Service-rendering system, service-rendering apparatus and method, and navigation apparatus and method

• US 6,434,478 B1
• Filed: 07/31/2001
• Issued: 08/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Ikeda, Kiyokazu
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby, Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US09/919,525
• Publication Number:
  US 20020049529A1
• Time in Patent Office: 378 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701/201, 701/208, 701/213, 701/24, 340/5.6, 731/78.R
• US Class Current: 701/200
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network

Abstract

A service-rendering system wherein control information is generated for controlling operations of a navigation apparatus provided on a movable body by cooperation of a terminal operated by a user and a service-rendering apparatus for rendering services, the control information is transmitted to the navigation apparatus located at a location separate from the terminal and from the service-rendering apparatus, and information on navigation is generated prior to use of the movable body by the user.

Claims

1. A service-rendering system for transmitting control data to a first apparatus provided on a movable body, said control data used for controlling operations of said first apparatus located at a location separate from said service-rendering system, said service-rendering system comprising:

a service-rendering apparatus for generating said control data for controlling operations of said first apparatus and for transmitting said generated control data to said first apparatus using a radio transmission apparatus connected to a network for transmitting data to said first apparatus;

a terminal connected to said service-rendering apparatus through said network for transmitting data to said service-rendering apparatus, said data to be used by said service-rendering apparatus for generating said control data;

a communication apparatus connected to said service-rendering apparatus through said network for transmitting said control data received from said service-rendering apparatus to said first apparatus by radio transmission; and

a control apparatus provided on said movable body, connected to said communication apparatus by radio communication, for receiving said control data from said radio transmission apparatus and for controlling said first apparatus.

2. The service-rendering system according to claim 1, wherein said service-rendering apparatus comprises:

communication means for communicating with said terminal and with said communication apparatus through said network;

data storage means for storing service data to be transmitted to said terminal connected through said network when said terminal requests a rendering of a service;

authentication-data storage means for storing authentication data used for judging whether said terminal connected to said service-rendering apparatus through said network is entitled to said rendering of said service;

control-data storage means for storing said control data generated for a terminal entitled to said rendering of said service; and

control means for;

judging whether said terminal is entitled to said rendering of said service based upon said authentication data stored in said authentication-data storage means and authentication request data for a service-rendering request received by said communication means;

transmitting data stored in said data storage means to said terminal entitled to said rendering of said service;

storing control data in said control-data storage means by classifying said control data by terminal based upon data received from said terminal to be used for generating said control data; and

controlling said communication means to transmit said control data stored in said control-data storage means to said control apparatus associated with said terminal.

3. The service-rendering system according to claim 1, wherein said control apparatus comprises:

radio communication means for communicating by radio with said communication apparatus;

storage means for storing said control data received by said radio communication means;

power-supply control means for controlling a power supply of said first apparatus; and

said control means for;

controlling said storage means to store said control data received by said radio communication means;

controlling said power-supply control means to turn on said power supply of said first apparatus; and

for controlling said first apparatus based upon said control data.

4. A navigation apparatus mounted on a movable body for setting a navigation operation based on control data received from a service-rendering apparatus, said navigation apparatus comprising:

radio communication means for communicating by radio communication and for receiving said control data;

storage means for storing said control data received by said radio communication means;

power-supply control means for controlling a power supply of said navigation apparatus;

time-measuring means for measuring a length of time;

navigation-information-generating means for generating navigation information; and

control means for;

controlling said storage means to store said control data received by said radio communication means;

controlling said power-supply control means to turn on and turn off said power supply of said navigation apparatus based upon said control data and said time measured by said time-measuring means; and

for controlling said navigation-information-generating means to generate said navigation information based on said control data.

5. The navigation apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising reception means for receiving traffic data transmitted by radio communication, wherein said navigation-information-generating means generates said navigation information based on said traffic data received by said reception means.

6. The navigation apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said control means executes control to start generation of said navigation information at a time preceding a departure time by a predetermined length of time based on said departure time included in said control data and said time measured by said time measuring means.

7. The navigation apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said power supply is turned off upon completion of said generation of said navigation information at a time preceding said departure time by said predetermined time until said power supply is turned on.

8. A service-rendering apparatus having a radio communication function for generating control data for controlling a navigation apparatus installed on a movable body and for transmitting said control data to said navigation apparatus, said service-rendering apparatus comprising:

communication means for communicating with a radio communication apparatus to transmit said control data to said navigation apparatus by radio transmission and for communicating with a terminal operated by a user through a network;

authentication-data storage means for storing authentication data for authenticating an ID code received from said terminal by associating said authentication data with one of a plurality of navigation-apparatus IDs identifying said navigation apparatus;

content-generation-data storage means for storing content generation data that is used for generating content transmitted to said terminal and that is used for requesting said user to enter a command to generate said control data;

control-data storage means for storing control data for each of said plurality of navigation-apparatus IDs; and

control means for controlling;

said authentication of said ID code received by said communication means from said terminal by comparing said ID code with said authentication data stored in said authentication-data storage means and judging whether to establish communication with said terminal;

said generation of said content based on said content generation data stored in said content-generation-data storage means for said terminal with said authenticated ID code;

transmission of said generated content to said terminal with said authenticated ID code;

generation of said control data based on a command received by said communication means from said terminal with said authenticated ID code and storage of said generated control data in said control-data storage means by associating said control data with one of said plurality of navigation-apparatus IDs associated with said ID code of said terminal stored in said authentication-data storage means; and

driving said radio communication apparatus to transmit said control data to said navigation apparatus identified by said navigation-apparatus ID associated with said control data in said control-data storage means.

9. The service-rendering apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said control means controls'"'"'said communication means to receive predetermined data from an other service-rendering apparatus connected to said network when a request is made by said authenticated terminal to receive said predetermined data presented as a service rendered by said other service-rendering apparatus.

10. The service-rendering apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a time-measuring means for generating time data, wherein said service-rendering apparatus transmits said control data stored in said control-data storage apparatus to a predetermined navigation apparatus at a predetermined time based on said time data generated by said time-measuring means.

11. The service-rendering apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said service-rendering apparatus transmits said control data to said predetermined navigation apparatus at a time preceding a navigation start time included in said control data by a predetermined length of time.

12. The service-rendering apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said content transmitted to said terminal is map data.

13. The service-rendering apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising an electronic-mail-transmitting means, wherein said control means controls said electronic-mail-transmitting means to generate an electronic mail containing predetermined data based on said control data and controls said communication means to transmit said electronic mail to a predetermined mail address at a predetermined time based on said control data.

14. A navigation apparatus provided on a movable body that communicates with a service-rendering apparatus generating control data for navigating said movable body when a request is made by a user operating a terminal, said navigation apparatus comprising:

radio communication means for receiving said control data generated by said service-rendering apparatus and transmitted by a radio communication apparatus;

storage means for storing said control data received by said radio communication means;

playback means for playing geographical data for navigation from a recording medium storing said geographical data;

measurement means for measuring a present position of said movable body;

display means for displaying a map based on said geographical data played by said playback means;

navigation-information-generating means for generating navigation information based on travel-destination data included in said control data, present-position data measured by said measurement means, and said geographical data played by said playback means; and

control means for controlling said storage means to store said control data received by said radio communication means;

for controlling said measurement means to measure said present position of said movable body;

for controlling said playback means to play said geographical data based on said travel-destination data included in said control data and said present-position data measured by said measurement means;

for controlling said navigation-information-generating means to generate said navigation information; and

for controlling said display means to display said map generated based upon said reproduced geographical data and said generated navigation information.

15. The navigation apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising a navigation-information storage means for storing said navigation information generated by said navigation-information-generating means,

wherein said control means executes control to store said navigation information in said navigation-information storage means.

16. The navigation apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising time-measuring means for generating time data,

wherein said control means controls said navigation-information-generating means to generate said navigation information at a time preceding a navigation start time included in said control data by a time length based on said time data generated by said time-measuring means.

17. The navigation apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising a power-supply control means for controlling a main power supply of said navigation apparatus,

wherein said control apparatus controls said power-supply control means to turn on said main power supply of said navigation apparatus when said navigation information is generated.

18. A method for controlling a navigation apparatus provided on a movable body that communicates with a service-rendering apparatus that generates control data used for navigating said movable body when a request is made by a user operating a terminal, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving said control data from said service-rendering apparatus;

storing said received control data in a storage means provided in said navigation apparatus;

measuring a present position of said movable body;

generating navigation information based on travel-destination data included in said control data and based on said present position; and

displaying said generated navigation information on a display unit.

19. The method for controlling a navigation apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said navigation information is generated prior to a navigation start time included in said control data.

20. The method for controlling a navigation apparatus according to claim 18, wherein a main power supply of said navigation apparatus is turned on before said navigation information is generated.

21. The method for controlling a navigation apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said generated navigation information is stored.

22. A service-rendering method for generating control data for controlling one of a plurality of navigation apparatuses that is installed on a movable body and that is provided with a radio communication function and for transmitting said control data to said navigation apparatus, said service-rendering method comprising the steps of:

receiving an ID code transmitted by a terminal operated by a user;

authenticating said received ID code;

transmitting content to said terminal if said terminal is authenticated successfully as having a right to receive a service allowed by said authentication;

receiving a command from said authenticated terminal;

generating control data based on said received command; and

transmitting said generated control data to said navigation apparatus associated with said ID code.

23. The service-rendering method according to claim 22, further comprising the step of receiving predetermined data from an other service-rendering apparatus when a request is made by said authenticated terminal to collect said predetermined data from said other service-rendering apparatus.

24. The service-rendering method according to claim 22, further comprising the step of storing said generated control data by classifying said control data according to said ID code.

25. The service-rendering method according to claim 24, wherein said stored control data is transmitted to a predetermined one of said plurality of navigation apparatuses at a predetermined time.

26. The service-rendering method according to claim 25, wherein said stored control data is transmitted to said predetermined navigation apparatus at a time preceding a navigation start time included in said control data by a predetermined length of time.

27. The service-rendering method according to claim 22, further comprising the step of transmitting an electronic mail including predetermined data to a predetermined mail address at a predetermined mail time based upon said control data.

28. A service-rendering system comprising:

one of a plurality of navigation apparatuses provided with a radio communication terminal function, installed on a movable body and identified by a unique apparatus ID from a plurality of apparatus IDs that is assigned to said navigation apparatus as an apparatus ID inherent to said navigation apparatus;

a service server provided with a service-rendering function and used for storing said plurality of apparatus IDs, each said apparatus ID assigned to one of said plurality of navigation apparatuses each said navigation apparatus capable of rendering a service;

a user terminal;

one of a plurality of communication networks enabling communication between said navigation apparatus and said service server and communication between said user terminal and said service server;

access means for allowing said user terminal to access said service server through said communication network;

control-data-generating means for generating control data for controlling operations of said navigation apparatus associated with said user terminal in accordance with an operation carried out on said user terminal accessing said service server and for requesting said service server to store said control data;

transmission means for transmitting said control data to one of said plurality of navigation apparatuses accessed by said service server by using said apparatus ID assigned to said navigation apparatus; and

control means for controlling said navigation apparatus to perform a predetermined operation based on said received control data.

29. Then service-rendering system according to claim 28, wherein said control data is transmitted at a predetermined time prior to a time indicated by time data included in said control data.

30. A navigation apparatus mounted on a movable body, comprising:

communication means for enabling communication through a predetermined communication network with a service server storing control data generated in accordance with data transmitted through communication with a user terminal associated with said navigation apparatus; and

control means for executing control to perform a predetermined operation based on said control data received by said communication means used for controlling said predetermined operation of said navigation apparatus.

31. The navigation apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said control means executes control to perform said predetermined operation at a predetermined time prior to a time indicated by time data included in said control data.

32. The navigation apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said control means executes a route search based on positional data included in said control data as said predetermined operation.

33. The navigation apparatus according to claim 30, further comprising a traffic-data-acquiring means for receiving and acquiring traffic data,

wherein said control means is capable of controlling said traffic-data-acquiring means to acquire said traffic data as said predetermined operation.