Apparatus and method for presenting navigation information based on instructions described in a script

• US 6,336,072 B1
• Filed: 09/09/1999
• Issued: 01/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Takayama, Kuniharu, Sekiguchi, Minoru, Maeda, Yoshiharu, Naito, Hirohisa, Horai, Hisayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US09/392,221
• Publication Number:
  US 20010056443A1
• Time in Patent Office: 845 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701/209, 701/210, 701/211, 701/201, 340/990, 340/995, 707/10, 707/100, 707/501, 707/513
• US Class Current: 701/200
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3629 Guidance using speech or audio output, e.g. text-to-speech text to speech systems per se G10L13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3644 Landmark guidance, e.g. using POIs or conspicuous other objects
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3647 Guidance involving output of stored or live camera images or video streams
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3655 Timing of guidance instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096827 where the route is computed onboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096844 where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096861 where the immediate route instructions are output to the driver, e.g. arrow signs for next turn
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096872 where instructions are given per voice
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096883 where input information is obtained using a mobile device, e.g. a mobile phone, a PDA
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096888 where input information is obtained using learning systems, e.g. history databases
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0969 having a display in the form of a map

Abstract

A navigation script includes time and point information for navigation and information for guidance, and describes an instruction sequence which can represent these information in time series in a mark-up language. According to the structured data generated from the navigation script, an instruction corresponding to a current time or point is executed, so that information for guidance to be presented is output.

Claims

1. A navigation information presenting apparatus for presenting navigation information to a user according to a state, comprising:

means for inputting a navigation script composed of an instruction sequence based on a predetermined specification, in which at least one of time information and point information, and information for guidance to be output according to at least one of a presentation time and a presentation place is described using a set of combinations of a name which identifies a type of the information and the contents thereof;

means for performing one of state acquisition of acquiring a state including at least one of a current time and a current point, and state generation of generating a state including at least one of a virtual current time and a virtual current point;

means for processing instructions described in the input navigation script according to at least one of a current time and a current point, which is obtained by one of the state acquisition and the state generation; and

means for outputting navigation information to be output as the instructions are processed, and for presenting the navigation information to the user.

2. The navigation information presenting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the navigation script is described in a markup language which identifies the time information, the point information, the information for guidance, and other instruction constituent elements by using tags.

3. The navigation information presenting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the navigation script describes a sequential process instruction for processing a plurality of instructions sequentially and a parallel process instruction for processing a plurality of instructions in parallel; and

said means for processing instructions processes the plurality of instructions sequentially according to the sequential process instruction, and processes the plurality of instructions according to the parallel process instruction.

4. The navigation information presenting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said means for inputting the navigation script inputs a navigation script specified by the user with one of a communication with an external device providing a navigation script via a network, a read from a computer-readable electronic medium, and an input from an input device operated by the user.

5. The navigation information presenting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising

means for parsing the input navigation script, and for converting the input navigation script into structured navigation data, wherein

said means for processing instructions processes instructions represented in the form of the structured navigation data.

6. The navigation information presenting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for outputting navigation information presents to the user, with respect to at least a portion of the navigation script, information for guidance about at least one of a current point, a departure point, an en-route spot, a destination, and a route by using at least one of texts, maps, voice, images, and videos with one of a method for presenting the navigation information one after another, a method for presenting the navigation information for each instruction, and a method for presenting the navigation information for at least one of specified time, distance, point, input operation, and external event.

7. A navigation information presenting apparatus for presenting navigation information to a user according to a state, comprising:

means for inputting a navigation script composed of an instruction sequence based on a predetermined specification, in which at least one of time information and point information, and information for guidance to be output according to at least one of a presentation time and a presentation point is described using a set of combinations of a name which identifies a type of the information and the contents thereof;

means for setting operation modes as at least one of a navigation mode and a simulation mode according to at least one of a user input operation and a system setting;

means for acquiring a state including at least one of a current time and a current point in the navigation mode;

means for generating a state including at least one of a virtual current time and a virtual current point in the simulation mode;

means for processing instructions described in the input navigation script according to at least one of the current time and the current point, which is obtained by state acquisition, in the navigation mode, and processes the instructions according to at least one of the virtual current time and the virtual current point, which is obtained by state generation, in the simulation mode; and

means for outputting navigation information to be output as the instructions are processed, and for presenting the navigation information to the user.

8. A navigation information presentation processing method for presenting navigation information to a user according to a state, comprising:

inputting a navigation script composed of an instruction sequence based on a predetermined specification, in which at least one of time information and point information, and information for guidance to be output according to at least one of a presentation time and a presentation point is described using a set of combinations of a name which identifies a type of the information and the contents thereof, with one of a communication via a network, a read from a computer-readable electronic medium, and a user input operation;

performing one of state acquisition of acquiring a state including at least one of a current time and a current point, and state generation of generating a state including at least one of a virtual current time and a virtual current point;

processing instructions described in the input navigation script according to at least one of a current time and a current point, which is obtained by one of the state acquisition and the state generation; and

outputting navigation information to be output as the instructions are processed, and presenting the navigation information to the user.

9. A navigation information presenting method for presenting navigation information to a user according to a state, comprising:

inputting a navigation script composed of an instruction sequence based on a predetermined specification, in which at least one of time information and point information, and information for guidance to be output according to at least one of a presentation time and a presentation point is described using a set of combinations of a name which identifies a type of the information and the contents thereof;

setting operation modes as at least one of a navigation mode and a simulation mode according to at least one of a user input operation and a system setting;

acquiring a state including at least one of a current time and a current point in the navigation mode;

generating a state including at least one of a virtual current time and a virtual current point in the simulation mode;

processing instructions described in an input navigation script according to at least one of the current time and the current point, which is obtained by state acquisition, in the navigation mode, and processes the instructions according to at least one of the virtual current time and the virtual current point, which is obtained by state generation, in the simulation mode; and

outputting navigation information to be output as the instructions are processed, and for presenting the navigation information to the user.

10. A computer-readable storage medium on which is recorded a program for implementing with a computer an apparatus which presents navigation information to a user according to a state, and for causing the computer to execute a process comprising:

inputting a navigation script composed of an instruction sequence based on a predetermined specification, in which at least one of time information and place information, and information for guidance to be output according to at least one of a presentation time and a presentation point is described using a set of combinations of a name which identifies the type of each of the information and the contents thereof, with one of a communications via a network, a read from a computer-readable electronic medium, and a user input operation;

performing one of state acquisition of acquiring a state including at least one of a current time and a current point, and state generation of generating a state including at least one of a virtual current time and a virtual current point;

processing instructions described in the input navigation script according to at least one of a current time and a current point, which is obtained by one of the state acquisition and the state generation; and

outputting navigation information to be output as the instructions are processed, and presenting the navigation information to the user.

11. A computer-readable storage medium on which is recorded a program for implementing with a computer an apparatus which presents navigation information to a user according to a state, and for causing the computer to execute a process comprising:

inputting a navigation script composed of an instruction sequence based on a predetermined specification, in which at least one of time information and point information, and information for guidance to be output according to at least one of a presentation time and a presentation point is described using a set of combinations of a name which identifies a type of the information and the contents thereof;

setting operation modes as at least one of navigation mode and a simulation mode according to at least one of a user input operation and a system setting;

acquiring a state including at least one of a current time and a current point in the navigation mode;

generating a state including at least one of a virtual current time and a virtual current point in the simulation mode;

processing instructions described in the input navigation script according to at least one of the current time and the current point, which is obtained by state acquisition, in the navigation mode, and processes the instructions according to at least one of the virtual current time and the virtual current point, which is obtained by state generation, in the simulation mode; and

outputting navigation information to be output as the instructions are processed, and for presenting the navigation information to the user.

12. A navigation script storage medium which is read by an apparatus for presenting navigation information to a user according to a state, storing:

a navigation script being a script composed of an electronic code sequence described in a markup language based on a predetermined specification, the script being an instruction sequence based on a predetermined specification, in which at least one of time information and point information, and information for guidance to be output according to at least one of a presentation time and a presentation point is described using a set of combinations of a name which identifies a type of the information and the contents thereof, and the navigation script used to present navigation information to the user according to instructions within the script read by the apparatus.

13. A device for semi-automatically generating a navigation script used by an apparatus for presenting navigation information to a user according to a state, comprising:

means for acquiring a state including at least one of a current time and a current point with one of a method for acquiring a state at predetermined time intervals, a method for acquiring a state for each point, a method for acquiring a state at predetermined distance intervals, and a method for acquiring a state according to a user instruction;

means for generating a navigation script composed of an instruction sequence based on a predetermined specification, with which at least one of time information and place information, and information for guidance to be output according to at least one of a presentation time and a presentation point is described using a set of combinations of a name which identifies a type of the information and the contents thereof, based on a history of the acquired state including at least one of each acquired time and each acquired point; and

means for storing the generated navigation script in an electronic medium.

14. A device for managing driving data, comprising:

inputting means for inputting a navigation script composed of an instruction sequence based on a predetermined specification, in which at least one of time information and point information, and information for guidance to be output according to at least one of a presentation time and a presentation place is described using a set of combinations of a name which identifies a type of each of the information and the contents thereof;

a driving management database for managing data where at least one of time information and information, and at least one of a reservation state and a corresponding point state are described;

coordinating means for making a comparison and coordination between the navigation script input by said inputting means and the data stored in said driving management database, and for performing a process of modifying the navigation script and a process of updating the data stored in the driving management database according to a result of the comparison and coordination depending on need; and

outputting means for outputting a resultant navigation script.

15. A driving management method using a computer, comprising:

inputting a navigation script composed of an instruction sequence based on a predetermined specification, in which at least one of time information and point information, and navigation information to be output according to at least one of a presentation time and a presentation point is described using a set of combinations of a name which identifies a type of the information and the contents thereof;

referencing a driving management database for managing data where at least one of time information and point information, and at least one of a reservation state and a corresponding point state are described, for making a comparison and coordination between the input navigation script and the data stored in said driving management database, and for performing a process of modifying the navigation script and a process of updating the data stored in the driving management database according to a result of the comparison and coordination depending on need; and

outputting means for outputting a resultant navigation script.

16. A computer-readable storage medium on which is recorded a program for implementing with a computer a device for managing driving data, and for causing the computer to execute a process comprising:

inputting a navigation script composed of an instruction sequence based on a predetermined specification, with which at least one of time information and point information, and navigation information to be output according to at least one of a presentation time and a presentation place is described using a set of combinations of a name which identifies a type of the information and the contents thereof;

referencing a driving management database for managing data where at least one of time information and point information, and at least one of a reservation state and a corresponding place state are described, for making a comparison and coordination between the input navigation script and the data stored in said driving management database, and for performing a process of modifying the navigation script and a process for updating the data stored in the driving management database according to a result of the comparison and coordination depending on need; and

outputting a resultant navigation script.

17. A device for proposing an action to be taken by a user depending on whether or not the user can reach by an arrival time, comprising:

inputting means for inputting a navigation script composed of an instruction sequence based on a predetermined specification, in which at least one of time information and point information, and information for guidance to be output according to at least one of a presentation time and a presentation place is described using a set of combinations of a name which identifies a type of the information and the contents thereof;

a scheduler for scheduling arrival times at respective places;

a rule base for storing rules describing actions to be taken depending on whether or not there is time sufficient to an arrival time; and

a monitoring and executing device for checking arrival times at subsequent points from a current time at a current point, and for executing a corresponding rule if the rule is stored within said rule base, depending on whether or not there is sufficient time to an arrival time.

18. A method for proposing an action to be taken by a user depending on whether or not the user can reach by an arrival time, comprising:

inputting a navigation script composed of an instruction sequence based on a predetermined specification, in which at least one of time information and point information, and information for guidance to be output according to at least one of a presentation time and a presentation place is described using a set of combinations of a name which identifies a type of the information and the contents thereof;

scheduling arrival times at respective points; and

checking arrival times at subsequent points from a current time at a current point, for referencing rules in a rule base describing actions to be taken depending on whether or not there is time to spare by an arrival time, and for executing a corresponding rule if the rule is stored within said rule base, depending on whether or not there is sufficient time to an arrival time.

19. A computer-readable storage medium on which is recorded a program for implementing with a computer a device which proposes an action to be taken depending on whether or not a user can reach by an arrival time, and for causing the computer to execute a process comprising:

inputting a navigation script composed of an instruction sequence based on a predetermined specification, in which at least one of time information and point information, and navigation information to be output according to at least one of a presentation time and a presentation place is described using a set of combinations of a name which identifies a type of the information and the contents thereof;

scheduling arrival times at respective points; and

checking arrival times at subsequent points from a current time at a current point, for referencing rules in a rule base describing actions to be taken depending on whether or not there is sufficient time to an arrival time, and for executing a corresponding rule if the rule is stored within said rule base, depending on whether or not there is sufficient time to an arrival time.

20. A navigation information presenting apparatus for presenting navigation information to a user according to a state, comprising:

an inputting device inputting a navigation script composed of an instruction sequence based on a predetermined specification, in which at least one of time information and point information, and information for guidance to be output according to at least one of a presentation time and a presentation place is described using a set of combinations of a name which identifies a type of the information and the contents thereof;

a performing device performing one of state acquisition of acquiring a state including at least one of a current time and a current point, and state generation of generating a state including at least one of a virtual current time and a virtual current point;

a processing device processing instructions described in the input navigation script according to at least one of a current time and a current point, which is obtained by one of the state acquisition and the state generation; and

an outputting device outputting navigation information to be output as the instructions are processed, and for presenting the navigation information to the user.

21. The navigation information presenting apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the navigation script is described in a markup language which identifies the time information, the point information, the information for guidance, and other instruction constituent elements by using tags.

22. The navigation information presenting apparatus according to claim 20, wherein:

the navigation script describes a sequential process instruction for processing a plurality of instructions sequentially and a parallel process instruction for processing a plurality of instructions in parallel; and

said processing device processes the plurality of instructions sequentially according to the sequential process instruction, and processes the plurality of instructions according to the parallel process instruction.

23. The navigation information presenting apparatus according to claim 20, wherein

said inputting device inputs a navigation script specified by the user with one of a communication with an external device providing a navigation script via a network, a read from a computer-readable electronic medium, and an input from an input device operated by the user.

24. The navigation information presenting apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising

a parsing unit parsing the input navigation script, and for converting the input navigation script into structured navigation data, wherein

said processing device processes instructions represented in the form of the structured navigation data.

25. The navigation information presenting apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said outputting device presents to the user, with respect to at least a portion of the navigation script, information for guidance about at least one of a current point, a departure point, an en-route spot, a destination, and a route by using at least one of texts, maps, voice, images, and videos with one of a method for presenting the navigation information one after another, a method for presenting the navigation information for each instruction, and a method for presenting the navigation information for at least one of specified time, distance, point, input operation, and external event.

26. A navigation information presenting apparatus for presenting navigation information to a user according to a state, comprising:

an inputting device inputting a navigation script composed of an instruction sequence based on a predetermined specification, in which at least one of time information and point information, and information for guidance to be output according to at least one of a presentation time and a presentation point is described using a set of combinations of a name which identifies a type of the information and the contents thereof;

a setting device setting operation modes as at least one of a navigation mode and a simulation mode according to at least one of a user input operation and a system setting;

an acquiring device acquiring a state including at least one of a current time and a current point in the navigation mode;

a generating device generating a state including at least one of a virtual current time and a virtual current point in the simulation mode;

a processing device processing instructions described in the input navigation script according to at least one of the current time and the current point, which is obtained by state acquisition, in the navigation mode, and processes the instructions according to at least one of the virtual current time and the virtual current point, which is obtained by state generation, in the simulation mode; and

an outputting device outputting navigation information to be output as the instructions are processed, and for presenting the navigation information to the user.

27. A device for semi-automatically generating a navigation script used by an apparatus for presenting navigation information to a user according to a state, comprising:

an acquiring device acquiring a state including at least one of a current time and a current point with one of a method for acquiring a state at predetermined time intervals, a method for acquiring a state for each point, a method for acquiring a state at predetermined distance intervals, and a method for acquiring a state according to a user instruction;

a generating device generating a navigation script composed of an instruction sequence based on a predetermined specification, with which at least one of time information and place information, and information for guidance to be output according to at least one of a presentation time and a presentation point is described using a set of combinations of a name which identifies a type of the information and the contents thereof, based on a history of the acquired state including at least one of each acquired time and each acquired point; and

a storing device storing the generated navigation script in an electronic medium.

28. A device for managing driving data, comprising:

an inputting device inputting a navigation script composed of an instruction sequence based on a predetermined specification, in which at least one of time information and point information, and information for guidance to be output according to at least one of a presentation time and a presentation place is described using a set of combinations of a name which identifies a type of each of the information and the contents thereof;

a driving management database for managing data where at least one of time information and information, and at least one of a reservation state and a corresponding point state are described;

a coordinating device making a comparison and coordination between the navigation script input by said inputting means and the data stored in said driving management database, and for performing a process of modifying the navigation script and a process of updating the data stored in the driving management database according to a result of the comparison and coordination depending on need; and

an output device outputting a resultant navigation script.

29. A driving management method using a computer, comprising:

inputting a navigation script composed of an instruction sequence based on a predetermined specification, in which at least one of time information and point information, and navigation information to be output according to at least one of a presentation time and a presentation point is described using a set of combinations of a name which identifies a type of the information and the contents thereof;

referencing a driving management database for managing data where at least one of time information and point information, and at least one of a reservation state and a corresponding point state are described, for making a comparison and coordination between the input navigation script and the data stored in said driving management database, and for performing a process of modifying the navigation script and a process of updating the data stored in the driving management database according to a result of the comparison and coordination depending on need; and

an output device outputting a resultant navigation script.

30. A device for proposing an action to be taken by a user depending on whether or not the user can reach by an arrival time, comprising:

an inputting device inputting a navigation script composed of an instruction sequence based on a predetermined specification, in which at least one of time information and point information, and information for guidance to be output according to at least one of a presentation time and a presentation place is described using a set of combinations of a name which identifies a type of the information and the contents thereof;

a scheduler for scheduling arrival times at respective places;

a rule base for storing rules describing actions to be taken depending on whether or not there is time sufficient to an arrival time; and

a monitoring and executing device for checking arrival times at subsequent points from a current time at a current point, and for executing a corresponding rule if the rule is stored within said rule base, depending on whether or not there is sufficient time to an arrival time.

31. An apparatus comprising:

an inputting unit inputting a navigation script comprising a guidance instruction sequence based on a predetermined specification, the guidance instruction sequence comprising navigational directions;

a generating unit generating navigation information by processing instructions in the navigation script according to a current location; and

an outputting device outputting the generated navigation information.

32. An apparatus as recited in claim 31, wherein the processing processes instructions in the navigation script according to a current time.

33. A method comprising:

inputting a navigation script comprising a guidance instruction sequence based on a predetermined specification, the guidance instruction sequence comprising navigational directions;

generating navigation information by processing instructions in the navigation script according to a current location; and

outputting the generated navigation information.

34. A method as recited in claim 33, wherein the processing processes instructions in the navigation script according to a current time.

35. A computer readable storage medium storing a program instructing a computer to perform a method comprising:

inputting a navigation script comprising a guidance instruction sequence based on a predetermined specification, the guidance instruction sequence comprising navigational directions;

generating navigation information by processing instructions in the navigation script according to a current location; and

outputting the generated navigation information.

36. A computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 35, wherein the processing processes instructions in the navigation script according to a current time.