Navigation apparatus for mobile vehicle and navigation communication system

• US 20020089445A1
• Filed: 08/23/2001
• Published: 07/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
• Original Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
• Inventors: Sakuma, Koji, Odashima, Masahiro, Yamanaka, Tadamasa
• Granted Patent: US 6,828,936 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/357.08
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network

Abstract

A vehicle-equipped navigation apparatus and a navigation communication system which are capable of providing a clear display and preventing own vehicle position information from draining out to third parties. A setting part is provided for setting a remote vehicle either in a valid state or in an invalid state, such that only a remote vehicle position transmitted from a remote vehicle set in the valid state is displayed on a display together with an own vehicle position.

Claims

1. A mobile vehicle navigation apparatus for displaying the position of a mobile vehicle on a display, comprising:

a receiver for receiving information transmitted from another mobile vehicle, indicative of the position of said other mobile vehicle;

a setting part for setting said other mobile vehicle either in a valid state or in an invalid state; and

a display part for displaying the position of said other mobile vehicle received by said receiver on said display when said other mobile vehicle is set in the valid state.

2. A mobile vehicle navigation apparatus comprising:

a self detector for detecting its own position;

a receiver for receiving a mobile vehicle position request message transmitted from another mobile vehicle;

setting part for setting said other mobile vehicle either in a valid state or in an invalid state;

a determining part responsive to receipt of said mobile vehicle position request message for determining whether or not said other mobile vehicle, which is the originator of said mobile vehicle position request message, is set in the valid state; and

a mobile vehicle position return part for returning a mobile vehicle return position message including mobile vehicle position information indicative of the own position to said other mobile vehicle, which is the originator of said mobile vehicle position request message, when said determining part determines that said other mobile vehicle is set in the valid state.

3. A mobile vehicle navigation apparatus for displaying the position of a mobile vehicle on a display, comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting a mobile vehicle position request message for requesting another mobile vehicle for its position;

a receiver for receiving a mobile vehicle position return message returned from said other mobile vehicle, said message including mobile vehicle position information indicative of the position of said other mobile vehicle;

a setting part for setting said other mobile vehicle either in a valid state or in an invalid state;

a determining part responsive to receipt of said mobile vehicle position return message for determining whether or not said other mobile vehicle, which is the originator of said mobile vehicle position return message, is set in the valid state; and

a display part for displaying the position of said other mobile vehicle indicated by mobile vehicle position information included in said mobile vehicle position return message on said display, when said determining part determines that said other mobile vehicle is in the valid state.

4. A navigation communication system comprised of a mobile vehicle navigation apparatus equipped in each of a plurality of mobile vehicles for displaying the position of said mobile vehicle on a display, and a communication service center, wherein:

said mobile vehicle navigation apparatus equipped in one mobile vehicle comprises;

an own position detector for detecting its own position; and

a transmitter for transmitting position information indicative of the own position to said communication service center to transmit said position information to a mobile vehicle navigation apparatus equipped in another mobile vehicle,

said communication service center comprises;

a receiver for receiving said position information transmitted from said mobile vehicle navigation apparatus equipped in said one mobile vehicle; and

a transmitter for transmitting said received position information to a mobile vehicle navigation apparatus equipped in another mobile vehicle, and

said mobile vehicle navigation apparatus equipped in said other mobile vehicle comprises;

a receiver for receiving said position information transmitted from said communication service center; and

a display part for displaying the position of said mobile vehicle on a display based on said received position information,

wherein the position of said one mobile vehicle is displayed on the display of the mobile vehicle navigation apparatus equipped in said other mobile vehicle.

5. A navigation communication system according to claim 4, wherein:

said communication service center collects a commission for transmitting said position information transmitted from said mobile vehicle navigation apparatus equipped in said one mobile vehicle to the mobile vehicle navigation apparatus equipped in said other mobile vehicle by accounting to said mobile vehicle navigation apparatus of said one mobile vehicle.

6. A navigation communication system comprised of a mobile vehicle navigation apparatus equipped in each of a plurality of mobile vehicles for displaying the position of said mobile vehicle on a display, and a communication service center, wherein:

said mobile vehicle navigation apparatus equipped in one mobile vehicle comprises;

a transmitter for transmitting a mobile vehicle position request message for requesting another mobile vehicle for its position to said communication service center;

a section for receiving a mobile vehicle position return message transmitted from said communication service center, said message including mobile vehicle position information indicative of the position of said other mobile vehicle; and

a display part for displaying the position of said other mobile vehicle indicated by said mobile vehicle position information included in said mobile vehicle position return message on said display,

said communication service center comprises;

a first receiver for receiving said mobile vehicle position request message transmitted from said navigation apparatus of said one mobile vehicle;

a first transmitter for transmitting said mobile vehicle position request message received by said first receiver to a navigation apparatus equipped in said other mobile vehicle;

a second receiver for receiving said mobile vehicle position return message transmitted from said mobile vehicle navigation apparatus of said other mobile vehicle; and

a second transmitter for transmitting said mobile vehicle position return message received by said second receiver to said navigation apparatus of said one mobile vehicle, and

said mobile vehicle navigation apparatus equipped in said other navigation apparatus comprises;

an own position detector for detecting its own position;

a receiver for receiving said mobile vehicle position request message transmitted from said communication service center; and

a transmitter for transmitting a return mobile vehicle position message including mobile vehicle position information indicative of the own position to said communication service center,

wherein the position of said other mobile vehicle is displayed on a display of said mobile vehicle navigation apparatus equipped in said one mobile vehicle.

7. A navigation communication system according to claim 6, wherein:

said communication service center collects a commission for displaying the position of said other mobile vehicle on the display of said mobile vehicle navigation apparatus equipped in said one mobile vehicle by accounting to said mobile vehicle navigation apparatus of said one mobile vehicle.