JP4523782B2 - Route guidance by mobile device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to control for properly using route guidance and other functions in a mobile terminal.

  In recent years, a technique for performing route guidance for a user using a mobile phone is becoming widespread. In this route guidance, a map, a route, and a current position are displayed on a display of a mobile phone, and a user is guided by displaying a direction to be traveled by display or voice. Mobile phones are becoming more and more multifunctional, and in addition to route guidance, some mobile phones have, for example, transmission / reception of e-mails and videophone functions for making calls while watching moving images. Conventionally, mobile phones have selectively performed any of various functions including telephone calls. For example, when a call is started during route guidance, the route guidance is stopped at that time.

JP 2003-51896 A

  However, there is a case where the route guidance is not convenient in the alternative execution with the call. For example, when the user is walking while talking, there is a possibility that a point where the traveling direction should be changed (hereinafter referred to as a guide point) may be passed without providing any guidance. Such an adverse effect is common during execution of functions other than route guidance in various portable terminals including mobile phones, such as transmission and reception of e-mails, as well as telephone calls. In view of such problems, the present invention has an object of improving convenience by making route guidance and other functions compatible in a mobile terminal.

  As a first configuration, the present invention can be configured as a route guidance device having a call function as a mobile phone. This route guidance device includes a display device for displaying information and a voice output device for outputting sound during a call and route guidance. Hereinafter, both the display device and the audio output device may be simply referred to as an output device. The call function is provided by controlling at least one of the display device and the audio output device. In general, a voice call is used for the “call”, but in this specification, for example, a call that communicates in sign language using a videophone function is included in a broad call. The route guidance function is provided by controlling at least one of the display device and the voice output device. In the route guidance device, when both the route guidance function and the call function are provided in parallel, the degree of occupancy of the call function and the route guidance function occupying the display device and the voice output device is controlled. By doing so, the display device and the audio output device can be shared by both functions, and information required for each function can be provided to the user.

  The occupancy can be controlled in various ways. For example, the output device may be used for each function such that the route guidance function occupies the display device and the call function occupies the voice output device. Further, the degree of occupancy for the display device may be controlled by changing the ratio of the display screen to the displayable area. For example, the occupation may be controlled by dividing the screen into a route guidance function and a call function, and changing the size of each screen. The degree of occupancy with respect to the audio output device may be controlled based on whether or not an interruption occurs when the route is guided by audio. For example, when the call function occupancy is high, interruption of voice route guidance is prohibited, and when it is low, control can be performed in such a manner that interruption is permitted. For audio, the degree of occupancy may be controlled by changing the volume for each function.

  The route guidance device may include an alternative output device capable of guiding the route to the user, in addition to the display device and the audio output device. Examples of the alternative output device include a vibration mechanism that can vibrate in various modes according to the direction in which the user should travel, and a lighting device such as an LED. For example, the route guidance device may control the alternative output device so as to compensate for a decrease in the degree of occupancy of the display device and the audio output device by the route guidance unit. By doing so, information required for route guidance can be supplemented, and the possibility that the user makes a mistake in the route can be suppressed.

  Occupancy control need not be fixed, and it is desirable to use various control modes. As an example, different control modes may be provided during a call and during an incoming call for a call. In general, during an incoming call, the caller is in a state of waiting for a response, so the route guidance function is easily prioritized. Therefore, by changing the control mode during a call and during an incoming call, it is possible to provide both route guidance and call functions by using the output device with an occupation degree suitable for each situation.

  When the route guidance device can detect the current position, the control mode may be switched according to the current position. For example, if the user is in a geographically familiar area such as the vicinity of his / her home, a control mode with reduced route guidance is applied, and if the user is in an unfamiliar area such as a travel destination, the route guidance is occupied. You may make it use the control mode which raised the degree. Also, if the user is in a location with a relatively high degree of danger, such as a situation where a user is going to take a crossing or an intersection, the occupancy of the route guidance is reduced to reduce the occupancy of the call so as to call the user's attention. A control mode that improves the degree can also be used.

  As one mode of properly using the control mode according to the current position, the route guidance device can provide guidance that alerts the user at a guidance point where the direction in which the user should travel in the route to be guided changes. In some cases, different control modes may be provided between the guide points on the route and other sections. In this way, for example, at the guidance point, it is possible to control to increase the degree of occupancy by the route guidance function as compared to other sections, and it is possible to provide appropriate route guidance without excessively disturbing the call.

  If the route guidance device can further notify the approach to the guidance point at a predetermined notification point on the route before the guidance point, a different control mode is further provided for the notification point. Also good. By doing so, it is possible to provide more appropriate route guidance.

  The control modes described above can be provided in various combinations. For example, six control modes may be provided depending on combinations of communication / incoming call and guidance point / informing point / other sections. Furthermore, various control modes can be provided according to different classifications.

  You may comprise this invention as a route guidance apparatus comprised as a 2nd structure as a portable terminal shown below. The mobile terminal is not limited to a mobile phone, but includes various terminals including an output device, that is, a display device and an audio output device. There is no need to have a communication function. The route guidance device provides a route guidance function by controlling at least one of the output devices. The route guidance function includes guidance that alerts the user at the guidance point. Further, the route guidance device can provide a predetermined function different from the route guidance function by controlling at least one of the output devices. This function includes, for example, transmission / reception of e-mails, schedule management, and games.

  When providing both the route guidance function and these functions in parallel, the route guidance device controls the occupancy of each function occupying the output device, as in the first configuration. The route guidance device controls the occupancy in different control modes depending on the current position. By doing so, it is possible to provide appropriate route guidance according to the user's situation. As one mode of the control mode switching, for example, the occupancy may be controlled in different control modes between the guide points on the route and other sections. In this way, for example, at the guidance point, it is possible to control to increase the degree of occupancy by the route guidance function as compared to other sections, and it is possible to provide appropriate route guidance without excessively disturbing the call.

  About a 2nd route guidance apparatus, you may provide a further different control mode with respect to the alerting | reporting point demonstrated previously. Also for the second route guidance apparatus, the occupancy can be controlled in the various modes described above. In addition, the alternative output device described above may be provided to compensate for a decrease in the degree of occupancy of the display device and the audio output device by the route guidance unit.

  The present invention does not have to include all the above-described features, and some of them may be omitted. Moreover, you may combine the characteristic of the 1st, 2nd route guidance apparatus. In addition to the above-described route guidance device, the present invention can also be configured in the form of a route guidance device control method, a computer program for realizing such control, a recording medium on which the computer program is recorded, and the like. Recording media include flexible disks, CD-ROMs, magneto-optical disks, IC cards, ROM cartridges, punch cards, printed matter printed with codes such as bar codes, computer internal storage devices (memory such as RAM and ROM), and Various media that can be read by a computer, such as an external storage device, can be used.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following order.
A. System configuration:
B. Control mode:
C. Call / route guidance processing:
D. Variations:

A. System configuration:
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the overall configuration of a route guidance system as an embodiment. The route guidance system includes a mobile phone 200 and a server 100 that function as a route guidance device. Both are connected via a network such as the Internet INT. The route guidance device is not limited to the mobile phone 200, and a portable information terminal may be used.

  The server 100 has a function of searching for a route to the destination according to an instruction from the mobile phone 200 and outputting the result to the mobile phone 200. Functional blocks for realizing this function are also shown in the figure. The server 100 includes a map database (DB) 106 for route search. The communication unit 102 is a network interface that realizes communication via a network. The route search unit 104 refers to the map DB 106 to perform a route search from the designated departure point to the destination, and outputs the result. Since the route search can be performed by a known method such as the Dijkstra method, a detailed description thereof is omitted here. In the present embodiment, the route search unit 104 is configured in software by installing a computer program that realizes these functions in the server 100, but may be configured in hardware.

  The internal structure of the mobile phone 200 is also shown. The mobile phone 200 is equipped with a main control unit 210 with a built-in CPU, RAM, and ROM for controlling operations. The route guide unit 212 and the mailer 214 are software-like by an application program running on the control unit. Configured. These functional blocks can also be configured in hardware. The other functional blocks are each configured by hardware.

  The GPS 201 is a sensor for detecting a current position by a global positioning system. The display panel 202 is a liquid crystal panel for displaying various information. In this embodiment, the other party's image is displayed by the videophone function even during a call. The voice output unit 203 is a speaker that outputs voice during a call and voice guidance on a route.

  The communication unit 205 is a circuit for realizing communication via a network. The information to be communicated includes, for example, a route search command transmitted to the server 100, a route search result received from the server 100, and the like. The communication unit 205 also transmits and receives audio signals during a call.

  The command input unit 206 is a mechanism for inputting an instruction from the user, and corresponds to a button of the mobile phone 200. The vibration mechanism 204 is a mechanism that can vibrate at various frequencies and amplitudes, and can be configured using an electrostrictive element such as piezoelectric ceramics, a small motor, or the like. In this embodiment, the vibration mechanism 204 is used to give a user a route guidance stimulus. In this embodiment, the direction is represented by the frequency of vibration. The vibration mechanism 204 may also be used as a vibration function for calling the mobile phone 200.

  The call control unit 220 is a circuit that performs outgoing calls, incoming calls, and voice / electrical signal conversion during a call. The route guidance unit 212 controls each part of the mobile phone 200 during route guidance. The GPS 201 detection result is received, and map display and voice output are controlled according to the current position of the user. The vibration mechanism 204 may be vibrated depending on the traveling direction. The mailer 214 is an application that transmits and receives electronic mail.

  In this embodiment, the route search is performed according to the following procedure. First, the user operates a button or the like of the mobile phone 200 to input a route search destination. The mobile phone 200 transmits the current position detected by the GPS 201 and the destination information to the server 100. The server 100 searches the map DB 106 for a route from the current position to the destination, and transmits the result to the mobile phone 200. Based on this result, the cellular phone 200 guides the user through map display, voice guidance, and vibration. The mobile phone 200 according to the present embodiment can be operated by so-called multitasking, and can make a call and send / receive an e-mail during route guidance. When only route guidance is performed, the display panel, audio output, and vibration mechanism are completely occupied for route guidance. On the other hand, when route guidance is performed in parallel with transmission / reception of a call or e-mail, the degree of occupancy by route guidance of the display panel or the like changes by switching the control mode according to the situation.

B. Control mode:
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the control mode. An example in which a call and route guidance are performed in parallel is shown. A similar control mode can be provided for electronic mail.

  An example of route guidance is shown in the upper part of the figure. Consider a case in which a route that reaches from a station ST to a destination D via intersections A, B, and C is guided. In the following description, points where the user should change the traveling direction, such as intersections A, B, and C, are referred to as guidance points, and route guidance here is referred to as point guidance. In the point guidance, the user is warned that the user has reached the guidance point by display and sound, and guidance is provided to inform the user of the direction of travel.

  A point of several hundred meters in front of the guide point is referred to as a notification point, and route guidance here is referred to as advance notification. In advance notification, the user is notified that the user is approaching the guide point by display and sound. The notification points may be set at a plurality of locations before each guide point. Guidance in the section on the route excluding the guidance point and the reporting point is referred to as section guidance. In this section, the route that the user should take and the current position are displayed.

  There are six control modes for display, voice, and vibration for route guidance, for each of section guidance, advance notification, and point guidance, during a call / incoming call. “During a call” means a state in which the user is talking on the mobile phone 200, and “incoming call” means a state in which an incoming call is received during route guidance and the user is waiting for a response.

  Since it is relatively unlikely that the user will make a mistake in the route during the section guidance mode / call, the occupancy is set with priority on the call, and the occupancy of display and voice output by route guidance is lowered. That is, as shown in the figure, the image of the other party is mainly displayed, and the map display for route guidance is displayed on a reduced screen. The voice is occupied by the call, and no voice output for route guidance is performed. In order to compensate for the reduction of the map display, the vibration mechanism is turned on. However, during section guidance, the vibration mechanism does not vibrate unless the user deviates from the route.

  In the section guidance mode / incoming call, the degree of occupation is set with priority in the same manner. At the time of the incoming call, since the user has not yet responded, the image of the other party is not displayed, and a screen notifying the incoming call is displayed on a part of the route guidance map as shown in the figure. The voice is occupied by the call, and the vibration mechanism is turned on as in the call.

  In advance notification mode / during a call, in order to alert the user that he is approaching the guide point, the display by the route guidance and the degree of voice output are increased compared to the section mode. That is, as shown in the figure, the image of the other party is mainly displayed, and the map display for route guidance is displayed on a reduced screen, and the display mode is changed so as to call attention, such as blinking the screen. For voice, priority is given to guidance. That is, even during a call, voice guidance is performed by interrupting the call. However, in the prior notification, since the possibility that the user will pass through the guidance point by mistake is relatively low, the voice guidance may be set to prohibit interruption to the call. In order to compensate for the reduction of the map display, the vibration mechanism is turned on. When the vibration mechanism vibrates at the time of prior notification, the user's attention can be alerted.

  In advance notification mode / incoming call, the display guidance and voice output occupancy is increased as compared with the section mode, as in the case of calling. At the time of the incoming call, since the user has not yet responded, the image of the other party is not displayed, and a screen notifying the incoming call is displayed on a part of the route guidance map as shown in the figure. In order to notify the user of an incoming call, the prior notification is canceled. About voice guidance, it is good also as a setting which performs prior alerting | reporting, and you may make it shift the timing which performs prior alerting | reporting. This control can be easily realized, for example, by moving the position of the notification point closer to the guide point. When the user reaches the notification point after moving, the control can be performed according to the setting in advance notification mode / call. The vibration mechanism is turned on as in the case of a call.

  In the point guidance mode / call, in order to alert the user that it is a guide point, the display guidance and voice output occupancy is increased rather than the call. That is, as shown in the figure, the image of the other party is reduced and a map display for route guidance is mainly displayed. Voice is also given priority for guidance, and voice guidance is performed by interrupting the call. Since the guidance priority is set, the vibration mechanism is turned off. However, the vibration mechanism may be turned on in order to attract the user's attention more reliably.

  In the point guidance mode / incoming call, the route guidance display and the voice output occupancy are increased in the same manner as during a call. As shown in the drawing, a screen for notifying an incoming call is displayed on a part of the route guidance map. For voice, the ringing tone is not sounded and voice guidance is given priority. The vibration mechanism is turned off. However, the vibration mechanism may be turned on in order to attract the user's attention more reliably.

  The above control modes are merely examples, and more control modes may be provided, and each control mode may be set differently from the above. For example, in the point guidance mode, it is considered sufficient to increase the voice occupancy by the route guidance, and the display may be set in common with other control modes.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a change in occupancy in the route guidance process. This is an example corresponding to the case where the route shown in FIG. 2, that is, the route from the station ST to the destination D is guided while making a call. In front of the intersections A, B, and C corresponding to the guide points, notification points A1, B1, and C1 are set.

  Occupancy is controlled in the section guidance mode from the start of the route guidance from the station ST to the point before the intersection A and the notification point A1. Accordingly, in both the display device and the voice output, the degree of occupation by the call function is higher than the degree of occupation by the route guidance. On the other hand, the vibration mechanism is turned on. In the example of the figure, the case where the voice output is 100% occupied by a call is illustrated, but the degree of occupation of route guidance may be allowed. For example, there is an aspect in which route guidance information is output with a size and frequency that does not hinder a call in the background.

  When the notification point A1 is reached, the control mode is switched to the prior notification mode. As a result, the degree of occupation by route guidance is higher than that in the section guidance mode. The vibration mechanism is still on.

  When the guide point A is reached, the control mode is switched to the point guide mode. As a result, the occupancy by the route guidance becomes higher than the occupancy by the call function. The vibration mechanism is turned off. After passing through the guide point A, the control mode is switched to the section guide mode again until reaching the notification point B1. In the same manner, by performing route guidance while properly using each mode, the display device, the degree of occupancy with respect to audio output, and the on / off of the vibration mechanism change as shown in the figure at each point on the route.

C. Call / route guidance processing:
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the call / route guidance control process. This process is executed by the main control unit 210 of the mobile phone 200. When this process is started, the main control unit 210 inputs designation of a departure place and a destination as information for route search (step S10). As the departure point, the detection result of the GPS 201 is used. The main control unit 210 transmits this information to the server 100, acquires a route search result from the server 100 (step S11), and starts route guidance.

  First, the main control unit 210 inputs the current position from the GPS 201 (step S12), and sets the control mode according to the call state. When there is a call, that is, during a call or an incoming call (step S13), one of the six control modes shown in FIG. 2 is set (step S14). When there is no call (step S13), a mode for occupying display and voice output by route guidance is set (step S15).

  Next, the main control unit 210 controls display, sound, and vibration output according to the set control mode (step S16). The main control unit 210 repeatedly executes the above processing until the user arrives at the destination (step S17).

  According to the route guidance device of the embodiment described above, it is possible to achieve both route guidance and a call by controlling the degree of occupancy with respect to display and voice, and the convenience of route guidance using the mobile phone 200 is improved. be able to.

D. Variations:
(1) In the embodiment, the coexistence of the call and the route guidance is exemplified. However, by replacing the call function in the embodiment with the transmission / reception of e-mail, schedule management and other functions, it is possible to make these functions compatible with the route guidance. It can also be realized.

(2) In the embodiment, the mobile phone 200 is used, but the mobile terminal used as the route guidance device does not necessarily have a communication function. By mounting a part of the functions of the server 100 on the mobile terminal, the route guidance can be performed stand-alone, and the apparatus may be configured as a device that is compatible with various functions that do not require communication such as schedule management.

  As mentioned above, although the various Example of this invention was described, it cannot be overemphasized that this invention is not limited to these Examples, and can take a various structure in the range which does not deviate from the meaning.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the whole structure of the route guidance system as an Example. It is explanatory drawing which illustrates a control mode. It is explanatory drawing which shows typically the change of the occupancy in a route guidance process. It is a flowchart of a call / route guidance control process.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Server 102 ... Communication part 104 ... Path | route search part 106 ... Map database 200 ... Cell-phone 201 ... GPS
202 ... Display panel 203 ... Audio output unit 204 ... Vibration mechanism 205 ... Communication unit 206 ... Command input unit 210 ... Main control unit 212 ... Route guide unit 214 ... Mailer 220 ... Call controller

Claims (15)

A route guidance device having a call function as a mobile phone,
A display device for displaying information during a call and route guidance;
An audio output device for outputting audio during a call and route guidance;
A call control unit for providing a call function by controlling at least one of the display device and the audio output device;
A route guidance unit that controls at least one of the display device and the audio output device to provide a route guidance function;
A route guidance device comprising an occupancy degree control unit that controls the degree of occupancy of the call control unit and the route guidance unit for the display device and the voice output device when providing both the route guidance function and the call function in parallel. . The route guidance device according to claim 1,
The occupancy control unit is a route guidance device that controls the occupancy in different control modes during a call and during an incoming call for a call. The route guidance device according to claim 1,
It has a current position detection unit that detects the current position,
The occupancy control unit is a route guidance device that controls the occupancy in different control modes according to the current position. The route guidance device according to claim 3,
The route guidance unit provides guidance that alerts the user at a guidance point where the direction in which the user should travel changes on the route to be guided,
The occupancy degree control unit is a route guidance device that controls the occupancy degree in different control modes at the guidance point and other sections on the route. The route guidance device according to claim 4,
The route guidance unit informs the approach to the guide point at a predetermined report point on the route before the guide point,
The occupancy degree control unit is a route guidance device that further controls the occupancy degree in a control mode different from the other sections at the notification point. A route guidance device configured as a mobile terminal,
A display device for displaying information during a call and route guidance;
An audio output device for outputting audio during a call and route guidance;
A route guidance unit that controls at least one of the display device and the audio output device to provide a route guidance function;
A function providing unit that controls at least one of the display device and the audio output device to provide a predetermined function different from the route guidance function;
An occupancy control unit that controls the occupancy of the function providing unit and the route guide unit with respect to the display device and the audio output device when providing both the route guidance function and the predetermined function in parallel;
A current position detector for detecting the current position;
The occupancy control unit is a route guidance device that controls the occupancy in different control modes according to the current position. The route guidance device according to claim 6,
The route guidance unit provides guidance that alerts the user at a guidance point where the direction in which the user should travel changes on the route to be guided,
The occupancy control unit is a route guidance device that controls the occupancy in different control modes between the guidance point and other sections on the route. The route guidance device according to claim 7,
The route guidance unit informs the approach to the guide point at a predetermined report point on the route before the guide point,
The occupancy degree control unit is a route guidance device that further controls the occupancy degree in a control mode different from the other sections at the notification point. The route guidance device according to claim 1 or 6,
The route guidance apparatus which controls the said occupancy with respect to the said display apparatus by the change of the ratio of the display screen with respect to a displayable area. The route guidance device according to claim 1 or 6,
The route guidance device that controls the degree of occupancy with respect to the voice output device based on whether or not an interrupt is available when guiding the route by voice. The route guidance device according to claim 1 or 6,
In addition to the display device and the audio output device, an alternative output device capable of guiding the route to the user is provided.
The occupation degree control unit is a route guidance device that controls the alternative output device so as to compensate for a decrease in the degree of occupation of the display device or the audio device with respect to the route guidance unit. A method for controlling a route guidance device having a display device for displaying information at the time of a call and route guidance and a voice output device for outputting voice, and having a call function as a mobile phone,
By controlling at least one of said display device and the audio output device, and a call control process for providing the call function,
A route guidance process for controlling at least one of the display device and the audio output device to provide a route guidance function;
A control method for executing an occupancy control step for controlling the degree of occupancy of the call control step and the route guide step for the display device and the voice output device when providing both the route guidance function and the call function in parallel . A method for controlling a route guidance device configured as a portable terminal comprising a display device for displaying information during a call and route guidance and a voice output device for outputting voice,
A route guidance process for controlling at least one of the display device and the audio output device to provide a route guidance function;
A function providing step of controlling at least one of the display device and the voice output device to provide a predetermined function different from the route guidance function;
An occupancy control step for controlling the occupancy of the function providing step and the route guidance step for the display device and the audio output device when providing both the route guidance function and the predetermined function in parallel;
And a current position detection step for detecting the current position ,
The occupancy control step is a control method for controlling the occupancy in different control modes according to the current position. During a call and during route guidance, the display unit for displaying information, and an audio output unit for outputting voice, a control computer of the navigation system having a communication function as a mobile phone,
By controlling at least one of said display unit and an audio output unit, call function providing means for providing a communication function,
Route guidance providing means for controlling at least one of the display unit and the voice output unit to provide a route guidance function;
Functions as occupancy control means for controlling the degree of occupancy of the call function providing means and route guidance providing means for the display unit and voice output unit when providing both the route guidance function and the call function in parallel Program to let you. A control computer for controlling a route guidance device configured as a mobile terminal including a display unit for displaying information and a voice output unit for outputting voice during a call and route guidance ;
Route guidance means for controlling at least one of the display unit and the voice output unit to provide a route guidance function ;
A function providing unit that controls at least one of the display unit and the voice output unit to provide a predetermined function different from the route guidance function ;
Current position detection means for detecting the current position;
When providing both the route guidance function and the predetermined function in parallel, the occupancy of the function providing unit and the route guidance unit with respect to the display unit and the voice output unit is controlled differently according to the current position. Program for functioning as occupancy control means controlled by mode.

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