Guest data management method and apparatus for navigation system

• US 20050187961A1
• Filed: 02/19/2004
• Published: 08/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alpine Electronics Incorporated (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Alpine Electronics Incorporated (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Yokota, Tatsuo, Sagami, Joanna
• Application Number:
  US10/782,167
• Publication Number:
  US 20050187961A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting

Abstract

A guest data management method and apparatus for a navigation system is capable of creating, editing and using a guest database storing various types of information regarding guests, tour destinations associated with the guests, and comments by guests or user regarding the destinations, etc., for use with a navigation system. The guest data management method includes the steps of creating a guest database which stores at least information on guests and information on destinations associated with the guests; editing the guest database by modifying the information stored in the database or adding new information to the database; and retrieving information from the guest database for determining a destination for a travel with one of the guests whose information is stored in the database.

Claims

1. A guest data management method for a navigation system, comprising the following steps of:

creating a guest database which stores at least information on guests and information on destinations associated with the guests;

editing the guest database by modifying the information stored in the database or adding new information to the database; and

retrieving information from the guest database for determining a destination for a travel with one of the guests whose information is stored in the database.

2. A guest data management method as defined in claim 1, wherein said database includes information as to whether a particular guest is pleased or the guest shows favorable opinion on a particular destination.

3. A guest data management method as defined in claim 1, wherein said database includes information on persons involved in a travel to the destination including a user of the navigation system or a driver of a vehicle used for the travel to the destination.

4. A guest data management method as defined in claim 1, wherein said database includes information created by a user based on personal impression of a particular destination acquired when the user visited the destination or evaluation of the destination by the user.

5. A guest data management method as defined in claim 1, wherein said database includes information created by a user based on impression or opinion expressed by a particular guest when the user and the guest visited the destination.

6. A guest data management method as defined in claim 1, wherein said step of creating the guest database includes a step of storing relevant information through a manual input process made by a user.

7. A guest data management method as defined in claim 1, wherein said step of creating the guest database includes a step of automatically storing information available through a normal operation of the navigation system including a name of a destination, address of the destination, and a time and date of visiting the destination.

8. A guest data management method as defined in claim 1, wherein said step of creating the guest database includes a step of storing information available through an extended function of the navigation system including road condition, traffic condition, or weather condition during a travel to a destination when the navigation system includes appropriate sensors or a wireless communication means to acquire information on such conditions.

9. A guest data management apparatus for a navigation system, comprising:

means for creating a guest database which stores at least information on guests and information on destinations associated with the guests;

means for editing the guest database by modifying the information stored in the database or adding new information to the database; and

means for retrieving information from the guest database for determining a destination for a travel with one of the guests whose information is stored in the database.

10. A guest data management apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said database includes information as to whether a particular guest is pleased or the guest shows favorable opinion on a particular destination.

11. A guest data management apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said database includes information on persons involved in a travel to the destination including a user of the navigation system or a driver of a vehicle used for the travel to the destination.

12. A guest data management apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said database includes information created by a user based on personal impression of a particular destination acquired when the user visited the destination or evaluation of the destination by the user.

13. A guest data management apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said database includes information created by a user based on impression or opinion expressed by a particular guest when the user and the guest visited the destination.

14. A guest data management apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein means for creating the guest database includes means for storing relevant information through a manual input process made by a user.

15. A guest data management apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said means for creating the guest database includes means for automatically storing information available through a normal operation of the navigation system including a name of a destination, address of the destination, and a time and date of visiting the destination.

16. A guest data management apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said means for creating the guest database includes means for storing information available through an extended function of the navigation system including road condition, traffic condition, or weather condition during a travel to a destination when the navigation system includes appropriate sensors or a wireless communication means to acquire information on such conditions.