Navigation system, route searching method, first communication terminal unit, second communication terminal unit, car navigation apparatus, information recorded medium

• US 20030060976A1
• Filed: 09/24/2002
• Published: 03/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
• Original Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
• Inventors: Sato, Tsuyoshi, Watanabe, Tomo, Oda, Tamami
• Application Number:
  US10/252,586
• Publication Number:
  US 20030060976A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/209
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3438 Rendez-vous, i.e. searching a destination where several users can meet, and the routes to this destination for these users; Ride sharing, i.e. searching a route such that at least two users can share a vehicle for at least part of the route
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096827 where the route is computed onboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096872 where instructions are given per voice
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096883 where input information is obtained using a mobile device, e.g. a mobile phone, a PDA

Abstract

A navigation system has a first communication terminal unit; a second communication terminal unit which communicates with the first communication terminal unit; and a car navigation apparatus. The first communication terminal unit transmits the self-location information to the second communication terminal unit. The second communication terminal unit receives the location information transmitted from the first communication terminal unit; and transfers the received location information to the car navigation apparatus. The car navigation apparatus sets up a destination on the basis of the location information transferred from the second communication terminal unit and searches for the route up to the destination.

Claims

1. A navigation system comprising:

a first communication terminal unit;

a second communication terminal unit which communicates with the first communication terminal unit; and

a car navigation apparatus;

wherein the first communication terminal unit comprises a location information transmitting device which transmits the self-location information to the second communication terminal unit, and

the second communication terminal unit comprises;

a location information receiving device which receives the location information transmitted from the first communication terminal unit; and

a location information transfer device which transfers the received location information to the car navigation apparatus, and

the car navigation apparatus comprises a route searching device which sets up a destination on the basis of the location information transferred from the second communication terminal unit and searches for the route up to the destination.

2. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the first communication terminal unit is a mobile communication terminal unit having a function of communicating with the car navigation apparatus, and the location information transmitting device of the first communication terminal unit transmits the location information after movement to the car navigation apparatus, if the self-location is moved after transmitting the self-location information to the second communication terminal unit.

3. The navigation system according to claim 2, wherein the car navigation apparatus further comprises a location information receiving device which receives the location information after movement transmitted from the first communication terminal unit.

4. The navigation system according to claim 3, wherein the route searching device of the car navigation apparatus resets the destination on the basis of the location information after movement, and searches for the route up to the destination again, if receiving the location information after movement.

5. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the first communication terminal unit has a function of communicating with the car navigation apparatus, and further comprises a location information request device which requests the location information of the car navigation apparatus to the car navigation apparatus, and the car navigation apparatus further comprises a location information transmitting device which transmits the self-location information to the first communication terminal unit, if there is a request for the location information from the first communication terminal unit.

6. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the car navigation apparatus has a function of communicating with the first communication terminal unit and further comprises a location information transmitting device which transmits the self-location information to the first communication terminal unit.

7. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the car navigation apparatus has a function of communicating with the first communication terminal unit and further comprises a location information transmitting device which periodically transmits the self-location information to the first communication terminal unit.

8. The navigation system according to claim 5, wherein the first communication terminal unit further comprises a location information receiving device which receives the location information transmitted from the car navigation apparatus, and a location information presenting device which presents the received location information to the user of the first communication terminal unit.

9. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the second communication terminal unit is a mobile communication terminal unit, and the location information transfer device of the second communication terminal unit has a short distance radio communication function to transfer the received location information to the car navigation apparatus using the short distance radio communication function.

22. An information recorded medium wherein a program for a car navigation apparatus for use in a navigation system according to claim 1, is recorded so as to be read by a computer, the program makes the computer function as:

a route searching device which sets up a destination on the basis of a location information transferred from a second communication terminal unit and searches for the route up to the destination.

23. An information recorded medium wherein a program for a second communication terminal unit for use in a navigation system according to claim 1, is recorded so as to be read by a computer, the program makes the computer function as:

a location information receiving device which receives a location information transmitted from a first communication terminal unit; and

a location information transfer device which transfers the received location information to a car navigation apparatus.

10. A first communication terminal unit in a navigation system comprising the first communication terminal unit, a second communication terminal unit which communicates with the first communication terminal unit, and receives the location information of the first communication terminal unit transmitted from the first communication terminal unit to transfer it to a car navigation apparatus, and the car navigation apparatus, mounted on the car, which sets up a destination on the basis of the location information of the first communication terminal unit transferred from the second communication terminal unit and searches for the route up to the destination, comprising:

a location information transmitting device which transmits the self-location information to the second communication terminal unit.

11. The first communication terminal unit in the navigation system according to claim 10, wherein the first communication terminal unit is a mobile communication terminal unit having a function of communicating with the car navigation apparatus, and the location information transmitting device transmits the location information after movement to the car navigation apparatus, if the self-location is moved after transmitting the self-location information to the second communication terminal unit.

12. The first communication terminal unit in the navigation system according to claim 10, further comprising a location information request device which requests the location information of the car navigation apparatus to the car navigation apparatus with a function of communicating with the car navigation apparatus.

13. The first communication terminal unit in the navigation system according to claim 10, further comprising:

a location information receiving device which receives the location information of the car navigation apparatus transmitted from the car navigation apparatus; and

a location information presenting device which presents the received location information to the user of the first communication terminal unit.

14. A second communication terminal unit in a navigation system comprising the second communication terminal unit, a first communication terminal unit which transmits the self-location information to the second communication terminal unit, and a car navigation apparatus, mounted on the car, which sets up a destination on the basis of the location information of the first communication terminal unit transferred from the second communication terminal unit and searches for the route up to the destination, comprising:

a location information receiving device which receives the location information transmitted from the first communication terminal unit; and

a location information transfer device which transfers the received location information to the car navigation apparatus.

15. A car navigation apparatus in a navigation system comprising a first communication terminal unit which transmits the self-location information to the second communication terminal unit, the second communication terminal unit which receives the location information of the first communication terminal unit transmitted from the first communication terminal unit to transfer it to the car navigation apparatus, and the car navigation apparatus, comprising:

a route searching device which sets up a destination on the basis of the location information transferred from the second communication terminal unit and searches for the route up to the destination.

16. The car navigation apparatus in the navigation system according to claim 15, wherein the car navigation apparatus has a function of communicating with the first communication terminal unit, and further comprises a location information receiving device which receives the location information of the first communication terminal unit after movement that is transmitted from the first communication terminal unit.

17. The car navigation apparatus in the navigation system according to claim 16, wherein the route searching device resets the destination on the basis of the location information after movement, and searches for the route up to the destination again, if receiving the location information after movement.

18. The car navigation apparatus in the navigation system according to claim 15, further comprising a location information transmitting device which transmits the self-location information to the first communication terminal unit with a function of communicating with the first communication terminal unit.

19. The car navigation apparatus in the navigation system according to claim 15, further comprising a location information transmitting device which periodically transmits the self-location information to the first communication terminal unit with a function of communicating with the first communication terminal unit.

20. A route searching method for use in a navigation system having a first communication terminal unit, a second communication terminal unit which communicates with the first communication terminal unit, and a car navigation apparatus, comprising:

a step of transmitting the self-location information to the second communication terminal unit by the first communication terminal unit;

a step of receiving the location information transmitted from the first communication terminal unit to transfer it to the car navigation apparatus by the second communication terminal unit; and

a step of setting up a destination on the basis of the location information transferred from the second communication terminal unit and searching for the route up to the destination by the car navigation apparatus.

21. The route searching method for use in the navigation system according to claim 20, further comprising:

a step of transmitting the location information after movement to the car navigation apparatus by the first communication terminal unit, if the location of the first communication terminal unit is moved after the location information is transmitted from the first communication terminal unit to the second communication terminal unit;

a step of receiving the location information after movement transmitted from the first communication terminal unit by the car navigation apparatus; and

a step of resetting the destination on the basis of the received location information after movement, and searching for the route up to the destination by the car navigation apparatus.