit calculating spare time before start of traveling, based on said time required for traveling,

a circuit conducting a search for an event that can be executed by a user of said mobile terminal, from the event information stored in said second storage circuit, based on said spare time, said positional information, said location where the event is held, said time required for execution of the event, and a degree of matching between said weather information and said weather suitable for the event, and

a circuit controlling said communication circuit such that event information representing the event retrieved as a result of said search is transmitted to said mobile terminal.

14. The information providing system according to claim 13, wherein

said plan information includes location information representing an execution location where said plan is executed, and

said control means of said information providing device includes

a means for searching for a route of traveling from a position of said mobile terminal to said execution location, based on said positional information and said location information, and

a means for controlling said communication means such that information representing said route of traveling is transmitted to said mobile terminal.

15. The information providing system according to claim 13, wherein

said plan information includes location information representing an execution location where said plan is executed, and time information representing execution time at which said plan is executed, and

said control means of said information providing device includes

a means for searching for a route of traveling from a position of said mobile terminal to said execution location, based on said positional information and said location information,

a means for calculating time required for said traveling, based on said execution time and said route, and

a means for controlling said communication means such that information representing said route of traveling and information representing said time required for traveling are transmitted to said mobile terminal.

16. The information providing system according to claim 15, wherein

said information providing device further includes a second storage means for storing event information in connection with a location where an event is held and time required for execution of the event, and

said control means of said information providing device further includes

a means for calculating spare time before start of traveling, based on said time required for traveling,

a means for conducting a search for an event that can be executed by a user of said mobile terminal, from the event information stored in said second storage means, based on said spare time, said positional information, said location where the event is held, and said time required for execution of the event, and

a means for controlling said communication means such that event information representing the event retrieved as a result of said search to said mobile terminal.

17. The information providing system according to claim 15, wherein

said information providing device further includes

a second storage means for storing event information in connection with a location where an event is held, time required for execution of the event, and a detail of the event, and

a third storage means for storing preference information representing a preference of said user, and

said control means of said information providing device further includes

a means for calculating spare time before start of traveling, based on said time required for traveling,

a means for conducting a search for an event that can be executed by a user of said mobile terminal, from the event information sorted in said second storage means, based on said spare time, said positional information, said location where an event is held, said time required for execution of the event, and a degree of matching between said preference information and said detail of the event, and

a means for controlling said communication means such that event information representing the event retrieved as a result of said search is transmitted to said mobile terminal.

18. The information providing system according to claim 15, wherein

said information providing device further includes

a search means for searching for weather information representing weather, and

a second storage means for storing event information in connection with a location where an event is held, time required for execution of the event, and weather suitable for the event, and

said control means of said information providing device further includes

a means for searching for weather information representing weather at a position specified by said positional information, using said search means,

a means for calculating spare time before start of traveling, based on said time required for traveling,

a means for conducting a search for an event that can be executed by a user of said mobile terminal, from the event information stored in said second storage means, based on said spare time, said positional information, said location where the event is held, said time required for execution of the event, and a degree of matching between said weather information and said weather suitable for the event, and

a means for controlling said communication means such that event information representing the event retrieved as a result of said search is transmitted to said mobile terminal.

20. The information providing device according to claim 19, wherein

said plan information includes location information representing an execution location where said plan is executed, and

said control means includes

a means for searching for a route of traveling from a position of said mobile terminal to said execution location, based on said positional information and said location information, and

a means for controlling said communication means such that information representing said route of traveling is transmitted to said mobile terminal.

21. The information providing device according to claim 19, wherein

said plan information includes location information representing an execution location where said plan is executed, and time information representing execution time at which said plan is executed, and

said control means includes

a means for searching for a route of traveling from a position of said mobile terminal to said execution location, based on said positional information and said location information,

a means for calculating time required for said traveling, based on said execution time and said route, and

a means for controlling said communication means such that information representing said route of traveling and information representing said time required for traveling are transmitted to said mobile terminal.

22. The information providing device according to claim 21, further comprising a second storage means for storing event information in connection with a location where an event is held and time required for execution of the event,

said control means further including

a means for calculating spare time before start of traveling, based on said time required for traveling,

a means for conducting a search for an event that can be executed by a user of said mobile terminal, from the event information stored in said second storage means, based on said spare time, said positional information, said location where the event is held, and said time required for execution of the event, and

a means for controlling said communication means such that event information representing the event retrieved as a result of said search is transmitted to said mobile terminal.

23. The information providing device according to claim 21, further comprising:

a second storage means for storing event information in connection with a location where an event is held, time required for execution of the event, and a detail of the event, and

a third storage means for storing preference information representing a preference of said user,

said control means further including

a means for calculating spare time before start of traveling, based on said time required for traveling,

a means for conducting a search for an event that can be executed by a user of said mobile terminal, from the event information stored in said second storage means, based on said spare time, said positional information, said location where the event is held, said time required for execution of the event, and a degree of matching between said preference information and said detail of the event, and

a means for controlling said communication means such that event information representing the event retrieved as a result of said search is transmitted to said mobile terminal.

24. The information providing device according to claim 21, further comprising:

a search means for searching for weather information representing weather, and

a second storage means for storing event information in connection with a location where an event is held, time required for execution of the event, and weather suitable for the event,

said control means further including

a means for searching for weather information representing weather at a position specified by said positional information, using said search means,

a means for calculating spare time before start of traveling based on said time required for traveling,

a means for conducting a search for an event that can be executed by a user of said mobile terminal, from the event information stored in said second storage means, based on said spare time, said positional information, said location where the event is held, said time required for execution of the event, and a degree of matching between said weather information and said weather suitable for the event, and

a means for controlling said communication means such that event information representing the event retrieved as a result of said search is transmitted to said mobile terminal.

26. The information providing method according to claim 25, wherein

said plan information includes location information representing an execution location where said plan is executed,

said step of generating information related to the activity includes the step of searching for a route of traveling from the position of said mobile terminal to said execution location, based on said positional information and said location information, and

said step of transmitting information related to the activity includes the step of transmitting information representing said route of traveling to said mobile terminal.

27. The information providing method according to claim 25, wherein

said plan information includes location information representing an execution location where said plan is executed and time information representing execution time at which said plan is executed,

said step of generating information related to the activity includes the steps of

searching for a route of traveling from the position of said mobile terminal to said execution location, based on said positional information and said location information, and

calculating time required for said traveling, based on said execution time and said route, and

said step of transmitting information related to the activity includes the step of transmitting, to said mobile terminal, information representing said route of traveling and information representing said time required for said traveling.

28. The information providing method according to claim 27, further comprising the step of preparing event information in connection with a location where an event is held and time required for execution of the event,

said step -of generating information related to the activity further including the steps of

calculating spare time before start of traveling based on time required for said traveling, and

conducting a search for an event that can be executed by a user of said mobile terminal, from said prepared event information, based on said spare time, said positional information, said location where the event is held and said time required for execution of the event,

said step of transmitting information related to the activity further including the step of transmitting event information representing the event retrieved as a result of said search to said mobile terminal.

29. The information providing method according to claim 27, further comprising the steps of:

preparing event information in connection with a location where an event is held, time required for execution of the event, and a detail of the event, and

preparing preference information representing a preference of said user,

said step of generating information related to the activity further including the steps of

calculating spare time before start of traveling based on said time required for traveling, and

conducting a search for an event that can be executed by a user of said mobile terminal, from said prepared event information, based on said spare time, said positional information, said location where the event is held, said time required for execution of the event, and a degree of matching between said preference information and said detail of the event,

said step of transmitting information related to the activity further including the step of transmitting event information representing the event retrieved as a result of said search to said mobile terminal.

30. The information providing method according to claim 27, further comprising the step of preparing event information in connection with a location where an event is held, time required for execution of the event, and weather suitable for the event,

said step of generating information related to the activity further including the steps of

searching for weather information representing weather at a position specified by said positional information,

calculating spare time before start of traveling based on said time required for traveling, and

conducting a search for an event that can be executed by a user of said mobile terminal, from said prepared event information, based on said spare time, said positional information, said location where the event is held, said time required for execution of the event, and a degree of matching between said weather information and said weather suitable for the event,

said step of transmitting said information related to the activity further including the step of transmitting event information representing the event retrieved as a result of said search to said mobile terminal.

13. An information providing system, comprising a mobile terminal and an information providing device,

said mobile terminal including

a communication means for communicating with said information providing device,

a detection means for detecting a position of said mobile terminal,

an output means for outputting information, and

a control means connected to said communication means, said detection means and said output means, for controlling said mobile terminal,

said control means including a means for controlling said detection means and said communication means such that positional information representing a position of said mobile terminal is transmitted to said information providing device,

said information providing device including

a communication means for communicating with said mobile terminal,

a first storage means for storing plan information representing a plan to be executed by a user of said mobile terminal, and

a control means connected to said communication means and said first storage means, for controlling said information providing device,

said control means of said information providing device including a means for controlling said communication means such that information related to an activity for executing said plan is transmitted to said mobile terminal, based on said positional information received from said mobile terminal and said plan information stored in said first storage means,

said control means of said mobile terminal further including a means for controlling said output means such that the information related to the activity for executing said plan, received from said information providing device, is output.

19. An information providing device used in an information providing system including a mobile terminal and the information providing device, wherein

said mobile terminal transmits positional information representing a position of said mobile terminal to said information providing device, and outputs information received from said information providing device,

said information providing device further includes

a communication means for communicating with said mobile terminal,

a first storage means for storing plan information representing a plan to be executed by a user of said mobile terminal, and

a control means connected to said communication means and said first storage means, for controlling said information providing device, and

said control means includes a means for controlling said communication means such that information related to an activity for executing said plan is transmitted to said mobile terminal, based on said positional information received from said mobile terminal and said plan information stored in said first storage means.

25. An information providing method providing a mobile terminal with information, comprising the steps of:

preparing plan information representing a plan to be executed by a user of said mobile terminal,

receiving positional information representing a position of said mobile terminal from said mobile terminal,

generating information related to an activity for executing said plan, based on said positional information received at said step of receiving the positional information and based on said plan information prepared at said step of preparing the plan information, and

transmitting said information related to the activity generated at said step of generating information related to the activity to said mobile terminal.

31. A computer-readable recording medium in which a program implementing an information providing method providing a mobile terminal with information is recorded, wherein

said information providing method includes the steps of

preparing plan information representing a plan to be executed by a user of said mobile terminal,

receiving positional information representing a position of said mobile terminal from said mobile terminal,

generating information related to an activity for executing said plan, based on said positional information received at said step of receiving the positional information and based on said plan information prepared at said step of preparing the plan information, and

transmitting, to said mobile terminal, said information related to the activity generated at said step of generating information related to the activity.

32. The recording medium according to claim 31, wherein

said plan information includes location information representing an execution location where said plan is executed,

said step of generating said information related to the activity includes the step of searching for a route of traveling from a position of said mobile terminal to said execution location, based on said positional information and said location information, and

said step of transmitting said information related to the activity includes the step of transmitting information representing said route of traveling to said mobile terminal.

33. The recording medium according to claim 31, wherein

said plan information includes location information representing an execution location where said plan is executed and time information representing execution time at which said plan is executed,

said step of generating information related to the activity includes the steps of

searching for a route of traveling from the position of said mobile terminal to said execution location, based on said positional information and said location information, and

calculating time required for said traveling based on said execution time and said route, and

said step of transmitting information related to the activity includes the step of transmitting, to said mobile terminal, information representing said route of traveling and information representing said time required for traveling.

34. The recording medium according to claim 33, wherein

said information providing method further includes the step of preparing event information in connection with a location where an event is held and time required for execution of the event,

said step of generating information related to the activity further includes the steps of

calculating spare time before start of traveling, based on said time required for traveling, and

conducting a search for an event that can be executed by a user of said mobile terminal, from said prepared event information, based on said spare time, said positional information, said location where the event is held, and said time required for execution of the event, and

said step of transmitting said information related to the activity further includes the step of transmitting event information representing the event retrieved as a result of said search to said mobile terminal.

35. The recording medium according to claim 33, wherein

said information providing method further includes the steps of

preparing event information in connection with a location where an event is held, time required for execution of the event, and a detail of the event, and

preparing preference information representing a preference of said user,

said step of generating information related to the activity further includes the steps of

calculating spare time before start of traveling, based on said time required for traveling, and

conducting a search for an event that can be executed by a user of said mobile terminal, from said prepared event information, based on said spare time, said positional information, said location where the event is held, said time required for execution of the event, and a degree of matching between said preference information and said detail of the event, and

said step of transmitting information related to the activity further includes the step of transmitting event information representing the event retrieved as a result of said search to said mobile terminal.

36. The recording medium according to claim 33, wherein

said information providing method further includes the step of preparing event information in connection with a location where an event is held, time required for execution of the event, and weather suitable for the event,

said step of generating information related to the activity further includes the steps of

searching for weather information representing weather at a position specified by said positional information,

calculating spare time before start of traveling based on said time required for traveling, and

conducting a search for an event that can be executed by a user of said mobile terminal, from said prepared event information, based on said spare time, said positional information, said location where the event is held, said time required for execution of the event, and a degree of matching between said weather information and said weather suitable for the event, and

said step of transmitting information related to the activity further includes the step of transmitting event information representing the event retrieved as a result of said search to said mobile terminal.