Vehicle mounted user interface device and vehicle mounted navigation system

• US 8,065,081 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2005
• Issued: 11/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Watanabe, Isao, Ishii, Keisuke, Kugumiya, Mamoru
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Dalena
• Assistant Examiner(s): PECHE, JORGE O
• Application Number:
  US11/281,154
• Publication Number:
  US 20060173616A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,196 Days
• Field of Search: 701200-226, 701/93, 701/36, 340/990, 340/994, 340/995.1, 340/995.12
• US Class Current: 701/211
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network

Abstract

Data is shared between a vehicle mounted navigation device and a vehicle mounted user interface device and among a plurality of vehicle mounted user interface devices. In a first location free display that allows a plurality of users to separately have access to the navigation device, external data obtained from the navigation device or from another location free display and its own user data are saved and managed, and shared with the navigation device and the another location free display. It is possible to utilize the external data not owned by itself or the user data of another person with the navigation device or the another location free display and perform a navigation process in an inner space of the vehicle efficiently.

Claims

1. A user interface device for accessing and sharing data with a navigation device and other user interface devices, the user interface device comprising:

a transmitter-receiver for transmitting and receiving data with the navigation device and the other user interface devices;

a data management unit for managing and saving user data internal to the user interface device and external data received from the navigation device and the other user interface devices;

the data management unit merges and sorts the external data and the user data for display on the user interface device; and

the data management unit shares the external data and the user data with the navigation device or the other user interface devices;

wherein the merged and sorted data includes at least Point Of Interest (POI) data that is generated in response to'"'"'input of a user through at least one of a user request processing part of the user interface device, a user request processing part of the navigation device and a user request processing part of the other user interface devices,

each of the user interface devices being operable to transmit route data to another of the user interface devices, the route data including an individual identification (ID) identifying the user interface device or one of the other user interface devices, a device type ID indicating the device type of the user interface device or the device type of one of the other user interface devices, a storage ID identifying a user data storage part associated with the user interface device or one of the other user interface devices or an external storage device associated with the user interface device or one of the other user interface devices, and a name indicative of a site associated with the route data.