Navigation system and in-vehicle device

• US 9,939,283 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2016
• Issued: 04/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alpine Electronics Incorporated (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Alpine Electronics Incorporated (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kawasaki, Yasuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Jelani A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Martinez Borrero, Luis A
• Application Number:
  US15/077,551
• Publication Number:
  US 20160298975A1
• Time in Patent Office: 749 Days
• Field of Search: 701533, 701409, 701410, 701420, 701532, 701425, 701 1, 701 2, 701408, 701411
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3605 Destination input or retrieval

Abstract

When an instruction to start a setting operation for a destination is provided by a user during a period in which a navigation server is not available for a mobile device while a navigation function, which uses the navigation server providing distribution function of map data and route search function, of the mobile device is being utilized in a navigation device, the navigation function provided in the navigation device itself is activated and is caused to perform destination setting operation.

Claims

1. A navigation system comprising:

an in-vehicle device mounted in an automobile;

a mobile device configured to connect to the in-vehicle device; and

a navigation server configured to transmit map data and a route to a destination requested from the mobile device to the mobile device via wireless communication,

the in-vehicle device including;

a display device,

an input device,

a map data storage configured to store map data,

an in-vehicle storage device; and

an in-vehicle device processor configured to execute instructions stored in the in-vehicle storage device and to act as;

a current position calculation unit configured to calculate a current position of the automobile,

a navigation unit configured to perform;

a destination setting operation to receive setting of a destination from a user via the input device when a first mode is set as an operation mode of the in-vehicle device,

a guidance route setting operation to set a guidance route to be a route to the destination received in the destination setting operation, and

a navigation screen display operation to display a navigation screen on the display device, the navigation screen showing the current position of the automobile and the guidance route on a map represented by the map data stored in the map data storage, and

a navigation switch controller,

the mobile device including;

a mobile device storage unit; and

a mobile device processor configured to execute instructions stored in the mobile device storage unit and to act as;

a current position calculation unit configured to calculate a current position of the mobile device,

a navigation client unit configured to perform;

a destination reception operation to receive setting of a destination from a user via the input device of the in-vehicle device when a second mode is set as the operation mode in a state in which the mobile device is connected to the in-vehicle device,

a guidance route acquisition operation to request a route to the destination received in the destination reception operation from the navigation server system, and thereby to obtain the route from the navigation server system to set a guidance route, and

a route guidance screen display operation to obtain map data from the navigation server system, to transfer a route guidance screen to the in-vehicle device, which is caused to display the route guidance screen on the display device, the route guidance screen showing the current position of the mobile device and the guidance route on a map represented by the obtained map data, and

a state management controller configured to detect a state indicating whether or not the navigation client unit is connectable to the navigation server,

wherein when the first mode is set as the operation mode in a state in which the mobile device is connected to the in-vehicle device and an instruction to start a setting operation for a destination is provided by a user, the in-vehicle device processor acting as the navigation switch controller is configured to cause the in-vehicle device processor acting as the navigation unit of the in-vehicle device to perform the destination setting operation,

wherein when the second mode is set as the operation mode in a state in which the mobile device is connected to the in-vehicle device and an instruction to start the setting operation for a destination is provided by a user, in the case where a state detected by the mobile device controller acting as the state management controller of the mobile device indicates that the navigation client unit is connectable to the navigation server, the in-vehicle device processor acting as the navigation switch controller is configured to cause the mobile device processor acting as the navigation client unit of the mobile device to perform the destination reception operation, and

wherein when the second mode is set as the operation mode in a state in which the mobile device is connected to the in-vehicle device and an instruction to start the setting operation for a destination is provided by a user, in the case where a state detected by the mobile device controller acting as the state management controller of the mobile device indicates that the navigation client unit is not connectable to the navigation server, the in-vehicle device processor acting as the navigation switch controller is configured to perform a navigation switching operation to switch the operation mode to the first mode and to cause the in-vehicle processor acting as the navigation unit of the in-vehicle device to perform the destination setting operation.

2. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein after the navigation switching operation is performed, when the state detected by the mobile device controller acting as the state management controller of the mobile device changes to a state indicating that the mobile device processor acting as the navigation client unit is connectable to the navigation server, the in-vehicle device processor acting as the navigation switch controller is configured to set the destination set in the navigation unit to a destination of the navigation client unit, and to change the operation mode back to the second mode.

3. The navigation device according to claim 2,

wherein as the operation mode, the in-vehicle device has one or more modes different from the first mode and the second mode,

when neither the first mode nor the second mode is set as the operation mode in a state in which the mobile device is connected to the in-vehicle device and an instruction to start a setting operation for a destination is provided by a user, in the case where an operation mode set most recently out of the first mode and the second mode is the first mode, the in-vehicle device processor acting as the navigation switch controller is configured to switch the operation mode to the first mode, and to cause the in-vehicle processor acting as the navigation unit of the in-vehicle device to perform the destination setting operation,

when neither the first mode nor the second mode is set as the operation mode in a state in which the mobile device is connected to the in-vehicle device and an instruction to start the setting operation for a destination is provided by a user, in the case where an operation mode set most recently out of the first mode and the second mode is the second mode and the state detected by the mobile device controller acting as the state management controller of the mobile device indicates that the mobile device processor acting as the navigation client unit is connectable to the navigation server, the in-vehicle device processor acting as the navigation switch controller is configured to switch the operation mode to the second mode, and to cause the mobile device processor acting as the navigation client unit of the mobile device to perform the destination reception operation, and

when neither the first mode nor the second mode is set as the operation mode in a state in which the mobile device is connected to the in-vehicle device and an instruction to start the setting operation for a destination is provided by a user, in the case where an operation mode set most recently out of the first mode and the second mode is the second mode and the state detected by the mobile device controller acting as the state management controller of the mobile device indicates that the navigation client unit is not connectable to the navigation server, the in-vehicle device processor acting as the navigation switch controller is configured to switch the operation mode to the first mode, and to cause the in-vehicle processor acting as the navigation unit of the in-vehicle device to perform the destination setting operation.

4. The navigation system according to claim 3, wherein the state indicating whether or not the mobile device processor acting as the navigation client unit is connectable to the navigation server is a state indicating whether or not the mobile device is capable of the wireless communication, a state in which the mobile device is capable of the wireless communication indicates that the navigation client unit is connectable to the navigation server, and a state in which the mobile device is not capable of the wireless communication indicates that the navigation client unit is not connectable to the navigation server.

5. The navigation system according to claim 1,

wherein the wireless communication is mobile communication that is performed via a mobile communication network, and

the state indicating whether or not the mobile device processor acting as the navigation client unit is connectable to the navigation server is a state indicating whether the mobile device is located within a communication range or out of the communication range of the mobile communication network, a state in which the mobile device is located within the communication range of the mobile communication network indicates that the navigation client unit is connectable to the navigation server, and a state in which the mobile device is located out of the communication range of the mobile communication network indicates that the navigation client unit is not connectable to the navigation server.

6. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the state indicating whether or not the mobile device processor acting as the navigation client unit is connectable to the navigation server is a state indicating whether the navigation client unit of the mobile device and the navigation server are in online state or offline state, a state in which the navigation client unit of the mobile device and the navigation server are in online state indicates that the navigation client unit is connectable to the navigation server, and a state in which the navigation client unit of the mobile device and the navigation server are in offline state indicates that the navigation client unit is not connectable to the navigation server.

7. An in-vehicle device configured to be mounted in an automobile and configured to be connected to a mobile device including a mobile device processor configured to act as a navigation client unit that receives setting of a destination, connects to a navigation server via wireless communication, obtains from the navigation server a route to the destination in the received setting as a guidance route, and outputs a route guidance screen showing a current position of the mobile device and the guidance route on a map,

the in-vehicle device comprising:

a display device;

an input device;

a map data storage that stores map data;

an in-vehicle storage device; and

an in-vehicle device processor configured to execute instructions stored in the in-vehicle storage device and to act as;

a current position calculation unit configured to calculate a current position of the automobile;

a navigation unit configured to perform a destination setting operation to receive setting of a destination from a user via the input device when a first mode is set as an operation mode of the in-vehicle device, a guidance route setting operation to set a guidance route to be a route to the destination received in the destination setting operation, and a navigation screen display operation to display a navigation screen on the display device, the navigation screen showing the current position of the automobile and the guidance route on a map represented by the map data stored in the map data storage;

an external user interface providing unit configured to provide a user interface using the input device and the display device, as a user interface of the navigation client unit of the mobile device when a second mode is set as the operation mode in a state in which the mobile device is connected to the in-vehicle device; and

a navigation switch controller,

wherein when the first mode is set as the operation mode in a state in which the mobile device is connected to the in-vehicle device and an instruction to start a setting operation for a destination is provided by a user, the in-vehicle device processor acting as the navigation switch controller is configured to cause the navigation unit of the in-vehicle device to perform the destination setting operation,

when the second mode is set as the operation mode in a state in which the mobile device is connected to the in-vehicle device and an instruction to start the setting operation for a destination is provided by a user, in the case where the mobile device processor acting as the navigation client unit of the mobile device is connectable to the navigation server, the in-vehicle device processor acting as the navigation switch controller is configured to cause the mobile device processor acting as the navigation client unit of the mobile device to perform reception of setting of a destination from a user via the input device, and

when the second mode is set as the operation mode in a state in which the mobile device is connected to the in-vehicle device and an instruction to start the setting operation for a destination is provided by a user, in the case where the mobile device processor acting as the navigation client unit of the mobile device is not connectable to the navigation server, the in-vehicle device processor acting as the navigation switch controller is configured to perform a navigation switching operation to switch the operation mode to the first mode and to cause the navigation unit of the in-vehicle device to perform the destination setting operation.

8. The in-vehicle device according to claim 7, wherein after the navigation switching operation is performed, when the mobile device processor acting as the navigation client unit of the mobile device is connectable to the navigation server, the in-vehicle device processor acting as the navigation switch controller is configured to set the destination set in the navigation unit to a destination of the navigation client unit, and to change the operation mode back to the second mode.

9. The in-vehicle device according to claim 8,

wherein as the operation mode, the in-vehicle device has one or more modes different from the first mode and the second mode,

when neither the first mode nor the second mode is set as the operation mode in a state in which the mobile device is connected to the in-vehicle device and an instruction to start a setting operation for a destination is provided by a user, in the case where an operation mode set most recently out of the first mode and the second mode is the first mode, the in-vehicle processor acting as the navigation switch controller is configured to switch the operation mode to the first mode, and to cause the navigation unit of the in-vehicle device to perform the destination setting operation,

when neither the first mode nor the second mode is set as the operation mode in a state in which the mobile device is connected to the in-vehicle device and an instruction to start the setting operation for a destination is provided by a user, in the case where an operation mode set most recently out of the first mode and the second mode is the second mode and the mobile device processor acting as the navigation client unit of the mobile device is connectable to the navigation server, the in-vehicle device processor acting as the navigation switch controller is configured to switch the operation mode to the second mode, and to cause the navigation client unit of the mobile device to perform reception of setting of a destination from a user via the input device, and

when neither the first mode nor the second mode is set as the operation mode in a state in which the mobile device is connected to the in-vehicle device and an instruction to start the setting operation for a destination is provided by a user, in the case where an operation mode set most recently out of the first mode and the second mode is the second mode and the mobile device processor acting as the navigation client unit of the mobile device is not connectable to the navigation server, the in-vehicle device processor acting as the navigation switch controller is configured to switch the operation mode to the first mode, and to cause the navigation unit of the in-vehicle device to perform the destination setting operation.

10. The in-vehicle device according to claim 9, wherein the in-vehicle device processor acting as the navigation switcher, when the mobile device is in a state that allows the wireless communication, is configured to identify that the mobile device processor acting as the navigation client unit is connectable to the navigation server, and when the mobile device is in a state that does not allow the wireless communication, to identify that the mobile device processor acting as the navigation client unit is not connectable to the navigation server.

11. The in-vehicle device according to claim 9,

wherein the wireless communication is mobile communication that is performed via a mobile communication network, and

the in-vehicle device processor acting as the navigation switch controller, when the mobile device is within a communication range of the mobile communication network, is configured to identify that the mobile device processor acting as the navigation client unit is connectable to the navigation server, and when the mobile device is out of the communication range of the mobile communication network, to identify that the navigation client unit is not connectable to the navigation server.

12. The in-vehicle device according to claim 7, wherein the in-vehicle device processor acting as the navigation switch controller, when the mobile device processor acting as the navigation client unit of the mobile device and the navigation server are in online state, is configured to identify that the navigation client unit is connectable to the navigation server, and when the navigation client unit of the mobile device and the navigation server are in offline state, to identify that the navigation client unit is not connectable to the navigation server.