COMMUNICATION APPARATUS AND ITS CURRENT POSITION COMMUNICATION METHOD, NAVIGATION APPARATUS FOR A VEHICLE AND ITS INFORMATION COMMUNICATION METHOD, COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT, AND COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM

• US 6,462,674 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2001
• Issued: 10/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
• Inventors: Ohmura, Hiroshi, Ushio, Masao, Hosoda, Kouji, Hirabayashi, Shigefumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US09/834,761
• Publication Number:
  US 20010052861A1
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 340/901, 340/904, 340/905, 340/988, 340/989, 340/990, 340/992, 340/995, 340/991, 340/993, 701/200, 701/207, 701/208, 701/211, 701/212, 701/223
• US Class Current: 340/901
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0969 having a display in the form of a map

Abstract

A navigation unit 1 sends map image information representing a map image of an area around a current position of an automobile in which the unit 1 is installed to a communication apparatus 9 with which the unit 1 is communicating, if the communication apparatus 9 does not have geographical data. The map image information includes information such as a symbol image that allows the current position of the navigation unit 1 to be identified. The data format of the map image information is a data format that allows the information to be reproduced in an ordinary personal computer.

Claims

1. A communication apparatus for communicating with an external communication apparatus by wireless communication, comprising:

interface allowing for inputting photograph information;

an acquisition module for acquiring geographical information representing area around a current position based on position information representing the current position;

an image processing module for generating, based on position information representing the current position and geographical information representing the area acquired by said acquisition module, map image information representing the map image of the area containing a symbol image allowing the current position to be identified and combining the map image information and the photograph information input through the interface into a single piece of image information; and

communication device for sending the image information combined by said image processing module to a predetermined external communication apparatus.

2. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the position information representing the current position and the geographical information representing the area are coordinate information representing coordinates in a predetermined coordinate system and the coordinate information is pre-associated with attribute information about a position corresponding to the coordinate information on a position-by-position basis, and

said image processing module converts the attribute information pre-associated with the coordinate information representing the current position and the area into color information pre-set for each type of the attribute information to generate the map image information.

3. The communication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said image processing module generates a simplified map image of the area containing the symbol image without converting an attribute represented by predetermined attribute information of the attribute information into the color information recognizable to an operator when generating the map image information.

4. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image processing module sends the image information for one image as a unit at predetermined time intervals.

5. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said acquisition module acquires position information representing the location of the predetermined external communication apparatus and, based on the position information and the position information representing the current position, acquires geographical information representing an area including the current position and the location of the predetermined external communication apparatus;

and

said image processing module generates, based on the position information representing the current position and the location and geographical information representing the area, map image information representing the map image of the area including a symbol image allowing the current position and the location to be identified and combines the map image information and the input photograph information into a single piece of image information.

6. The communication apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a route guidance module for calculating a guidance route to a desired destination and performing route guidance to the destination, wherein:

said image processing module generates the map image information in a manner that a partial image corresponding to the guidance route can be identified in the map image of the area including the symbol image if the location of the predetermined external communication apparatus is set as the destination for the route guidance module.

7. The communication apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said image processing module further combines image information about a character pattern representing an estimated time of arrival at the destination calculated by said route guidance module or the traveling speed of the vehicle thereof with the map image information.

8. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image processing module includes a man-machine interface for selecting one of a first mode for sending the position information representing the current position and a second mode for sending the image information.

9. The communication apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said man-machine interface selects the first mode or the second mode depending on the result of sending/receiving predetermined communication information to and from the external communication apparatus.

10. The communication apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the route guidance module displays the position of a parking lot or performing route guidance to the parking lot based on position information representing the location of the parking lot when said communication apparatus receives the position information in response to a predetermined operation.

11. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said communication apparatus is a communication apparatus installed in a movable body.

12. A computer-readable storage medium containing a control program code operational as the communication apparatus according to claim 1.

13. A computer program product providing instructions, for implementing the operation of a communication apparatus according to claim 1.

14. A current position communication method for a communication apparatus for communicating with an external communication apparatus by wireless communication comprising:

an input step of inputting photograph information;

an acquisition step of acquiring geographical information representing an area around a current position based on position information representing the current position;

an image processing step of generating, based on position information representing the current position and geographical information representing the area, map image information representing the map image of the area containing a symbol image allowing the current position to be identified and combining the map image information and the photograph information into a single piece of image information; and

a communication step of sending the image information to a predetermined external communication apparatus.

15. The current position communication method for the communication apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the position information representing the current position and the geographical information representing the area are coordinate information representing coordinates in a predetermined coordinate system and the coordinate information is pre-associated with attribute information about a position corresponding to the coordinate information on a position-by-position basis, and

said image processing step comprises a step of converting the attribute-information pre-associated with the coordinate information representing the current position and the area into color information pre-set for each type of the attribute information to generate the map image information.

16. The current position communication method for the communication apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said image processing step comprises the step of generating a simplified map image of the area containing the symbol image without converting an attribute represented by predetermined attribute information of the attribute information into the color information recognizable to an operator when generating the map image information.

17. The current position communication method for the communication apparatus according to claim 14, wherein:

said acquisition step comprising the steps of acquiring position information representing the location of the predetermined external communication apparatus and acquiring, based on the position information and the position information representing the current position, geographical information representing an area including the current position and the location of the predetermined external communication apparatus, and

said image processing step comprises a step of generating, based on the position information representing the current position and the location and geographical information representing the area, map image information representing the map image of the area including a symbol image allowing the current position and the location to be identified and combines the map image information and the input photograph information into a single piece of image information.

18. The current position communication method for the communication apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising the route guidance step of calculating a guidance route to a desired destination and performing route guidance to the destination;

wherein;

said image processing step comprises a step of generating the map image information in a manner that a partial image corresponding to the guidance route can be identified in the map image of the area including the symbol image if the location of the predetermined external communication apparatus is set as the destination at said route guidance steps.

19. The current position communication method for the communication apparatus according to claim 18, wherein:

said image processing step further comprises a step of combining image information about a character pattern representing an estimated time of arrival at the destination calculated at said route guidance step or the traveling speed of the vehicle thereof with the map image information.

20. The computer program product providing instructions for implementing the current position communication method according to claim 14 in the communication apparatus.

21. The computer-readable storage medium containing a control program code capable of implementing the current position communication method for the communication apparatus according to claim 14.

22. A communication apparatus for communicating with an external communication apparatus by wireless communication, comprising:

interface means allowing for inputting photograph information;

acquisition means for acquiring geographical information representing area around a current position based on position information representing the current position;

image processing means for generating, based on position information representing the current position and geographical information representing the area acquired by said acquisition means, map image information representing the map image of the area containing a symbol image allowing the current position to be identified and combining the map image information and the photograph information input through said interface means into a single piece of image information; and

communication means for sending the image information combined by the image processing means to a predetermined external communication apparatus.

23. A computer-readable storage medium containing a control program code operational as the communication apparatus according to claim 22.

24. A computer program product providing instructions for implementing the operation of a communication apparatus according to claim 22.

25. A navigation apparatus for a vehicle comprising a current position detection module for detecting the current position of the navigation apparatus for a vehicle itself and a communication control unit for sending position information representing the detected current position to an external communication apparatus, wherein:

said navigation apparatus for a vehicle comprises interface allowing for inputting photograph information,

said current position detection module comprises storage medium for storing the current position information representing the detected current position at a plurality of positions in chronological order to hold a past traveled path, and

said communication control unit sends the position information representing the current position to a predetermined external communication apparatus (9) along with the position information about the plurality of positions read from said storage medium in chronological order or photograph information input through said interface.

26. The navigation apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 25, wherein said communication control unit sends information about shooting circumstance associated with the photograph information.

27. The navigation apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 25 further comprising a route guidance module for calculating a guidance route to a desired destination from the current position detected by said current position detection module and performing route guidance to the destination, wherein

said communication control unit sends guidance route information representing the guidance route.

28. The navigation apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 27, wherein said communication control unit generates map image information representing the map image of the area based on the position information representing the current position, the geographical information representing the area around the current position, and the guidance route information and sends the map image information to the predetermined external communication apparatus, the map image information containing symbol images allowing the current position and the guidance route to be identified.

29. The navigation apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 28, wherein the position information representing the current position, the geographical information representing the area around the current position, and the guidance route information are coordinate information representing coordinates in a predetermined coordinate system and the coordinate information is pre-associated with attribute information about a position corresponding to the coordinate information on a position-by-position basis;

and

said communication control unit converts the attribute information pre-associated with the coordinate information representing the current position, the area, and the guidance route information into color information pre-set for each type of the attribute information to generate the map image information.

30. The navigation apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 29, wherein said communication control unit generates a simplified map image of the area containing the symbol image without converting an attribute represented by predetermined attribute information of the attribute information into the color information recognizable to an operator when generating the map image information.

31. The navigation apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 25, wherein said communication control unit automatically performs transmission in response to receiving information indicating a transmission request from the predetermined external communication apparatus.

32. The navigation apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 31, wherein said communication control unit includes a man-machine interface for disabling the automatic information transmission to the predetermined external communication apparatus.

33. The navigation apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 25, wherein said communication control unit sends to the predetermined external communication apparatus only position information about a position that is not sent among the position information about the plurality of positions when sending the position information representing the current position and the information at the plurality of positions.

34. The navigation apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 25, wherein said communication control unit sends to the predetermined external communication apparatus only position information from the latest position information to a position a predetermined time ago among the position information about the plurality of positions when sending the position information representing the current position and the information at the plurality of positions.

35. The navigation apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 25, wherein said communication control unit generates map image information representing the map image of the area based on the position information representing the current position, the geographical information representing the area around the current position, and the position information at the plurality of positions and sends the map image information to said external communication apparatus, the map image information containing symbol images allowing the current position and the past traveled path represented by the position information at the plurality of positions to be identified.

36. The navigation apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 35, wherein the position information representing the current position, the geographical information representing the area, and the position information at the plurality of positions are coordinate information representing coordinates in a predetermined coordinate system and the coordinate information is pre-associated with attribute information about a position corresponding to the coordinate information on a position-by-position basis;

and

said communication control unit converts the attribute information pre-associated with the coordinate information representing the current position, the area, and the plurality of positions into color information pre-set for each type of the attribute information to generate the map image information.

37. The navigation apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 36, wherein said communication control unit generates a simplified map image of the area containing the symbol image without converting an attribute represented by predetermined attribute information of the attribute information into the color information recognizable to an operator when generating the map image information.

38. The navigation apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 25, wherein said storage medium associates and stores the position information representing the plurality of positions with time information representing time at which the positions are passed, ignition on/off information, or desired message information;

and

said communication control unit reads from said storage medium and sends to said external communication apparatus the information representing the plurality of positions and the information associated with the position information.

39. The navigation apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 25, wherein said communication control unit sends the position information representing the plurality of positions and the photograph image along with the position information representing the current position.

40. A computer-readable storage medium containing a control program code operational as the navigation apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 25.

41. A computer program product providing instructions for implementing the operation of a navigation apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 25.

42. An information communication method for a navigation apparatus for a vehicle detecting the current position of the navigation apparatus for a vehicle itself and sending information representing the detected current position to an external communication apparatus, comprising:

an input step of inputting photograph information into said navigation apparatus for a vehicle;

a storage step of storing the current position information representing the detected current position at a plurality of positions in chronological order to hold a past traveled path; and

an information communication step of sending to a predetermined communication apparatus the position information at the plurality of positions stored in chronological order at said storage step or input photograph information along with the position information representing the current position.

43. The information communication method for the navigation apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 42, wherein information about shooting circumstance associated with the photograph information is sent at said information communication step.

44. The information communication method for the navigation apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 42, wherein guidance route information representing a guidance route from the current position to a desired destination is sent at said information communication step.

45. The information communication method for the navigation apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 44, wherein said information communication step comprises the steps of generating map image information representing the map image of the area based on the position information representing the current position, the geographical information representing the area around the current position, and the guidance route information and sends the map image information to the predetermined external communication apparatus, the map image information containing symbol images allowing the current position and the guidance route to be identified.

46. The information communication method for the navigation apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 42, wherein said information communication step comprises the steps of generating map image information representing the map image of the area based on the position information representing the current position, the geographical information representing the area around the current position, and the position information at the plurality of positions and sending the map image information to the predetermined external communication apparatus, the map image information containing symbol images allowing the current position and the past traveled path represented by the position information at the plurality of positions to be identified.

47. The information communication method for the navigation apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 42, wherein said storage step comprises the step of associating and storing the position information representing the plurality of positions with time information representing time at which the positions are passed, ignition on/off information, or desired message information;

and

said information communication step comprises a step of sending to the predetermined external communication apparatus the information representing the plurality of positions and the information associated with the position information at said storage step.

48. The computer-readable storage medium containing a control program code capable of implementing the information communication method for the navigation apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 42.

49. The computer program product providing instructions for implementing the information communication method according to claim 42 in said navigation apparatus for a vehicle.

50. A navigation apparatus for a vehicle comprising current position detection means for detecting the current position of the navigation apparatus for a vehicle itself and communication control means for sending position information representing the detected current position to an external communication apparatus, wherein:

said navigation apparatus for a vehicle comprises interface means allowing for inputting photograph information,

said current position detection means comprises storage means for storing the current position information representing the detected current position at a plurality of positions in chronological order to hold a past traveled path, and

said communication control means sends the position information representing the current position to a predetermined external communication apparatus along with the position information about the plurality of positions read from said storage means in chronological order or photograph information input through said interface means.

51. A computer-readable storage medium containing a control program code operational as the navigation apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 50.

52. A computer program product providing instructions for implementing the operation of a navigation apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 50.