On-vehicle information provision apparatus

• US 20050093719A1
• Filed: 09/23/2004
• Published: 05/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
• Inventors: Okamoto, Yoshihisa, Hoshino, Youko, Hirabayashi, Shigefumi
• Granted Patent: US 7,135,993 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/995.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/365 Guidance using head up displays or projectors, e.g. virtual vehicles or arrows projected on the windscreen or on the road itself
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0265 Vehicular advertisement

Abstract

An on-vehicle information provision apparatus is provided that visually provides a vehicle occupant with an advertisement. The apparatus includes display condition setting device that sets predetermined display conditions for displaying the advertisement, condition determination device that determines whether or not the display condition applies, and advertisement display device that, when said display condition does apply, visually provides the occupant with the advertisement shown superimposed on an actual landscape being viewed by the occupant.

Claims

1. An on-vehicle information provision apparatus for visually providing a vehicle occupant with an advertisement, said apparatus comprising:

a display condition setting device that sets predetermined display conditions for displaying the advertisement;

a condition determination device that determines whether or not said display condition applies; and

an advertisement display device that, when said display condition does apply, visually provides the occupant with the advertisement shown superimposed on an actual landscape being viewed by the occupant.

2. An on-vehicle information provision apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus further comprises a map information receiver that receives map information from an information center, said map information receiver receiving advertise information for displaying said advertisement together with the map information.

3. An on-vehicle information provision apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said display condition setting device sets an area as the display condition, and said condition determination device determines whether or not a vehicle location is in said area.

4. An on-vehicle information provision apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said display condition setting device sets a time slot as the display condition, and said condition determination device determines whether or not current time is in said time slot.

5. An on-vehicle information provision apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus further comprises an advertisement information receiver that receives advertise information for displaying said advertisement from an information center.

6. An on-vehicle information provision apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus further comprises a first display prohibition device that prohibits the advertisement from being displayed except when the vehicle is stopped or moving in a straight line.

7. An on-vehicle information provision apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus further comprises a second display prohibition device that prohibits the advertisement from being displayed over an actual traffic sign or other actual visual traffic information.

8. An on-vehicle information provision apparatus for visually providing a vehicle occupant with an advertisement, said apparatus comprising:

display condition setting means for setting predetermined display conditions for displaying the advertisement;

condition determination means for determining whether or not said display condition applies; and

advertisement display means for, when said display condition does apply, visually providing the occupant with the advertisement shown superimposed on an actual landscape being viewed by the occupant.

9. An information distribution server that distributes map information to predetermined vehicles, said server comprising:

a map information storing device that stores map information;

an advertisement information storing device that stores advertisement information for displaying an advertisement;

a map information readout setting device that reads out of the map information storing device the map information of an area required by a vehicle occupant;

an advertisement information association device associates the map information with the advertisement information visually provided to the occupants by being superimposed on an actual landscape being viewed by the occupant; and

a distributor that distributes the map information and the advertisement information to the vehicle.

10. An information distribution server according to claim 9, wherein the advertisement information includes positional information on the landscape on which the advertisement is superimposed.

11. An information distribution server according to claim 9, wherein the advertisement information includes timing information on when the advertisement is displayed.

12. An information distribution server according to claim 9, wherein the advertisement information is related to an area displayed in the distributed map information.

13. An information distribution server according to claim 9, wherein the distributor distributes the advertisement information to the vehicles that are registered as consenting to receive the advertisement information.

14. An information distribution server according to claim 9, wherein the landscape on which the advertisement is superposed is set by an advertiser.

15. An information distribution server according to claim 9, wherein a timing at which the advertisement is displayed is set by an advertiser.

16. An information distribution server according to claim 9, wherein the landscape on which an advertisement is superimposed is set at the vehicle end.

17. An information distribution server according to claim 9, wherein a timing at which the advertisement is displayed is set at the vehicle end.

18. An information distribution server that distributes map information to predetermined vehicles, said server comprising:

map information storing means for storing map information;

advertisement information storing means for storing advertisement information for displaying an advertisement;

map information readout setting means for reading out of the map information storing means the map information of an area required by a vehicle occupant;

advertisement information association means for associating the map information with the advertisement information visually provided to the occupants by being superimposed on an actual landscape being viewed by the occupant; and

distributing means for distributing the map information and the advertisement information to the vehicle.