Onboard apparatus, navigation system, and method for setting display screen

• US 8,560,221 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2005
• Issued: 10/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Hasegawa, Shinichi, Arie, Takumi, Amano, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): To, Tuan C.
• Application Number:
  US11/212,298
• Publication Number:
  US 20060004517A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,972 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701/213, 701/400, 340/995, 340/435, 340/500, 439/620.21
• US Class Current: 701/400
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0274 using mapping information stored in a memory device navigation using map-matching G01C21/30
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0278 using satellite positioning signals, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages

Abstract

To use the same onboard apparatus and navigation system in many kinds of vehicles. A table in which manufacturers and vehicle types are connected with designs and functions has been previously stored in a navigation system module 21. The navigation system module 21 itself sends the center controller 11 a query about vehicle information (the country that manufactured, manufacturer, vehicle type, using country, manufacturing number), recognizes the vehicle information supplied from the center controller 11, and automatically sets the screen design, function, etc., suitable to the vehicle on which the onboard apparatus is mounted.

Claims

1. A navigation system to be mounted on a vehicle, the navigation system setting a navigation display design based on vehicle information, the navigation system comprising:

vehicle information acquisition means for automatically acquiring vehicle model information from the vehicle by determining a shape of a connector used to attach the navigation system to the vehicle;

design information storage means for storing vehicle information for a plurality of vehicles in association with navigation display designs;

comparison means for comparing the vehicle model information to the vehicle information stored in the design information storage means; and

a design setting means for setting the navigation display design according to the vehicle model information, based on the comparison result by the comparison means.

2. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein said design setting means sets a first navigation display design if a driver sits on the left side of the vehicle and sets a second navigation display design if the driver sits on the right side of the vehicle, the second design being different from the first design.

3. A navigation system to be mounted on a vehicle, the navigation system setting a display function based on vehicle information, the navigation system comprising:

vehicle information acquisition means for automatically acquiring vehicle model information from the vehicle by determining a shape of a connector used to attach the navigation system to the vehicle;

function information storage means for storing vehicle information for a plurality of vehicles in association with navigation display functions;

comparison means for comparing the vehicle model information to vehicle information stored in the function information storage means; and

a function setting means for setting the navigation display function according to the vehicle model information, based on the comparison result by said comparison means.

4. The navigation system according to claim 3, wherein the vehicle model information includes a country where the vehicle is located, and wherein the function setting means sets a function to speak in a language of the country.

5. A navigation system to be mounted on a vehicle, the navigation system setting a navigation display design based on vehicle information, the navigation system comprising:

vehicle information acquisition means for automatically acquiring vehicle model information from the vehicle by determining a formed position of the connector used to attach the navigation system to the vehicle;

design information storage means for storing vehicle information for a plurality of vehicles in association with navigation display designs;

comparison means for comparing the vehicle model information to the vehicle information stored in the design information storage means; and

a design setting means for setting the navigation display design according to the vehicle model information, based on the comparison result by the comparison means.