Communication navigation system, information server unit and communication terminal unit for the same, and method and program for communication navigation

• US 6,807,479 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2002
• Issued: 10/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
• Original Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
• Inventors: Sato, Tsuyoshi, Watanabe, Tomo, Oda, Tamami
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Donnelly, Arthur D.
• Application Number:
  US10/259,565
• Publication Number:
  US 20030078057A1
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701/202, 701/203, 701/201, 701/207, 701/208, 701/210, 701/211, 701/213, 701/209, 709/217, 709/219, 340/993, 340/995, 340/988, 340/990, 455/456.5
• US Class Current: 701/208
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3688 Systems comprising multiple parts or multiple output devices (not client-server), e.g. detachable faceplates, key fobs or multiple output screens

Abstract

To provide a navigation system capable of easily switching between a portable terminal unit and a communication navigation terminal unit with an identical telephone number and also having considered a communication environment. A communication navigation system is comprised of an information server unit for controlling communication, a portable terminal unit and a vehicle terminal unit for performing navigation with the information server unit, and performs the communication by using a public switched telephone network circuit, and when switching each terminal unit to a communication capable state, it controls a position registration of each terminal unit by performing the communication among the information server unit, portable terminal unit and vehicle terminal unit so as to switch the communication capable state.

Claims

1. A communication navigation system having an information server unit and communication terminal units having identical identification and mounted on a plurality of mobile units for communicating with said information server unit or other communication terminal units via a mobile communication network, wherein only one of said plurality of communication terminal units is assigned as a communication capable terminal capable of communication with said information server unit or other communication terminal units, and in the case where a specific communication terminal unit which is one of said plurality of communication terminal units is assigned as said communication capable terminal, the communication is performed with said information server unit so as to at least navigate said mobile unit on which the specific communication terminal unit is mounted, said system comprising:

switching device which switches an assignment as said communication capable terminal from one of said communication terminal units to said specific communication terminal unit based on start information indicating a start of said specific communication terminal unit, and switches the assignment as said communication capable terminal from said specific communication terminal unit to said one of the communication terminal units based on stop information indicating a stop of said specific communication terminal unit; and

controller which performs communication control on the communication terminal unit assigned as said communication capable terminal and at least controls a start or an end of navigating operation on said specific communication terminal unit.

2. The communication navigation system according to claim 1, wherein said information server unit comprises said switching device and controller.

3. The communication navigation system according to claim 2, wherein said information server unit comprises:

detecting device which receives said start information, and on receiving it, detects whether or not there is any other said communication terminal unit assigned as said communication capable terminal;

notifying device, in the case where the other communication terminal unit assigned as said communication capable terminal is detected, which notifies the other communication terminal unit of setting information to the effect that an assignment as said communication capable terminal is switched from the other communication terminal unit to said specific communication terminal unit;

receiving device which receives permission information showing whether or not the switching is permitted from the said other communication terminal unit to said specific communication terminal unit, and

in the case where said receiving device receives said permission information for permitting said switching, said switching device switches the assignment as said communication capable terminal from the other communication terminal unit to said specific communication terminal unit.

4. The communication navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the system comprises further notifying device which notifies at least either the communication terminal unit other than the specific communication terminal unit or said information server unit of at least either said start information or said stop information of said specific communication terminal unit.

5. The communication navigation system according to claim 1, wherein said specific communication terminal unit comprises said switching device.

6. The communication navigation system according to claim 5, wherein the communication terminal unit other than the specific communication terminal unit comprises:

terminal receiving device which receives said start information;

terminal sending device, on receipt of said start information, which sends positional information on said communication terminal unit to said specific communication terminal unit, and

said switching device switches an assignment as said communication capable terminal from one of said communication terminal units to said specific communication terminal unit for performing communication based on said positional information and said start information.

7. The communication navigation system according to claim 6, wherein said communication terminal unit performs the communication with another said communication terminal unit within a distance set in advance.

8. The communication navigation system according to claim 1, wherein said specific communication terminal unit is a vehicle communication terminal unit.

9. The communication navigation system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the communication terminal units other than said specific communication terminal unit is a portable communication terminal unit.

10. The communication navigation system according to claim 5, wherein said specific communication terminal unit is a vehicle communication terminal unit, and said notifying device notifies said start information based on an engine start of a vehicle on which the vehicle communication terminal unit is mounted.

11. The communication navigation system according to claim 5, wherein said specific communication terminal unit is a vehicle communication terminal unit, and said notifying device notifies said stop information based on an engine stop of a vehicle on which the vehicle communication terminal unit is mounted.

12. An information server unit included in a communication navigation system having an information server unit and communication terminal units having identical identification and mounted on a plurality of mobile units for communicating with said information server unit or other communication terminal units via a mobile communication network, wherein only one of said plurality of communication terminal units is assigned as a communication capable terminal capable of communication with said information server unit or other communication terminal units, and in the case where a specific communication terminal unit which is one of said plurality of communication terminal units is assigned as said communication capable terminal, the communication is performed with said information server unit so as to at least navigate said mobile unit on which the specific communication terminal unit is mounted, said information server unit comprising:

switching device which switches an assignment as said communication capable terminal from one of said communication terminal units to said specific communication terminal unit based on start information indicating a start of said specific communication terminal unit, and switches the assignment as said communication capable terminal from said specific communication terminal unit to said one of the communication terminal units based on stop information indicating a stop of said specific communication terminal unit; and

controller which performs communication control on the communication terminal unit assigned as said communication capable terminal and at least controlling a start or an end of navigating operation on said specific communication terminal unit.

13. The information server unit in the communication navigation system according to claim 12, said information server unit comprising:

detecting device which receives said start information, and on receiving it, detects whether or not there is any other said communication terminal unit assigned as said communication capable terminal;

notifying device, in the case where the other communication terminal unit assigned as said communication capable terminal is detected, notifies the other communication terminal unit of setting information to the effect that an assignment as said communication capable terminal is switched from the other communication terminal unit to said specific communication terminal unit;

receiving device which receives permission information showing whether or not the switching is permitted from the other said communication terminal unit to said specific communication terminal unit, and

in the case where said receiving device receives the permission information for permitting said switching, said switching device switches the assignment as said communication capable terminal from the other communication terminal unit to specific communication terminal unit.

14. A communication terminal unit included in a communication navigation system having an information server unit and communication terminal units having identical identification and mounted on a plurality of mobile units for communicating with said information server unit or other communication terminal units via a mobile communication network, wherein only one of said plurality of communication terminal units is assigned as a communication capable terminal capable of communication with said information server unit or other communication terminal units, and in the case where a specific communication terminal unit which is one of said plurality of communication terminal units is assigned as said communication capable terminal, the communication is performed with said information server unit so as to at least navigate said mobile unit on which the specific communication terminal unit is mounted, said communication terminal unit comprising:

switching device which switches an assignment as said communication capable terminal from one of said communication terminal units to said specific communication terminal unit based on start information indicating a start of said specific communication terminal unit, and switches the assignment as said communication capable terminal from said specific communication terminal unit to said one of the communication terminal units based on stop information indicating a stop of said specific communication terminal unit; and

controller which controls navigating operation with said information server unit based on the communication terminal unit assigned as said communication capable terminal.

15. The communication terminal unit in the communication navigation system according to claim 14, wherein the communication terminal unit comprises:

terminal sending device which sends said start information; and

terminal receiving device which receives positional information on the other communication terminal unit sent by the other said communication terminal unit based on said start information.

16. The communication terminal unit in the communication navigation system according to claim 15, wherein said communication terminal unit performs the communication with other said communication terminal unit within a distance set in advance.

17. A communication navigation method comprising:

setting processing step of setting only one of a plurality of communication terminal units having identical identification and mounted on a plurality of mobile units for performing the communication via a mobile communication network as a communication capable terminal capable of communication with an information server unit or other communication terminal units based on start information indicating a start of said only one communication terminal unit;

navigation processing step of, in the case where a specific communication terminal unit which is one of said plurality of communication terminal units is assigned as said communication capable terminal, performing the communication with said information server unit so as to at least navigate said mobile unit on which the specific communication terminal unit is mounted; and

control processing step of performing communication control on the communication terminal unit assigned as said communication capable terminal and at least controlling a start or an end of navigating operation on said specific communication terminal unit.

18. The communication navigation method according to claim 17, wherein said setting processing step includes:

reception processing step of receiving said start information;

detection processing step of, on receiving said start information, detecting whether or not there is any other said communication terminal unit assigned as said communication capable terminal;

a notification processing step of, in the case where any other said communication terminal unit assigned as said communication capable terminal is detected, notifying the other communication terminal unit of setting information to the effect that an assignment as said communication capable terminal is switched from the other communication terminal unit to said specific communication terminal unit;

permission information reception processing step of receiving permission information showing whether or not the switching is permitted from said other communication terminal unit to said specific communication terminal unit, and

in the case where said reception processing step receives the permission information for permitting said switching, said switching processing step switches the assignment as said communication capable terminal from the other communication terminal unit to said specific communication terminal unit.

19. The communication navigation method according to claim 17, wherein said setting processing step includes:

reception processing step of having said start information received by said communication terminal unit other than said specific communication terminal unit;

sending processing step of, on receipt of said start information, sending positional information on said communication terminal unit to said specific communication terminal unit, and

said specific communication terminal unit for performing communication based on said positional information and said start information is assigned as said communication capable terminal.

20. The communication navigation method according to claim 17, wherein said communication terminal unit performs the communication with the other said communication terminal unit within a distance set in advance.

21. A communication navigation program for, by means of a computer, assigning only one of a plurality of communication terminal units having identical identification and mounted on a plurality of mobile units for performing the communication via a mobile communication network as a communication capable terminal capable of communication with an information server unit or other communication terminal units, and in the case where a specific communication terminal unit which is one of said plurality of communication terminal units is set as said communication capable terminal, performing the communication with said information server unit so as to at least navigate said mobile unit on which the specific communication terminal unit is mounted, said program causing the computer to function as:

switching means for switching an assignment as said communication capable terminal from one of said communication terminal units to said specific communication terminal unit based on start information indicating a start of said specific communication terminal unit, and switches the assignment as said communication capable terminal from said specific communication terminal unit to said one of the communication terminal units based on stop information indicating a stop of said specific communication terminal unit; and

controlling means for performing communication control on the communication terminal unit assigned set as said communication capable terminal and at least controlling a start or an end of navigating operation on said specific communication terminal unit.

22. The communication navigation program according to claim 21, wherein said computer functions as:

detecting means for receiving said start information, and on receiving it, detecting whether or not there is any other said communication terminal unit assigned as said communication capable terminal;

notifying means for, in the case where the other said communication terminal unit assigned as said communication capable terminal is detected, notifying the other communication terminal unit of setting information to the effect that an assignment as said communication capable terminal is switched from the other communication terminal unit to said specific communication terminal unit;

receiving means for receiving permission information showing whether or not the switching is permitted from the said other communication terminal unit to said specific communication terminal unit, and

switching means for switching the assignment as said communication capable terminal from the other communication terminal unit to said specific communication terminal unit in the case where the permission information for permitting said switching is received.

23. A communication navigation system having an information server unit and communication terminal units having identical identification and mounted on a plurality of mobile units for communicating with said information server unit or other communication terminal units via a mobile communication network, wherein only one of said plurality of communication terminal units is set as a communication capable terminal capable of communication with said information server unit or other communication terminal units, and in the case where a specific communication terminal unit which is one of said plurality of communication terminal units is set as said communication capable terminal, the communication is performed with said information server unit so as to at least navigate said mobile unit on which the specific communication terminal unit is mounted, said system comprising:

setting device which sets one of said communication terminal units as said communication capable terminal based on at least either start information indicating a start of said specific communication terminal unit or stop information indicating a stop hereof; and

controller which performs communication control on the communication terminal unit set as said communication capable terminal and at least controls a start or an end of navigating operation on said specific communication terminal unit,

wherein said information server unit comprises said setting device and controller, and

said information server unit comprises;

detecting device which receives said start information, and on receiving it, detects whether or not there is any other said communication terminal unit set as said communication capable terminal;

notifying device, in the case where the other communication terminal unit set as said communication capable terminal is detected, which notifies the other communication terminal unit of setting information to the effect that said specific communication terminal unit is set as said communication capable terminal;

receiving device which receives permission information showing whether or not the setting is permitted from the said other communication terminal unit to said specific communication terminal unit, and

in the case where said receiving device receives said permission information for permitting said setting, said setting device sets said specific communication terminal unit as said communication capable terminal.

24. A communication navigation system having an information server unit and communication terminal units having identical identification and mounted on a plurality of mobile units for communicating with said information server unit or other communication terminal units via a mobile communication network, wherein only one of said plurality of communication terminal units is set as a communication capable terminal capable of communication with said information server unit or other communication terminal units, and in the case where a specific communication terminal unit which is one of said plurality of communication terminal units is set as said communication capable terminal, the communication is performed with said information server unit so as to at least navigate said mobile unit on which the specific communication terminal unit is mounted, said system comprising:

setting device which sets one of said communication terminal units as said communication capable terminal based on at least either start information indicating a start of said specific communication terminal unit or stop information indicating a stop hereof; and

controller which performs communication control on the communication terminal unit set as said communication capable terminal and at least controls a start or an end of navigating operation on said specific communication terminal unit,

wherein said specific communication terminal unit comprises said setting device, and

said specific communication terminal unit is a vehicle communication terminal unit, and said notifying device notifies said start information based on an engine start of a vehicle on which the vehicle communication terminal unit is mounted.

25. A communication navigation system having an information server unit and communication terminal units having identical identification and mounted on a plurality of mobile units for communicating with said information server unit or other communication terminal units via a mobile communication network, wherein only one of said plurality of communication terminal units is set as a communication capable terminal capable of communication with said information server unit or other communication terminal units, and in the case where a specific communication terminal unit which is one of said plurality of communication terminal units is set as said communication capable terminal, the communication is performed with said information server unit so as to at least navigate said mobile unit on which the specific communication terminal unit is mounted, said system comprising:

setting device which sets one of said communication terminal units as said communication capable terminal based on at least either start information indicating a start of said specific communication terminal unit or stop information indicating a stop hereof; and

controller which performs communication control on the communication terminal unit set as said communication capable terminal and at least controls a start or an end of navigating operation on said specific communication terminal unit,

wherein said specific communication terminal unit comprises said setting device, and

said specific communication terminal unit is a vehicle communication terminal unit, and said notifying device notifies said stop information based on an engine stop of a vehicle on which the vehicle communication terminal unit is mounted.

26. A communication navigation method for a system wherein a plurality of communication terminal units have identical identification and are mounted on a plurality of mobile units for performing the communication via a mobile communication network, said method comprising:

assigning one of said plurality of communication terminal units as a communication terminal unit capable of communication with an information server unit or other communication terminal units; and

switching an assignment as said communication capable terminal unit from one of said communication terminal units to a specific communication terminal unit based on start information indicating a start of said specific communication terminal unit, and switching the assignment as said communication capable terminal from said specific communication terminal unit to said one of the communication terminal units based on stop information indicating a stop of said specific communication terminal unit.