Navigation device, navigation method, and computer product

• US 7,917,287 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2004
• Issued: 03/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Navitime Japan Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Navitime Japan Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Suzuki, Yusuke, Onishi, Keisuke, Kikuchi, Shin
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Cuong H
• Application Number:
  US10/546,239
• Publication Number:
  US 20060178817A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,351 Days
• Field of Search: 369/13.01, 369/13.5, 369/6, 701200-213, 340/905, 340/995.1, 340988-990, 715/845, 707/E17.009, 707/999.107, 455/26.1, 455/95, 455/422.1, 705/400
• US Class Current: 701/209
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3629 Guidance using speech or audio output, e.g. text-to-speech text to speech systems per se G10L13/00
• 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: G08G 1/096816 where the complete route is transmitted to the vehicle at once
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096838 where the user preferences are taken into account or the user selects one route out of a plurality
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096872 where instructions are given per voice

Abstract

A navigation device performs a route guidance based on a route from a current location to a destination. A communication controller sends a request for searching the route to a server. A guidance-information receiving unit receives information on the route from the server. A time measuring unit measures an elapsed time from a start of the route guidance. A guidance controller performs the route guidance based on the information received. The communication controller commands the navigation device to cut off a communication with the server and to stand by upon a determination that the elapsed time measured has reached a predetermined time and when the route is being guided or a current location is being checked by the guidance controller, to decrease a bandwidth usage between the navigation device and the server and to reduce a communication charge associated with the bandwidth usage.

Claims

1. A navigation device that performs a route guidance based on a route from a current location to a destination, the navigation device being connected to a server for searching the route, the navigation device comprising:

a communication controller configured to send a request for searching the route to the server;

a guidance-information receiving unit configured to receive information on the route from the server;

a time measuring unit configured to measure an elapsed time from a start of the route guidance; and

a guidance controller configured to perform the route guidance based on the information received, wherein

the communication controller commands the navigation device to cut off a communication with the server and to stand by upon a determination that the elapsed time measured has reached a predetermined time and when the route is being guided or a current location is being checked by the guidance controller, to decrease a bandwidth usage between the navigation device and the server and to reduce a communication charge associated with the bandwidth usage.

2. The navigation device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a distance calculating unit configured to calculate a distance of traveling of the navigation device after the start of the route guidance, wherein the communication controller commands the navigation device to cut off a communication with the server and to stand by upon a determination that the distance calculated has reached a predetermined distance and when the route is being guided or the current location is being checked by the guidance controller, to decrease the bandwidth usage between the navigation device and the server and to reduce the communication charge associated with the bandwidth usage.

3. The navigation device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a velocity calculating unit configured to calculate a velocity of traveling of the navigation device, wherein the communication controller commands the navigation device to cut off a communication with the server and to stand by upon a determination that the velocity calculated has reached a predetermined velocity and when the route is being guided or the current location is being checked by the guidance controller, to decrease the bandwidth usage between the navigation device and the server and to reduce the communication charge associated with the bandwidth usage.

4. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the navigation device is a portable telephone.

5. The navigation device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a location determining unit configured to determine the current location by performing a communication with a global positioning system, wherein the communication with the global positioning system is cut off based on a status of the navigation device.

6. A navigation device that performs a route guidance based on a route from a current location to a destination, the navigation device being connected to a server for searching the route, the navigation device comprising:

a communication controller configured to send a request for searching the route to the server;

a guidance-information receiving unit configured to receive information on the route from the server;

a guidance controller configured to perform the route guidance based on the information received; and

a data-amount calculating unit configured to calculate an amount of the information received, and to add the amount of information received to an amount of information that was previously sent and saved in a memory, wherein

the communication controller commands the navigation device to cut off a communication with the server and to stand by upon a determination that the amount saved in the memory has reached a predetermined amount and when the route is being guided or the current location is being checked by the guidance controller, to decrease a bandwidth usage between the navigation device and the server and to reduce a communication charge associated with the bandwidth usage.

7. The navigation device according to claim 6, wherein the navigation device is a portable telephone.