POSITIONAL INFORMATION PROVIDING SYSTEM, NAVIGATION SYSTEM, AND TERMINAL DEVICE

• US 20130289871A1
• Filed: 04/25/2013
• Published: 10/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maxell, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi Consumer Electronics Company Limited (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: ITAGAKI, Tsuguo
• Granted Patent: US 9,188,458 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/410
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/206 specially adapted for indoor navigation
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3676 Overview of the route on the road map
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3889 Transmission of selected map data, e.g. depending on route
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 5/06 by using barometric means

Abstract

A positional information providing system is provided in which positional information including altitude can be highly accurately acquired even though a user is located outdoors or indoors. A system includes a server device including a map data storage unit, an altitude storage unit, a reference position coordinates receiving unit, a reference point altitude information generating unit locating reference position coordinates and reference point altitude, a map data transmitting unit and a reference point altitude information transmitting unit, and a terminal device including a positional information acquiring unit, a reference point information transmitting unit, a reference point altitude information receiving unit, a map data receiving unit and a reference point altitude detecting unit detecting altitude at a reference point. The terminal device includes a calibration unit for the altitude data acquired at the reference point altitude detecting unit and a map display unit displaying map data and altitude data.

Claims

1. A positional information providing system comprising:

a server device connected to a terminal device through a network, wherein;

the server device includes;

a map data storage unit configured to store map data;

an altitude data storage unit configured to store altitude data corresponding to a position on map data stored on the map data storage unit;

a positional information receiving unit configured to receive positional information about the terminal device transmitted from the terminal device through the network;

an altitude information generating unit configured to find altitude at a position of the terminal device and generate altitude information based on the positional information about the terminal device received at the positional information receiving unit and altitude data stored on the altitude data storage unit;

a geographic information transmitting unit configured to receive and transmit map data stored on the map data storage unit to the terminal device through the network; and

an altitude information transmitting unit configured to receive and transmit the altitude information generated at the altitude information generating unit to the terminal device through the network; and

the terminal device includes;

a positional information acquiring unit configured to acquire positional information about the terminal device;

a positional information transmitting unit configured to receive and transmit the positional information acquired at the positional information acquiring unit to the server device through the network;

an altitude information receiving unit configured to receive the altitude information transmitted from the altitude information transmitting unit of the server device;

a map data receiving unit configured to receive the map data transmitted from the geographic information transmitting unit of the server device;

an altitude detecting unit configured to detect altitude information about a position of the terminal device;

an altitude information calibrating unit configured to receive the altitude information detected at the altitude detecting unit and the altitude information received at the altitude information receiving unit and calibrate altitude information at a position of the terminal device; and

a display unit configured to receive the map data received at the map data receiving unit, the altitude information calibrated at the altitude information calibrating unit, and the positional information about the terminal device acquired at the positional information acquiring unit and display the altitude information and map data including a position of the terminal device.

2. The positional information providing system according to claim 1,

wherein when the terminal device does not receive altitude information at the altitude information receiving unit, the terminal device determines altitude at a position of the terminal device based on the altitude information detected at the altitude detecting unit.

3. The positional information providing system according to claim 1, wherein:

the map data includes shape data of a structure including a building; and

when it is determined that the terminal device is located on an outside of the structure based on the shape data of the structure, the altitude calibrating unit of the terminal device calibrates altitude information at a position of the terminal device.

4. The positional information providing system according to claim 1,

wherein the positional information acquiring unit of the terminal device receives a plurality of types of positional information signals;

and

when a type of a positional information signal acquired at the positional information acquiring unit is determined and it is determined that the positional information signal is a GPS signal, the altitude information calibrating unit calibrates altitude information about a position of the terminal device.

5. The positional information providing system according to claim 1,

wherein the altitude information calibrating unit of the terminal device calibrates altitude information so that the altitude information detected at the altitude detecting unit is matched with the altitude information received at the altitude information receiving unit.

6. The positional information providing system according to claim 1,

wherein the altitude detecting unit of the terminal device includes an atmospheric pressure sensor configured to detect altitude information at a position of the terminal device.

7. A terminal device of a positional information providing system including a server device connected to the terminal device through a network, the terminal device comprising:

a positional information acquiring unit configured to acquire positional information about the terminal device;

a positional information transmitting unit configured to receive and transmit the positional information acquired at the positional information acquiring unit to the server device through the network;

an altitude information receiving unit configured to receive the altitude information transmitted from the server device;

a map data receiving unit configured to receive the map data transmitted from the server device;

an altitude detecting unit configured to detect altitude information about a position of the terminal device;

an altitude information calibrating unit configured to receive the altitude information detected at the altitude detecting unit and the altitude information received at the altitude information receiving unit and calibrate altitude information at a position of the terminal device; and

a display unit configured to receive the map data received at the map data receiving unit and the altitude information calibrated at the altitude information calibrating unit and display the altitude information and map data including a position of the terminal device.

8. A navigation system comprising:

a server device, a positional information transmitter, and a terminal device connected to each other through a network, wherein;

the server device includes;

a map data storage unit configured to store map data;

an altitude data storage unit configured to store altitude data corresponding to a position on map data stored on the map data storage unit;

a positional information receiving unit configured to receive positional information about the terminal device transmitted from the terminal device and positional information about the positional information transmitter transmitted from the positional information transmitter through the network;

an altitude information generating unit configured to find altitude at a position of the terminal device and altitude at a position of the positional information transmitter based on the positional information about the terminal device and the positional information about the positional information transmitter received at the positional information receiving unit and altitude data stored on the altitude data storage unit and generate altitude information;

a geographic information transmitting unit configured to receive and transmit map data stored on the map data storage unit to the terminal device through the network;

an altitude information transmitting unit configured to receive and transmit the altitude information generated at the altitude information generating unit to the terminal device through the network;

a navigation route searching unit configured to search for a navigation route from the terminal device to the positional information transmitter;

a navigation route information generating unit configured to generate navigation route information based on a result searched at the navigation route searching unit; and

a navigation route information transmitting unit configured to receive and transmit the navigation route information generated at the navigation route information generating unit to the terminal device through the network;

the positional information transmitter includes;

a positional information transmitting unit configured to generate positional information about the positional information transmitter and transmit the positional information to the server device through the network; and

the terminal device includes;

a positional information acquiring unit configured to acquire positional information about the terminal device;

a positional information transmitting unit configured to receive and transmit the positional information about the terminal device acquired at the positional information acquiring unit to the server device through the network;

an altitude information receiving unit configured to receive the altitude information transmitted from the altitude information transmitting unit of the server device;

a map data receiving unit configured to receive the map data transmitted from the geographic information transmitting unit of the server device;

an altitude detecting unit configured to detect altitude information about a position of the terminal device;

an altitude information calibrating unit configured to receive the altitude information detected at the altitude detecting unit and the altitude information received at the altitude information receiving unit and calibrate altitude information at a position of the terminal device;

a navigation route information receiving unit configured to receive the navigation route information transmitted from the server device; and

a display unit configured to receive the map data received at the map data receiving unit, the altitude information calibrated at the altitude information calibrating unit, the altitude information about the positional information transmitter received at the altitude information receiving unit, the positional information about the terminal device acquired at the positional information acquiring unit, and the navigation route information received at the navigation route information receiving unit and display information about the altitude information and map data including a position of the terminal device and a position of the positional information transmitter.

9. The navigation system according to claim 8,

wherein when the terminal device does not receive altitude information at the altitude information receiving unit, the terminal device determines altitude at a position of the terminal device based on the altitude information detected at the altitude detecting unit.

10. The navigation system according to claim 8, wherein:

the map data includes shape data of a structure including a building; and

when it is determined that the terminal device is located on an outside of the structure based on the shape data of the structure, the altitude calibrating unit of the terminal device calibrates altitude information at a position of the terminal device.

11. The navigation system according to claim 8, wherein:

the positional information acquiring unit of the terminal device receives a plurality of types of positional information signals; and

when a type of a positional information signal acquired at the positional information acquiring unit is determined and it is determined that the positional information signal is a GPS signal, the altitude information calibrating unit calibrates altitude information about a position of the terminal device.

12. The navigation system according to claim 8,

wherein the altitude information calibrating unit of the terminal device calibrates altitude information so that the altitude information detected at the altitude detecting unit is matched with the altitude information received at the altitude information receiving unit.

13. The navigation system according to claim 8,

wherein the altitude detecting unit of the terminal device includes an atmospheric pressure sensor configured to detect altitude information at a position of the terminal device.

14. A terminal device of a navigation system including a server device, a positional information transmitter, and the terminal device connected to each other through a network, the terminal device comprising:

a positional information acquiring unit configured to acquire positional information about the terminal device;

a positional information transmitting unit configured to receive and transmit the positional information acquired at the positional information acquiring unit to the server device through the network;

an altitude information receiving unit configured to receive the altitude information transmitted from the server device;

a map data receiving unit configured to receive the map data transmitted from the server device;

an altitude detecting unit configured to detect altitude information about a position of the terminal device;

an altitude information calibrating unit configured to receive the altitude information detected at the altitude detecting unit and the altitude information received at the altitude information receiving unit and calibrate altitude information at a position of the terminal device;

a navigation route information receiving unit configured to receive navigation route information from the terminal device to the positional information transmitter transmitted from the server device; and

a display unit configured to receive the map data received at the map data receiving unit, the altitude information calibrated at the altitude information calibrating unit, the altitude information about the positional information transmitter received at the altitude information receiving unit, the positional information about the terminal device acquired at the positional information acquiring unit, and the navigation route information received at the navigation route information receiving unit and display information about the altitude information and map data including a position of the terminal device and a position of the positional information transmitter.

15. The terminal device according to claim 14, further comprising:

a route navigation unit configured to add an indication to map data displayed on the display unit, the indication instructing a moving direction.

16. The terminal device according to claim 15,

wherein the route navigation unit adds the indication when the terminal device is within a predetermined distance range from the positional information transmitter.

17. The terminal device according to claim 15,

wherein the route navigation unit adds an indication that indicates a position of the positional information transmitter and a position in a height direction of the positional information transmitter with respect to the terminal device.

18. A terminal device of a positional information providing system including a positional information transmitter, and the terminal device connected to each other through a network, the terminal device comprising:

a map data storage unit configured to store map data;

an altitude data storage unit configured to store altitude data corresponding to a position on map data stored on the map data storage unit;

a positional information acquiring unit configured to acquire positional information about the terminal device and positional information about the positional information transmitter;

an altitude detecting unit configured to detect altitude information about a position of the terminal device;

an altitude information calibrating unit configured to receive the altitude information detected at the altitude detecting unit and altitude information stored on the altitude data storage unit and calibrate altitude information at a position of the terminal device;

a map and altitude information generating unit configured to receive the positional information acquired at the positional information acquiring unit and generate information about altitude information and map data including a position of the terminal device and a position of the positional information transmitter based on the map data received from the map data storage unit and the altitude data received from the altitude data storage unit and calibrated at the altitude information calibrating unit;

a navigation route searching unit configured to search for a navigation route from the terminal device to the positional information transmitter based on the information generated at the map and altitude information generating unit;

a navigation route information generating unit configured to generate navigation route information based on a result searched at the navigation route searching unit; and

a display unit configured to display the information about the altitude information, the map data including a position of the terminal device and a position of the positional information transmitter generated at the map and altitude information generating unit, and the navigation route information generated at the navigation route information generating unit.