Information terminal device, information terminal management system, and storage medium in which program is stored

• US 8,825,385 B2
• Filed: 11/02/2010
• Issued: 09/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Clarion Co., Ltd. (Faurecia SA)
• Original Assignee: Clarion Co., Ltd. (Faurecia SA)
• Inventors: Iguchi, Shinya, Osafune, Tatsuaki, Kato, Takatoshi, Kobayashi, Kazutomo, Mano, Hiroyuki, Uchiyama, Hiroki
• Primary Examiner(s): Algahaim, Helal A
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, SHARDUL D
• Application Number:
  US13/508,239
• Publication Number:
  US 20120253662A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,400 Days
• Field of Search: 701/400, 701/428, 340/870.02, 340/870.07, 345/173, 345/174, 345/175, 715/201, 715/716, 715/732, 715/773
• US Class Current: 701/428
• 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: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence

Abstract

An aspect of the invention is an information terminal device includes a widget management unit for managing execution of a widget being a monofunctional program for performing display on the display part of a display device. The widget management unit includes a policy determination unit for determining the operation policy, including operation restriction and priority, concerning a display state at the display device in the widget, and a reliability determining unit for determining the reliability representing the reliability of the widget in the widget. When the state of the movement calculated by a navigation unit becomes a preset state, the widget management unit regulates the display state of the widget according to the operation restriction and the reliability, and performs display, while preferentially displaying guidance state and positional information calculated by the navigation unit.

Claims

1. An information terminal device, which provides information for navigation to a set destination, the information terminal device comprising:

a CPU for performing computing processing;

a memory for storing information;

a location information detecting module for detecting a current location and thereby detecting a traveling state;

a navigation module for calculating location information from the detected current location and from map information, and calculating navigation information with respect to a set destination;

a display unit for displaying the location information and the navigation information;

a communication module for communicating over a network; and

a widget management module for managing execution of a widget, which is a single-function program and displays on the display unit,

wherein the widget management module comprises;

a policy determining module for setting to the widget an operation policy, which comprises an operation restriction concerning a display state on the display unit and a priority; and

a reliability determining module for determining reliability of the widget,

wherein, when the traveling state reaches a preset state, the widget management module restricts operation of the widget in accordance with the operation restriction and the reliability, and displays preferentially the location information and information about a navigation state, and

wherein the communication module transmits to a management server a widget list held in the widget management module, to thereby request a list of downloadable widgets, and obtains the list of downloadable widgets from the management server.

2. The information terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the widget management module manages execution of a plurality of widgets and, when the traveling state reaches a preset state, controls a display state of a widget that is low in the reliability or in the priority.

3. The information terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the widget management module measures a load of the CPU, compares the measured CPU load against a preset threshold, and, when the load exceeds the threshold, controls the display state of a widget that is low in the priority.

4. The information terminal device according to claim 1, wherein, when the traveling state reaches a preset state, the widget management module controls the display state of the widget by changing a display position of the widget in accordance with the operation restriction and the reliability, and displaying preferentially the detected current location and the navigation information.

5. The information terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the preset state includes a driving state in which the detected current location changes and a navigating state in which the detected current location changes and the navigation information is output to the display unit as well.

6. The information terminal device according to claim 1, wherein, when the traveling state changes and the display state of the widget is to be controlled, the widget management module displays an alert on the display unit.

7. The information terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the widget comprises a necessary animation, which comprises an operation tip, and a dramatizing animation, which does not comprise an operation tip, and

wherein the widget management module is configured to:

control display of the dramatizing animation when the display state of the widget is to be controlled; and

control the display state of the necessary animation when the display state of the widget is to be further controlled.

8. The information terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the widget management module measures a load of the CPU and transmits a history of the load to the management server.

9. An information terminal management system, comprising:

an information terminal device which provides information for navigation to a set destination; and

a management server which communicates with the information terminal device over a network,

wherein the information terminal device comprises;

a CPU for performing computing processing;

a memory for storing information;

a location information detecting module for detecting a current location and thereby detecting a traveling state;

a navigation module for calculating location information from the detected current location and from map information, and calculating navigation information with respect to a set destination;

a display unit for displaying the location information and the navigation information;

a communication module for communicating over the network; and

a widget management module for managing execution of a widget, which is a single-function program and displays on the display unit,

wherein the widget management module comprises;

a policy determining module for determining, for the widget, an operation policy, which comprises an operation restriction concerning a display state on the display unit and a priority; and

a reliability determining module for determining reliability of the widget,

wherein, when the navigation state reaches a preset state, the widget management module controls the display state of the widget in accordance with the operation restriction and the reliability, and displays preferentially the location information and a navigation state,

wherein the communication module transmits to the management server a widget list held in the widget management module, to thereby request a list of downloadable widgets, and

wherein, when a request for the widget list is received from the information terminal device, the management server obtains the widget list held by the widget management module, selects widgets that can be downloaded to the information terminal device, and transmits a list of the selected widgets to the information terminal device.

10. The information terminal management system according to claim 9,

wherein the management server comprises a blacklist that lists unauthorized widgets, and

wherein, when an unauthorized widget on the blacklist is included in the widget list received from the information terminal device, an alert is transmitted to the information terminal device.

11. The information terminal management system according to claim 9,

wherein the widget management module measures a load of the CPU and transmits a history of the load to the management server, and

wherein the management server keeps the load history received from the information terminal device.

12. The information terminal management system according to claim 9, wherein the widget management module measures a load of the CPU and transmits a history of the load to the management server.

13. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a program for controlling an information terminal device which provides information for navigation to a set destination, the information terminal device comprising:

a CPU for performing computing processing;

a memory for storing information;

a location information detecting module for detecting a current location and thereby detecting a traveling state;

a navigation module for calculating location information from the detected current location and from map information, and calculating navigation information with respect to a set destination;

a display unit for displaying the location information and the navigation information; and

a communication module for communicating over a network, the program stored on the non-transitory computer readable storage medium is executable by the CPU and the program comprises the steps of;

determining, for a widget which is a single-function program and displays on the display unit, an operation policy, which comprises an operation restriction concerning a display state on the display unit and a priority;

determining reliability of the widget;

executing the widget;

when the traveling state reaches a preset state, controlling a display state of the widget in accordance with the operation restriction and the reliability, and displaying preferentially the location information and a navigation state;

transmitting to a management server a widget list held in a widget management module, to thereby request a list of downloadable widgets; and

obtaining the list of downloadable widgets from the management server.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a program for controlling an information terminal device which provides for navigation to a set destination according to claim 13, wherein the program performs the steps of measuring a load of the CPU and transmitting a history of the load to the management server.