Move guidance device, system, method, program and recording medium storing the program that displays a code containing map scale rate and position information

• US 7,818,125 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2005
• Issued: 10/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Increment P Corporation, PIP Holdings Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Increment P Corporation, Pioneer Corporation
• Inventors: Kaneko, Hitoshi, Hirose, Koji, Hatano, Ichiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Black; Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chen; Shelley
• Application Number:
  US11/659,729
• Publication Number:
  US 20080077324A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,908 Days
• Field of Search: 701/212
• US Class Current: 701/212
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/367 Details, e.g. road map scale, orientation, zooming, illumination, level of detail, scrolling of road map or positioning of current position marker
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3688 Systems comprising multiple parts or multiple output devices (not client-server), e.g. detachable faceplates, key fobs or multiple output screens
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0968 Systems involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096838 where the user preferences are taken into account or the user selects one route out of a plurality
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096844 where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096861 where the immediate route instructions are output to the driver, e.g. arrow signs for next turn

Abstract

Based on a transfer request from a portable terminal though an input operation or communication, a two-dimensional code is generated, the code containing information of a scale rate of map information for guidance displayed on the in-vehicle terminal and a current position of a vehicle. The two-dimensional code is displayed on a terminal display unit together with a region of the map information corresponding to a region to be displayed on the portable terminal. When the portable terminal captures the two-dimensional code with an image pickup unit, the portable terminal recognizes the scale rate and the current position with a code analyzer, receives a region of the map information corresponding to the scale rate and containing at least the current position from the server unit and displays the information on the portable terminal display unit. The map information can be continuously displayed on a separate terminal in a similar manner without giving a user a feeling of strangeness, so that the user can obtain guidance well.

Claims

1. A travel guiding device, comprising:

a map information acquirer which acquires map information;

a current position information acquirer which acquires current position information on a current position of a mobile body;

a display controller which performs control such that a region of the map information is displayed on a display, the region containing the current position, the display controller recognizing a scale rate of the map information displayed on the display;

a request signal recognizer which recognizes a request signal for requesting a transfer of the map information; and

an information converter which recognizes the request signal, generates a code having a data structure defining a predetermined image, the code containing scale rate information on the scale rate of the map information and the current position information, the code being optically readable, the information converter operating the display controller to display the code as the image on the display.

2. The travel guiding device according to claim 1, wherein

the information converter converts the scale rate information and the current position information as the code having the data structure of the predetermined image into acquirable image data by capturing by an image pickup unit of a portable travel guiding device that includes:

the image pickup unit;

a terminal display which displays the map information;

a terminal communicating section which sends and receives information via a network; and

a terminal computer that controls the terminal communicating section to receive the region of the map information which corresponds to the scale rate of the scale rate information and contains at least the current position from a storage storing the map information via the network, the terminal computer also controlling the terminal display to display the region, based on the scale rate information and the current position information.

3. The travel guiding device according to claim 2, wherein

the information converter controls the display controller to display the region of the map information which corresponds to the region of the map information to be displayed on the terminal display of the portable travel guiding device to which the map information is transferred in a superposing manner on the map information displayed on the display.

4. The travel guiding device according to claim 2, wherein

the information converter controls the display controller to display in a two-screen manner on the display the code and the region of the map information which corresponds to the region of the map information to be displayed on the terminal display of a transfer destination to which the map information is transferred.

5. The travel guiding device according to claim 4, wherein

the information converter displays the map information such that the north of the map information displayed on the display is directed upward on a screen.

6. The travel guiding device according to claim 1, wherein the code generated by the information converter is a two-dimensional code.

7. The travel guiding device according to claim 1, comprising:

a destination information acquirer which acquires destination information on a destination of a travel, wherein

the information converter generates a code containing the scale rate information, the current position information and the destination information.

8. The travel guiding device according to claim 1, comprising:

a travel route retriever which retrieves a travel route from the current position to the destination based on the map information, wherein

the information converter generates a code containing the scale rate information, the current position information and information on the travel route.

9. A portable travel guiding device used with a travel guiding device including:

a map information acquirer which acquires map information;

a current position information acquirer which acquires current position information on a current position of a mobile body;

a display controller which performs control such that a region of the map information is displayed on a display, the region containing the current position, the display controller recognizing a scale rate of the map information displayed on the display;

a request signal recognizer which recognizes a request signal for requesting a transfer of the map information; and

an information converter which recognizes the request signal, generates a code having a data structure defining a predetermined image, the code containing scale rate information on the scale rate of the map information and the current position information, the code being optically readable, the information converter operating the display controller to display the code as the image on the display, the portable travel guiding device, comprising;

a terminal communicating section which sends and receives information via a network, a terminal display which displays map information;

an image pickup unit;

an information acquirer which acquires the scale rate information and the current position information from the code which is displayed on the display of the travel guiding device and captured by the image pickup unit;

a map information reception controller which operates the terminal communicating section to receive the region of the map information corresponding to the scale rate of the scale rate information and containing the current position via the network from a storage storing the map information; and

a terminal display controller which operates the terminal display to display the received map information.

10. The portable travel guiding device according to claim 9, wherein when the map information reception controller recognizes that the storage contains no map information having a common scale rate to the scale rate of the scale rate information acquired by the information acquirer, the map information reception controller operates the terminal communicating section to receive the map information having a scale close to the scale rate.

11. The portable travel guiding device according to claim 9, comprising:

a positioning section which positions a current position; and

a position information acquirer which acquires position information on the positioned current position;

wherein

the terminal display controller superposes the current position of the position information on the map information displayed on the display.

12. The portable travel guiding device according to claim 9, comprising:

a terminal travel route retriever which retrieves a travel route from the current position to a destination based on the scale rate information and the current position information which are acquired from the code by the information acquirer and based on destination information on a position of the destination, wherein

the terminal display superposes the travel route on the map information.

13. A travel guiding system, comprising:

a travel guiding device including;

a map information acquirer which acquires map information;

a current position information acquirer which acquires current position information on a current position of a mobile body;

a display controller which performs control such that a region of the map information is displayed on a display, the region containing the current position, the display controller recognizing a scale rate of the map information displayed on the display;

a request signal recognizer which recognizes a request signal for requesting a transfer of the map information; and

an information converter which recognizes the request signal, generates a code having a data structure defining a predetermined image, the code containing scale rate information on the scale rate of the map information and the current position information, the code being optically readable, the information converter operating the display controller to display the code as the image on the display; and

a portable travel guiding device operating such that the map information is displayed on the terminal display based on the code displayed on the display of the travel guiding device, wherein

the portable travel guiding device includes;

a terminal communicating section which sends and receives information via a network;

a terminal display which displays map information;

an image pickup unit;

an information acquirer which acquires the scale rate information and the current position information from the code which is displayed on the display of the travel guiding device and captured by the image pickup unit;

a map information reception controller which operates the terminal communicating section to receive the region of the map information corresponding to the scale rate of the scale rate information and containing the current position via the network from a storage storing the map information; and

a terminal display controller which operates the terminal display to display the received map information.

14. A travel guiding system, comprising:

a travel guiding device including;

a map information acquirer which acquires map information;

a current position information acquirer which acquires current position information on a current position of a mobile body;

a display controller which performs control such that a region of the map information is displayed on a display, the region containing the current position, the display controller recognizing a scale rate of the map information displayed on the display;

a request signal recognizer which recognizes a request signal for requesting a transfer of the map information; and

an information converter which recognizes the request signal, generates a code having a data structure defining a predetermined image, the code containing scale rate information on the scale rate of the map information and the current position information, the code being optically readable, the information converter operating the display controller to display the code as the image on the display; and

a portable travel guiding device operating such that the map information is displayed on the terminal display based on the code displayed on the display of the travel guiding device, wherein

the portable travel guiding device includes;

a terminal communicating section which sends and receives information via a network;

a terminal display which displays map information;

an image pickup unit;

an information acquirer which acquires the scale rate information and the current position information from a code having a data structure of a predetermined image, the code being captured by the image pickup unit, the code containing scale rate information on a scale rate of the map information and current position information on a current position of a mobile body, the code being optically readable;

a map information reception controller which operates the terminal communicating section to receive the region of the map information corresponding to the scale rate of the scale rate information and containing at least the current position via the network from a storage storing the map information when the map information reception controller recognizes acquisition of the scale rate information and the current position information; and

a terminal display controller which operates the terminal display to display the received map information.

15. A travel guiding method performed by a computer, comprising:

acquiring current position information on a current position of a mobile body and map information;

displaying a region of the map information containing the current position on a display;

providing guidance on a travel status of the mobile body;

on recognition of a request signal for a transfer of the map information, generating a code having a data structure defining a predetermined image, the code containing scale rate information on a scale rate of the map information and the current position information, the code being optically readable; and

displaying the code on the display.

16. A travel guiding method performed by a computer, comprising:

reading a code displayed by capturing with an image pickup unit of the computer, the code being displayed by acquiring current position information on a current position of a mobile body and map information;

displaying a region of the map information containing the current position on a display for providing guidance on a travel status of the mobile body;

on recognition of a request signal for a transfer of the map information, generating a code having a data structure defining a predetermined image, the code containing scale rate information on a scale rate of the map information and the current position information, the code being optically readable; and

displaying the code on the display;

acquiring the scale rate information and the current position information which are read from the code;

receiving with a communicating section a region of the map information via a network from a storage storing the map information, the region corresponding to a scale rate of the scale rate information and containing at least the current position; and

displaying the received map information on a terminal display.

17. A travel guiding program stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium controlling a computer to work as a travel guiding device including:

a map information acquirer which acquires map information;

a current position information acquirer which acquires current position information on a current position of a mobile body;

a current position information acquirer which acquires current position information on a current position of a mobile body;

a display controller which performs control such that a region of the map information is displayed on a display, the region containing the current position, the display controller recognizing a scale rate of the map information displayed on the display;

a request signal recognizer which recognizes a request signal for requesting a transfer of the map information; and

an information converter which recognizes the request signal, generates a code having a data structure defining a predetermined image, the code containing scale rate information on the scale rate of the map information and the current position information, the code being optically readable, the information converter operating the display controller to display the code as the image on the display.

18. A travel guiding program stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium controlling a computer to work as a portable travel guiding device used with a travel guiding device, wherein

the travel guiding device includes:

a map information acquirer which acquires map information;

a current position information acquirer which acquires current position information on a current position of a mobile body;

a display controller which performs control such that a region of the map information is displayed on a display, the region containing the current position, the display controller recognizing a scale rate of the map information displayed on the display;

a request signal recognizer which recognizes a request signal for requesting a transfer of the map information; and

an information converter which recognizes the request signal, generates a code having a data structure defining a predetermined image, the code containing scale rate information on the scale rate of the map information and the current position information, the code being optically readable, the information converter operating the display controller to display the code as the image on the display, and

the portable travel guiding device includes;

a terminal communicating section which sends and receives information via a network;

a terminal display which displays map information;

an image pickup unit;

an information acquirer which acquires the scale rate information and the current position information from the code which is displayed on the display of the travel guiding device and captured by the image pickup unit;

a map information reception controller which operates the terminal communicating section to receive the region of the map information corresponding to the scale rate of the scale rate information and containing the current position via the network from a storage storing the map information; and

a terminal display controller which operates the terminal display to display the received map information.

19. A travel guiding program stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium operating a computer to execute a travel guiding method performed by the computer, wherein the method includes:

acquiring current position information on a current position of a mobile body and map information;

displaying a region of the map information containing the current position on a display;

providing guidance on a travel status of the mobile body;

on recognition of a request signal for a transfer of the map information, generating a code having a data structure defining a predetermined image, the code containing scale rate information on a scale rate of the map information and the current position information, the code being optically readable; and

displaying the code on the display.

20. A travel guiding program stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium operating a computer to execute a travel guiding method performed by the computer, wherein the method includes:

reading a code displayed by capturing with an image pickup unit of the computer, the code being displayed by acquiring current position information on a current position of a mobile body and map information;

displaying a region of the map information containing the current position on a display for providing guidance on a travel status of the mobile body;

on recognition of a request signal for a transfer of the map information, generating a code having a data structure defining a predetermined image, the code containing scale rate information on a scale rate of the map information and the current position information, the code being optically readable; and

displaying the code on the display;

acquiring the scale rate information and the current position information which are read from the code;

receiving with a communicating section a region of the map information via a network from a storage storing the map information, the region corresponding to a scale rate of the scale rate information and containing at least the current position; and

displaying the received map information on a terminal display.

21. A non-transitory recording medium recording a travel guiding program which operates a computer to work as a travel guiding device, wherein

the travel guiding program is recorded in a manner readable by the computer, and

the travel guiding device includes:

a map information acquirer which acquires map information;

a current position information acquirer which acquires current position information on a current position of a mobile body;

a display controller which performs control such that a region of the map information is displayed on a display, the region containing the current position, the display controller recognizing a scale rate of the map information displayed on the display;

a request signal recognizer which recognizes a request signal for requesting a transfer of the map information; and

an information converter which recognizes the request signal, generates a code having a data structure defining a predetermined image, the code containing scale rate information on the scale rate of the map information and the current position information, the code being optically readable, the information converter operating the display controller to display the code as the image on the display.

22. A non-transitory recording medium recording a travel guiding program which operates a computer to work as a portable travel guiding device, wherein

the travel guiding program is recorded in a manner readable by the computer, and

the portable travel guiding device is used with a travel guiding device and includes:

the travel guiding device includes;

a map information acquirer which acquires map information;

a current position information acquirer which acquires current position information on a current position of a mobile body;

a display controller which performs control such that a region of the map information is displayed on a display, the region containing the current position, the display controller recognizing a scale rate of the map information displayed on the display;

a request signal recognizer which recognizes a request signal for requesting a transfer of the map information; and

an information converter which recognizes the request signal, generates a code having a data structure defining a predetermined image, the code containing scale rate information on the scale rate of the map information and the current position information, the code being optically readable, the information converter operating the display controller to display the code as the image on the display, and the portable travel guiding device includes;

a terminal communicating section which sends and receives information via a network;

a terminal display which displays map information;

an image pickup unit;

an information acquirer which acquires the scale rate information and the current position information from the code which is displayed on the display of the travel guiding device and captured by the image pickup unit;

a map information reception controller which operates the terminal communicating section to receive the region of the map information corresponding to the scale rate of the scale rate information and containing the current position via the network from a storage storing the map information; and

a terminal display controller which operates the terminal display to display the received map information.

23. A non-transitory recording medium recording a travel guiding program, wherein

the travel guiding program is recorded in a manner readable by a computer, and

the program operates the computer to execute a method which is performed by the computer and includes:

acquiring current position information on a current position of a mobile body and map information;

displaying a region of the map information containing the current position on a display;

providing guidance on a travel status of the mobile body;

on recognition of a request signal for a transfer of the map information, generating a code having a data structure defining a predetermined image, the code containing scale rate information on a scale rate of the map information and the current position information, the code being optically readable; and

displaying the code on the display.

24. A non-transitory recording medium recording a travel guiding program, wherein

the travel guiding program is recorded in a manner readable by a computer, and

the program operates the computer to execute a method which is performed by the computer and includes:

reading a code displayed by capturing with an image pickup unit of the computer, the code being displayed by acquiring current position information on a current position of a mobile body and map information;

displaying a region of the map information containing the current position on a display for providing guidance on a travel status of the mobile body;

on recognition of a request signal for a transfer of the map information, generating a code having a data structure defining a predetermined image, the code containing scale rate information on a scale rate of the map information and the current position information, the code being optically readable; and

displaying the code on the display;

acquiring the scale rate information and the current position information which are read from the code;

receiving with a communicating section a region of the map information via a network from a storage storing the map information, the region corresponding to a scale rate of the scale rate information and containing at least the current position; and

displaying the received map information on a terminal display.