Information processing system, mobile terminal, information processing method, information processing program, and recording medium

Abstract

To provide an information processing system and the like capable of transmitting spot information, information on a spot, with a small number of operations to a mobile terminal.SOLUTION: An information processing system makes, together with a map, a spot image representing a spot and a mobile body image representing a mobile body displayed at positions on the map of the spot and the mobile body, and if accepting operation to designate a mobile body image and a spot image, generates transmission information including spot information, information on a spot represented by the spot image and transmitted to a mobile terminal moving with the mobile body represented by the mobile body image.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of an information processing device that transmits location information indicating a location. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a system that allows a terminal at a management center to issue a business instruction to a terminal mounted on a business vehicle, instructing the vehicle to head to a delivery location specified by the terminal at the management center. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-123886 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] According to the conventional system described in Patent Document 1, when dispatching a business vehicle to a certain location, an operator at a terminal in a management center must first determine which vehicle can arrive at the location first, then open a screen for creating a message to be sent to the vehicle, select the previously determined vehicle, and input the location. This results in a problem in that the number of operations required to send a message is large, and it takes a long time.

[0005] In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide an information processing system and the like that can transmit location information, which is information about locations, to a mobile terminal that moves together with a mobile body with a small number of operations. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The invention described in claim 1 comprises a display means for displaying a location image representing a location and a moving body image representing a moving body together with a map at the location of the location and the moving body on the map, and a generation means for generating transmission information which includes location information that is information about the location represented by the location image and is to be transmitted to a mobile terminal moving together with the moving body represented by the moving body image when an operation to specify the moving body image and the location image is received.

[0007] The invention described in claim 8 is an information processing method performed by an information processing system, which includes a display step of displaying a location image representing a location and a moving body image representing a moving body together with a map at the location of the location and the moving body on the map, and a generation step of generating transmission information, when an operation to specify the moving body image and the location image is received, which includes location information that is information about the location represented by the location image and is to be transmitted to a mobile terminal moving together with the moving body represented by the moving body image.

[0008] The invention described in claim 9 causes a computer to function as a display means for displaying a location image representing a location and a moving body image representing a moving body together with a map at the locations of the location and the moving body on the map, and a generation means for generating transmission information that includes location information, which is information about the location represented by the location image, and is to be transmitted to a mobile terminal that moves together with the moving body represented by the moving body image, when an operation to specify the moving body image and the location image is received.

[0009] The invention described in claim 10 is a computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon an information processing program that causes a computer to function as a display means that displays a location image representing a location and a moving body image representing a moving body together with a map at the location of the location and the moving body on the map, and a generation means that, when an operation to specify the moving body image and the location image is received, generates transmission information that includes location information that is information about the location represented by the location image and is to be transmitted to a mobile terminal that moves together with the moving body represented by the moving body image. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an information processing system 1. FIG. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a vehicle management system S. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an information processing server SV. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a client terminal C. [Figure 5] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing an example of a vehicle management screen 500. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a vehicle condition setting screen 600. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a message creation screen 700. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a navigation device NV. [Figure 9] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a message response screen 800. [Figure 10] 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the vehicle management system S. [Figure 11] 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the vehicle management system S. [Figure 12] 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the vehicle management system S. [Figure 13] 5A, 5B, and 5C are diagrams showing examples of display of a map 510 in a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 1, the information processing system 1 includes a display unit 111A and a generation unit 111B.

[0013] The display means 111A displays, together with a map, point images representing points and moving body images representing moving bodies at the positions of the points and the moving bodies on the map. The images in the point images and moving body images include figures (icons) and characters representing the points and moving bodies. Examples of moving bodies include automobiles, bicycles, people, trains, ships, and airplanes. The display means 111A also displays images depicting the point images and moving body images on the map on a display device (not shown). The information processing system 1 can be configured to include multiple devices (for example, a first device and a second device). In this case, the first device may be equipped with the display means 111A and the second device may be equipped with the display device, or the first device may be equipped with the display means 111A and the display device.

[0014] When the generation means 111B receives an operation to specify a moving body image and a location image, it generates transmission information that includes location information, which is information about the location represented by the location image, and is to be transmitted to the mobile terminal 2 that moves together with the moving body represented by the moving body image.

[0015] As a result, by performing an operation to specify a moving body image and a location image, transmission information is generated that includes location information, which is information about the location represented by the location image, and is sent to a mobile terminal 2 that moves together with the moving body represented by the moving body image, so the operator can send location information, which is information about the location, to a mobile terminal that moves together with the moving body with a small number of operations.

[0016] The information processing system 1 may further include a receiving unit 111C that receives an operation of dragging a point image and dropping it onto a moving object image, or an operation of dragging a moving object image and dropping it onto a point image. This allows the operator to transmit point information, which is information about a point, to a mobile terminal by dragging and dropping the point image onto the moving object image, or by dragging and dropping the moving object image onto the point image. That is, the operator can check the positional relationship between the point and the moving object on a map, consider which moving object is closest to the point, select a moving object to head to the point, and transmit point information to the moving object.

[0017] Furthermore, when multiple location images overlap on a map, the display unit 111A displays one representative location image instead of the multiple location images. When an operation on the representative location image is detected, a list of locations represented by the multiple location images represented by the representative location image is displayed, and operations for the listed locations are accepted. When multiple location images overlap on a map, for example, if there are location images representing adjacent buildings in Tokyo, and a map representing the entire Kanto region is displayed at a reduced map scale, the location images will be displayed overlapping each other, making them indistinguishable. Therefore, in such a case, a single representative location image is displayed instead of the multiple location images. When an operation on the representative location image is detected, a list of locations represented by the multiple location images represented by the representative location image is displayed, and operations for the listed locations are accepted. This reduces the number of location images displayed, making it easier for the operator to specify location images and moving object images.

[0018] Furthermore, the display means 111A may display moving body images representing moving bodies that satisfy specified conditions. In this case, the operator can specify conditions for moving bodies to be directed to a location, thereby displaying only moving bodies that satisfy the conditions on the map. This allows moving body images representing moving bodies that do not satisfy the conditions (moving bodies that will not be directed to the location) to be excluded, facilitating the operator's consideration when selecting moving body images and the operation of specifying moving body images. Note that, for example, if the moving body is a vehicle, conditions to be specified for the moving body include, but are not limited to, vehicle attributes (driver, equipment (has crane, has refrigeration equipment, has refrigeration equipment, has air suspension), payload (2 t, 4 t, ...), number of passengers), vehicle driving status (driving on a general road, driving on a highway, stopped (engine on, engine off)), and vehicle operation status (active vehicle (delivery in progress), empty vehicle (waiting for work, on the way home), on break, waiting).

[0019] Furthermore, when the display means 111A cannot simultaneously display a moving object image and a point image on the currently displayed map, it may change the map to a scale that allows the moving object image and point image to be simultaneously displayed, and display the moving object image and point image. For example, when a new point is registered and a point image representing the point is displayed, if the point is outside the currently displayed map, the point image cannot be displayed simultaneously with the moving object image, and the point image and moving object image cannot be specified on the map. Similarly, when a moving object represented by a moving object image displayed on the map moves outside the map, the moving object image cannot be displayed simultaneously with the point image, and the point image and moving object image cannot be specified on the map. Therefore, it is preferable that the display means 111A change the map to a scale that allows the moving object image and point image to be simultaneously displayed, and display the moving object image and point image. As a result, the moving object image and point image are displayed simultaneously on the map, and the point image and moving object image can be specified on the map.

[0020] On the other hand, the mobile terminal 2 that receives the transmission information generated by the generation means 111B from the information processing system 1 notifies the location indicated in the location information included in the received transmission information, accepts input as to whether it is possible to move to that location, and transmits input result information indicating the result of that input to the information processing system 1. For example, if the mobile body is an automobile, the location is notified to the driver of the automobile, and input by the driver as to whether it is possible to move to that location, and input result information indicating the result of that input is transmitted to the information processing system 1. In this case, the information processing system 1 can determine whether the mobile body that is moving together with the mobile terminal 2 that is the destination of the transmission information can move to the location indicated in the location information.

[0021] Furthermore, when notifying the location indicated by the location information, the mobile terminal 2 displays a display member indicating that it is possible to travel to the location, and when a touch operation on the display member is detected, the mobile terminal 2 transmits input result information indicating that it is possible to travel to the location to the information processing system 1. In this case, for example, the driver of the mobile terminal 2 can transmit input result information indicating that it is possible to travel to the location to the information processing system 1 simply by performing a touch operation on the display member indicating that it is possible to travel to the location. [Example]

[0022] Next, a specific example corresponding to the above-described embodiment will be described.

[0023] The following description will discuss the embodiments with reference to Figures 2 to 12. The embodiments described below are examples in which the present invention is applied to a vehicle management system S.

[0024] [1. Configuration and Overview of Vehicle Management System S] As shown in Fig. 2, the vehicle management system S of this embodiment is configured to manage a carrier's vehicle (an example of a "mobile body") by including an on-board navigation device NV (an example of a "mobile body terminal"; hereinafter, sometimes referred to as "navigation device NV") mounted on the vehicle, an information processing server SV that provides services related to the vehicle management system S, and a client terminal C installed on the carrier's side. Note that although Fig. 2 shows one navigation device NV and one client terminal C, the vehicle management system S may be configured by including multiple navigation devices NV and client terminals C.

[0025] The navigation device NV transmits vehicle information about the vehicle (e.g., current location information indicating the current location, estimated arrival time information indicating the estimated arrival time, etc.) and response information to message data received from the information processing server SV to the information processing server SV.

[0026] The information processing server SV creates web page data for a vehicle management screen to display a vehicle management screen used by transportation companies when managing vehicles based on vehicle information, response information, etc., and transmits it to the client terminal C.

[0027] The client terminal C uses a web browser to display the vehicle management screen on its display based on the web page data for the vehicle management screen. The operator of the transportation company can use the vehicle management screen to understand information based on the vehicle information and response information sent by the navigation device NV installed in each vehicle, and can also give instructions to each vehicle.

[0028] The vehicle management screen also displays a map, and on the map, figures representing each vehicle ("vehicle icon") and figures representing points set as the vehicle's destination ("point icon") are displayed. When an operation of dragging a vehicle icon and dropping it onto a point icon, or an operation of dragging a point icon and dropping it onto a vehicle icon is performed, a message creation screen is displayed for generating message data (an example of "transmission information") that includes point information indicating the point represented by the point icon (the point before the drag operation) and is to be transmitted to the navigation device NV installed in the vehicle represented by the vehicle icon. When the operator completes inputting information into the message creation screen, the content is transmitted to the information processing server SV, and the information processing server SV generates message data based on the content and transmits it to the navigation device NV.

[0029] When the navigation device NV receives the message data, it displays a moveable button and an unmovable button on the display along with the location indicated by the location information included in the message data. When the driver selects one of the buttons, input result information, which is either moveable information indicating that the location is moveable or unmovable information indicating that the location is unmovable, corresponding to the selected button is sent to the information processing server SV. Based on the input result information received from the navigation device NV, the information processing server SV creates web page data for a response result screen to display a response result screen that shows to the operator of the client terminal C whether the driver can or cannot go to the location, and sends the web page data to the client terminal C.

[0030] [2. Configuration of information processing server device SV] Next, the configuration of the information processing server SV will be described. As shown in Fig. 3, the information processing server SV is broadly configured to include a control unit 311, a storage unit 312, a communication unit 313, a display unit 314, and an operation unit 315.

[0031] The storage unit 312 is configured with, for example, a hard disk drive, and stores an OS (Operating System), a server program, and various data. The storage unit 312 also stores a set threshold value for determining whether to issue a warning.

[0032] The communication unit 313 is connected to the network NW and controls the state of communication with the navigation device NV, the client terminal C, and the like.

[0033] The display unit 314 is configured, for example, by a liquid crystal display or the like, and is configured to display information such as characters and images.

[0034] The operation unit 315 is configured with, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, etc., and is configured to receive operation instructions from an operator and output the contents of the instructions to the control unit 311 as instruction signals.

[0035] The control unit 311 is configured with a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), etc. The CPU reads out and executes various programs stored in the ROM and the storage unit 312 to realize various functions.

[0036] The control unit 311 stores in the storage unit 312 location information indicating a location (latitude, longitude, address, location name, etc.) specified on the client terminal C. The control unit 311 also receives vehicle information from the navigation device NV mounted on the vehicle. Furthermore, the control unit 311 creates web page data for a vehicle management screen for displaying a map on which a location icon indicating a location indicated by the location information stored in the storage unit 312 and a vehicle icon indicating a location indicated by current location information included in the vehicle information received from the navigation device NV are superimposed, and transmits the web page data to the client terminal C.

[0037] Furthermore, when the control unit 311 detects that an operation of dragging a vehicle icon and dropping it onto a location icon, or an operation of dragging a location icon and dropping it onto a vehicle icon has been performed, the control unit 311 creates web page data for a message creation screen for displaying a message creation screen for creating message data to be sent to the navigation device NV mounted in the vehicle represented by the vehicle icon, including location information indicating the location represented by the location icon (the location before the drag operation), and transmits the web page data to the client terminal C. The message creation screen displays the vehicle name indicating the vehicle represented by the dragged-and-dropped vehicle icon, location information indicating the location represented by the dragged-and-dropped location icon, and a section for inputting the text of a message.

[0038] Furthermore, when the control unit 311 receives the content displayed and entered on the message creation screen from the client terminal C (data including the vehicle name, location information, and message body; hereinafter, sometimes referred to as "message source data"), it generates message data based on the message source data and transmits the message data to the navigation device NV associated with the vehicle name included in the message source data.

[0039] Furthermore, when the control unit 311 receives input result information from the navigation device NV, it creates web page data for a response result screen to display a response result screen that shows the operator of the client terminal C whether the driver can go to the location or not, and sends the web page data to the client terminal C.

[0040] [3.Configuration of Client Terminal C] Next, we will explain the configuration of the client terminal C. As shown in Fig. 4, the client terminal C is broadly configured to include a control unit 411, a storage unit 412, a communication unit 413, a display unit 414, and an operation unit 415.

[0041] The storage unit 412 is configured with, for example, a hard disk drive, and stores an OS, various programs (web browser), and various data. The storage unit 412 also stores a set transmission determination threshold value.

[0042] The communication unit 413 is connected to the network NW and controls the state of communication with the information processing server SV and the like.

[0043] The display unit 414 is configured, for example, by a liquid crystal display or the like, and is configured to display information such as characters and images.

[0044] The operation unit 415 is configured with, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, etc., and is configured to receive operation instructions from an operator and output the contents of the instructions to the control unit 411 as instruction signals.

[0045] The control unit 411 is configured with a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), etc. The CPU reads out and executes various programs stored in the ROM and the storage unit 412, thereby realizing various functions.

[0046] The control unit 411 displays on the display unit 414 a vehicle management screen based on the web page data for the vehicle management screen received from the information processing server SV, a message creation screen based on the web page data for the message creation screen, and a response result screen based on the web page data for the response result screen.

[0047] 5 to 7, examples of screens displayed on the display unit 414 will be described.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 5(A), vehicle management screen 500 displays vehicle information display frames 501a, 501b, 501c, and 501d (vehicle information display frames 501a, 501b, 501c, and 501d may be collectively referred to as vehicle information display frame 501) for each vehicle to display information about vehicles managed by the carrier. Vehicle information display frame 501 displays a vehicle icon representing the vehicle, the vehicle name, whether the vehicle is occupied or empty, the current location, the next destination (visit location), the designated time for the next destination (visit location), and the estimated arrival time. If the estimated arrival time is later than the designated time, the display is made in a manner that makes it easy for the operator to recognize this (in the figure, the arrival time is displayed in italics).

[0049] In addition, a vehicle condition button 521 is provided above the vehicle information display frame 501. When the vehicle condition button 521 is selected, a vehicle condition setting screen 600 shown in Fig. 6 is displayed. On the vehicle condition setting screen 600, the conditions for the vehicles to be displayed on the vehicle management screen 500 can be set. In other words, when the conditions are set on the vehicle condition setting screen 600, a vehicle information display frame 501 is displayed on the vehicle management screen 500, displaying vehicle information for vehicles that meet the set conditions.

[0050] The vehicle condition setting screen 600 has a text box 601 for entering a driver's name and option buttons 602a and 602b for selecting the driver's gender. Entering a name in the text box 601 allows vehicles driven by the driver with that name to be extracted, and selecting a gender using option buttons 602a and 602b allows vehicles driven by drivers of that gender to be extracted. Additionally, check boxes 603a, 603b, 603c, and 603d are provided for selecting the equipment a vehicle should have, such as refrigeration equipment, refrigeration equipment, a crane, and air suspension, respectively. Checking the check boxes 603a, 603b, 603c, and 603d for the required equipment allows vehicles equipped with that equipment to be extracted. Additionally, check boxes 604a, 604b, 604c, and 604d are provided for selecting the vehicle type, such as 2-ton short, 2-ton long, 4-ton standard, and 4-ton long, respectively. By checking check boxes 604a, 604b, 604c, and 604d for vehicle types, vehicles of the corresponding type can be extracted. Furthermore, check boxes 605a, 605b, and 605c are provided for selecting the vehicle's driving status (driving on an ordinary road, driving on an expressway, and parked), respectively. By checking check boxes 605a, 605b, and 605c for the vehicle's driving status, vehicles in the corresponding driving status can be extracted. Furthermore, check boxes 606a, 606b, 606c, and 606d are provided for selecting the vehicle's business status (delivery, waiting for work, returning home, and taking a break), respectively. By checking check boxes 606a, 606b, 606c, and 606d for the vehicle's business status, vehicles in the corresponding business status can be extracted.

[0051] The vehicle condition setting screen 600 is provided with a Complete button 610, and when the Complete button 610 is selected, condition information indicating the conditions entered by the operator is sent to the information processing server SV. In response, the information processing server SV creates web page data for the vehicle management screen to display the vehicle management screen 500 that displays only vehicles that meet the conditions indicated by the condition information, and sends this data to the client terminal C. As a result, the vehicle management screen 500 that displays vehicles that meet the conditions set on the vehicle condition setting screen 600 is displayed on the display unit 414.

[0052] Returning to FIG. 5 , a map 510 showing the current location of each vehicle is displayed on the right side of the vehicle information display frame 501. On the map 510, vehicle icons 511a, 511b, 511c, 511d, ... (vehicle icons 511a, 511b, 511c, 511d, ... may be collectively referred to as vehicle icon 511) representing each vehicle are displayed at positions indicating the current location of the vehicle. This allows the operator to grasp at a glance the location of each of the company's vehicles. Also, a location icon 521 representing a location set in advance as a destination by the operator is displayed on the map 510. The operator can perform drag-and-drop operations on the vehicle icon 511 and the location icon 521 using the operation unit 415 (e.g., a mouse) of the client terminal C. Furthermore, a map enlargement button 531 and a map reduction button 532 are provided. By selecting these buttons, the scale of the map 510 is changed, and the map 510 is enlarged or reduced. 5(b), when the operator drags the vehicle icon 511a and drops it on the location icon 521, a message creation screen 700 shown in Fig. 7 is displayed. Specifically, based on the vehicle icon 511 and location icon 521 specified by the drag-and-drop operation, the vehicle name of the vehicle represented by the vehicle icon 511 and location information indicating the location represented by the location icon 521 are transmitted from the client terminal C to the information processing server SV, and based on web page data for the message creation screen created by the information processing server SV on the basis of these, the message creation screen 700 is displayed on the display unit 414. Note that similarly, when the operator drags the location icon 521 and drops it on the vehicle icon 511a, the message creation screen 700 shown in Fig. 7 is also displayed.

[0053] The message creation screen 700 is provided with a label 701 for displaying the name of the vehicle to which the message is to be sent, a label 702 for displaying the destination of the message to be sent to the vehicle, and a text box 703 for inputting the main text of the message to the vehicle. The label 701 displays the name of the vehicle represented by the vehicle icon 511a selected (specified) by a drag-and-drop operation on the vehicle management screen 500. The label 702 displays the location information (address and company name) of the location represented by the location icon 521 selected (specified) by a drag-and-drop operation on the vehicle management screen 500. The text box 703 is blank when the message creation screen 700 is displayed, and the operator can use the operation unit 415 (for example, a keyboard) to input the main text of the message to be sent to the driver of the destination vehicle.

[0054] In addition, the message creation screen 700 is provided with a send button 704, and when the send button 704 is selected, the message source data including the vehicle name displayed in label 701, the location information indicating the destination displayed in label 702, and the message text entered in text box 703 is sent to the information processing server SV.

[0055] [4. Configuration of the navigation device NV] Next, the configuration of the navigation device NV according to this embodiment will be described. As shown in Fig. 8, the navigation device NV includes a control unit 211, a storage device 212 including an HDD or the like, an input device 213 including a keyboard, a remote controller, a touch panel or the like, a display unit 214, a bus line 215, an input / output interface unit 220, a vehicle speed sensor 221, an angular velocity sensor 222, an acceleration sensor 223, a steering angle sensor 224, a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiving unit 225, a data transmitting / receiving unit 226, and a wireless communication unit 227.

[0056] The vehicle speed sensor 221 detects the current speed of the vehicle using a speed detection process using, for example, a vehicle speed pulse acquired from the vehicle equipped with the navigation device NV, and outputs speed data. The angular velocity sensor 222 detects, for example, the angular velocity of the vehicle, which is a change in direction, and outputs angular velocity data and relative direction data per unit time. The acceleration sensor 223 detects, for example, the acceleration of the vehicle in the longitudinal direction, and outputs acceleration data per unit time, etc. The steering angle sensor 224 detects the steering angle of the vehicle and outputs steering angle data, etc. The GPS receiver 225 receives navigation radio waves from GPS satellites and outputs GPS positioning data, such as latitude, longitude, and altitude data, absolute direction data of the vehicle's traveling direction, and GPS speed data, which are information on the vehicle's position (current location). The data transmitter / receiver 226 performs processing related to data transmission and reception with the information processing server SV via the network NW. The wireless communication unit 227 performs processing related to wireless road-to-vehicle communication and vehicle-to-vehicle communication.

[0057] The storage device 212 stores map image data for displaying a map on the display unit 214, map information used when searching for a route, road link information, etc. The storage device 212 also stores various programs such as an operating system and application programs. Note that the various programs may be obtained, for example, from a server device or the like via a network, or may be read from a recording medium such as a CD, DVD, or USB memory.

[0058] The input device 213 is configured with a touch panel, a keyboard, a mouse, other controllers, etc., and receives input operations from the user and transmits operation signals indicating the operation contents to the control unit 211.

[0059] The display unit 214 displays various display data under the control of the control unit 211. The display unit 214 is configured to include a graphics controller 214a, a buffer memory 214b consisting of a memory such as a VRAM (Video RAM), and a display 214c consisting of a liquid crystal display or the like. In this configuration, the graphics controller 214a controls the entire display unit 214 based on control data sent from the control unit 211 via a bus line 215. The buffer memory 214b also temporarily stores image information that can be displayed immediately. Images are then displayed on the display 214c based on the image data output from the graphics controller 214a.

[0060] The control unit 211 is made up of a CPU 211a that controls the entire control unit 211, a ROM 211b in which control programs and the like that control the control unit 211 are stored in advance, and a RAM 211c that temporarily stores various data. The control unit 211 is connected to a vehicle speed sensor 221, an angular velocity sensor 222, an acceleration sensor 223, a steering angle sensor 224, and a GPS receiving unit 225 via a bus line 215 and an input / output interface unit 220, and controls the entire navigation device NV and the operations of various components such as a display unit 214 based on the speed data, angular velocity data, relative direction data, steering angle data, GPS positioning data, absolute direction data of the vehicle's traveling direction, acceleration data, and the like output from each of these sensors.

[0061] The control unit 211 transmits vehicle information related to the vehicle (for example, current location information indicating the current location, estimated arrival time information indicating the estimated arrival time, etc.) to the information processing server SV. Furthermore, when the control unit 211 receives message data from the information processing server SV, it causes a message response screen 800 to be displayed on the display 214c, as shown in FIG.

[0062] The message response screen 800 is provided with a label 801 that displays the location (destination) indicated by the location information included in the message data, and a label 802 that displays the message body (text) included in the message data. The message response screen 800 is provided with a Yes button 803 and a No button 804 for responding to the message. When the Yes button 803 or the No button 804 is selected, response information to the message is sent to the information processing server SV. That is, when the Yes button 803 is selected, response information indicating that the destination can be reached is sent, and when the No button 804 is selected, response information indicating that the destination cannot be reached is sent.

[0063] Furthermore, a location icon 821 indicating the location (destination) indicated by the location information included in the message data and a vehicle icon 822 indicating the current location of the vehicle are displayed on a map 820 of the message response screen 800. This allows the driver to intuitively know whether the destination is close to the current location or not, and allows the driver to quickly select the Yes button 803 or the No button 804. As a result, the content of the response information is sent to the client terminal C in a short time, and the operator of the client terminal C can immediately send a message to another vehicle even if the response content indicates that the vehicle cannot reach the destination.

[0064] [5. Example of operation of vehicle management system S] Next, an example of the operation of the vehicle management system S will be described using the flowcharts of Figures 10 to 12. For the sake of simplicity, it is assumed that the navigation device NV transmits vehicle information to the information processing server SV at any time, and that the vehicle management screen 500 displayed on the display unit 414 of the client terminal C is updated accordingly. It is also assumed that the location (destination) to which the vehicle is to be directed has been registered in advance in the information processing server SV by the client terminal C.

[0065] First, the control unit 411 of the client terminal C determines whether the vehicle condition button 521 on the vehicle management screen 500 has been selected (e.g., clicked) by the operator (step S11C). At this time, if the control unit 411 determines that the vehicle condition button 521 has not been selected (step S11C: NO), the process proceeds to step S17C in FIG. 11. On the other hand, if the control unit 411 determines that the vehicle condition button 521 has been selected (step S11C: YES), the control unit 411 causes the display unit 414 to display the vehicle condition setting screen 600 (FIG. 6) (step S12C). At this time, the control unit 411 may display the vehicle condition setting screen 600 based on a web page for the vehicle condition setting screen that has been received in advance from the information processing server 411 and stored. Alternatively, when the vehicle condition button 521 is selected, the control unit 411 may request the information processing server 411 to acquire the web page for the vehicle condition setting screen, and display the screen based on the web page for the vehicle condition setting screen acquired in response to the request.

[0066] Next, the control unit 411 waits until the Complete button 610 on the vehicle condition setting screen 600 is selected (step S13C: NO), and if it determines that the Complete button 610 has been selected (step S13C: YES), it sends condition information indicating the conditions entered by the operator on the vehicle condition setting screen 600 to the information processing server SV (step S14C).

[0067] In response to this, the control unit 311 of the information processing server SV waits until it receives the condition information or receives the location information and the vehicle name based on the drag-and-drop operation (step S11B: NO, step S15B in FIG. 11: NO). If it determines that the condition information has been received (step S11B: YES), it extracts vehicles that satisfy the conditions indicated by the condition information (step S12B). Specifically, the control unit 311 refers to a vehicle database (not shown) constructed in the storage unit 312, which stores information necessary for extracting vehicles based on the conditions entered on the vehicle condition setting screen 600, such as the driver's name, the driver's sex, vehicle equipment (presence or absence of refrigeration equipment, presence or absence of crane, presence or absence of air suspension), vehicle type (2-ton short, 2-ton long, 4-ton standard, 4-ton long), driving status (driving on an ordinary road, driving on an expressway, parked), and business status (delivery, waiting for work, returning home, taking a break)) necessary for extracting vehicles based on the conditions entered on the vehicle condition setting screen 600.

[0068] Next, the control unit 311 transmits web page data for a vehicle management screen that displays the vehicle extracted in the process of step S12B to the client terminal C (step S14B).

[0069] On the other hand, after processing step S14C, the control unit 411 of client terminal C waits until it receives web page data for the vehicle management screen (step S15C: NO), and upon receiving the web page data for the vehicle management screen (step S15C: YES), it displays the vehicle management screen 500 on the display unit 414 based on the received web page data for the vehicle management screen (step S16C). At this time, the vehicle management screen 500 displays the vehicle information display frame 501 and the vehicle icon 511 only for vehicles that satisfy the conditions entered on the vehicle condition setting screen 600.

[0070] 11, the control unit 411 determines whether a drag-and-drop operation (i.e., an operation of dragging the vehicle icon 511 and dropping it on the location icon 521, or an operation of dragging the location icon 521 and dropping it on the vehicle icon 511) has been performed on the vehicle management screen 500 (step S17C). At this time, if the control unit 411 determines that a drag-and-drop operation has not been performed on the vehicle management screen 500 (step S17C: NO), the control unit 411 proceeds to the processing of step 11C in FIG. 10. On the other hand, if the control unit 411 determines that a drag-and-drop operation has been performed on the vehicle management screen 500 (step S17C: YES), the control unit 411 transmits to the information processing server SV location information (which may be information for identifying the location, such as latitude, longitude, or address) indicating the location represented by the location icon 521 that was the target of the drag-and-drop operation, and the vehicle name (which may be information for identifying the vehicle, such as a vehicle ID) of the vehicle represented by the vehicle icon 511 that was the target of the drag-and-drop operation (which may be information for identifying the vehicle, such as a vehicle ID) (step S18C).

[0071] In response to this, when the control unit 311 of the information processing server SV receives the location information and the vehicle name from the client terminal C (step S15B: YES), it creates web page data for a message creation screen for displaying a message creation screen 700 on the display unit 414 of the client terminal C (step S16B). Specifically, the web page data for the message creation screen is created so that the vehicle name received in the processing of step S15B is displayed in label 701 on the message creation screen 700, and a character string representing the location indicated by the location information received in the processing of step S15B is displayed in label 702 (step S16B). Note that if information for identifying a vehicle, such as a vehicle ID, is received instead of a vehicle name, the vehicle is identified and the vehicle name is acquired by referring to a database (not shown) based on the received information.

[0072] Next, the control unit 311 transmits the web page data for the message creation screen created in the process of step S16B to the client terminal C (step S17B).

[0073] Meanwhile, after processing step S18C, the control unit 411 of client terminal C waits until it receives web page data for the message creation screen (step S19C: NO), and when it receives the web page data for the message creation screen (step S19C: YES), it displays the message creation screen 700 on the display unit 414 based on the received web page data for the message creation screen (step S20C).

[0074] Next, the control unit 411 determines whether the send button 704 has been selected (e.g., clicked) (step S21C). The control unit 411 waits until the send button 704 has been selected (step S21C: NO). If it determines that the send button 704 has been selected (step S21C: YES), the control unit 411 transmits message source data including the content displayed or input on the message creation screen 700 to the information processing server SV (step S22C). Specifically, the control unit 411 transmits message source data including the vehicle name displayed in label 701 on the message creation screen 700 (information for identifying the vehicle, such as a vehicle ID, may be used instead of the vehicle name), the location information displayed in label 702 (information for identifying the location, such as latitude and longitude, or an address), and the message body input in text box 703 to the information processing server SV.

[0075] In response to this, the control unit 311 of the information processing server SV waits until it receives the message source data after processing step S17B (step S18B: NO), and when it determines that it has received the message source data (step S18B: YES), it creates message data based on the message source data and transmits it to the navigation device NV installed in the destination vehicle identified based on the vehicle name (or information for identifying the vehicle) included in the message source data (step S19B). Specifically, the control unit 311 generates and transmits message data including the location information and message text included in the message source data.

[0076] On the other hand, control unit 211 of navigation device NV waits until it receives message data (step S11A), and when it determines that it has received message data (step S11A: YES), it displays message response screen 800 on display 214c (step S12A). At this time, label 801 on message response screen 800 displays the location (destination) indicated by the location information included in the message data received in the processing of step S11A, and label 802 displays the message text included in the message data received in the processing of step S11A.

[0077] Next, the control unit 211 waits until the Yes button 803 or the No button 804 is selected (step S13A: NO), and if it determines that the Yes button 803 or the No button 804 has been selected (step S13A: YES), it sends response information indicating that the destination can be reached or response information indicating that the destination cannot be reached to the information processing server SV, depending on the selected button (step S14A).

[0078] In response to this, after processing step S19B, the control unit 311 of the information processing server SV waits until it receives response information (step S20B: NO), and when it determines that it has received response information (step S20B: YES), it creates web page data for the vehicle management screen including the contents of the response information (whether or not the destination can be reached) (step S21B) and sends it to the client terminal C (step S22B).

[0079] Meanwhile, after processing step S22C, the control unit 411 of client terminal C waits until it receives web page data for the vehicle management screen (step S23C: NO), and upon receiving the web page data for the vehicle management screen (step S23C: YES), it displays the vehicle management screen 500 on the display unit 414 based on the received web page data for the vehicle management screen (step S24C). At this time, the vehicle management screen 500 displays the response from the driver of the vehicle to which the message was sent (i.e., whether or not the driver can reach the destination).

[0080] As described above, the control unit 411 (an example of a "display means" and "generation means") of the information processing server SV (an example of an "information processing system") according to this embodiment displays a location icon 521 (an example of a "location image") representing a location and a vehicle icon 511 (an example of a "mobile body image") representing a vehicle (an example of a "mobile body") on a map 510, and when an operation to designate at least one of the vehicle icon 511 and the location icon 521 is received, generates a message (an example of "transmission information") that includes location information indicating the location represented by the location icon 521 and is to be sent to a navigation device NV (an example of a "mobile body terminal") moving with the vehicle represented by the vehicle icon 511.

[0081] Therefore, according to the information processing server SV of this embodiment, by performing an operation to designate at least one of the vehicle icons 511 and the location icon 521 and inputting the message body into the message creation screen 700, message data is generated that includes location information indicating the location represented by the location icon 521 and the message body, and is to be sent to the navigation device NV traveling with the vehicle represented by the specified vehicle icon 511.Therefore, the operator can send the location information indicating the location and the message body to the navigation device NV traveling with at least one of the multiple vehicles with a small number of operations.

[0082] Furthermore, the control unit 411 (an example of "receiving means") accepts an operation of dragging the location icon 521 and dropping it on the vehicle icon 511, or an operation of dragging the vehicle icon 511 and dropping it on the location icon 521. This allows the operator of the client terminal C to specify the vehicle icon 511 and the location icon 521 by dragging and dropping the location icon 521 on the vehicle icon 511, or by dragging and dropping the vehicle icon 511 on the location icon 521. In other words, the operator can select a vehicle to head to a location while checking the positional relationship between the location and the vehicles on the map 510 and considering which vehicle is closest to the location, thereby improving convenience when specifying the vehicle icon 511 and the location icon 521.

[0083] Furthermore, the control unit 411 displays on the map 510 vehicle icons 511 that represent vehicles that satisfy the conditions specified by the operator of the client terminal C. In this case, the operator can specify conditions for vehicles to be directed to a location, thereby displaying on the map 510 only the vehicle icons 511 of vehicles that satisfy the conditions. This eliminates vehicle icons 511 that represent vehicles that do not satisfy the conditions (vehicles that will not be directed to the location), allowing the operator to select a destination vehicle from a limited number of options, and the operation of specifying a vehicle icon 511 is also simplified because the number of vehicle icons 511 to be displayed is small.

[0084] Furthermore, the navigation device NV notifies the user of the location indicated by the location information included in the message data received from the information processing server SV, accepts input as to whether the user can travel to the location, and transmits response information (an example of "input result information") indicating the result of the input to the information processing server SV. In this case, the information processing server SV and the client terminal C can determine whether the vehicle traveling with the navigation device NV that sent the message data can travel to the location indicated by the location information.

[0085] Furthermore, the navigation device NV displays a Yes button 803 (an example of a "display member indicating that travel to the location is possible"), and transmits response information indicating that travel to the location is possible when a touch operation to the Yes button 803 is detected. This allows the driver of the vehicle to transmit response information indicating that travel to the location is possible to the information processing server SV simply by performing a touch operation to the Yes button 803.

[0086] [6. Modifications] Next, modifications of the above embodiment will be described. The modifications described below can be combined as appropriate.

[0087] [6.1. Variation 1] In the above embodiment, a drag-and-drop operation has been exemplified as an operation for specifying the location icon 521 and the vehicle icon 511, but other operations can also be adopted as an operation for specifying the location icon 521 and the vehicle icon 511. For example, the operation may be to click on the location icon 521 and then click on the vehicle icon 511, or to surround the location icon 521 and the vehicle icon 511 with a mouse pointer. Furthermore, the location icon 521 and the vehicle icon 511 may each be displayed with a unique code, and the code corresponding to the location icon 521 to be specified and the code corresponding to the vehicle icon 511 to be specified may be input from a keyboard in such a way that they can be distinguished from each other (for example, by inserting a "space" between the two codes).

[0088] [6.2. Variation 2] In the above embodiment, the order in which the vehicle information display frames 501 are displayed on the vehicle management screen 500 has not been described, but the display order of the vehicle information display frames 501 can be determined according to various sorting criteria. Possible sorting criteria include, for example, the order in which the vehicles are closest to the center of the map being displayed, the order in which the vehicles are closest to the point icon 521, the order in which the vehicle names are displayed, and the order in which the vehicle IDs are displayed. Note that the sorting criteria may be selected by the operator of the client terminal C.

[0089] [6.3. Variation 3] Although not described in the above embodiment, when a plurality of point icons 521 are displayed on the map 510, some or all of the point icons 521a, 521b, and 521c may be displayed overlapping each other, depending on the scale of the map 510, as shown in Fig. 13(A). In this case, even if the operator attempts to perform a drag-and-drop operation on the point icon 521c, there is a risk that the operation will not be performed on the intended point icon 521c (for example, there is a risk that the operation will be performed on the point icons 521a and 521b). Therefore, in this modified example, when multiple location icons 521a, 521b, and 521c overlap on the map 510, the control unit 311 of the information processing server SV may display one representative location icon 530 (an example of a "representative location image") in place of the multiple location icons 521a, 521b, and 521c, as shown in Fig. 13(B), and when an operation on the representative location icon 530 (for example, an operation of clicking the representative location icon 530 or an operation of dropping the vehicle icon 511) is detected, as shown in Fig. 13(C), each of the locations represented by the multiple location icons 521a, 521b, and 521c represented by the representative location icon 530 may be displayed in a list 540, and an operation on the locations displayed in the list 540 may be accepted. Furthermore, the location icons 521a, 521b, and 521c represented by the representative location icon 530 may be displayed in the list 540, and an operation on the location icons 521a, 521b, and 521c may be accepted. In this case, the location icons 521a, 521b, and 521c displayed in the list 540 can be operated in the same way as the location icon 521 displayed on the map 510. This modified example reduces the number of location icons 521 displayed, making it easier for the operator to specify the location icon 521 and the vehicle icon 511.

[0090] [6.4. Variation 4] When the vehicle icon 511 and the location icon 521 cannot be displayed simultaneously on the currently displayed map 510, the control unit 311 of the information processing server SV may change the map 510 to a scale that allows the vehicle icon 511 and the location icon 521 to be displayed simultaneously, and may display the vehicle icon 511 and the location icon 521. This causes the vehicle icon 511 and the location icon 521 to be displayed simultaneously on the map 510, making it possible to specify the vehicle icon 511 and the location icon 521 on the map 510.

[0091] [6.5. Variation 5] In the above embodiment, when conditions are set on the vehicle condition setting screen 600, the vehicle information display frame 501 and the vehicle icon 511 are displayed only for vehicles that satisfy the conditions. However, as a modified example, when conditions are set on the vehicle condition setting screen 600, the message creation screen 700 may be displayed for all vehicles that satisfy the conditions. In this case, for example, the label 701 on the message creation screen 700 may display the vehicle names of all vehicles that satisfy the conditions, and instead of the label 702, a combo box that allows the selection of locations that are registered at that time may be displayed. This allows message source data to be sent to the information processing server SV with few operations for all vehicles that satisfy the conditions, and allows message data to be sent to the navigation device NV in a short time.

[0092] [6.6. Variation 6] In the above embodiment, the vehicle management system S is composed of three components: the navigation device NV, the information processing server SV, and the client terminal C. However, by installing the information processing server SV on the carrier side, the system can also be composed of just two components: the navigation device NV and the information processing server SV. In this case, the control unit 311 of the information processing server SV causes the vehicle management screen 500, the vehicle condition setting screen 600, and the message creation screen 700 to be displayed on the display unit 314. Furthermore, based on an operation to designate the location icon 521 and the vehicle icon 511 received via the operation unit 315, the control unit 311 creates a message to be sent to the navigation device NV, including location information indicating the location represented by the location icon 521.

[0093] [6.7. Variation 7] In the above embodiment, when the control unit 311 of the information processing server SV accepts a drag-and-drop operation at the client terminal C, it displays the message creation screen 700 on the display unit 414 and generates message data based on the message source data based on the content displayed and entered on the message creation screen 700. However, instead of this, when the control unit 311 accepts a drag-and-drop operation at the client terminal C, it may generate and transmit message data that includes location information indicating the location represented by the location icon 521 specified by the drag-and-drop operation and is to be transmitted to the navigation device NV moving together with the vehicle represented by the vehicle icon 511 specified by the drag-and-drop operation, without displaying the message creation screen 700 on the display unit 414. According to this modified example, the operator of the client terminal C performs an operation to designate at least one of the vehicle icons 511 and the location icon 521, thereby generating message data that includes location information indicating the location represented by the location icon 521 and is to be sent to the navigation device NV traveling with the vehicle represented by the designated vehicle icon 511. This makes it possible to send location information indicating the location to the navigation device NV traveling with at least one of multiple vehicles with a small number of operations. [Explanation of symbols]

[0094] 1. Information Processing Systems 111A Display means 111B Generation means 111C Reception method 2. Mobile terminals S Vehicle management system SV information processing server 311 Control Unit 312 Storage section 313 Communications Department 314 Display section 315 Operation section C Client Terminal 411 Control Unit 412 Storage section 413 Communications Department 414 Display section 415 Operation section NV navigation device 211 Control Unit 211a CPU 211b ROM 211c RAM 212 Storage device 213 Input Device 214 Display Unit 214a graphics controller 214b Buffer memory 214c Display 215 Bus Line 220 Input / Output Interface Section 221 Vehicle speed sensor 222 Angular rate sensor 223 Accelerometer 224 Steering Angle Sensor 225 GPS receiver 226 Data transmission and reception unit 227 Radio Communication Department

Claims

[Claim 1] a display means for displaying, together with a map, a point image representing a point and a moving body image representing a moving body at the positions of the point and the moving body on the map; a generation means for generating, when an operation for specifying the moving body image and the point image is received, transmission information including point information that is information on the point represented by the point image, and to be transmitted to a mobile terminal that moves together with the moving body represented by the moving body image; An information processing system comprising:

Images