Navigation system

Abstract

In navigation devices used in mobile devices rented to users, the accuracy of determining whether or not the mobile device has arrived at the return location is improved. [Solution] The memory unit 4 of the navigation device 1 installed in the rental car stores the rental car's return location and rental data generated during the rental period. The control unit 2 of the navigation device 1 determines that the rental car has arrived at the return location when it satisfies several conditions, including the rental car's current location and driving status (road type, vehicle speed), and displays a screen on the display unit 6 to select whether or not to erase the rental data, and erases the rental data according to the user's selection.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a navigation device.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, rental cars have been standardly equipped with navigation devices. Since the data stored in the navigation device during the rental period of a rental car includes the user's personal information, store staff erase the data during the rental period after the rental car is returned. However, this work has become a burden on the store staff. As a method for eliminating this work burden, for example, there is a technique disclosed in Patent Document 1.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a navigation device that, when the current position of a rental car coincides with the return location on the return date of the rental car, regards the rental car as having arrived at the return location, notifies the user that the data during the rental period will be erased, and erases the data during the rental period when the user approves the erasure.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In the technique of Patent Document 1, since it is regarded that the rental car has arrived at the return location only based on the time information and the current position information of the vehicle, the above notification may be made even when the user still has no intention of returning the rental car and has only approached the return location.

[0006] Furthermore, even if a rental car is equipped with a dashcam, just like with navigation systems, the rental staff must delete the recorded data after the rental car is returned. However, if the technology described in Patent Document 1 is applied to this, there is a risk that the rental car may be considered to have arrived at the return location even if the user has not yet intended to return the rental car and is only approaching the return location, and the recorded data may be deleted.

[0007] Therefore, one example of a problem that the present invention aims to solve is to improve the accuracy of determining whether or not a mobile device has arrived at its return location in a navigation device used in a mobile device rented to a user. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The navigation device of the present invention is a navigation device used in a mobile vehicle rented to a user, and is characterized by comprising a storage unit that stores the return location of the mobile vehicle and rental data generated during the rental period of the mobile vehicle, and when the mobile vehicle enters a predetermined range including the return location and the driving state of the mobile vehicle satisfies predetermined conditions, it displays whether or not to erase the rental data. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a block diagram showing an example configuration of a navigation device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a flowchart illustrating the program for erasing loaned data executed by the navigation device of the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This figure shows an example of a display screen shown by the navigation device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] This is a block diagram showing an example configuration of a drive recorder according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] This is a block diagram showing an example configuration of a drive recorder management system according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] One embodiment of the present invention is described below. The navigation device according to one embodiment of the present invention is a navigation device used in a mobile device rented to a user, and includes a storage unit that stores the return location of the mobile device and rental data generated during the rental of the mobile device, and displays whether or not to erase the rental data when the mobile device enters a predetermined range including the return location and the driving state of the mobile device satisfies predetermined conditions. In this way, the present invention determines that the mobile device has arrived at the return location based on the current location and driving state of the mobile device, so the accuracy of the determination can be further improved.

[0011] Furthermore, the driving status of the moving object may include information about the type of road on which the moving object is traveling.

[0012] Furthermore, the driving state of the moving object may include information about the vehicle speed of the moving object.

[0013] Furthermore, when the mobile vehicle enters a predetermined range including the return location, the vehicle's driving status meets predetermined conditions, and it is within a pre-set period, an indication may be displayed as to whether or not to delete the loaned data. This configuration can further improve the accuracy of determining whether or not the mobile vehicle has arrived at the return location.

[0014] Furthermore, a drive recorder according to one embodiment of the present invention is a drive recorder used in a mobile vehicle rented to a user, and comprises map data, a location acquisition unit for acquiring the current location of the mobile vehicle, a return location for the mobile vehicle, and a storage unit for storing rental data generated during the rental period of the mobile vehicle, and when the mobile vehicle enters a predetermined range including the return location and the driving state of the mobile vehicle satisfies predetermined conditions, the rental data is erased. In this way, the present invention determines that the mobile vehicle has arrived at the return location based on the current location and driving state of the mobile vehicle, thereby improving the accuracy of the determination.

[0015] Further, the running state of the moving body may include information on the type of road on which the moving body is running.

[0016] Further, the running state of the moving body may include vehicle speed information of the moving body.

[0017] Further, when the moving body enters a predetermined range including the return location and the running state of the moving body satisfies a predetermined condition and is within a preset period, the on-loan data may be deleted. By adopting such a configuration, the determination accuracy as to whether the moving body has arrived at the return location can be further improved.

[0018] Further, after determining to delete the on-loan data, the on-loan data may be deleted at a timing when a preset predetermined time has elapsed.

[0019] A drive recorder management system according to an embodiment of the present invention is a drive recorder management system including a drive recorder used in a moving body lent to a user and a server device. The drive recorder includes a position acquisition unit that acquires the current position of the moving body, a storage unit that stores on-loan data generated during the lending of the moving body, and a communication unit that communicates with the server device. Map data and the return location of the moving body are stored in the server device. The server device transmits a control signal to the drive recorder to delete the on-loan data when it determines based on the information transmitted from the drive recorder that the moving body has entered a predetermined range including the return location and the running state of the moving body satisfies a predetermined condition. As described above, in the present invention, it is determined whether the moving body has arrived at the return location based on the current position and running state of the moving body, so that the determination accuracy can be further improved.

Example

[0020] (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a navigation device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The navigation device 1 is mounted on a moving body and provides route guidance. It includes a control unit 2, a position acquisition unit 3, a storage unit 4, an operation unit 5, a display unit 6, an audio output unit 7, and the like. In the present invention, the "moving body" is assumed to be something lent to the user (not the user's property, whether有偿 or无偿). In this embodiment, an example where the navigation device 1 is mounted on a rental car as the "moving body" will be described.

[0021] The control unit 2 includes a CPU and memories such as RAM and ROM. By executing a predetermined program stored in the storage unit 4 (including a program for deleting in-lending data shown in the flowchart of FIG. 2 described later), the control unit 2 performs various processes and outputs various control instructions to other units, thereby taking overall control of the navigation device 1.

[0022] The position acquisition unit 3 receives radio waves transmitted from a plurality of GPS satellites, obtains current position information, and outputs it to the control unit 2.

[0023] The storage unit 4 is composed of, for example, a hard disk or a non-volatile memory, and stores map data for route search and display on the display unit 6, programs and data for the control unit 2 to control the navigation device 1, etc., and is read and written under the control of the control unit 2.

[0024] In addition, the storage unit 4 stores a "program for deleting in-lending data" that deletes in-lending data generated during the rental of the rental car when it is returned. This deletion program can set a determination period that enables determination of the return location of the rental car and whether the rental car has arrived at the return location, and these setting data are also stored in the storage unit 4. The return location of the rental car and the determination period are set by the store staff of the rental car company before the rental car is lent to the user. The "determination period" can be set to an arbitrary period, for example, "the return date of the rental car" or "after n hours before the return time of the rental car".

[0025] The operation unit 5 consists of input means such as buttons and touch panels, and voice input means such as a microphone. The operation unit 5 performs various input operations on the navigation device 1 and outputs control signals indicating the input operations to the control unit 2.

[0026] The display unit 6 consists of a liquid crystal display and a driver circuit that controls the liquid crystal display. Under the control of the control unit 2, the display unit 6 displays map data, various icons, operation buttons, the route to the destination, the direction of travel, etc., on the liquid crystal display.

[0027] The audio output unit 7 consists of a speaker and an amplifier that drives the speaker, and outputs guidance voices and confirmation sounds during operation under control from the control unit 2.

[0028] Furthermore, the navigation device 1 is equipped with an interface for connecting the user's mobile phone, and hands-free calling is possible by acquiring the memory dial of the connected mobile phone. The acquired memory dial is treated as loaned data and stored in the storage unit 4.

[0029] In this example, "rental data" refers to data generated by user actions while the rental car is in use, and includes, for example, the mobile phone's memory dial, the set destination, and the route the vehicle actually traveled. This rental data is stored in the storage unit 4.

[0030] An example of a program for erasing loaned data executed by the control unit 2 in the navigation device 1 with the above configuration will be explained with reference to the flowchart in Figure 2. First, in step S1, it is determined whether the current date and time are within the determination period. If it is within the determination period, the process proceeds to step S2. If it is outside the determination period, step S1 is repeated until it falls within the determination period.

[0031] In step S2, it is determined whether the vehicle's current location is within a radius of 150 meters (any distance can be set) of the return location. If it is within a radius of 150 meters, the process proceeds to step S3. If it is not within a radius of 150 meters, step S2 is repeated until the vehicle is within 150 meters.

[0032] Step S3 determines the type of road the vehicle is traveling on, i.e., whether the vehicle's current location is off a public road. Being off a public road means the vehicle is on private property. In other words, it can be inferred that the vehicle has entered the premises of a rental car company or other return location. If the vehicle is not off a public road, the process proceeds to Step S4; if it is off a public road and on private property, the process proceeds to Step S5.

[0033] In step S4, it is determined whether the vehicle's current location is within a 20-meter radius (any distance can be set) of the return location. If it is within a 20-meter radius of the return location, the process proceeds to step S5; otherwise, the process returns to step S2.

[0034] In step S5, it is determined whether the vehicle's speed is below a predetermined speed (for example, 7 km / h). This determination determines whether the vehicle, which is presumed to have entered the return location premises, is attempting to stop. If the speed is below the predetermined speed, the process proceeds to step S6; otherwise, it returns to step S2.

[0035] In step S6, the initialization selection screen shown in Figure 3 is displayed on the display unit 6 to indicate whether or not to erase the data currently on loan. Then the process proceeds to step S7.

[0036] In step S7, it is determined whether the user has agreed to the initialization as displayed in step S6. If the user has agreed (selects "Yes" on the initialization selection screen), the process proceeds to step S8 to execute the initialization, i.e., erase the data currently on loan and terminate the process. If the user has not agreed (selects "No" on the initialization selection screen), the process terminates without performing the initialization.

[0037] As described above, in the navigation device 1 of the present invention, when the rental car enters within a 150-meter radius of the return location, leaves a public road and enters private property, the vehicle speed is below a predetermined speed, and it is within a predetermined determination period, the device displays whether or not to delete the rental data, determining that the rental car has arrived at the return location. Furthermore, if the rental car enters within a 150-meter radius of the return location but does not leave a public road (for example, when the parking lot at the return location is located very close to a public road), the device displays whether or not to delete the rental data, determining that the rental car has arrived at the return location when the rental car enters within a 20-meter radius of the return location, the vehicle speed is below a predetermined speed, and it is within a predetermined determination period.

[0038] Thus, in the navigation device 1 of the present invention, the device determines that a rental car has arrived at the return location when it satisfies multiple conditions, including the rental car's current location and driving status (road type, vehicle speed), thereby improving the accuracy of the determination. Furthermore, a screen for selecting whether or not to erase the rental data is displayed on the display unit 6, and the rental data is erased according to the user's selection, which reduces the burden on rental car company staff and at the same time provides users with peace of mind that "no personal information will be left behind."

[0039] In the data erasure program for loaned items of the present invention, the determination of whether the current date and time in step S1, as shown in the flowchart of Figure 2, falls within the determination period is not mandatory and may be omitted. In that case, the control unit 2 executes the program from step S2 in Figure 2.

[0040] (Second example) Figure 4 is a block diagram showing an example configuration of a drive recorder according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The drive recorder 11, like the first embodiment, is mounted on a rental car as a mobile vehicle and records video and audio, and includes a control unit 12, a position acquisition unit 13, a storage unit 14, an operation unit 15, a camera 17, a driving information acquisition unit 18, and the like.

[0041] The control unit 12 is equipped with a CPU and memory such as RAM and ROM. The control unit 12 performs various processes by executing predetermined programs (including the program for erasing loaned data, described later) stored in the storage unit 14, and also controls the entire drive recorder 11 by outputting various control instructions to other units.

[0042] The position acquisition unit 13 receives radio waves transmitted from multiple GPS satellites, obtains the current position information, and outputs it to the control unit 12.

[0043] The storage unit 14 is composed of, for example, a hard disk or non-volatile memory, and stores programs and data for the control unit 12 to control the drive recorder 11. It is read from and written to by the control unit 12. Video and audio recorded by the camera 17 while the rental car is on loan are stored in the storage unit 14 as "rental data".

[0044] Furthermore, the memory unit 14 stores a "rental data erasure program" that erases the rental data recorded by the camera 17 after the rental car is returned, and map data necessary to execute this erasure program. Similar to the first embodiment, this erasure program allows setting the rental car return location and the determination period for determining whether or not the rental car has arrived at the return location, and this setting data is also stored in the memory unit 14.

[0045] The operation unit 15 consists of input means such as buttons and touch panels, and outputs control signals indicating input operations to the control unit 12.

[0046] The driving information acquisition unit 18 is connected to various sensors mounted on the vehicle (accelerometer, front sonar, rear sonar, brake pedal sensor, steering wheel operation sensor, vehicle speed sensor, etc.) or control devices, and acquires driving information related to the vehicle's movement.

[0047] An example of a program for erasing loaned data executed by the control unit 12 in the drive recorder 11 with the above configuration will be described. The control unit 12 executes the program for erasing loaned data shown in the flow of Figure 2, in general the same manner as in the first embodiment. However, since the drive recorder 11 does not have a display unit that displays an initialization selection screen as shown in Figure 3, steps S6 and S7 of the flow of Figure 2 are omitted.

[0048] In this example, after determining that the rental car has arrived at the return location, i.e., after determining that the rental data should be deleted (Yes in step S5), the rental data may be deleted after a predetermined time has elapsed (immediately, after 1 hour, after 1 day, etc.) as set in advance by the rental car company. This allows for proper management of the rental data.

[0049] Thus, the drive recorder 11 of the present invention determines that a rental car has arrived at the return location when it satisfies multiple conditions, including the rental car's current location and driving status (road type, vehicle speed), thereby improving the accuracy of the determination. Furthermore, after determining that the rental car has arrived at the return location, the rental data is automatically deleted, which reduces the burden on rental car company staff.

[0050] (Third embodiment) Figure 5 is a block diagram showing an example configuration of a drive recorder management system according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The drive recorder management system 30 consists of a drive recorder 11 installed in a rental car as a mobile vehicle, and a server device 21.

[0051] The basic configuration of the drive recorder 11 in this example is generally the same as that of the drive recorder 11 in the second embodiment. The differences from the second embodiment are that it is equipped with a communication unit 19 that performs wireless communication with the communication unit 29 of the server device 21, and that the storage unit 14 does not store the aforementioned data erasure program, map data, rental car return location, determination period for determining whether or not the rental car has arrived at the return location, etc. These are stored in the storage unit 24 of the server device 21.

[0052] The control unit 22 of the server device 21 executes a data erasure program for rentals (steps S1 to S5 in the flow of Figure 2) similar to that of the second embodiment, based on the information transmitted from the drive recorder 11 (the vehicle's current location and driving status). After determining that the rental car has arrived at the return location, that is, after determining that the rental data should be erased (Yes in step S5), it sends a control signal to the drive recorder 11 to erase the rental data (video and audio recorded by the camera 17 while the rental car was being rented) stored in the storage unit 14.

[0053] Thus, in the drive recorder management system 30 of the present invention, the system determines that a rental car has arrived at the return location when it satisfies multiple conditions, including the rental car's current location and driving status (road type, vehicle speed), thereby improving the accuracy of the determination. Furthermore, after determining that the rental car has arrived at the return location, the rental data is automatically deleted, reducing the burden on rental car company staff. In addition, the configuration of the drive recorder 11 can be simplified by storing the rental data deletion program, map data, rental car return location, etc., in the storage unit 24 of the server device 21.

[0054] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configurations are not limited to these embodiments, and any design changes, etc., that do not depart from the gist of the present invention are also included. The embodiments shown in each of the above figures can be combined as long as there are no particular contradictions or problems in their purpose and configuration. Furthermore, each figure can be an independent embodiment, and the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to a single embodiment that combines each figure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0055] 1. Navigation system 4 Storage section 11. Dashcam 13 Position acquisition part 14 Storage section 19 Communications Department 21 Server equipment 30. Dashcam Management System

Claims

[Claim 1] A navigation device used in a mobile vehicle rented to a user, The system includes a return location for the mobile device and a storage unit for storing loan data generated during the loan period of the mobile device. When the mobile device enters a predetermined area including the return location and the mobile device's driving status meets predetermined conditions, an indication is displayed as to whether or not to erase the loaned data. A navigation device characterized by the following features.

Images