Broadcasting system, broadcast receiving hardware systems, and navigation terminal

• US 6,657,558 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2001
• Issued: 12/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Fushiki, Takumi, Yamane, Kenichiro, Yokota, Takayoshi, Kawamata, Yukihiro, Yamaashi, Kimiya, Horita, Masato
• Primary Examiner(s): SWARTHOUT, BRENT
• Application Number:
  US09/929,561
• Publication Number:
  US 20020027512A1
• Time in Patent Office: 841 Days
• Field of Search: 340/988, 340/995, 340/905, 340/961, 340/993, 340/994, 340/995.1, 340/995.13, 701/213, 701/209, 701/117, 701/207, 701/211, 701/301, 701/120, 342/457
• US Class Current: 340/995.13
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09675 where a selection from the received information takes place in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0969 having a display in the form of a map
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/62 for transportation systems, e.g. in vehicles

Abstract

To ensure that of all information transmitted through broadcast communications, only the information corresponding to the traveling route of a mobile body will be efficiently displayed at the information terminal of a car navigation system or the like, the information terminal is provided with: a means for receiving the spot or area information being transmitted, and receiving information that has been linked to the spot or area information being transmitted, a means for judging whether the spot or area information that has been received above is included in part of the spot or area information corresponding to the traveling route of the mobile body, and storage media for retaining the received spot or area information that the above-mentioned judgment means has judged to be included in the spot or area information corresponding to the traveling route of the mobile body.

Claims

1. An information broadcasting method comprising:

broadcasting information, the information including area and time information relating to areas defining a travel route of a land-based noted vehicle and estimated times of arrival of the noted vehicle at the areas, wherein the estimated time of arrival includes time that is at least five minutes from the time of the broadcast; and

receiving the broadcast information, which includes;

extracting the area and time information from the broadcast information; and

comparing area and time information relating to areas defining a travel route of a land-based traveling vehicle and estimated times of arrival of the traveling vehicle at the areas with the area and time information of the noted vehicle to judge whether the noted vehicle will travel in one of the areas defining the travel route of the traveling vehicle while the traveling vehicle travels in the one of the areas.

2. The information broadcasting method according to claim 1, wherein the area and time information of the noted vehicle is sent from the noted vehicle to a broadcasting station, the broadcasting station sending the information including the area and time information to a digital radio broadcasting satellite.

3. The information broadcasting method according to claim 1, wherein the step of comparing is performed by a navigation system.

4. The information broadcasting method according to claim 3, wherein the step of comparing is performed in the traveling vehicle.

5. An information receiving system comprising a navigation system receiving broadcast information which includes area and time information relating to areas defining a travel route of a land-based noted vehicle and estimated times of arrival of the noted vehicle at the travel areas, wherein the estimated time of arrival includes time that is at least five minutes from the time of the broadcast, wherein the navigation system extracts the area and time information included in the broadcast information, and compares area and time information relating to areas defining a travel route of a land-based traveling vehicle and estimated times of arrival of the traveling vehicle at the areas with the area and time information of the noted vehicle to judge whether the noted vehicle will travel in one of the areas defining the travel route of the traveling vehicle while the traveling vehicle travels in the one of the areas.

6. The information receiving system according to claim 5, wherein the navigation system is mounted in the traveling vehicle.