Communication terminal apparatus, connection control method for the apparatus and program for the method

• US 20040054461A1
• Filed: 09/08/2003
• Published: 03/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
• Original Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
• Inventors: Arakawa, Takeharu
• Granted Patent: US 7,082,366 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/200
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096844 where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096894 where input is assisted by the navigation device, i.e. the user does not type the complete name of the destination, e.g. using zip codes, telephone numbers, progressively selecting from initial letters

Abstract

In the case of connecting a line for making connection between communication unit 12 mounted in a vehicle-mounted terminal 10 and center communication unit 21 of an information center 20 and acquiring information accumulated in storage unit 23 of the information center 20, control unit 13 of the vehicle-mounted terminal 10 predicts the necessity for connection between the communication unit 12 and the information center 20 and when it is decided that there is a possibility of the connection and there is the necessity, start processing of line connection to the information center is previously started and information can be immediately sent via a line in which the connection is completed at a point in time of actually sending information from the side of the vehicle-mounted terminal 10 to the side of the information center 20.

Claims

1. A communication terminal apparatus comprising:

a display unit;

a communication unit;

a connection control unit for controlling a connection state between the communication unit and an information center to make connection to the information center through the communication unit to acquire information from the information center; and

a prediction unit for predicting the necessity for connection between the communication unit and the information center,

wherein the connection control unit starts connection to the information center based on a prediction result of the prediction unit.

2. A communication terminal apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the prediction unit monitors movement of a mobile unit and predicts the necessity for connection between the communication unit and the information center.

3. A communication terminal apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the prediction unit detects a driving state of a mobile unit to monitor whether or not there is a possibility that the mobile unit deviates from a driving scheduled route and predicts the necessity for connection between the communication unit and the information center.

4. A communication terminal apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein detection of a driving state of a mobile unit by the prediction unit is comparison of a driving position and a driving direction of the mobile unit with a driving scheduled route.

5. A communication terminal apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein detection of a driving state of a mobile unit by the prediction unit is comparison of traffic information with a driving scheduled route.

6. A connection control method in a communication terminal apparatus which includes a display unit, a communication unit and a connection control unit for controlling a connection state between the communication unit and an information center to make connection to the information center through the communication unit to acquire information from the information center, the method comprising:

predicting the necessity for connection between the communication unit and the information center; and

starting connection to the information center based on a prediction result of the prediction unit.

7. A computer program for causing a computer to function as a communication terminal apparatus which includes a display unit, a communication unit, a connection control unit for controlling a connection state between the communication unit and an information center to make connection to the information center through the communication unit to acquire information from the information center, a prediction unit for predicting the necessity for connection between the communication unit and the information center, wherein the connection control unit starts connection to the information center based on a prediction result of the prediction unit.