Navigation system, vehicle navigation apparatus, and method for obtaining navigation information

• US 20050216190A1
• Filed: 03/18/2005
• Published: 09/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alpine Electronics Incorporated (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Alpine Electronics Incorporated (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Obata, Kijuro
• Granted Patent: US 7,406,381 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/209
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3415 Dynamic re-routing, e.g. recalculating the route when the user deviates from calculated route or after detecting real-time traffic data or accidents

Abstract

A navigation system, a vehicle navigation apparatus therein, and a method for obtaining navigation information using the same are provided which can obtain navigation information quickly when a vehicle goes off-route by obtaining the navigation information required for route guidance of the vehicle through communications, thereby achieving reduction in communication time and cost. In a vehicle-mounted terminal connected in communication with a server for executing route guidance to provide a guidance route from the present position of the vehicle to a destination, when the vehicle reaches a point located at a predetermined distance before a fork representing the next turn on the guidance route, the server is accessed to set a communication means in a communication connection stand-by state. If the vehicle deviates from the guidance route, information needed for the vehicle to return to the guidance route is requested from the server. After the vehicle passes through the fork along the guidance route, the communication connection stand-by state is released.

Claims

1. A navigation system comprising:

a vehicle-mounted terminal; and

a server connected in communication with the terminal for executing route guidance to provide a guidance route from a present position of a vehicle to a destination based on a requirement from the terminal,

wherein, when the vehicle reaches a point located at a predetermined distance before a fork representing a next change in direction of travel on the guidance route provided by the server, said vehicle-mounted terminal accesses the server through a communication section to set the communication section in a communication connection stand-by state, and if the vehicle deviates from the guidance route, said vehicle-mounted terminal requests navigation information needed for the vehicle to return to the guidance route, from the server through the communication section.

2. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein said vehicle-mounted terminal comprises an ID information storage section for storing therein ID information for specifying a user of the terminal, and

wherein, when the navigation information needed for the vehicle to return to the guidance route is requested from the server through the communication section, the terminal sends information about the present position of the vehicle and the ID information stored in the ID information storage section to the server.

3. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein, when the vehicle deviates from the guidance route, the vehicle-mounted terminal informs the user that the navigation information needed for the vehicle to return to the guidance route is requested from the server by one of displaying a message or by voice.

4. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein said vehicle-mounted terminal releases the communication connection stand-by state of the communication section when the vehicle passes through the fork along the guidance route.

5. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein said vehicle-mounted terminal releases the communication connection stand-by state of the communication section when the terminal receives the necessary navigation information requested from the server.

6. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein said communication section is a portable telephone.

7. A vehicle navigation apparatus comprising:

a communication section for communicating with a server that delivers various kinds of information associated with navigation;

a vehicle position detecting section for detecting a present position of a vehicle;

a memory section for storing therein map data about the navigation obtained from the server through the communication section; and

a controller operably connected to the communication section, the vehicle position detecting section, and the memory section,

wherein, when the controller detects the vehicle reaching a point located at a predetermined distance before a fork representing a next change in direction of travel with reference to the present vehicle position and the map data while the vehicle is being guided along a guidance route provided by the server, said controller sets the communication section in a communication connection stand-by state, and if the controller detects the vehicle deviating from the guidance route, said controller requests navigation information needed for the vehicle to return to the guidance route, from the server through the communication section.

8. The vehicle navigation apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said controller releases the communication connection stand-by state of the communication section when the controller detects the vehicle passing through the fork along the guidance route.

9. The vehicle navigation apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said controller releases the communication connection stand-by state of the communication section when the controller receives the necessary navigation information requested from the server through the communication section.

10. The vehicle navigation apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said communication section is a portable telephone.

11. The vehicle navigation apparatus according to claim 7, wherein, when the controller detects the vehicle deviating from the guidance route after setting the communication section in the communication connection stand-by state, said controller requests navigation information needed for guiding the vehicle to another destination, from the server through the communication section, instead of navigation information needed for the vehicle to return to the guidance route.

12. The vehicle navigation apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a display section for providing guidance information by using a screen,

wherein, when the controller requests the navigation information needed for the vehicle to return to the guidance route from the server through the communication section, said controller displays on the screen of the display section a message that the vehicle has deviated from the guidance route, and that the navigation information needed for the vehicle to return to the guidance route is being requested.

13. The vehicle navigation apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said controller provides the message through a voice guidance section, instead of displaying the message on the screen of the display section.

14. The vehicle navigation apparatus according to claim 12, wherein, when the message is displayed on the screen of the display section, said controller also provides the message through the voice guidance section.

15. The vehicle navigation apparatus according to claim 12, wherein, when the controller receives the necessary navigation information requested from the server through the communication section, said controller displays a route which leads back to the original guidance route, and which is included in the received information, on the screen of the display section in a relatively distinguishable display form.

16. The vehicle navigation apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said controller further displays on the screen of the display section a message that the navigation information needed for the vehicle to return to the original guidance route has been obtained, and that the vehicle is going to return to the guidance route.

17. A method for obtaining navigation information in a vehicle navigation apparatus connected in communication with a server for executing route guidance to provide a guidance route from a present position of a vehicle to a destination based on a requirement from the vehicle, the method comprising:

when the vehicle reaches a point located at a predetermined distance before a fork representing a next change in direction of travel on the guidance route while the vehicle is guided along the guidance route provided by the server, accessing said server through a communication section to set the communication section in a communication connection stand-by state; and

if the vehicle deviates from the guidance route, requesting navigation information needed for the vehicle to return to the guidance route from the server through the communication section.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising releasing the communication connection stand-by state of the communication section when the vehicle passes through the fork without deviating from the guidance route after setting the communication section in the communication connection stand-by state.

19. The method according to claim 17, further comprising releasing the communication connection stand-by state of the communication section when the necessary navigation information requested from the server is received through the communication section after setting the communication section in the communication connection stand-by state.

20. The method according to claim 17, wherein a portable telephone is used as the communication section.