Navigation system

Abstract

To enable registration of information of a destination that a user desires with simple operation.SOLUTION: Installation information of a passenger application (C) is transmitted to a second portable terminal 500 when the second portable terminal 500 is brought closer to a first portable terminal 400, and the passenger application (C) is installed when the installation is confirmed. Then, when operation for designating a destination is performed in the second portable terminal 500, destination information is transferred from a destination setting application (B) to the passenger application (C) and it is guided to bring the second portable terminal 500 closer to the first portable terminal 400. When the second portable terminal 500 is brought closer to the first portable terminal 400, destination information is transmitted from the second portable terminal 500 to a navigation device 300 via the first portable terminal 400, and a destination is set in the navigation device 300.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a navigation system.

Background Art

[0002] In vehicles used for transportation businesses such as taxis, it is required that the user registers the destination desired by the user in the in-vehicle navigation device. Therefore, for example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2019-184336 (Patent Document 1), a technology for setting the destination of an in-vehicle navigation device using the information on the destination held in the user's mobile terminal by performing short-range wireless communication (NFC: Near Field Communication) between the in-vehicle communication unit and the user's mobile terminal or the like is known.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in order to make the in-vehicle navigation device and an arbitrary mobile terminal communicable, complicated operations are required at the time of pairing, or a dedicated device for making communication possible with a simple operation needs to be provided in the navigation device.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide a navigation system that enables the user to register the information on the destination desired by the user with a simple operation.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A navigation system relating to a certain aspect of this disclosure comprises a first mobile terminal, a second mobile terminal with which communication with the first mobile terminal is established using short-range wireless communication when the distance to the first mobile terminal falls below a predetermined value, and an in-vehicle navigation device capable of communicating with the first mobile terminal. When communication between the first mobile terminal and the second mobile terminal is established, the first mobile terminal receives destination information including the destination selected by the second mobile terminal and transmits the destination information to the navigation device. When the navigation device receives the destination information from the first mobile terminal, it sets the destination for route guidance using the received destination information.

[0007] In this configuration, once short-range communication is established between the first and second mobile terminals, communication between the first mobile terminal and the navigation system becomes possible. Therefore, communication between the second mobile terminal and the navigation system becomes possible via the first mobile terminal, without requiring a dedicated device in the navigation system to directly communicate with the second mobile terminal. As a result, the destination selected on the second mobile terminal can be set as the destination for route guidance in the navigation system.

[0008] In one embodiment, when the first mobile terminal establishes communication with the second mobile terminal, it transmits predetermined software to the second mobile terminal. The predetermined software includes software that enables destination information to be transmitted to the first mobile terminal via short-range wireless communication.

[0009] In this way, once communication with the first mobile terminal is established, the second mobile terminal can acquire predetermined software via short-range wireless communication, making it possible to transmit destination information to the first mobile terminal.

[0010] Furthermore, in one embodiment, the second mobile terminal uses predetermined software to convert information including a destination selected using the second mobile terminal's existing software into destination information that can be transmitted to the first mobile terminal via short-range wireless communication.

[0011] This approach allows users to select their destination using the existing software on their second mobile device, making it easier for them to choose a destination using software they are already familiar with.

[0012] In one further embodiment, the first mobile terminal and the second mobile terminal are each configured to enable NFC communication.

[0013] In this way, communication can be established between the first mobile device and the second mobile device via NFC communication. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to this disclosure, it is possible to provide a navigation system that allows users to register information about their desired destinations with simple operations. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0015] [Figure 1] This figure shows an example of the configuration of a vehicle equipped with the navigation system according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of the passenger application installation process performed on the first and second mobile devices, respectively. [Figure 3] This is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of the process of generating destination information performed on the second mobile terminal. [Figure 4] This is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of the process of transferring destination information, which is performed in the navigation device, the first mobile terminal, and the second mobile terminal, respectively. [Figure 5] This diagram illustrates an example of a series of operations performed by the navigation device, the first mobile terminal, and the second mobile terminal. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0016] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and their description will not be repeated.

[0017] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a vehicle 100 equipped with a navigation system 1 according to the present embodiment. The vehicle 100 in the present embodiment includes, for example, a vehicle used as a taxi. As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle 100 is equipped with a navigation system 1. The navigation system 1 includes an ECU 200, a navigation device 300, a first mobile terminal 400, and a second mobile terminal 500.

[0018] The ECU 200 is a computer having a processor that executes programs such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a memory such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory), and an input / output interface. The ECU 200 includes various control programs for controlling various electrical devices mounted on the vehicle 100. The various control programs further include, for example, a control program for controlling the operation of the navigation device 300 in addition to a control program for controlling the behavior of the vehicle 100. Note that the control entity for controlling the operation of the navigation device 300 may be built in the navigation device 300 as a control unit.

[0019] The navigation device 300 sets a driving route to a destination using information about the destination received from a user or the first mobile terminal 400. The navigation device 300 acquires the position of the vehicle 100 using a position detection device (not shown) such as a GPS (Global Positioning System), and notifies information about route guidance according to the set driving route using a notification device (a display device, a speaker, etc.).

[0020] The navigation device 300 includes a communication device 302. The communication device 302 is configured to be available in a first communication method (e.g., Bluetooth (registered trademark), Wi-Fi, etc.) that requires processing such as prior pairing with a communication target device. In the present embodiment, a first mobile terminal 400 is included as a communication target device. That is, it is assumed that the navigation device 300 and the first mobile terminal 400 are in a communicable state through an authentication process such as pairing.

[0021] The first mobile terminal 400 is a portable mobile terminal such as a smartphone, a tablet terminal, or a wearable device, and is carried by, for example, the driver of the vehicle 100.

[0022] The first mobile terminal 400 includes a control device 402, a communication device 404, a storage device 406, a position detection device 408, and a user interface (hereinafter referred to as UI) 410. The control device 402, the communication device 404, the storage device 406, the position detection device 408, and the UI 410 are connected to each other so as to be communicable via a communication bus (not shown).

[0023] The control device 402 includes a processor 402a that executes a program such as a CPU and a memory 402b. A program (e.g., application software (hereinafter simply referred to as an app)) stored in the memory is read by the processor and software processing is executed. When the software processing is executed, the app is launched. Various controls by the control device 402 are not limited to software processing and may be processed by dedicated hardware (electronic circuit).

[0024] The communication device 404 includes a first communication unit 404a that enables communication in the first communication format and a second communication unit 404b that enables communication in a second communication format (e.g., short-range wireless communication such as NFC communication). When the distance between the second communication unit 404b and another device capable of NFC communication becomes less than or equal to a predetermined value, NFC communication is enabled between the communication device 404 and the device.

[0025] The storage device 406 stores various information, including information about applications. For example, the storage device 406 stores information about applications that are transmitted to the second mobile terminal 500 when communication is performed via short-range wireless communication with the second mobile terminal 500, which will be described later.

[0026] The location detection device 408 detects the location information of the first mobile terminal 400, for example. The location detection device 408 detects the location of the first mobile terminal 400 using, for example, GPS satellites or a wireless LAN (Local Area Network).

[0027] UI410 includes, for example, a display device for displaying various information and an input device (neither of which is shown) for receiving user input. UI410 may be configured, for example, by a touch panel display.

[0028] The second mobile terminal 500 is a portable mobile device such as a smartphone, tablet, or wearable device, and is carried by, for example, a user (hereinafter referred to as a passenger) of a vehicle 100, which is a taxi.

[0029] The second mobile terminal 500 includes a control device 502, a communication device 504, a storage device 506, a location detection device 508, and a UI 510. The control device 502, the communication device 504, the storage device 506, the location detection device 508, and the UI 510 are connected to each other in a communicative manner by a communication bus (not shown). The control device 502 includes a processor 502a and a memory 502b. The communication device 504 includes a first communication unit 504a and a second communication unit 504b.

[0030] The control device 502, communication device 504, storage device 506, position detection device 508, and UI 510 have the same configuration as the control device 402, communication device 404, storage device 406, position detection device 408, and UI 410 of the first mobile terminal 400. Furthermore, the processor 502a, memory 502b, first communication unit 504a, and second communication unit 504b have the same configuration as the processor 402a, memory 402b, first communication unit 404a, and second communication unit 404b. Therefore, a detailed explanation of these will not be repeated.

[0031] When a vehicle 100 having the above configuration is used as a taxi, it is desirable that the destination specified by the passenger be registered in the navigation device 300 in order to arrive appropriately at the passenger's desired destination. Therefore, it is necessary to promptly communicate with the navigation device 300 and transmit information about the destination when a passenger boards the vehicle 100.

[0032] However, enabling communication between the navigation device 300 and any mobile terminal may require complex operations such as entering a password during pairing, or it may require the navigation device 300 to be equipped with a dedicated device to enable communication with simple operations.

[0033] Therefore, in this embodiment, the first mobile terminal 400 and the navigation device 300 operate as follows. That is, when communication by short-range wireless communication is established because the distance between the first mobile terminal 400 and the second mobile terminal 500 falls below a predetermined value, the first mobile terminal 400 receives destination information including the destination selected by the second mobile terminal 500 and transmits the destination information to the navigation device 300. When the navigation device 300 receives the destination information from the first mobile terminal 400, it sets the destination for route guidance using the received destination information.

[0034] In this configuration, communication is established between the first mobile terminal 400 and the second mobile terminal 500 via short-range communication, and communication is possible between the first mobile terminal 400 and the navigation device 300. Therefore, communication between the second mobile terminal 500 and the navigation device 300 is possible via the first mobile terminal 400, without requiring the navigation device 300 to have dedicated equipment for direct communication with the second mobile terminal 500. As a result, the destination selected in the second mobile terminal 500 can be set as the destination for route guidance in the navigation device 300.

[0035] The following describes an example of the process of installing a passenger application, which is performed on both the first mobile terminal 400 and the second mobile terminal 500, with reference to Figure 2. Figure 2 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of the process of installing a passenger application, which is performed on both the first mobile terminal 400 and the second mobile terminal 500.

[0036] As shown in Figure 2, the first mobile terminal 400 contains a passenger vehicle application (D). Information about the passenger vehicle application (D) is stored in the storage device 406 of the first mobile terminal 400. When the control device 402 receives a command to start the passenger vehicle application (D), it reads the information about the passenger vehicle application (D) from the storage device 406 and executes the process of starting the passenger vehicle application (D). As described above, the process of starting the application is executed by the control device 402. The same applies to other applications, so the details will not be repeated.

[0037] The passenger vehicle application (D) has a function to send installation information for the passenger application (C) to a communication target that has become capable of communication via short-range wireless communication. The second mobile terminal 500 has an application that exchanges information with the communication target via short-range wireless communication. As an application that exchanges information via short-range wireless communication, for example, an application that enables NFC communication (hereinafter referred to as NFC application (A)) installed as a standard application of the mobile terminal's OS (Operating System) is used. The functions of the passenger application (C) will be described later.

[0038] As shown in Figure 2(a-1), when the passenger brings the second mobile terminal 500, which is carried by the passenger, close enough to the first mobile terminal 400 of the vehicle 100 to a distance of less than a predetermined value, communication is established via short-range wireless communication, as shown in Figure 2(a-2), and a predetermined request signal is transmitted to the first mobile terminal 400. When the first mobile terminal 400 receives the predetermined request signal, as shown in Figure 2(a-3), the installation information of the passenger application (C) stored in the storage device 406 is transmitted to the second mobile terminal 500.

[0039] As shown in Figure 2(a-4), the installation of the passenger application (C) is confirmed on the second mobile terminal 500. For example, the UI 510 of the second mobile terminal 500 displays a message asking whether it is OK to install the passenger application (C). As shown in Figure 2(a-5), when the passenger performs an operation to authorize the installation (for example, by touching a designated area) on the UI 510, the control device 502 of the second mobile terminal 500 executes the installation process for the passenger application (C). As a result, as shown in Figure 2(a-6), information about the passenger application (C) is stored in the storage device 506 of the second mobile terminal 500, and the passenger application (C) becomes executable.

[0040] The following describes an example of the process for generating destination information performed on the second mobile terminal 500, with reference to Figure 3. Figure 3 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of the process for generating destination information performed on the second mobile terminal 500.

[0041] As shown in Figure 3, the second mobile terminal 500 further includes an application for setting a destination designated by the passenger (hereinafter referred to as the destination setting application (B)) in addition to the NFC application (A) and passenger application (C) described above.

[0042] The destination setting application (B) has the function of displaying map information on the UI410 display screen and the function of accepting operations to specify a particular location on the displayed map image.

[0043] As shown in Figure 3(b-1), consider a scenario where, for example, a passenger launches the destination setting app (B) and performs an operation (touch operation) to specify a particular location on the map image displayed on the screen. In this case, as shown in Figure 3(b-2), the destination setting app (B) generates destination information including location information, with the location specified by the touch operation as the destination. The location information is information that allows the destination's location to be identified, and may include, for example, information about the destination's latitude and longitude, information about the name of the facility where the destination is located, or information about the destination's address.

[0044] As shown in Figure 3(b-3), the destination setting app (B) transfers the generated destination information to the passenger app. Alternatively, the destination setting app (B) may transfer the destination information to the passenger app (C) when it receives a predetermined operation from the passenger to transfer the destination information to the passenger app (C).

[0045] The following describes an example of the process of transferring destination information, which is performed in the navigation device 300, the first mobile terminal 400, and the second mobile terminal 500, with reference to Figure 4. Figure 4 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of the process of transferring destination information, which is performed in the navigation device 300, the first mobile terminal 400, and the second mobile terminal 500.

[0046] As shown in Figure 4, the first mobile terminal 400 further includes, in addition to the passenger vehicle application (D) described above, an application for setting a destination to be transmitted to the navigation device 300 (hereinafter referred to as the destination setting application (E)).

[0047] As shown in Figure 4(c-1), when the passenger app (C) obtains destination information, it displays information on the UI 510's display screen instructing the passenger to bring the second mobile terminal 500 closer to the first mobile terminal 400.

[0048] As shown in Figure 4(c-2), when a passenger brings the second mobile terminal 500 close to the first mobile terminal 400 to a distance of less than a predetermined value, communication is established via short-range wireless communication, and as shown in Figure 4(c-3), the passenger application (C) transmits destination information to the first mobile terminal 400.

[0049] As shown in Figure 4(c-4), the passenger vehicle application (D) converts the received destination information into a format that can be read by the destination setting application (E), which will be described later, and transfers it to the destination setting application (E).

[0050] As shown in Figure 4(c-5), the destination setting application (E) converts the destination information data into a format that can be transmitted to the navigation device 300, which has become capable of communication, and transmits it to the navigation device 300. The navigation device 300 then sets the destination using the received destination information.

[0051] An example of a series of operations performed by the navigation device 300, the first mobile terminal 400, and the second mobile terminal 500, based on the configuration and sequence diagram of the navigation system 1 described above, will be explained with reference to Figure 5. Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a series of operations performed by the navigation device 300, the first mobile terminal 400, and the second mobile terminal 500.

[0052] Furthermore, the vehicle 100 is, for example, a taxi, and the first mobile terminal 400 is installed in a predetermined location inside the vehicle (for example, a location where a passenger seated in the back seat can bring the second mobile terminal 500 close to it). The first mobile terminal 400 is set to communicate with the navigation device 300 by prior operation by the driver of the vehicle 100, and it is assumed that this is the passenger's first ride in the vehicle 100 equipped with the navigation system 1.

[0053] For example, when a passenger sits in the back seat of a taxi, they may be prompted by the driver or by signs or voice guidance around their seat to bring the second mobile terminal 500 closer to the first mobile terminal 400. When the distance between the first mobile terminal 400 and the second mobile terminal 500 falls below a predetermined value that enables short-range wireless communication, the NFC application (A) of the second mobile terminal 500 sends a request signal to the first mobile terminal 400. Upon receiving the request signal, the passenger vehicle application (D) of the first mobile terminal 400 sends installation information for the passenger application (C) to the second mobile terminal 500. On the second mobile terminal 500, a confirmation screen is displayed on the UI 510 to ask whether or not to install. Once the user confirms permission to install, the passenger application (C) is installed on the second mobile terminal 500. In this way, the process for the first ride is executed.

[0054] After the initial boarding process is completed, when the passenger launches the destination setting app (B) on the second mobile terminal 500 and specifies the desired destination, the destination information is transferred from the destination setting app (B) to the passenger app (C).

[0055] When destination information is transferred from the destination setting app (B) to the passenger app (C), images or text information to guide the passenger to approach the first mobile terminal 400 are displayed on the UI 510 screen of the second mobile terminal 500. Alternatively, the passenger app (C) may provide voice guidance to guide the second mobile terminal 500 to approach the first mobile terminal 400.

[0056] When the second mobile terminal 500 is brought close to the first mobile terminal 400, the passenger application (C) sends destination information to the first mobile terminal 400, and when the passenger vehicle application (D) on the first mobile terminal 400 receives the destination information, it is forwarded to the destination setting application (E).

[0057] In the destination setting application (E), destination information is converted into a format that can be used to set a destination in the navigation device 300 and transmitted to the navigation device 300. The destination is set in the navigation device 300 using the received destination information.

[0058] As described above, according to the navigation system 1 of this embodiment, communication is established between the first mobile terminal 400 and the second mobile terminal 500 via short-range communication, and communication between the first mobile terminal 400 and the navigation device 300 is possible. Therefore, communication between the second mobile terminal 500 and the navigation device 300 is possible via the first mobile terminal 400 without providing the navigation device 300 with dedicated equipment to directly communicate with the second mobile terminal 500. As a result, the destination selected in the second mobile terminal 500 can be set as the destination for route guidance in the navigation device 300. Thus, a navigation system can be provided that allows users to register desired destination information with simple operations.

[0059] Furthermore, by separating the destination setting application (B) and the passenger application (C) in the second mobile terminal 500, the destination setting application (B) can utilize existing map applications, such as the OS's standard map application or a generally widely used map application. This improves convenience for passengers and suppresses the increase in costs associated with application development.

[0060] Furthermore, by separating the passenger vehicle application (D) and the destination setting application (E) in the first mobile terminal 400, an existing application for transmitting destination information to the navigation device 300 can be used as the destination setting application (E), thereby suppressing the increase in costs associated with application development, etc.

[0061] The following describes variations.

[0062] In the above-described embodiment, destination information including information about the destination specified in the second mobile terminal 500 is transmitted to the navigation device 300 via the first mobile terminal 400, and the navigation device 300 sets the destination as an example. However, the destination information may also include information about the travel route in addition to the destination, so that the navigation device 300 sets the travel route in addition to the destination, or it may include information about waypoints in addition to the destination, so that the navigation device 300 sets the waypoints in addition to the destination. In this way, the vehicle 100 can be moved to the destination along the travel route desired by the passenger.

[0063] Furthermore, although the above-described embodiment explains that the passenger vehicle application (D) and the destination setting application (E) of the first mobile terminal 400 are configured separately, the passenger vehicle application (D) and the destination setting application (E) may be configured as a single application. Configuring them as a single application can improve convenience for the driver.

[0064] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the case in which the second mobile terminal 500 obtains the passenger application (C) from the first mobile terminal 400 was explained as an example, but it is not particularly limited to obtaining it from the first mobile terminal 400. The second mobile terminal 500 may, for example, obtain the passenger application (C) from a predetermined server via a communication line such as the Internet.

[0065] Furthermore, the above-mentioned modifications may be implemented by combining all or part of them as appropriate.

[0066] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims are intended to be included. [Explanation of symbols]

[0067] 1 Navigation system, 100 Vehicle, 200 ECU, 300 Navigation device, 302, 404, 504 Communication device, 400 First mobile terminal, 402, 502 Control device, 402a, 502a Processor, 402b, 502b Memory, 404a, 504a First communication unit, 404b, 504b Second communication unit, 406, 506 Storage device, 408, 508 Position detection device, 410, 510 UI, 500 Second mobile terminal.

Claims

1. The first mobile device and When the distance to the first mobile terminal falls below a predetermined value, the second mobile terminal establishes communication with the first mobile terminal using short-range wireless communication. The system includes an in-vehicle navigation device capable of communicating with the first mobile terminal, When the communication between the first mobile terminal and the second mobile terminal is established, the first mobile terminal receives destination information including the destination selected by the second mobile terminal and transmits the destination information to the navigation device. The navigation device is a navigation system that, upon receiving destination information from the first mobile terminal, sets a destination for route guidance using the received destination information.

2. When the first mobile terminal establishes communication with the second mobile terminal, it transmits predetermined software to the second mobile terminal. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined software includes software that enables the destination information to be transmitted to the first mobile terminal by short-range wireless communication.

3. The navigation system according to claim 2, wherein the second mobile terminal uses predetermined software to convert information including the destination selected using the existing software of the second mobile terminal into destination information that can be transmitted to the first mobile terminal by short-range wireless communication.

4. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein each of the first mobile terminal and the second mobile terminal is configured to enable NFC (Near Field Communication) communication.

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