On-vehicle information terminal, navigation system, on-vehicle information terminal control method and program product

• US 20060224314A1
• Filed: 03/29/2006
• Published: 10/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Clarion Co., Ltd. (Faurecia SA)
• Original Assignee: Xanavi Informatics Corporation (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Oguchi, Junko
• Granted Patent: US 7,580,793 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/209
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers

Abstract

An on-vehicle information terminal includes a menu display control unit that displays at a display monitor a selection menu organized over a plurality of hierarchical levels, a selection unit that selects a specific menu item in each hierarchical level in the selection menu, a processing execution unit that executes processing corresponding to a menu item that is ultimately selected, a keyword setting unit that sets a search keyword based upon an input operation performed by the user, a search unit that searches for a menu item related to the search keyword having been set from among various menu items in the selection menu and an informing unit that informs the user of an operation procedure to be performed when the selection unit selects the searched menu item.

Claims

1. An on-vehicle information terminal capable of executing various types of processing, comprising:

a menu display control unit that displays at a display monitor a selection menu organized over a plurality of hierarchical levels;

a selection unit that selects in response to a user operation a specific menu item in each hierarchical level in the selection menu displayed at the display monitor by the menu display control unit;

a processing execution unit that executes processing corresponding to a menu item, which is ultimately selected by the selection unit;

a keyword setting unit that sets a search keyword based upon an input operation performed by the user;

a search unit that searches for a menu item related to the search keyword set by the keyword setting unit from among various menu items in the selection menu; and

an informing unit that informs the user of an operation procedure to be performed when the selection unit selects the menu item searched by the search unit.

2. An on-vehicle information terminal according to claim 1, wherein:

the informing unit informs the user of the operation procedure by successively displaying display contents corresponding to the individual hierarchical levels in the selection menu at the display monitor in an order matching the operation procedure.

3. An on-vehicle information terminal according to claim 1, wherein:

the informing unit informs the user of the operation procedure by displaying at the display monitor text information explaining the operation procedure.

4. An on-vehicle information terminal according to claim 1, wherein:

the informing unit informs the user of the operation procedure by outputting audio information explaining the operation procedure.

5. An on-vehicle information terminal according to claim 1, wherein:

the menu display control unit controls the display monitor to display icons constituted with, at least, graphics, characters or symbols and each assuming an unique appearance corresponding to a specific menu item in the selection menu; and

the informing unit informs the user of the operation procedure by displaying at the display monitor icons corresponding to individual menu items that must be selected in various hierarchical levels until the searched menu item is ultimately selected, in an order matching the operation procedure.

6. An on-vehicle information terminal according to claim 1, wherein:

the informing unit informs the user of the operation procedure by displaying within a single screen at the display monitor display contents corresponding to the individual hierarchical levels in the selection menu in an order matching the operation procedure.

7. A navigation system comprising:

an on-vehicle information terminal according to claim 1;

and

a current position detection device that detects a current position of subject vehicle.

8. An on-vehicle information terminal control method for controlling an on-vehicle information terminal capable of executing various types of processing, comprising:

displaying a selection menu organized over a plurality of hierarchical levels at a display monitor;

selecting a specific menu item in each hierarchical level in the selection menu in response to a user operation;

executing processing corresponding to a menu item that is ultimately selected;

setting a search keyword based upon an input operation performed by a user;

searching for a menu item related to the search keyword having been set from among various menu items in the selection menu; and

indicating an operation procedure to the user to be performed to select the searched menu item.

9. An on-vehicle information terminal control method according to claim 8, wherein:

the operation procedure is indicated to the user by successively displaying display contents corresponding to the individual hierarchical levels in the selection menu at the display monitor in an order matching the operation procedure.

10. An on-vehicle information terminal control method according to claim 8, wherein:

the operation procedure is indicated to the user by displaying at the display monitor text information explaining the operation procedure.

11. An on-vehicle information terminal control method according to claim 8, wherein:

the operation procedure is indicated to the user by outputting audio information explaining the operation procedure.

12. An on-vehicle information terminal control method according to claim 8, wherein:

the display monitor is controlled to display icons constituted with, at least, graphics, characters or symbols and each assuming an unique appearance corresponding to a specific menu item in the selection menu; and

the operation procedure is indicated to the user by displaying at the display monitor icons corresponding to individual menu items that must be selected in various hierarchical levels until the searched menu item is ultimately selected, in an order matching the operation procedure.

13. An on-vehicle information terminal control method according to claim 8, wherein:

the operation procedure is indicated to the user by displaying within a single screen at the display monitor display contents corresponding to the individual hierarchical levels in the selection menu in an order matching the operation procedure.

14. A program product to be used to control a computer capable of executing various types of processing, enabling the computer to execute:

a step for displaying at a display monitor a selection menu organized over a plurality of hierarchical levels;

a step for selecting a specific menu item in each hierarchical level in the selection menu in response to a user operation;

a step for executing processing corresponding to a menu item that is ultimately selected;

a step for setting a search keyword based upon an input operation by a user;

a step for searching for a menu item related to the search keyword having been set from among various menu items in the selection menu; and

a step for informing the user of an operation procedure to be performed to select the searched menu item.

15. A program product according to claim 14, wherein:

in the step for informing the user of the operation procedure, the computer is controlled so as to successively display at the display monitor display contents corresponding to the individual hierarchical levels in the selection menu in an order matching the operation procedure.

16. A program product according to claim 14, wherein:

in the step for informing the user of the operation procedure, the computer is controlled so as to display at the display monitor text information explaining the operation procedure.

17. A program product according to claim 14, wherein:

in the step for informing the user of the operation procedure, the computer is controlled so as to output audio information explaining the operation procedure.

18. A program product according to claim 14, wherein:

in the step for displaying the selection menu at the display monitor, the computer is controlled so as to display icons constituted with, at least, graphics, characters or symbols and each assuming an unique appearance corresponding to a specific menu item in the selection menu; and

in the step for informing the user of the operation procedure, the computer is controlled so as to display at the display monitor icons corresponding to individual menu items that must be selected in individual hierarchical levels until the searched menu item is ultimately selected, in an order matching the operation procedure.

19. A program product according to claim 14, wherein:

in the step for informing the user of the operation procedure, the computer is controlled so as to display within a single screen at the display monitor display contents corresponding to the individual hierarchical levels in the selection menu in an order matching the operation procedure.