Communication terminal unit, connection control method and program for the method

• US 7,242,968 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2003
• Issued: 07/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
• Original Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
• Inventors: Arakawa, Takeharu
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild; Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KHAI MINH
• Application Number:
  US10/657,100
• Publication Number:
  US 20040054462A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,400 Days
• Field of Search: 455/566, 455/517, 455/414.1, 455/550.1, 455/73, 455/457, 455/414.3, 455/422.1, 701/200, 701/208, 701/207, 701/209, 701/210
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers

Abstract

In acquiring the information accumulated in the storage unit of the information center by making the connection of the line connecting the communication unit mounted on the vehicle mounted terminal and the center communication unit of the information center, a process for starting the line connection with the information center is started in advance, when the display on the display unit mounted on the vehicle mounted terminal transfers to the predetermined display contents, whereby the information can be transmitted immediately via the line already connected at the time when an actual operation for transmitting the information from the vehicle mounted terminal to the information center is performed.

Claims

1. A communication terminal, comprising:

a communication circuit that transmits information to an information center and that receives information from the information center, wherein the information center is remote from the communication terminal; and

a controller that, in response to a predetermined event, instructs the communication circuit to begin to establish a communication line with the information center to create a communication session between the communication terminal and the information center,

wherein the predetermined event occurs before a user instructs the controller to instruct the communication circuit to transmit initial data to the information center, and

wherein the communication circuit transmits the initial data to the information center before the communication circuit transmits any other data to the information center in response to a user instruction during the communication session.

2. The communication terminal as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a display, wherein the predetermined event comprises displaying a predetermined screen on the display.

3. The communication terminal as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

an user input unit, wherein the predetermined event comprises the user inputting a predetermined command via the user input unit.

4. The communication terminal as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

an key input unit, wherein the predetermined event comprises the user activating a predetermined button on the key input unit.

5. The communication terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the initial data comprises a request that requests information from the information center.

6. The communication terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the initial data comprises a request to download information from the information center to convey to the user.

7. The communication terminal as claimed in claim 6, wherein the any other data comprises a request to download information from the information center to convey to the user.

8. A communication method, comprising:

transmitting information to a remote information center;

receiving information from the information center; and

in response to a predetermined event, begin establishing a communication line with the information center to create a communication session with the information center,

wherein the predetermined event occurs before a user instruction to transmit initial data to the information center, and

transmitting the initial data to the information center before transmitting any other data to the information center in response to a user instruction during the communication session.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the initial data comprises a request to download information from the information center to convey to a user.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the any other data comprises a request to download information from the information center to convey to the user.

11. A computer-readable medium tangibly containing a software program that instructs a computer to perform a routine, comprising:

transmitting information to a remote information center;

receiving information from the information center; and

in response to a predetermined event, begin establishing a communication line with the information center to create a communication session with the information center,

wherein the predetermined event occurs before a user instruction to transmit initial data to the information center, and

transmitting the initial data to the information center before transmitting any other data to the information center in response to a user instruction during the communication session.

12. The software program as claimed in claim 11, wherein the initial data comprises a request to download information from the information center to convey to a user.

13. The software program as claimed in claim 12, wherein the any other data comprises a request to download information from the information center to convey to the user.