JP2002213990A - Navigation system in portable information terminal and map information download request method in portable information terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide a navigation system suitable for a portable information terminal by considering a usable storage capacity of the portable information terminal. A mobile information terminal (1) predicts a moving direction / speed based on a history of a current position of the mobile information terminal (1) which is periodically measured by a GPS (6) and stored in a position information history holding unit (13). The information processing unit 8 includes a current position, a memory 1
At 2, a download request including a storage capacity, a moving direction, and a moving speed that can be used for storing map information is transmitted.
The map information processing unit 5 of the data center 2 determines the size of the map information to be downloaded based on the storage capacity. Also, the map information is generated so that the current position is displayed around the map information and the area on the moving direction side is widened. Also, the scale is determined based on the moving speed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a navigation system suitable for a portable information terminal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art PDA (Personal Digital Assistant)
s) and a navigation system using a portable information terminal such as a mobile phone with an Internet function represented by i-mode manufactured by DOCOMO differ from a vehicle-mounted navigation system in terms of the size of the terminal and the built-in memory capacity. CD
-It is difficult to use a storage medium such as a ROM. for that reason,
The map information is downloaded from the data center whenever necessary.

That is, in a portable information terminal, a line is connected to a data center, and a built-in GPS (Global Positioning System) is provided.
ng Systems) to inform the data center of the current location by transmitting the location information measured. In the data center,
The map database is searched based on the sent current position, map information centering on the current position of the portable information terminal is generated at a preset scale, and downloaded to the portable information terminal. When the portable information terminal receives the map information, it disconnects the line. In this way, a map including the current position is displayed on the screen.

[0004] The GPS periodically measures the current position, and when the current position of the portable information terminal deviates from the range of the downloaded map due to the movement of the user, the GPS is sent to the data center similarly to the above-described processing. Connect the line to tell the current location and have them download map information centered on the current location.

[0005]

However, in a portable information terminal having a relatively small storage capacity, unlike a vehicle-mounted one, it is not always possible to prepare a huge memory capacity for holding map information. Conventionally, even if a great amount of map information is downloaded from a data center without considering the available memory capacity, it cannot always be surely stored in the memory. Therefore, a navigation system that efficiently downloads map information in consideration of the available memory capacity of the portable information terminal is desired.

[0006] Even if a sufficient memory capacity is secured, the portable information terminal is connected to a data center via a line to download map information, so that the map information is useful in terms of call charges. It is desired to be able to obtain

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a navigation system suitable for a portable information terminal by considering the available storage capacity of the portable information terminal. Is to do.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a map information download request method for a portable information terminal for obtaining map information suitable for a size and a moving condition suitable for a usable storage capacity of the portable information terminal.

[0009]

To achieve the above object, a navigation system in a portable information terminal according to the present invention comprises a position measuring means, a storage means for storing map information downloaded wirelessly, and a map. And a data center having a map information processing means for generating and downloading map information including the current position of the portable information terminal based on a download request from the portable information terminal. In the navigation system for a portable information terminal having the portable information terminal, the portable information terminal detects a storage capacity for map information which can be used for storing map information in the storage means, and the map information detected by the storage capacity detection means. Storage capacity and the current position of the portable information terminal measured by the position measuring means. Download request processing means for transmitting a download request for map information including the map information to the data center, wherein the map information processing means outputs map information having a size adapted to the storage capacity for map information included in the download request. Generate and download.

[0010] Also, a position information history holding means for holding a current position of the portable information terminal measured by the position measuring means, Moving direction prediction processing means for predicting a moving direction, wherein the map information processing means generates and downloads map information suitable for the moving direction predicted by the moving direction prediction processing means.

[0011] Further, the map information processing means is arranged to increase the area of the portable information terminal in the moving direction based on the current position of the portable information terminal and the moving direction predicted by the moving direction prediction processing means. It generates and downloads map information indicating the current position of the terminal.

[0012] Further, there is provided a moving speed prediction processing means for predicting a moving speed of the portable information terminal based on a history of a current position held in the position information history holding means, and the map information processing means is provided with: The map information is generated and downloaded based on the moving direction predicted by the prediction processing means and the moving speed predicted by the moving speed prediction processing means.

Further, the map information processing means predicts a range within which movement is possible within a predetermined time based on the moving direction predicted by the moving direction prediction processing means and the moving speed predicted by the moving speed prediction processing means. The scale is determined so that map information including the moving range can be generated.

[0014] Further, a position information history holding means for holding the current position of the portable information terminal measured by the position measuring means, and a history of the current position held by the position information history holding means, Moving speed prediction processing means for predicting a moving speed, wherein the map information processing means generates map information at a scale corresponding to the moving speed predicted by the moving speed prediction processing means.

Further, the data center estimates the moving means of the user carrying the portable information terminal from the moving speed predicted by the moving speed prediction processing means, and adds additional information suitable for the moving means to the portable information terminal. To be downloaded to

A map information download request method in a portable information terminal according to the present invention includes a portable information terminal having a position measuring means, a storage means for storing map information downloaded wirelessly, and a display means for displaying a map. ,
A data center having a map information processing means for generating and downloading map information including the current position of the portable information terminal based on a download request from the portable information terminal; Transmits a map information download request to the data center by adding a map information storage capacity usable for storing map information in the storage means in addition to the current position measured by the position measuring means. .

Further, the portable information terminal further adds a moving direction of the portable information terminal predicted based on a history of the current position measured by the position measuring means to the download request.

Further, the portable information terminal further adds a moving speed of the portable information terminal predicted based on a history of the current position measured by the position measuring means to the download request.

[0019]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a navigation system in a portable information terminal according to the present invention. The portable information terminal 1
This device is realized by a PDA or a mobile phone with an Internet function, and is carried by a user. In the present embodiment, a description is given assuming a mobile phone with an Internet function. The data center 2 is a service center for a mobile phone provider to provide map information to mobile phone users. The data center 2 generates map information by searching the map database 4 based on the current position of the mobile information terminal 1 in response to the download request received by the communication processing unit 3 from the mobile information terminal 1 and generates the communication information. And a map information processing unit 5 to be downloaded via the PC 3.

The portable information terminal 1 includes a GPS 6, a display section 7 for displaying a map, an information processing section 8, a communication processing section 9, a moving direction prediction processing section 10, a movement speed prediction processing section 11, and a map information downloaded. It has a memory 12 for storing and a position information history holding unit 13. Location information history holding unit 1
3, the current position of the portable information terminal 1 measured by the GPS 6 is periodically written. The GPS 6 does not need to be built in and may be externally provided. The same applies to the communication processing unit 9. The movement direction prediction processing unit 10 predicts the movement direction of the portable information terminal 1 based on the history of the current position held in the position information history holding unit 13. The moving speed prediction processing unit 11
The moving speed of the portable information terminal 1 is predicted based on the current position history stored in the position information history storage unit 13. Memory 1
2 stores not only map information but also various information such as a telephone number book, so that the information processing unit 8 detects a storage capacity that can be used for storing map information downloaded in the memory 12. In addition, the information processing unit 8 stores the current position of the portable information terminal 1, the detected storage capacity, the moving direction predicted by the moving direction prediction processing unit 10, and the moving speed predicted by the moving speed prediction processing unit 11 in response to a user operation. A download request including the download request is generated and transmitted to the data center 2 via the communication processing unit 9.

A feature of the present embodiment is that a storage capacity usable for storing map information downloaded in the memory 12 is added to a download request and sent to the data center 2. As a result, the data center 2 can generate map information having an optimal data amount for the portable information terminal 1.

Further, the moving direction and the moving speed are further added to the download request and sent to the data center 2. Thus, the data center 2 can generate map information suitable for not only the data amount but also the movement of the portable information terminal 1.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

In the portable information terminal 1, the current position is periodically measured by the GPS 6 and stored in the position information history holding unit 13. Then, the moving direction prediction processing unit 10 predicts the moving direction based on the history of the current position. An example of how to determine the moving direction will be described with reference to FIG.

For example, assume that the user has moved to positions A, B, C and D as shown in FIG. At this time,
The moving direction component of the current position D at the present time is extracted from the past current positions A, B, and C. Fig. 2
(B). The average of the moving directions of the moving direction components is calculated as the predicted moving direction. The process of predicting the moving direction is an example, and may be performed based on a transition, a tendency, or the like of the moving direction component instead of the average. Also, the number of current positions used for prediction is not limited to four.

The moving speed prediction processing unit 11 predicts the moving speed based on the history of the current position in parallel with the moving direction prediction processing. An example of how to determine the moving speed will be described with reference to FIG.

For example, it is assumed that the user has moved to positions A, B, C, and D as shown in FIG. At this time,
The moving speed components between the points moved from the position A to the position B, from the position B to the position C, and from the position C to the position D are obtained. This can be obtained from the difference between the moving distance and the sampling time. The average of the obtained moving speed components between the points is set as the predicted moving speed. The process of predicting the moving speed is an example, and the moving speed may be predicted based on a transition, a trend, or the like of the moving speed instead of the average. Also, the number of current positions used for prediction is not limited to four.

The cycle of collecting the current position, the period of holding, the timing of deleting, etc.
3 may be appropriately determined depending on the capacity of the third embodiment. Further, in the present embodiment, the prediction of the moving direction and the like is performed periodically at all times. However, the prediction may be performed when the download of the map information is requested.

Hereinafter, a process when a map information display instruction is issued by a user operation will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG.

When an instruction to display map information is issued, the information processing section 8 acquires the current position from the GPS 6 (step 101). Note that, as described above, the current position is always acquired. If the current position is included in the already downloaded map, the map may be displayed (steps 102 and 107). If the map is not yet held, the information processing unit 8 acquires the predicted direction from the moving direction prediction processing unit 10 and the predicted speed from the moving speed prediction processing unit 11, and stores the map information in the memory 12. The available capacity is detected (step 104). Then, a download request including the current position obtained from the GPS 6, the detected storage capacity of the memory 12, the moving direction and the moving speed is transmitted to the data center 2 via the communication processing unit 8 (step 105).

Here, the data center 2 generates map information for the portable information terminal 1 based on the download request. This processing will be described later.

When the communication processing section 9 of the portable information terminal 1 receives the map information downloaded from the data center 2 and stores it in the memory 12 (step 106), the information processing section 8 displays the map on the display section 7. The current position is displayed on the map (step 107). The above processing is repeated until a map display stop instruction is received (step 101).

Next, processing on the data center 2 side will be described.

In the data center 2, the communication processing unit 3
Upon receiving the download request from the portable information terminal 1, the map information processing unit 5 generates map information as follows.

In the data center in the related art and this embodiment, the entire map is divided into a plurality of areas of the same size, and a predetermined number of areas are downloaded as map information. Here, it is assumed that the predetermined number is 9, and the storage capacity of the memory 12 is not considered or is sufficiently prepared. In traditional data centers,
When a download request including the current position is received, FIG.
As shown in (a), an area 20a centering on the current position is set, and the area 20a and eight areas 20b to 20i surrounding the area centering on the area are set in a total of 9 areas.
Map information is generated and downloaded by region.
Then, when a download request is sent from the portable information terminal 1 because the current position deviates from the downloaded map, map information of 9 areas centering on the area centered on the current position is generated in the same manner. to download.
For example, conventionally, assuming that the portable information terminal 1 moves to positions A, B, C, and D as shown in FIG. 6A, maps 20-1, 20-2, 20-3, and 20- 4 and 4
Will be downloaded many times.

The present embodiment is characterized in that the moving direction is transmitted to the data center 2 in addition to the current position. Therefore, in the map information processing unit 5 of the data center 2,
As illustrated in FIG. 5B, it is possible to generate map information in which the current position of the portable information terminal 1 is displayed so that the area in the moving direction of the portable information terminal 1 is widened. That is, the map information is generated such that the current position is located near the periphery of the map to be downloaded while considering the moving direction. By generating such map information, it is possible to move a longer distance until the current position deviates from the downloaded map information. In other words, in the present embodiment, even if it is necessary to download again, in the present embodiment, there is a case where only one download is required, and the call charge can be reduced. Also, as shown in FIG. 6B, the portable information terminal 1 is located at the positions A, B, C, D in the same manner as in FIG.
This is efficient because only three downloads are required even when the user moves, and the download interval can be extended. Further, the call charge can be reduced.

Further, under the condition that the storage capacity of the memory 12 is sufficient and nine areas can be downloaded, the moving direction is predicted, and therefore, FIG.
As shown in (1), instead of the areas 20b and 20i, the areas 20j and 20k matching the moving direction can be selected and downloaded. Therefore, the portable information terminal 1 has 20
Even when the user moves to the position of j, 20k, there is no need to download the map information again, which is efficient. In the present embodiment, it is possible to generate and download map information suitable for the moving direction.

Here, the present embodiment is characterized in that the usable storage capacity of the memory 12 is transmitted to the data center 2 as described above. For this reason,
If the portable information terminal 1 cannot prepare the storage capacity for nine areas, seven areas out of the nine areas except for the areas 20b and 20i that are unlikely to move based on the predicted moving direction can be downloaded. . In this way, by assigning priorities to the areas divided based on the moving direction and downloading the number of areas corresponding to the storage capacity, the memory 1
The map information of the data amount adapted to the storage capacity of No. 2 can be downloaded.

Further, the present embodiment is characterized in that the predicted moving speed is transmitted to the data center 2. Thus, the map information processing unit 5 can determine the scale of the map information according to the predicted moving speed. For example, if the moving speed is less than 5 km / h, 1/500
0,5 km / h or more and less than 30 km / h, 1/1000
If it is 0, 30 km / h or more, map information can be generated at a scale corresponding to the moving speed, such as 1/25000. Thus, the map can be displayed at a scale adapted to the moving speed while preventing an unnecessary increase in the number of downloads.

Alternatively, the scale can be determined so as not to download within a predetermined time. That is, assuming that the predetermined time is 30 minutes, 30 minutes depends on the moving direction and moving speed.
Since the movement position after minutes can be predicted, the scale can be determined to include the current position and the movement position after 30 minutes. By downloading the map information of the scale determined in this way, the mobile information terminal 1 can reduce the number of downloads because the download is not required for the next 30 minutes, and is efficient and economical. It is.

When map information is already downloaded in the portable information terminal 1 and the user wants to download further but there is no available storage capacity, the stored maps (areas) must be sequentially discarded. In this case, in the present embodiment, since the moving direction and the moving speed are predicted, it is unnecessary to assign priorities to the respective regions constituting the stored map information based on the current position, the moving direction and the moving speed. It can be sequentially discarded from the area considered to be. An area that does not match the passed area or the moving direction, or an area that is extremely unlikely to move due to a change in the moving direction, has a low priority. Further, even in the area that matches the movement direction, the area farthest away has a lower priority than the area that is closest.

According to the present embodiment, not only the current position but also the available storage capacity of the memory 12, the moving direction and the moving speed are transmitted to the data center 2 at the time of a download request. Can obtain map information suitable for the moving situation. In addition, since the number of downloads can be reduced, the call charge can be reduced.

In this embodiment, the download request includes the storage capacity, the moving direction, and the moving speed. However, it is not necessary to include all of the information, and the information can be selected according to the purpose. .

Although the position information history holding means is provided in the portable information terminal 1, it may be provided in the data center 2. The same applies to the moving direction prediction processing means and the movement speed prediction processing means. When the position information history holding means is provided in the data center 2, the portable information terminal 1 provides a current position notifying means for periodically sending the current position measured by the GPS 6 to the data center 2.
Need to be installed in In addition, moving direction prediction processing means and movement speed prediction processing means can be provided in the data center 2.

The present invention is applied to the portable information terminal 1, but can also be applied to a navigation system mounted on a vehicle.

Embodiment 2 The present embodiment is applied to a service in which advertisement information is added to the map information generated in Embodiment 1 and downloaded.

FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram of a system according to the present embodiment. Among the functional processes of the data center shown in the first embodiment, the communication with the portable information terminal 1 is performed by the ISP.
(Intenet Service Provider) 14, the generation of map information is divided into map information providers 15. That is, I
The SP 14 relays the download request sent from the portable information terminal 1 and sends it to the map information provider 15, and
The map information sent from the map information provider 15 is relayed and downloaded to the portable information terminal 1. At this time, IS
P14 adds advertisement information to map information.

At present, various types of advertisement information are added to the downloaded map information and downloaded. However, in the present embodiment, since the available storage capacity of the portable information terminal 1 is grasped, the storage capacity is reduced. Advertisement information can be added accordingly. That is, the advertiser 16
Pays an information registration fee to the ISP 14, and the ISP 14 prioritizes the advertisements to be added according to the payment fee. When downloading the map information, the advertisement information is added to the extent possible according to the priority order. The advertiser 16 can distribute the advertisement more by paying a larger information registration fee. IS
In P14, there is a possibility that the income will increase accordingly. On the other hand, from the user's point of view, by transmitting the storage capacity, the advertisement information is unnecessarily added and not downloaded, so that the communication fee can be reduced.

Further, the present embodiment is characterized by estimating the moving means of the user carrying the portable information terminal 1 from the moving speed, and downloading additional information suitable for the moving means to the portable information terminal 1. That is.

That is, it can be inferred from the traveling speed whether the user is walking or traveling by vehicle. If the vehicle is moved by a vehicle, the ISP 14 adds information such as the position of a parking lot in the moving direction and the availability of space to the map information as advertisement information. As described above, appropriate additional information can be provided to the user by the moving means. This makes it possible for the user to obtain useful information.
Also, from the perspective of the ISP 14, useful information can be provided, which leads to an increase in customers.

[0052]

According to the present invention, since the storage capacity for map information is sent to the data center, it is possible to generate map information having a size suitable for the storage capacity for map information in the portable information terminal. it can.

Further, since the moving direction and / or the moving speed can be referred to when the map information is generated in the data center, it is possible to generate the map information suitable for the moving condition of the portable information terminal.

Further, since the moving direction can be referred to when the map information is generated in the data center, the current position of the portable information terminal is displayed so that the area in the moving direction of the portable information terminal is widened. Can be generated, so that the user can travel a longer distance until the current position is deviated from the downloaded map information. In addition, since the number of downloads can be reduced when the user keeps moving, call charges can be reduced.

Since the scale is determined in the data center based on the moving speed so that the map information including the moving range within the predetermined time can be generated, the portable information terminal does not need to download the map information within the predetermined time. As a result, call charges can be reduced.

Further, since the moving speed can be referred to when the map information is generated in the data center, the map can be displayed at a scale adapted to the moving speed.

Further, since the moving means of the user carrying the portable information terminal is estimated from the moving speed, additional information suitable for the moving means can be provided to the user. With further reference to the direction of travel,
In addition, it is possible to provide the user with information on the facility at the destination.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a navigation system in a portable information terminal according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram used to describe a method of estimating a moving direction in the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram used to explain a moving speed prediction method in the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing in the portable information terminal when an instruction to display map information is issued in the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing examples of map information generated in the present embodiment and a conventional example.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing examples of map information to be downloaded in the present embodiment and a conventional example.

FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram of a system according to a second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 mobile information terminal, 2 data center, 3, 9 communication processing section, 4 map database, 5 map information processing section, 6
GPS, 7 display unit, 8 information processing unit, 10 moving direction prediction processing unit, 11 moving speed prediction processing unit, 12 memory, 13 position information history holding unit.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04M 3/493 G06F 17/30 110G 5K067 11/00 302 170C 5K101 // G06F 17/30 110 H04B 7/26 M 170 106A F-term (reference) 2F029 AA02 AA07 AB07 AC02 AC14 AD07 5B075 KK07 KK13 KK33 KK40 ND07 ND22 ND34 NK10 NK14 NK24 NK37 NK42 PQ02 DD15 P01 FF04 GG01 GG10 5K067 BB21 EE02 EE12 FF03 FF23 HH21 HH23 JJ52 JJ56 5K101 KK02 KK16 LL02 LL12 MM07 NN18 NN21 SS07

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A portable information terminal comprising: a position measuring means; a storage means for storing map information downloaded wirelessly; and a display means for displaying a map; and the portable information terminal based on a download request from the portable information terminal. A data center having a map information processing means for generating and downloading map information including the current position of the mobile information terminal, wherein the mobile information terminal can be used for storing the map information in the storage means. Storage capacity detection means for detecting the storage capacity for map information; and a download request for map information including the storage capacity for map information detected by the storage capacity detection means and the current position of the portable information terminal measured by the position measurement means. Download request processing means for transmitting to the data center, Figure information processing means, a navigation system in a mobile information terminal characterized by downloading to generate the size of the map information suitable for the storage capacity for the map information contained in the download request. 2. A position information history holding unit for holding a current position of the portable information terminal measured by the position measurement unit; and Moving direction prediction processing means for predicting a moving direction, wherein the map information processing means generates and downloads map information adapted to the moving direction predicted by the moving direction prediction processing means. A navigation system in the portable information terminal according to claim 1. 3. The portable information terminal according to claim 2, wherein the map information processing means is configured to increase the area in the moving direction of the portable information terminal based on the current position of the portable information terminal and the moving direction predicted by the moving direction prediction processing means. 3. The navigation system according to claim 2, wherein map information indicating the current position of the terminal is generated and downloaded. 4. A moving speed prediction processing means for predicting a moving speed of the portable information terminal based on a history of a current position held in the position information history holding means, wherein the map information processing means 3. The navigation system according to claim 2, wherein the map information is generated and downloaded based on the moving direction predicted by the prediction processing means and the moving speed predicted by the moving speed prediction processing means. 5. The map information processing means predicts a range within which movement within a predetermined time is possible based on the moving direction predicted by the moving direction prediction processing means and the moving speed predicted by the moving speed prediction processing means. The navigation system according to claim 4, wherein the scale is determined so that map information including a moving range can be generated. 6. A position information history holding unit for holding a current position of the portable information terminal measured by the position measurement unit; and And a moving speed prediction processing means for predicting a moving speed, wherein the map information processing means generates map information at a scale corresponding to the moving speed predicted by the moving speed prediction processing means. Item 2. A navigation system in the portable information terminal according to Item 1. 7. The data center estimates a moving means of a user carrying the portable information terminal from a moving speed predicted by the moving speed prediction processing means, and adds additional information suitable for the moving means to the portable information terminal. 7. The navigation system according to claim 4, wherein the navigation system is downloaded to a portable information terminal. 8. A portable information terminal having a position measuring means, a storage means for storing map information downloaded wirelessly, and a display means for displaying a map, and the portable information terminal based on a download request from the portable information terminal. A data center having a map information processing means for generating and downloading map information including the current position of the mobile information terminal; and a navigation system for a mobile information terminal having: And transmitting a map information download request to the data center by adding a map information storage capacity usable for storing the map information in the storage means. 9. The mobile information terminal according to claim 8, wherein the mobile information terminal further adds a movement direction of the mobile information terminal predicted based on a history of the current position measured by the position measuring means to the download request. Map information download request method in portable information terminal. 10. The portable information terminal further adds a moving speed of the portable information terminal predicted based on a history of a current position measured by the position measuring means to a download request. A request method for downloading map information in the portable information terminal described in the above.