Navigation apparatus and information server

• US 6,856,892 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2002
• Issued: 02/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
• Original Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
• Inventors: Sato, Tsuyoshi, Oda, Tamami, Watanabe, Tomo
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): To, Tuan C
• Application Number:
  US10/254,774
• Publication Number:
  US 20030065440A1
• Time in Patent Office: 873 Days
• Field of Search: 701/202, 701/209, 701/211, 345/841, 345/834, 455/414, 455/457, 455/456, 455/412, 455/569, 340/870.02, 340/870.28, 340/10.1, 340/10.41, 340/993, 340/990, 340/995, 706/45, 342/353.13
• US Class Current: 701/202
• 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

The navigation system includes an information server apparatus, a terminal apparatus for conducting navigation processing while conducting communication with the information server apparatus, and a vehicle navigation apparatus mounted on a vehicle to conduct navigation processing independently of the information server apparatus. During execution of the navigation processing in the terminal apparatus, detection is effected to determine whether the vehicle navigation apparatus is started. Upon detecting that the vehicle navigation apparatus has been started, information for the navigation processing conducted until then is transferred to the vehicle navigation apparatus. The vehicle navigation apparatus conducts navigation processing by using the transferred information.

Claims

1. An information server apparatus included in a navigation system including an information server apparatus, a portable communication navigation apparatus for conducting navigation processing of assisting travel of a first mobile while conducting communication with the information server apparatus, and a mobile navigation apparatus for conducting navigation processing of assisting travel of a second mobile different from the first mobile independently of the information server apparatus while traveling together with the second mobile, wherein

the navigation system comprising:

a detecting device which detects whether first one of the communication navigation apparatus and the mobile navigation apparatus is started during execution of the navigation processing in second one of the communication navigation apparatus and the mobile navigation apparatus;

a transfer device responsive to detection that one of the communication navigation apparatus and the mobile navigation apparatus is started, which transfers information for the navigation processing used in the second one of the communication navigation apparatus and the mobile navigation apparatus that has been operated until then, from the second one to the first one; and

a start device which starts the navigation processing in the first one by using the transferred information, and wherein

the information server apparatus comprises;

a temporary stop request detecting device which detects whether a temporary stop request is received, the temporary stop request being transmitted from the communication navigation apparatus when the mobile navigation apparatus is started during execution of communication navigation processing, the communication navigation processing being the navigation processing conducted between the information server apparatus and the communication navigation apparatus, the temporary stop request indicating temporary stop of the communication navigation processing executed until then;

a stop device responsive to reception of the temporary stop request, which temporarily stops the communication navigation processing and stores information used in the communication navigation processing executed until then;

a resumption request detecting device which detects during temporary stop of the communication navigation processing whether a resumption request is received from the communication navigation apparatus, the resumption request indicating resumption of the communication navigation processing; and

a resumption device responsive to reception of the resumption request, which resumes the communication navigation processing based on the resumption request and the stored information.

2. A server processing method executed in the information server apparatus included in a navigation method executed in a navigation system, the navigation system including an information server apparatus, a portable communication navigation apparatus for conducting navigation processing of assisting travel of a first mobile while conducting communication with the information server apparatus, and a mobile navigation apparatus for conducting navigation processing of assisting travel of a second mobile different from the first mobile independently of the information server apparatus while traveling together with the second mobile, wherein

the navigation method comprises:

a detecting process of detecting whether first one of the communication navigation apparatus and the mobile navigation apparatus is started during execution of the navigation processing in second one of the communication navigation apparatus and the mobile navigation apparatus;

a transfer process, responsive to detection that one of the communication navigation apparatus and the mobile navigation apparatus is started, of transferring information for the navigation processing used in the second one of the communication navigation apparatus and the mobile navigation apparatus that has been operated until then, from the second one to the first one; and

a start process of starting the navigation processing in the first one by using the transferred information, and wherein

the server processing method comprises;

a temporary stop request detecting process of detecting whether a temporary stop request is received, the temporary stop request being transmitted from the communication navigation apparatus when the mobile navigation apparatus is started during execution of communication navigation processing, the communication navigation processing being the navigation processing conducted between the information server apparatus and the communication navigation apparatus, the temporary stop request indicating temporary stop of the communication navigation processing executed until then;

a stop process, responsive to reception of the temporary stop request, of temporarily stopping the communication navigation processing and storing information used in the communication navigation processing executed until then;

a resumption request detecting process of detecting during temporary stop of the communication navigation processing whether a resumption request is received from the communication navigation apparatus, the resumption request indicating resumption of the communication navigation process; and

a resumption process, responsive to reception of the resumption request, of resuming the communication navigation processing based on the resumption request and the stored information.

3. A server processing program for a server computer included in the information server apparatus which is included in the navigation system using a navigation program for computers included in a navigation system, the navigation system including an information server apparatus, a portable communication navigation apparatus for conducting navigation processing of assisting travel of a first mobile while conducting communication with the information server apparatus, and a mobile navigation apparatus for conducting navigation processing of assisting travel of a second mobile different from the first mobile independently of the information server apparatus while traveling together with the second mobile, wherein

the navigation program making the computers function as:

a detecting device which detects whether first one of the communication navigation apparatus and the mobile navigation apparatus is started during execution of the navigation processing in second one of the communication navigation apparatus and the mobile navigation apparatus;

a transfer device responsive to detection that one of the communication navigation apparatus and the mobile navigation apparatus is started, which transfers information for the navigation processing used in the second one of the communication navigation apparatus and the mobile navigation apparatus that has been operated until then, from the second one to the first one; and

a start device which starts the navigation processing in the first one by using the transferred information, and wherein

the server processing program making the server computer as;

a temporary stop request detecting device which detects whether a temporary stop request is received, the temporary stop request being transmitted from the communication navigation apparatus when the mobile navigation apparatus is started during execution of communication navigation processing, the communication navigation processing being the navigation processing conducted between the information server apparatus and the communication navigation apparatus, the temporary stop request indicating temporary stop of the communication navigation processing executed until then;

a stop device responsive to reception of the temporary stop request, which temporarily stops the communication navigation processing and stores information used in the communication navigation processing executed until then;

a resumption request detecting device which detects during temporary stop of the communication navigation processing whether a resumption request is received from the communication navigation apparatus, the resumption request indicating resumption of the communication navigation processing; and

a resumption device responsive to reception of the resumption request, which resumes the communication navigation processing based on the resumption request and the stored information.

4. An information recording medium storing the server processing program according to claim 3 so as to be able to be read by the server computer.