Communications: electrical – Vehicle position indication – Map display
Reexamination Certificate
1996-12-03
2001-11-06
Swarthout, Brent A. (Department: 2632)
Communications: electrical
Vehicle position indication
Map display
C340S905000, C701S208000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06313761
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an information receiving apparatus, a positioning apparatus, a navigation apparatus, an information receiving method, a positioning method and a navigating Method.
2. Description of the Related Art
An organization which provides traffic information, for example, the ATIS (Advanced Traffic Information Service) is available in Japan. A user can telephone the ATIS to get digital data of traffic congestion information, traffic control information and other information.
Some available navigation apparatus for an automobile are compatible with the ATIS. In a navigation apparatus of the type compatible with the ATIS, if, for example, key operations
(1) to establish an ATIS mode,
(2) to establish a communication mode,
(3) to set, in route guidance, a present position, a destination and so forth, and
(4) to telephone the ATIS are performed, then, for example, an optimum route considering current traffic congestion situation can be found from among several routes from the present position of the automobile to the desired destination and displayed on a display unit.
However, such key operations of those operations (1) to (4) described above are cumbersome. Therefore, taking also safety into consideration, most navigation apparatus are so constructed that those operations are disabled while the automobile is running. Even if a navigation apparatus is not constructed as such, it still is undesirable to perform key operations during running of an automobile from the point of view of safety.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a navigation apparatus and a navigating method wherein necessary traffic information can be acquired without any key operation during running of an automobile.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an information receiving apparatus, a positioning apparatus, an information receiving method and a positioning method suitable for use with such navigation apparatus and navigation method as mentioned above.
In order to attain the objects described above, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a navigation apparatus with a data receiving operation function, including positioning means for getting a present position, map data retrieving means for retrieving map data from a map database, map display means for displaying a map, input means for entering a desired condition to receive information, memory means for storing the condition, access means for accessing to an external information source, and decision means for deciding a status, wherein the decision means receives information from the external information source through the access means and the map display means displays the received information in accordance with map data retrieved by the map data retrieving means if the status matches the condition stored in the memory means.
In the navigation apparatus, a navigating method with an automatic operation feature is performed which includes the inputting step of entering a desired condition to receive information, the storing step of storing the entered condition, the positioning step of getting a present position, the map data retrieving step of retrieving map data from a map database, and the deciding step of deciding a status, wherein the deciding step receives information from the external information source through radio communication means and displays the received information in accordance with map data retrieved in the map data retrieving step if the status matches the condition stored in the storing step.
With the navigation apparatus and the navigating method, for example, when the automobile starts, the necessary traffic information is available already, and a navigation display can be obtained in a latest traffic situation. Further, traffic information can be obtained automatically midway of a route to a destination, and a navigation display can still be performed in a latest traffic situation. Further, since cumbersome key operations need not be performed during running of the automobile, safety is assured. Further, there is no need of having a fellow passenger manually operate the navigation apparatus.
According to the present invention, an information receiving apparatus, a positioning apparatus, an information receiving method and a positioning method suitable for use with the navigation apparatus and navigation method are provided.
In particular, according to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information receiving apparatus with an automatic operation function, which includes input means for entering a desired condition to receive information, memory means for storing the entered condition, access means for accessing to an external information source, and decision means for deciding a status, wherein the decision means receives information from the external information source through the access means if the status matches the condition stored in the memory means.
In the information receiving apparatus, an information receiving method with an automatic operation feature is performed which includes the inputting step of entering a desired condition to receive information, the storing step of storing the entered condition, and the deciding step of deciding a status, wherein the deciding step receives information from the external information source through radio communication means and displays the received information if the status matches the condition stored in the storing step.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a positioning apparatus with a data receiving operation function, which includes positioning means for getting a present position, input means for entering a desired condition to receive information, memory means for storing the entered condition, access means for accessing to an external information source, and decision means for deciding a status, wherein the decision means receives information from the external information source through the access means if the status matches the condition stored in the memory means.
In the positioning apparatus, a positioning method with an automatic operation feature is performed which includes the inputting step of entering a desired condition to receive information, the storing step of storing the entered condition, the positioning step of getting a present position, and the deciding step of deciding a status, wherein the deciding step receives information from the external information source through radio communication means and displays the received information if the status matches the condition stored in the storing step.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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Maioli Jay H.
Sony Corporation
Swarthout Brent A.
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