vehicle-mounted device

Abstract

We will improve the technology for sharing destination information and other data with the car navigation system. [Solution] The in-vehicle device 1 is built into the vehicle and stores multiple map applications. The in-vehicle device 1 shares POI information, including latitude and longitude information identified using the first map application, with the second map application, and uses the second map application to determine whether a point corresponding to the POI information exists. If the point exists in the second map application, the device registers the point as a registered location in the second map application. If the point does not exist in the second map application, the device registers the point in the second map application and also registers the point as a registered location.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to an in-vehicle device.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, technologies for sharing destination information and the like with a car navigation system are known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology for sharing destination data edited on a mobile device with a car navigation system using a cloud network.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] There has been room for improvement in the technology for sharing destination information and the like with a car navigation system.

[0005] In view of such circumstances, an object of the present disclosure is to improve the technology for sharing destination information and the like with a car navigation system.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] An in-vehicle device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is an in-vehicle device built into a vehicle that stores a plurality of map applications, shares POI information including latitude and longitude information specified using a first map application with a second map application, determines whether a point corresponding to the POI information exists using the second map application, and when the point exists in the second map application, registers the point as a registration point with the second map application. If the aforementioned point does not exist in the second map application, the point is registered in the second map application and registered as the registered location. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to one embodiment of this disclosure, the technology for sharing destination information and the like with a car navigation system is improved. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This block diagram shows a schematic configuration of an in-vehicle device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] This is a flowchart showing the operation of the in-vehicle device. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The embodiments of this disclosure will be described below.

[0010] (Summary of the embodiment) Referring to Figure 1, an overview of the in-vehicle device 1 according to the embodiment of this disclosure will be described. The in-vehicle device 1 is, for example, built into a vehicle. The in-vehicle device 1 is capable of running multiple map applications (e.g., a car navigation system map application and one or more other map applications). Each map application may be provided by a different provider, for example. The in-vehicle device 1 is a device that allows a user (e.g., a driver) to identify Point of Interest (POI) information using a first map application (e.g., the other map applications mentioned above) and share the identified POI information with a second map application (e.g., the car navigation system map application mentioned above).

[0011] First, an overview of this embodiment will be described, and details will be described later. The in-vehicle device 1 stores multiple map applications and is built into the vehicle. The in-vehicle device 1 shares POI information, including latitude and longitude information identified using the first map application, with the second map application, and uses the second map application to determine whether or not a point corresponding to the POI information exists. If the point exists in the second map application, the device registers the point as a registered location in the second map application. If the point does not exist in the second map application, the device registers the point in the second map application and also registers the point as a registered location.

[0012] Thus, according to this embodiment, POI information identified using the first map application can be shared with the second map application, and if the point does not exist in the second map application, the point can be registered in the second map application. Therefore, the user does not need to search for the POI information identified in the first map application again on the second map application. Also, if the POI information does not exist in the second map application, the user does not need to register the POI information in the second map application. Thus, the technology for sharing destination information and the like with a car navigation system is improved in that it can streamline the user's work.

[0013] Next, we will describe in detail each component of the in-vehicle device 1.

[0014] (Configuration of the in-vehicle device 1) As shown in Figure 1, the in-vehicle device 1 comprises a positioning unit 10, an output unit 11, an input unit 12, a control unit 13, and a storage unit 14.

[0015] The positioning unit 10 includes one or more devices that acquire location information of the in-vehicle device 1. Specifically, the positioning unit 10 includes, for example, a receiver compatible with GPS, but is not limited to that, and may include a receiver compatible with any satellite positioning system.

[0016] The output unit 11 includes one or more output devices that output information. The output device is, for example, a display or a speaker, etc., but is not limited thereto. Alternatively, the output unit 11 may include an interface for connecting an external output device.

[0017] The input unit 12 includes one or more input devices that detect user input. The input device is, for example, a pointing device such as a physical key, a capacitive key, a mouse, a touch screen provided integrally with the display of the output unit 11, or a microphone that receives voice input, etc., but is not limited thereto. Alternatively, the input unit 12 may include an input interface that detects user input via an external input device.

[0018] The control unit 13 includes one or more processors, one or more programmable circuits, one or more dedicated circuits, or a combination thereof. The processor is, for example, a general-purpose processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), or a dedicated processor specialized for specific processing, but is not limited thereto. The programmable circuit is, for example, an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), but is not limited thereto. The dedicated circuit is, for example, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), but is not limited thereto. The control unit 13 controls the operation of the in-vehicle device 1 as a whole.

[0019] The storage unit 14 includes one or more memories. The memory is, for example, a semiconductor memory, a magnetic memory, or an optical memory, etc., but is not limited thereto. Each memory included in the storage unit 14 may function as, for example, a main storage device, an auxiliary storage device, or a cache memory. The storage unit 14 stores any information used for the operation of the in-vehicle device 1. For example, the storage unit 14 may store a system program, an application program, and embedded software, etc.

[0020] (Operation flow of in-vehicle device) Referring to FIG. 2, the operation of the in-vehicle device 1 according to the present embodiment will be described.

[0021] S100: The control unit 13 of the in-vehicle device 1 identifies POI information including latitude and longitude information using the first map application.

[0022] The first map application is stored in the storage unit 14. The first map application refers to any map application different from the map application of the car navigation system of the in-vehicle device 1. POI information is a specific point on the map and refers to any point that can be represented on the map. POI information may include not only latitude and longitude information but also any information such as facility name, address, telephone number, map code, genre, facility image, etc. The control unit 13 searches for point candidates corresponding to the POI information input by the user to the input unit 12 using the first map application, for example, and identifies the POI information selected by the user from among the one or more point candidates shown on the output unit 11.

[0023] S101: The control unit 13 shares the POI information including the identified latitude and longitude information with the second map application.

[0024] The second map application is stored in the storage unit 14. The second map application refers to any map application used as the car navigation system of the in-vehicle device. The POI information to be shared is, for example, latitude and longitude information, but is not limited to this, and one or more arbitrary information included in the POI information may be shared.

[0025] S102: The control unit 13 determines whether a point corresponding to the POI information exists using the second map application.

[0026] Specifically, the control unit 13 determines whether a point corresponding to the POI information exists on the second map application using, for example, the latitude and longitude information included in the POI information. The information used to determine whether a point exists is not limited to latitude and longitude information, and one or more arbitrary information included in the POI information may be used.

[0027] S103: If a point corresponding to the POI information exists in the second map application, the control unit 13 skips S104 (described later) and executes S105. On the other hand, if a point corresponding to the POI information does not exist in the second map application, the control unit 13 executes S104 and S105.

[0028] S104: The control unit 13 registers a point with the second map application.

[0029] Specifically, if the point corresponding to the POI information does not exist in the second map application, the control unit 13 registers the point corresponding to the POI information in the second map application. This means that, for example, if the point does not exist in the second map application due to outdated map data or other reasons, the control unit 13 will register the point in the second map application, potentially improving the usability of the second map application.

[0030] S105: The control unit 13 registers the point as a registered location.

[0031] Registered locations may include any location, such as a destination, a favorite location, and a home location. The control unit 13 registers points (S103) that correspond to POI information in the second map application, or points (S104) that have been newly registered as registered locations in the second map application, as registered locations. This enables the sharing of POI information between multiple different map applications.

[0032] While this disclosure has been described based on the drawings and embodiments, it should be noted that those skilled in the art may make various modifications and alterations based on this disclosure. Therefore, it should be noted that these modifications and alterations are within the scope of this disclosure. For example, the functions, etc., included in each component or step can be rearranged in a logically consistent manner, and multiple components or steps can be combined into one or divided into two.

[0033] For example, in the above-described embodiment, it is also possible to distribute the configuration and operation of the in-vehicle device 1 across multiple computers that can communicate with each other. Furthermore, for example, it is also possible to provide some or all of the components of the in-vehicle device 1 in a communication terminal.

[0034] Furthermore, it is also possible to implement an embodiment in which a general-purpose computer functions as the in-vehicle device 1 according to the above embodiment. Specifically, a program describing the processing content that realizes each function of the in-vehicle device 1 according to the above embodiment is stored in the memory of the general-purpose computer, and the processor reads and executes the program. Therefore, this disclosure can also be implemented as a program that can be executed by a processor, or as a non-temporary computer-readable medium that stores said program. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0035] 1 In-vehicle device, 10 Positioning unit, 11 Output unit, 12 Input unit, 13 Control unit, 14 Storage unit

Claims

[Claim 1] An in-vehicle device built into a vehicle that stores multiple map applications, The POI information, including latitude and longitude information identified using the first map application, is shared with the second map application. Using the second map application, determine whether or not a point corresponding to the POI information exists. If the aforementioned point exists in the second map application, the point is registered as a registered location in the second map application. An in-vehicle device that, if the point does not exist in the second map application, registers the point in the second map application and registers the point as the registered location.

Images