Information display system for use with a navigation system

• US 6,944,539 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2002
• Issued: 09/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Shibata, Yumii, Yamazaki, Kiyonobu, Masuda, Hiroyoshi, Yamada, Kunihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gibson, Eric M.
• Application Number:
  US10/451,682
• Publication Number:
  US 20040054468A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,054 Days
• Field of Search: 340/995.1, 340/995.13, 340/995.24, 340/996, 701/200, 701/209, 701/211, 701/213
• US Class Current: 701/211
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0969 having a display in the form of a map

Abstract

An information display system including an input device that inputs a scheduled event, a schedule storage in which the schedule is stored, a display device that displays a map, a memory that stores map information and the scheduled event, and a controller that displays a schedule reminder message on the map at a specified time before the scheduled event is to occur.

Claims

1. An information display system, comprising:

a first memory that stores map information;

an input device that inputs a schedule, the schedule comprising a schedule location and a schedule time;

a second memory that stores the schedule;

a present position detector that detects the present position of a vehicle; and

a controller that;

determines whether the present position of the vehicle is within a predetermined distance of the schedule location;

determines whether a present time is within a predetermined time period of the schedule time;

allows, when the present position of the vehicle is within a predetermined distance of the schedule location and the present time is within a predetermined time period of the schedule time, an operator to determine whether to visit the schedule location;

searches, when the operator determines to visit the schedule destination, for a route to the schedule location using the stored map information; and

provides route guidance based on the searched route.

2. The information display system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a display, wherein the controller displays traffic information on a map on the display.

3. The information display system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a display, wherein the controller displays meteorological information on a map on the display.

4. The information display system according to claim 1, wherein the controller communicates a reminder message that reminds the user of the schedule visually.

5. The information display system according to claim 1, wherein the controller communicates a reminder message that reminds the user of the schedule audibly.

6. The information display system according to claim 1, further comprising:

an information receiver, wherein the schedule is transmitted to the information receiver from outside the information display system.

7. A method for displaying information, comprising:

storing map information;

inputting a schedule, the schedule comprising a schedule location and a schedule time;

storing the schedule;

detecting the present position of a vehicle;

determining whether the present position of the vehicle is within a predetermined distance of the schedule location;

determining whether a present time is within a predetermined time period of the schedule time;

allowing, when the present position of the vehicle is within a predetermined distance of the schedule location and the present time is within a predetermined time period of the schedule time, an operator to determine whether to visit the schedule location;

searching, when the operator determines to visit the schedule destination, for a route to the schedule location using the stored map information; and

providing route guidance based on the searched route.

8. The method for displaying information according to claim 7, further comprising displaying a schedule reminder at a reminder time, the reminder time occurring a predetermined time period before the schedule time.

9. The method for displaying information according to claim 7, further comprising displaying a schedule reminder at a reminder time, the reminder time occurring whenever the display device is within a predetermined distance of the schedule location within the predetermined time interval before the scheduled time.

10. The method for displaying information according to claim 7, further comprising:

displaying traffic information.

11. The method for displaying information according to claim 7, further comprising:

displaying meteorological information.

12. The method for displaying information according to claim 7, further comprising visually communicating a schedule reminder message.

13. The method for displaying information according to claim 7, further comprising audibly communicating a schedule reminder message.

14. The method for displaying information according to claim 7, further comprising:

transmitting the schedule.

15. The method for displaying a schedule according to claim 7, further comprising:

receiving a transmitted schedule.

16. A storage medium storing a set of program instructions executable on a data processing device and usable to display information, the instructions comprising:

instructions for storing map information;

instructions for inputting a schedule, the schedule comprising a schedule location and a schedule time;

instructions for storing the schedule;

instructions for detecting the present position of a vehicle;

instructions for determining whether the present position of the vehicle is within a predetermined distance of the schedule location;

instructions for determining whether a present time is within a predetermined time period of the schedule time;

instructions for allowing, when the present position of the vehicle is within a predetermined distance of the schedule location and the present time is within a predetermined time period of the schedule time, an operator to determine whether to visit the schedule location;

instructions for searching, when the operator determines to visit the schedule destination, for a route to the schedule location using the stored map information; and

instructions for providing route guidance based on the searched route.