Navigation system using mobile terminal

• US 6,993,350 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2002
• Issued: 01/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Katoh, Satoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Huy D.
• Application Number:
  US10/157,991
• Publication Number:
  US 20030008670A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,341 Days
• Field of Search: 455/457, 455/456.1, 455/456.2, 455/456.3, 455/466
• US Class Current: 455/457
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3415 Dynamic re-routing, e.g. recalculating the route when the user deviates from calculated route or after detecting real-time traffic data or accidents
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3655 Timing of guidance instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3667 Display of a road map G01C21/3614 takes precedence; guidance using 3D or perspective road maps G01C21/3635
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/08 Mobility data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A mobile terminal such as a portable telephone accesses a map database server connected to the Internet, and positional data, destination, etc. acquired from a GPS receiver mounted on the mobile terminal are cataloged in the map database server. The results of a search for a route, route indication, etc. are received from the map database server in the form of a voice, a simplified map, or both a voice and a simplified map and are indicated on a display of the mobile terminal. By virtue of the above construction, a navigation system can be realized which can eliminate the need to update map data, is low in price, has no need to provide an installation space, has low power consumption, and can be simply and easily utilized.

Claims

1. A navigation system using plural mobile terminals each held by a movable body such as a person ridden in a vehicle or a walker, map data stored in a server on the Internet being loaded into a first one of the mobile terminals to display a moving route of each movable body on the first mobile terminal, said navigation system comprising:

a first memory provided in the first mobile terminal, for storing the loaded map data of the server;

a display provided in the first mobile terminal, for displaying the map data, stored in the first memory, in the form of a voice and/or an image;

a first control unit provided in the first mobile terminal, for sending the identification number, current position, and destination of a first movable body to the server;

a second memory provided in the server, for storing the map data; and

a second control unit provided in the server, for, upon the input of the identification number, the current position, and the destination of the first movable body through the first control unit, reading map data containing the current position and the destination from the second memory and, based on the identification number, sending the map data to the first mobile terminal, said second control unit sending positional information regarding a second mobile terminal to the first mobile terminal when the first mobile unit requests said positional information.

2. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein Internet reading means is built in the first mobile terminal and the first mobile terminal utilizes the Internet reading means to indicate the map data, sent from the server, on the display.

3. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the first mobile terminal acquires information on the current position through a GPS (global positioning system) receiver and sends the information on the current position from the first control unit to the server every time when a predetermined period of time has elapsed or every time when the first mobile terminal has moved by a predetermined distance.

4. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein, upon the receipt of a request for search for a route from the first mobile terminal, the server makes a search for a recommendation route from the current position to the destination and stores the map data, which has been found as the result of the search, in the second memory through the second control unit and further sends the map data to the first mobile terminal.

5. The navigation system according to claim 4, wherein, upon the receipt of information on the current position from the first mobile terminal every time when a predetermined period of time has elapsed or every time when the first mobile terminal has moved by a predetermined distance, the server compares, through the second control unit, the current position with the positions of the first mobile terminal stored in the second memory for each predetermined time or each predetermined distance and, as a result, when the route of the first mobile terminal has been found to be in the state of deviation from the recommendation route stored in the second memory, the server makes again a search for a recommendation route from the current position to the destination, stores the map data in the second memory through the second control unit and further sends the map data to the first mobile terminal.

6. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein, upon the receipt of information on the current position from the first mobile terminal every time when a predetermined period of time has elapsed or every time when the first mobile terminal has moved by a predetermined distance, the server compares, through the second control unit, the current position with the position of the first mobile terminal stored in the second memory for each predetermined time or each predetermined distance to judge whether or not the first mobile terminal has moved according to the recommendation route stored in the second memory and, every time when the first mobile terminal has arrived at a predetermined point, sends map data containing a route, through which the first mobile terminal is to be traveled, from the second control unit to the first mobile terminal.

7. The navigation system according to claim 6, wherein the predetermined point is the time when the first mobile terminal has approached a branching point such as an intersection or a junction of three roads, the time when the first mobile terminal has moved by a predetermined period of time, or the time when the first mobile terminal has moved by a predetermined distance.

8. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein, upon the receipt of information on the current position from the first mobile terminal every time when a predetermined period of time has elapsed or every time when the first mobile terminal has moved by a predetermined distance, the server compares, through the second control unit, the current position with the position of the destination stored in the second memory for each predetermined time or each predetermined distance and, when the current position corresponds to the position of the destination stored in the second memory, the server informs the first mobile terminal of the arrival of the first mobile terminal at the destination stored in the second memory through a voice, an image, or both a voice and an image.

9. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein, upon the receipt of information on the current position from the first mobile terminal every time when a predetermined period of time has elapsed or every time when the first mobile terminal has moved by a predetermined distance, the server compares, through the second control unit, the current position with the original position or predetermined position of the first mobile terminal stored in the second memory for each predetermined time or each predetermined distance, calculates travel information such as the time required in travel, the travel distance, and the average speed between the original position or the predetermined position, stored in the second memory, and the current position, stores the travel information in the second memory, and further sends map data, containing an area ranging from the original position or the predetermined position to the destination, to the first mobile terminal.

10. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the map data in the server contains information on town including stores and institutions around the current position.

11. The navigation system according to claim 10, wherein the town information is obtained by displaying a predetermined link destination on the display of the first mobile terminal and selecting the link destination or by inputting a predetermined address through key operation to connect the first mobile terminal to a database server or a home page other than the server connected to the Internet.

12. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the map data sent from the second control unit to the first mobile terminal comprises a voice, an image, or both a voice and an image.

13. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the server periodically updates the map data stored in the second memory.

14. A navigation system using a mobile terminal held by a movable body such as a person riding in a vehicle or a walker, map data stored in a server on the Internet being loaded into a mobile terminal to display a moving route of movable body on the mobile terminal, said navigation system comprising:

a first memory provided in the mobile terminal, for storing the loaded map data of the server;

a display provided in the mobile terminal, for displaying the map data, stored in the first memory, in the form of a voice and/or an image;

a first control unit provided in the mobile terminal, for sending the identification number, current position, and destination of the movable body to the server;

a second memory provided in the server, for storing the map data; and

a second control unit provided in the server, for, upon the input of the identification number, the current position, and the destination of the movable body through the first control unit, reading map data containing the current position and the destination from the second memory and, based on the identification number, sending the map data to the mobile terminal;

wherein, upon the receipt of a request from the mobile terminal as a first mobile terminal for the display of the position of another mobile terminal as a second mobile terminal in the map data being currently displayed, the server searches the second memory for the positional information of the second mobile terminal, and, when information on the second mobile terminal has been found to be stored in the second memory, the server informs the second mobile terminal of that the first mobile terminal has requested the display of the position of the second mobile terminal in the map data being currently displayed and, upon the receipt of the permission to display the position of the second mobile terminal, the server reads, from the second memory, map data comprising positional data of the second mobile terminal added to the map data being currently indicated on the display of the first mobile terminal, sends the read map data to the first mobile terminal, and, in addition, sends to the second mobile terminal, the same map data as sent to the first mobile terminal through the second control unit of the server.