Apparatus for and method of controlling electronic system for movable body, electronic system for movable body, program storage device and computer data signal embodied in carrier wave

• US 6,738,698 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2002
• Issued: 05/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
• Original Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
• Inventors: Gayama, Shinichi, Shibasaki, Hiroaki, Ichihara, Naohiko, Amano, Hideki
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tan Q.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Dalena
• Application Number:
  US10/164,404
• Publication Number:
  US 20020188390A1
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36, 701/200, 701/209, 701/213, 701/117, 701/210, 701/204, 701/207, 701/208, 731/78.R, 340/994, 340/993, 340/995.21, 342/357.1, 342/457, 342/357.07, 455/456.1
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages

Abstract

An electronic system has (i) an information outputting apparatus having an output device for outputting a content information including at least one of an audio information and a video information and (ii) a navigation apparatus having an input device for inputting a destination in a movement of a movable body and a calculate device for calculating a necessary time length required for the movable body to arrive at the destination. A controlling apparatus is provided with: a selecting device for selecting the content information to be outputted during the movement of the movable body until the arrival at the destination, on the basis of an output time length information indicative of a time length required to output the content information, in response to the calculated necessary time length; and an output controlling device for controlling the output device so as to output the content information selected by the selecting device.

Claims

1. A controlling apparatus for controlling an electronic system for a movable body, said electronic system comprising (i) an information outputting apparatus having an output device which outputs a content information including at least one of an audio information and a video information and (ii) a navigation apparatus having an input device through which a destination in a movement of a movable body can be inputted and a calculate device which calculates a necessary time length required for the movable body to arrive at the destination inputted by said input device from a current position of said movable body, said controlling apparatus comprising:

a selecting device which selects the content information to be outputted during the movement of said movable body until the arrival at the destination, on the basis of a play time length of the content information, in response to the calculated necessary time length; and

an output controlling device which controls said output device so as to output the content information selected by said selecting device during the movement of said movable body until the arrival at the destination.

2. The controlling apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a monitoring device which monitors whether or not the movement of said movable body is on schedule,

said selecting device applying a change onto the content information to be applied after a current time point if the movement of said movable body is not on schedule according to a monitor result of said monitoring device.

3. The controlling apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

said calculating device further calculates scheduled pass time points at a plurality of geographical positions on a route of said movable body,

said monitoring device monitors by comparing the scheduled pass time points with a current time point, and

said selecting device applies the change onto the content information to be outputted after the current time point in correspondence with a comparison result of the monitoring device.

4. The controlling apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

said calculating device further calculates scheduled pass positions at a plurality of time points, on a route of said movable body,

said monitoring device monitors by comparing the scheduled pass positions with a current position, and

said selecting device applies change onto the content information to be outputted after the current time point in correspondence with a comparison result of the monitoring device.

5. The controlling apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a monitoring device which monitors whether or not the movement of said movable body is on schedule,

said output controlling device controlling said output device to apply a change onto an output manner thereof after a current time point if the movement of said movable body is not on schedule according to a monitor result of said monitoring device.

6. The controlling apparatus according to claim 5, wherein

said calculating device further calculates scheduled pass time points at a plurality of geographical positions on a route of said movable body,

said monitoring device monitors by comparing the scheduled pass time points with a current time point, and

said output controlling device controls said output device to apply the change onto the output manner thereof after the current time point in correspondence with a comparison result of the monitoring device.

7. The controlling apparatus according to claim 5, wherein

said calculating device further calculates scheduled pass positions at a plurality of time points, on a route of said movable body,

said monitoring device monitors by comparing the scheduled pass positions with a current position, and said output controlling device controls said output device to apply the change onto the output manner thereof after the current time point in correspondence with a comparison result of the monitoring device.

8. The controlling apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a storage device which stores the play time length.

9. The controlling apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said storage device stores the content information in correlation with the play time length.

10. The controlling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said input device is adapted to input a condition to narrow down the content information to be outputted during the movement of said movable body, and

said selecting device selects the content information in correspondence with the condition inputted by said inputting device in addition to the necessary time length.

11. The controlling apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a condition setting device which sets a condition to narrow down the content information to be outputted during the movement of said movable body, on the basis of history information related to the content information outputted in a past by said information outputting apparatus,

said selecting device selecting the content information correspondence with the condition set by said condition setting device, in addition to the necessary time length.

12. The controlling apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a situation detecting device which detects a special situation in a predetermined kind during the movement of said movable body,

said output controlling device controlling said output device to preferentially output the content information set in advance as to be outputted at a time of the special situation regardless of a selection result by said selecting device, if the special situation is detected by said situation detecting device.

13. The controlling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said selecting device generates a play list indicating a combination of a plurality of content information, which include a plurality of music compositions and/or pictures as the content information, and which are supposed to be completed during the movement of said movable body until the arrival at the destination.

14. The controlling apparatus for controlling according to claim 1, wherein said selecting device selects the content information, which is for a purpose of an audio and/or visual entertainment operation other than a navigation operation performed by said navigation apparatus, on the basis of the play time length, and

said output device outputs, in the navigation operation, at least one of another audio information and another video information, which are different from the content information and which are for a purpose of the navigation operation.

15. A controlling apparatus for controlling an electronic system for a movable body, said electronic system comprising (i) an information outputting apparatus having an output device which outputs a content information including at least one of an audio information and a video information and (ii) a navigation apparatus having an measurement device which outputs a measurement data related to a movement condition of a movable body, said controlling apparatus comprising:

a situation detecting device which detects a special situation in a predetermined kind during the movement of said movable body, on the basis of the measurement data; and

an output controlling device which controls said output device to preferentially output the content information, which is for a purpose of an audio and/or visual entertainment operation other than a navigation operation performed by said navigation apparatus, set in advance as to be outputted at a time of the special situation if the special situation is detected by said situation detecting device,

wherein, in the navigation operation, said output device outputs at least one of another audio information and another video information which are different from the content information and which are for a purpose of the navigation operation.

16. The controlling apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising an input device through which the content information to be outputted can be inputted at the time of the special situation.

17. The controlling apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said situation detecting device detects the special situation by detecting that a continuous movement time length since a start of the movement of said movable body exceeds a predetermined time length.

18. The controlling apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said situation detecting device detects the special situation on the basis of a degree of a traffic jam on a route where said movable body has already traveled.

19. The controlling apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said situation detecting device detects the special situation by detecting that a traveling locus of said movable body is abnormal with respect to a predetermined reference.

20. A program storage device readable by a computer for tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the computer to perform method processes in an electronic system for a movable body, said electronic system comprising (i) an information outputting apparatus having an output device which outputs a content information including at least one of an audio information and a video information and (ii) a navigation apparatus having an input device through which a destination in a movement of a movable body can be inputted and a calculate device which calculates a necessary time length required for the movable body to arrive at the destination inputted by said input device from a current position of said movable body,

said method processes comprising:

a selecting process of selecting the content information to be outputted during the movement of said movable body until the arrival at the destination, on the basis of a play time length of the content information, in response to the calculated necessary time length; and

an outputting process of outputting the content information selected by said selecting process during the movement of said movable body until the arrival at the destination.

21. The program storage device according to claim 20, wherein

said selecting process is for selecting the content information, which is for a purpose of an audio and/or visual entertainment operation other than a navigation operation performed by said navigation apparatus, on the basis of the play time length; and

said output device outputs, in the navigation operation, at least one of another audio information and another video information, which are different from the content information and which are for a purpose of the navigation operation.

22. A program storage device readable by a computer for tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the computer to perform method processes in an electronic system for a movable body, said electronic system comprising (i) an information outputting apparatus having an output device which outputs a content information including at least one of an audio information and a video information and (ii) a navigation apparatus having an measurement device which outputs a measurement data related to a movement condition of a movable body,

said method processes comprising:

a situation detecting process of detecting a special situation in a predetermined kind during the movement of said movable body, on the basis of the measurement data; and

an outputting process of preferentially output the content information, which is for a purpose of an audio and/or visual entertainment operation other than a navigation operation performed by said navigation apparatus, set in advance as to be outputted at a time of the special situation if the special situation is detected by said situation detecting process,

wherein, in the navigation operation, said output device outputs at least one of another audio information and another video information which are different from the content information and which are for a purpose of the navigation operation.

23. A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave and representing a series of instructions which cause a computer to perform method processes in an electronic system for a movable body, said electronic system comprising (i) an information outputting apparatus having an output device which outputs a content information including at least one of an audio information and a video information and (ii) a navigation apparatus having an input device through which a destination in a movement of a movable body can be inputted and a calculate device which calculates a necessary time length required for the movable body to arrive at the destination inputted by said input device from a current position of said movable body,

said method processes comprising:

a selecting process of selecting the content information to be outputted during the movement of said movable body until the arrival at the destination, on the basis of a play time length of the content information, in response to the calculated necessary time length; and

an outputting process of outputting the content information selected by said selecting process during the movement of said movable body until the arrival at the destination.

24. The computer data signal according to claim 23, wherein

said selecting process is for selecting the content information, which is for a purpose of an audio and/or visual entertainment operation other than a navigation operation performed by said navigation apparatus, on the basis of the play time length; and

said output device outputs, in the navigation operation, at least one of another audio information and another video information, which are different from the content information and which are for a purpose of the navigation operation.

25. A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave and representing a series of instructions which cause a computer to perform method processes in an electronic system for a movable body, said electronic system comprising (i) an information outputting apparatus having an output device which outputs a content information including at least one of an audio information and a video information and (ii) a navigation apparatus having an measurement device which outputs a measurement data related to a movement condition of a movable body,

said method processes comprising:

a situation detecting process of detecting a special situation in a predetermined kind during the movement of said movable body, on the basis of the measurement data; and

an outputting process of preferentially output the content information, which is for a purpose of an audio and/or visual entertainment operation other than a navigation operation performed by said navigation apparatus, set in advance as to be outputted at a time of the special situation if the special situation is detected by said situation detecting process,

wherein in the navigation operation said output device at least one of another audio information and another video information which are different from the content information and which are for a purpose of the navigation operation.

26. An electronic system for a movable body comprising:

an information outputting apparatus having an output device which outputs a content information including at least one of an audio information and a video information;

a navigation apparatus having an input device through which a destination in a movement of a movable body can be inputted and a calculate device which calculates a necessary time length required for the movable body to arrive at the destination inputted by said input device from a current position of said movable body;

a selecting device which selects the content information to be outputted during the movement of said movable body until the arrival at the destination, on the basis of a play time length of the content information, in response to the calculated necessary time length; and

an output controlling device which controls said output device so as to output the content information selected by said selecting device during the movement of said movable body until the arrival at the destination.

27. The electronic system according to claim 26, further comprising a communication device which down-loads at least one of the content information and the play time length.

28. The electronic system according to claim 26, wherein said selecting device generates a play list indicating a combination of a plurality of content information, which include a plurality of music compositions and/or pictures as the content information, and which are supposed to be completed during the movement of said movable body until the arrival at the destination.

29. The electronic system according to claim 26, wherein

said selecting device selects the content information, which is for a purpose of an audio and/or visual entertainment operation other than a navigation operation performed by said navigation apparatus, on the basis of the play time length; and

said output device outputs, in the navigation operation, at least one of another audio information and another video information, which are different from the content information and which are for a purpose of the navigation operation.

30. An electronic system for a movable body comprising;

an information outputting apparatus having an output device which outputs a content information including at least one of an audio information and a video information;

a navigation apparatus having an measurement device which outputs a measurement data related to a movement condition of a movable body;

a situation detecting device which detects a special situation in a predetermined kind during the movement of said movable body, on the basis of the measurement data; and

an output controlling device which controls said output device to preferentially output the content information, which is for a purpose of an audio and/or visual entertainment operation other than a navigation operation performed by said navigation apparatus, set in advance as to be outputted at a time of the special situation if the special situation is detected by said situation detecting device,

wherein in the navigation operation said output device outputs at least one of another audio information and another video information, which are different from the content information and which are for a purpose of the navigation operation.

31. The electronic system according to claim 30, wherein said electronic system further comprises a communication device which down-loads the content information.

32. A controlling method of controlling an electronic system for a movable body, said electronic system comprising (i) an information outputting apparatus having an output device which outputs a content information including at least one of an audio information and a video information and (ii) a navigation apparatus having an input device through which a destination in a movement of a movable body can be inputted and a calculate device which calculates a necessary time length required for the movable body to arrive at the destination inputted by said input device from a current position of said movable body, said controlling method comprising;

a selecting process of selecting the content information to be outputted during the movement of said movable body until the arrival at the destination, on the basis of a play time length of the content information, in response to the calculated necessary time length; and

an outputting process of outputting the content information selected by said selecting process during the movement of said movable body until the arrival at the destination.

33. The controlling method according to claim 32, wherein said selecting process generates a play list indicating a combination of a plurality of content information, which include a plurality of music compositions and/or pictures as the content information, and which are supposed to be completed during the movement of said movable body until the arrival at the destination.

34. The controlling method according to claim 32, wherein

said selecting process is for selecting the content information, which is for a purpose of an audio and/or visual entertainment operation other than a navigation operation performed by said navigation apparatus, on the basis of the play time length; and

said output device outputs, in the navigation operation, at least one of another audio information and another video information, which are different from the content information and which are for a purpose of the navigation operation.

35. A controlling method of controlling an electronic system for a movable body, said electronic system comprising (i) an information outputting apparatus having an output device which outputs a content information including at least one of an audio information and a video information and (ii) a navigation apparatus having an measurement device which outputs a measurement data related to a movement condition of a movable body,

said controlling method comprising:

a situation detecting process of detecting a special situation in a predetermined kind during the movement of said movable body, on the basis of the measurement data; and

an outputting process of preferentially output the content information, which is for a purpose of an audio and/or visual entertainment operation other than a navigation operation performed by said navigation apparatus, set in advance as to be outputted at a time of the special situation if the special situation is detected by said situation detecting process,

wherein, in the navigation operation, said output device outputs at least one of another audio information and another video information which are different from the content information and which are for a purpose of the navigation operation.