Navigation device, information supplying server and information service system using the same

• US 20040204826A1
• Filed: 03/16/2004
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Kawaguchi, Kenichi, Ichiyama, Yuichiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,184,884 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/201
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096844 where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data

Abstract

A navigation device in that on each of fixed information having a long update period and update information having a short update period which compose the user service information stored in a navigation device whether or not the user service information is newest, is determined, and the newest information corresponding to at least one of the fixed information and the update information which are determined to be not newest by the determination is acquired from an information supply server, thus, in almost all cases, only the update information is acquired from the information supply server, so it acquires the desired user service information in a short time, and therefore, low communication expenses.

Claims

1. A navigation device having navigation means for making guidance to a set destination, the navigation device including information service means for supplying a user with information, wherein the information service means comprising:

a storage part that stores user service information including fixed information which is updated at intervals of a predetermined period and update information which is updated at intervals of a period shorter than the predetermined period;

operation means that provides an instruction of displaying the user service information;

determination means that determines, in response to the instruction provided by the operation means, on each of the fixed information and the update information whether or not the user service information stored in the storage part is the newest;

communications means that acquires, from outside, newest information corresponding to at least one of the fixed information and the update information which are determined to be not the newest by the determination means;

update means that updates the user service information in the storage part by use of at least one of the fixed information and the update information which are acquired by the communication means; and

display means that displays the user service information in the storage part updated by the update means.

2. The navigation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the information service means further comprises location setting means that transmits position information of a location which is displayed on the display means to the navigation means in response to an instruction of setting a location that is provided by the operation means, and the navigation means sets a location on the basis of the position information transmitted by the location setting means and makes a guidance to the set location.

3. The navigation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the information service means includes a separable program capable of being separated from a navigation program of a computer program composing the navigation means and the separable program is updated independently of the navigation program.

4. The navigation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the update information is composed of at least any one of ski area information including snow cover, weather and sliding conditions, blooming information, and autumn colors information including kinds of trees, degree of autumn colors and weather.

5. An information supply server comprising:

a storage part that stores user service information including fixed information which is updated at intervals of a predetermined period and update information which is updated at intervals of a period shorter than the predetermined period; and

communications means that transmits, in response to a request from outside, at least one of the fixed information and the update information which are stored in the storage part.

6. An information service system comprising a navigation device having navigation means for making guidance to a set destination, and an information supply server, which are connected through a network, wherein

the navigation device includes information service means for supplying a user with information and the information service means has:

a first storage part that stores user service information including fixed information which is updated at intervals of a predetermined period and update information which is updated at intervals of a period shorter than the predetermined period;

operation means that provides an instruction of displaying the user service information;

determination means that determines, in response to the instruction provided by the operation means, on each of the fixed information and the update information whether or not the user service information stored in the first storage part is the newest;

communication means that acquires, from a second storage part of an information supply server, the newest information corresponding to at least one of the fixed information and the update information which are determined to be not the newest by the determination means;

update means that updates the user service information in the first storage part by use of at least one of the fixed information and the update information which are acquired by the communication means; and

display means that displays the user service information updated by the update means and stored in the first storage part,

and wherein

the information supply server has;

a second storage part that stores user service information including fixed information which is updated at intervals of a predetermined period and update information which is updated at intervals of a period shorter than the predetermined period; and

communication means that transmits, in response to a request from the navigation device, at least one of the fixed information and the update information which are stored in the second storage part.

7. The information service system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the information service means further comprises location setting means that transmits position information of a location displayed on the display means to the navigation means in response to an instruction of setting a location that is provided by the operation means, wherein the navigation means sets a location on the basis of the position information transmitted by the location setting means and makes a guidance to the set location.

8. The information service system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the information service means includes a separable program capable of being separated from a navigation program of a computer program composing the navigation means and the separable program is updated independently of the navigation program.