 |
Description  |
|
|
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a navigation system capable of registering
a telephone number for a set point.
2. Related Art
A navigation system guides a user along a route so that the user can drive
his car safely to a first destination. In recent years, techniques for
improving the performance and functions such as accuracy, operability and
visibility of navigation have been vigorously pursued, resulting in a
variety of systems. A typical navigation system is equipped with a display
screen to be used for setting the route, to be opened automatically or
upon request of the driver at the time of route guidance. The navigation
system provides, on its display screen after the start of guidance, at
least: section maps for guidance over a wide area covering several
sections of the set whole route, including the section currently being
travelled; and an intersection map for guidance at intersections.
The navigation system not only displays section maps and intersection maps
but also: provides the remaining distance and information such as the name
or turning direction for an intersection, so that the route may be
followed without fail; teaches landmarks so that the route can be
confirmed during the drive; guides along the route not only by visual
display but also by voice; displays the route on the map so that the
guidance may be provided on the displayed route for the actual drive; and
scrolls the map automatically along the route so that the route can be
confirmed.
In such navigation systems, in order to set the route, it is necessary to
input the starting point and the destination. When the starting point and
the destination are input, route retrieval is executed from the road
information data around and between the starting point and the
destination, so that the optimum of a plurality of routes is set. As the
method of inputting the starting point and the destination, there have
been proposed: a method by which the positions to be registered such as
the starting point or the destination are classified by genre, e.g.,
sight-seeing, parking areas or restaurants, or coded according to the
areas such as prefectures or cities so that the codes may be input; a
method by which not only the code number is input but also a menu is
displayed so that the items in the menu may be sequentially selected and
input; a method by which node data are joined to define road networks so
that the position may be input in terms of east longitudes and north
latitudes; and a method by which a telephone number is input. In another
method, not only the route between two points of the present position (or
an arbitrary staring point) and the destination is retrieved, but also the
priority of the transit point or the toll road is specified for retrieval.
As examples of the system of this kind: a telephone number inputting system
is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 187898/1990; a genre or code
number inputting system is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
173820/1989; a destination setting system according to the code number is
disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 173823/1989; and a system
capable of inputting the desired transit point is disclosed in Japanese
Patent Laid-Open No. 3899/1990.
For the telephone number inputting system, however, as a practical matter
it is difficult to store identification of locations corresponding to all
telephone numbers in the memory, because the data is excessively massive.
In the system of the prior art, therefore, the locations corresponding to
specific telephone numbers and the positions of representative points for
areas corresponding to toll/local exchange (area code) are stored as data
in a CD-ROM or the like. When an input telephone number is specifically
matched with stored data, the map around the position corresponding to
that telephone number is displayed on the screen. For other telephone
numbers, however, the map around the representative point of the
toll/local exchange number is displayed.
In case, therefore, a telephone number of a personal subscriber is input,
the map displayed is for the area around the representative point for the
toll/local exchange number. Thus, there arises a problem that the
positional accuracy in the calling up of the map is insufficient.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to solve the above-specified problem, therefore, the present
invention has an object to provide a telephone number inputting type
navigation system which can easily retrieve the position corresponding to
a telephone number frequently used by the user.
In order to achieve this object, according to a feature of the present
invention, there is provided a navigation system comprising: map data:
display means for displaying a map by reading the map data; point setting
means for setting a point on the map displayed by the display means;
telephone number input means for inputting a telephone number; and storage
means for registering the telephone number inputted by the telephone
number input means correlated with the positional coordinates of the point
set by the point setting means.
According to another feature of the present invention, there is provided a
navigation system for guiding on the basis of set point coordinates,
comprising: map data; a stored listing with telephone numbers correlated
with coordinates; telephone number input means for inputting a telephone
number; retrieval means for retrieving the coordinates from the list on
the basis of the telephone number inputted; display means for displaying a
map by reading the map data on the basis of the retrieved coordinates;
point setting means for setting a point on the map displayed by the
display means; storage means for registering the telephone number inputted
by the telephone number input means in correlation with the positional
coordinates of the point set by the point setting means, when it is
decided by the retrieval means that the inputted telephone number is not
already in the list; and point coordinate setting means for setting the
positional coordinates set by the point setting means, as point
coordinates.
According to still another feature of the present invention, there is
provided a navigation system for guiding on the basis of set point
coordinates, comprising: map data; a list of telephone numbers and
correlated coordinates; telephone number input means for inputting a
telephone number; retrieval means for retrieving the coordinates from the
list on the basis of the telephone number inputted; display means for
displaying a map by reading the map data on the basis of the coordinates
of a point representative of the toll/local exchange portion of the
telephone number, when it is decided by the retrieval means that the
inputted telephone number is not in the list; point setting means for
setting a point on the map displayed by the display means; storage means
for registering in the list the telephone number inputted by the telephone
number input means correlated with the positional coordinates of the point
set by the point setting means; and point coordinate setting means for
setting the coordinates retrieved from the list, as point coordinates,
when it is decided by the retrieval means that the inputted telephone
number is in the list, and for setting the positional coordinates set by
the point setting means, as point coordinates when it is decided by the
retrieval means that the inputted telephone number is not in the list.
The navigation system according to the present invention includes: map
data: display means for displaying a map by reading the map data; point
setting means for setting a point on the map displayed by the display
means; telephone number input means for inputting a telephone number; and
storage means for registering the telephone number inputted by the
telephone number input means and the positional coordinates of the point
set by the point setting means in correlation with the input telephone
number. As a result, the telephone number can be registered in correlation
with the positional coordinates of the point inputted, so that the
positional coordinates can be detected from the telephone number.
The navigation system for guiding on the basis of set point coordinates in
accordance with the present invention includes: map data; a list of
telephone numbers and correlated with coordinates; telephone number input
means for inputting a telephone number; retrieval means for retrieving the
coordinates from the list on the basis of the telephone number inputted;
display means for displaying a map by reading the map data on the basis of
the coordinates; point setting means for setting a point on the map
displayed by the display means; storage means for registering the
telephone number inputted by the telephone number input means in
correlation with the positional coordinates of the point set by the point
setting means, when it is decided by the retrieval means that the inputted
telephone number is not in the list; and point coordinate setting means
for setting the positional coordinates set by the point setting means, as
point coordinates. Thus, when the point corresponding to the telephone
number input by the telephone number input means is not in the stored list
of telephone numbers and corresponding coordinates, the point
corresponding to the telephone number has its positional coordinates
registered together with the telephone number and is set as the point
coordinates. As a result, when the user inputs the same telephone number
again, the positional coordinates of the point stored corresponding to the
telephone number can be read out to set the point easily.
The navigation system for guiding on the basis of set point coordinates
according to the present invention includes: map data; a stored list of
telephone numbers and corresponding coordinates; telephone number input
means for inputting a telephone number; retrieval means for retrieving the
coordinates from the list on the basis of the telephone number inputted;
display means for displaying a map by reading the map data on the basis of
the coordinates of a point representative of the toll/local exchange
portion of the telephone number, in case it is decided by the retrieval
means that the inputted telephone number is not in the list; point setting
means for setting a point on the map displayed by the display means;
storage means for registering in the list the telephone number inputted by
the telephone number input means and the corresponding positional
coordinates of the point set by the point setting means; and point
coordinate setting means for setting the coordinates retrieved from the
list, as point coordinates, in case it is decided by the retrieval means
that the inputted telephone number is in the list, and for setting the
positional coordinates set by the point setting means, as point
coordinates in case it is decided by the retrieval means that the inputted
telephone number is not in the list. Thus, in case the telephone number
inputted by the telephone number input means is not in the list, the
positional coordinates of the representative point are read out from the
toll/local exchange portion of the telephone number, and the map
corresponding to those coordinates is read out of the map data and
displayed in the display means. Then, the point is set on that map, and
the inputted telephone number and the positional coordinates of the set
point are stored in the list so that the positional coordinates of the
point are set as the positional coordinates for the input telephone
number. In case the inputted telephone number is in the list, the
positional coordinates corresponding to the telephone number are read out
and set as the point coordinates. As a result, if the user inputs the same
telephone number again, the positional coordinates of the stored point
corresponding to the telephone number can be read out so that the point
can be easily set.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of a telephone number
inputting type navigation system according to the present invention;
FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams showing examples of the construction of a list
for inputting telephone numbers;
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the construction of the
individual sections of the navigation system;
FIG. 4(a) is a flow chart for a processing routine for setting a
destination by input of a telephone number;
FIG. 4(b) is a flow chart for another processing routine for setting a
destination by input of a telephone number;
FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a processing routine for inputting a point into
memory;
FIG. 6 is a flow chart of a processing routine providing a position
inputting function through a telephone number after a point has been
registered;
FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b) are diagrams showing an example of a screen and
switches to be used in the telephone number inputting;
FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b) are diagrams explaining selection of numerals by
upward/downward switches;
FIG. 9 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a vehicular navigation
system having an automatic telephone transmitting function;
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the display screen and
associated switches;
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a contacts-by-telephone screen;
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a destination setting screen;
FIG. 13 is a block diagram of the overall construction of a navigation
system having the automatic telephone transmitting function;
FIGS. 14(a) to 14(d) are diagrams showing an example of the structure of
data to be used for the contacts-by-telephone function for obtaining a
weather forecast;
FIGS. 15(a) to 15(c) are diagrams showing an example of transition of
screens in the automatic transmission of the weather forecast;
FIG. 16 is a flow chart of the automatic transmission routine for a weather
forecast;
FIG. 17 is a flow chart for acquisition of the "weather forecast service"
from toll/local telephone numbers;
FIG. 18 is a flow chart for the acquisition of the "weather forecast
service" from coordinates;
FIGS. 19(a) and 19(b) are diagrams showing an example of the structure of
data to be used for retrieving a traffic information center from
coordinates;
FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of data to be used
for retrieving the traffic information center from a toll/local exchange
telephone number;
FIG. 21 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of road name code
number data;
FIGS. 22 (a) and 22 (b) are diagrams showing an example of the structure of
data to be used for retrieving the traffic information center from the
road name code number;
FIGS. 23 (a) to 23 (c) are diagrams showing transitions of screens for
transmitting traffic information automatically;
FIG. 24 is a flow chart of a routine for automatic transmission of traffic
information;
FIGS. 25 (a) and 25 (b) are diagrams of examples of screens used in the
automatic transmission of traffic information, for a route scheduled to be
travelled, by a route information display;
FIGS. 26 (a) to 26 (e) are diagrams showing examples of the structure of
data to be used for contacts-by-telephone of a destination;
FIG. 27 is a flow chart for transition of screens for the automatic
transmission to the destination;
FIGS. 28 (a) to 28 (d) are diagrams illustrating screen transitions in the
automatic transmission to the destination;
FIGS. 29 (a) to 29 (c) are diagrams showing an example of transition of
destination setting screens by indexing the place name;
FIG. 30 is a diagram showing an example of transition of screens in setting
the destination;
FIGS. 31(a) to 31(d) are diagrams showing an example of transition of
destination setting screens utilizing a national map;
FIGS. 32 (a) to 32 (d) are diagrams showing an example of transition of the
destination setting screens using a telephone number as an input;
FIG. 33 is a block diagram of hardware for realizing the function of
display of a map for the vicinity of a point by inputting a telephone
number;
FIG. 34 is a block diagram showing one example of the construction of a
navigation system having the function of displaying a map for the vicinity
of a point by inputting the telephone number;
FIG. 35 is a block diagram of a routine for displaying a map of the
vicinity around the present position by inputting a local telephone
number;
FIG. 36 is a diagram showing one example of layout of the telephone number
inputting screen and transition of the screens;
FIG. 37 is a diagram showing one example of the layout of a telephone
number inputting screen for inputting a toll number while observing the
toll number displayed;
FIG. 38 is a diagram showing one example of the layout of a telephone
number inputting screen for inputting a local number in case the displayed
toll number is correct;
FIG. 39 is a diagram showing a map showing the area for a specific toll
number; and
FIG. 40 is a flow chart of a routine for displaying a map of the vicinity
around the present position.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In FIG. 1, map data 1 includes at least positional information and the
graphic information of a map to be used for setting a point. A list 2
includes coordinates on the map correlated with telephone numbers stored
in advance in memory means such as a CD-ROM. Telephone number input means
3 is composed of switches such as ten keys for inputting a telephone
number, numeral selecting keys and a shift key. Display means 4 not only
reads and displays the map data 1 for the vicinity around the coordinates
corresponding to the telephone number inputted by the telephone number
input means 3, for example, and but also displays a map by reading the
corresponding map data 1 responsive to another input. Point setting means
8 inputs the coordinates of a point designated by an input through a touch
panel or a decision key or through a position cursor on the map displayed
by the display means 4. The central control section 50 includes: memory
means 7 for storing the telephone number inputted by the telephone number
input means 3 and the positional coordinates of a point set by point
settling means 8, correlated with the input telephone number; retrieval
means 6 for determining whether or not a telephone number input by the
telephone number input means 3 is prestored in memory; and point
coordinate setting means 9 for setting the positional coordinates of the
point set by the point setting means 8, as the point coordinates. The
memory means 7 is constructed of a programmable memory such as a RAM or a
floppy disc, and is stored with a list such as that shown in FIG. 2(b).
Moreover, the prestored list 2, in which the telephone numbers and the
coordinates on the map correspond to one another, is exemplified by the
telephone number-position list, as shown in FIG. 2(a).
When a telephone number is input by the telephone number input means 3, for
example, it is determined whether or not the inputted telephone number is
stored in the list 2. If the answer is YES, the positional coordinates
corresponding to the telephone number are read out, and the map data for
the vicinity around the positional coordinates is read out and displayed
in the display means 4. If the inputted telephone number is not stored in
the list 2, it is determined whether or not the telephone number is stored
in the memory means 7. If the answer is YES, the map is displayed like
before. Otherwise, the map data 1 is read out with reference to the
coordinates of the point representative of the toll/local exchange portion
of the telephone number, and the map is displayed. Moreover, when the user
wants to display and set a desired point and to register it, the point can
be stored and registered in the memory means. Then, the desired point can
be easily recalled by inputting its corresponding telephone number.
Alternatively, when the inputted telephone number is not stored in the
list 2 or the memory means 7, the map may be scrolled, and the point may
be set. If, in this case, the set point is apart a predetermined distance
or more from the representative point of the toll/local exchange number,
it is decided that an input error has been made, and the telephone number
may not be stored in the list. Furthermore, an input error may be decided
by prestoring not only a representative position for the toll/local
exchange number but also a range corresponding to the toll/local exchange
number.
In the present embodiment, the data to be retrieved by the by the retrieval
means is exemplified by the data (of the list 2) stored in advance in the
CD-ROM or the like and the data (of the memory means 7) written by the
user, but may have a programmable data construction.
The telephone number position list, as shown in FIG. 2A, registers the
coordinates corresponding to the telephone numbers in terms of east
longitudes and north latitudes, and its registration is carried out, for
example, by inputting a telephone number to display a map of the vicinity
around the representative point of the toll/local number and by retrieving
and setting the corresponding position. If the telephone number and the
coordinates are thus registered in the telephone number-position list, a
map around the vicinity of the position of the coordinates is drawn when
the telephone number is inputted.
The present embodiment utilizes the two list architectures, as described
above. However, no special restrictions are imposed upon the list
architecture and, accordingly, the list architecture can be modified in
various manners.
The memory point list, as shown in FIG. 2B, is one which is registered in
the memory by the user. This list contains a column of telephone numbers,
in addition to columns of mark numbers, names of towns and addresses, east
longitudes and north latitudes.
FIG. 3 shows an example of the construction of the individual sections of
the navigation system which include: an input/output section 10 for
inputting/outputting information for a route guide; a present position
detecting section 20 for detecting information on the present position of
the user's vehicle; information storage section 30 stored with navigation
data necessary for calculating the route and display guide data necessary
for the guidance; a data communication section 40 for transmissions and
receptions of navigation data to/from an information source such as an
information center or an electronic note or for contacts-by-telephone; and
a central control section 50 for executing the display and guide necessary
for the route retrieval and guidance and for controlling the entire
system.
The input/output section 10 functions to input a destination, to instruct
the central control section 50 of the nature of the navigation desired by
the user, so that the guide information may be given in voice and/or by
screen display when the driver so desires, and to print out the processed
data and the communication data. As the means for realizing these
functions, the input section includes: switches 11 such as touch switches
or key switches for inputting a point such as a destination or a passed
point in terms of a telephone number or coordinates so as to set it, for
requesting the route guide and for switching the modes; a voice recognizer
12; and a card reader 13 for reading out the data stored in all IC card or
a magnetic card. On the other hand, the output section includes: a display
14 for displaying the input data on the screen or the route guide
automatically, in response to the request of the driver; a printer 15 for
printing the data processed by the central control section 50, the data
stored in the information storage section 30, and the transmission data
received from the information center; and a speaker 16 for outputting the
route guide in voice.
The display 14 is constructed of a color CRT or a color liquid crystal
display and displays in colors, not only all the screens necessary for the
navigation, such as a route setting screen based upon the map data and
guide data processed by the central control section, a section map screen
and an intersection map screen, but also buttons in the main screen for
setting the route guide, for guiding the route guidance and for switching
the screens. Especially, information on a passed intersection, such as the
name of the passed intersection, is occasionally popped up and displayed
in colors in the section map diagram.
This display is so mounted in the instrument panel near the driver's seat
that the driver can confirm the present position of the vehicle and
acquire the information on the route ahead by glancing at the section map.
Moreover, the display 14 is equipped with: a touch panel providing a
display of the function buttons so that the aforementioned operations can
be executed by touching the buttons; and the key switches in the periphery
of the screen so that the switching of the modes for the guidance and the
destination setting is executed by pushing the key switches. The input
signal generating means, composed of those key switches and touch panels,
also constitutes the input section.
The voice recognizer 12 is also part of the input signal generating means
and produces the signals to be processed by the central control section 50
after the user has recognized the coordinate information and has input
same by voice through a microphone 12a.
The present position detecting section 20 is composed of: a GPS receiver 21
making use of the global positioning system ("GPS"); a beacon receiver 22;
a data transmitter-receiver 23 for receiving the corrected signals of the
GPS by using the cellular phone or FM multiplex signals; an absolute
azimuth sensor 24 exemplified by a magnetic sensor; a relative azimuth
sensor 25 exemplified by a wheel sensor or a steering sensor; a distance
sensor 26 for detecting the covered distance in terms of the R.P.M. of the
wheels; and an acceleration sensor 27.
The information memory section 30 is a data base which is stored with all
the data necessary for the route guidance, including map data,
intersection data, node data, road data, photographic data, destination
data, guide point data, detailed destination data, road name data,
branching point data, address data, display guide data, voice guide data
and toll/local exchange number data.
The data communication section 40 is composed of: a data
transmitter-receiver 41 for transmitting/receiving data to/from an
external information sensor, which stores mass route guide information and
offers it upon request of a user, and for transmitting/receiving data to
input the point coordinates by using the destination information which is
stored in advance by the user in the information storage media (i.e.,
digital data storage means) such as an electronic note or IC card; and a
telephone transmitter 42 for telephone transmissions both to specify a
point to thereby acquire peripheral information for the point and to
communicate with a destination by telephone after the destination has been
set.
The central control section 50 is composed of: a CPU 51 for executing
arithmetic operations; a first ROM 52-1 stored not only with programs for
processing route retrieval, for display control necessary for the route
guidance and for voice output control for voice guidance, but also data
necessary for the programs; a RAM 53 for temporarily storing the route
guide information so retrieved and the data being arithmetically
processed; a second ROM 52-1 stored with display information data
necessary for the route guide and the map display; a picture memory (i.e.,
V-RAM) 54 stored with picture data to be used for the screen display; a
picture processor 55 for retrieving the picture data from the picture
memory on the basis of a display control signal coming from the CPU 51 to
process the picture data and output the processed data to the display; a
voice processor 56 for synthesizing and converting the voice, phrase,
single sentence and/or sounds, read out of the information memory section
30 on the basis of a voice output control signal coming from the CPU, into
analog signals and to output these signals to the speaker; a communication
interface 57 for transferring the input/output data through
communications; a sensor input interface 58 for receiving the sensor
signal of the present position detecting section; and a clock 59 for
connecting data and time in the internal diagnosis information. The route
guide is so constructed that the driver can select either the screen
display or the voice output.
A routine for inputting a telephone number to set the destination,
according to the present invention, is shown as a flow chart in FIG. 4.
FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a processing routine for inputting a memory
point. FIG. 6 is a flow chart of a processing routine executed after a
point has been registered by using a position inputting function through a
telephone number.
According to the processing routine for setting a destination by inputting
a telephone number, as shown in FIG. 4, a telephone number is inputted,
for example, as shown in FIG. 4(a). Then, the telephone number-position
list is examined (at Steps S11 to S13) to determine whether or not the
inputted telephone number is stored. If the telephone number is not found,
the toll/local exchange number-position list is read from the memory
section and retrieved from the toll/local exchange number of the inputted
telephone number to set a flag f=1. If the telephone number is retrieved,
the flag f is set to f=0 (at Steps S14 to S17). Next, there is drawn (at
Step S18) a map of the vicinity around the position which is retrieved
from the telephone number-position list or the toll/local exchange
number-position list. Then, the map is scrolled according to the input
from the arrow keys to move the map center. Upon receipt of the switch
input through the decision key, it is decided whether or not the flag f=1
(at Steps S19 to S23). If the flag f=1, the map center is registered in
the telephone number-position list as to correspond to the telephone
number. If the flag f=0, the map center position is set as the destination
(at Steps S24 and S25).
Likewise in FIG. 4 (b), it is determined at S13 whether or not the
telephone number inputted is in the list stored in the memory section. If
the answer is NO, the operations of S14, S15, S18 to S22 and S24 are
executed as above to set the map center position as the destination. If
the telephone number is retrieved, on the other hand, the positional
information corresponding to the inputted telephone number is acquired as
is to set the coordinate position as the destination (at Step S25).
On the other hand, the routine of inputting a memory point is executed, as
shown in FIG. 5, by retrieving the map data by the genre, the telephone
number and the present position and to draw the map of a desired range (at
Steps S31 and S32). Next, the map center is moved by scrolling the map in
accordance with the input of the arrow keys. With the input of the
decision key, the name of the vicinity of the map center position is
retrieved from the map (at Steps S33 to S37). Next, the mark number and
telephone number selected by the user acre inputted to retrieve the
toll/local exchange number list to thereby confirm whether or not the
toll/local exchange number is stored (otherwise the message of "Reentry,
please" is displayed). Then, the mark number, the telephone number, the
name and the coordinates of the map center position are registered in the
memory point list.
After the position inputting by the telephone number has been used to
register the point, the destination is inputted by the telephone number
(at Step S51), as shown in FIG. 6. Then, the route for passing through the
individual intersections to the destination is retrieved (at Step S52). If
this route is determined, the drive guides are repeated till the
destination is reached (at Steps S53 to S65) while recognizing the present
position by the present position detecting section 20.
FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b) are diagrams respectively showing examples of a screen
and switches to be used in the telephone number inputting, and FIG. 8
presents diagrams explaining a method of selecting numerals by
upward/downward switches.
The screen for inputting a telephone number is provided as shown in FIG.
7(a), with a cursor, as hatched, in any of ten numerals. When the upward
and downward switches are pushed, as shown in FIG. 7(b), the numerals are
moved up or down, as shown in FIG. 8. Moreover, the shifting is carried
out by the leftward and rightward switches, as shown in FIG. 7(b).
Specifically, the upward switch increments the number in the cursor, and
the numeral next to 9 is 0, as shown in FIG. 8(a), or is returned to 0
through spaces, as shown in FIG. 8(b). The downward switch reduces the
numeral. The leftward switch returns the cursor position to the lefthand
figure, and the lefthand end figure cancels the telephone number
inputting. The rightward switch advances the cursor position to the
righthand figures and returns it to the lefthand end when the righthand
end is reached. Moreover, the decision switch ends the inputting by
setting the displayed number as the telephone number.
Incidentally, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment thus
far described but can be modified in various manners. In the
aforementioned embodiment, for example, it is decided for the memory point
entry whether or not the toll/local exchange number is retrieved. If the
answer is NO, the message of the reentry is displayed. However, the
telephone number may be registered as a dummy by the confirming operation.
Here will be described an embodiment of the navigation system having an
automatic telephone transmitting function with reference to FIGS. 9-12. In
FIG. 9 reference numeral 101 designates a display; numeral 102 switches;
numeral 103 a picture processor; numeral 104 a switch entry processing
unit; numeral 105 a data processing unit; 106 a memory section; numeral
107 a telephone transmitter; letter A display input screen; letter B a
destination setting switch; letter C a map switch; letter D a display
switch; and letter E a letter switch.
The display 101 is a color CRT or a color liquid crystal display and is
mounted in the instrument panel near the driver's seat. The display 101
displays, in colors, all the screens necessary for navigation, such as a
route setting screen, based upon the map data and guide data processed by
the data processing section 105, a section map screen and an intersection
map screen, and telephone contact screens. Display 101 also displays
buttons in the main screen for setting the route guide, for providing the
route guidance and for switching the screens. Especially, information
pertaining to a passed intersection, such as the name of the passed
intersection, is occasionally popped up and displayed in colors in the
section map diagram. As a result, the driver can confirm the present
position of the vehicle and acquire information on the route ahead by
glancing at the section map. In the contacts-by-telephone screen (FIG.
11), the selection menu items are classified and hierarchically displayed
so that the place of telephone contact can be selected by a single action
to effect the automatic transmission.
The picture processor 103 outputs a desired picture on the screen of the
display 101 by storing in the picture memory the picture data to be used
for the display on the screen of the display 101, by retrieving the
picture data from the picture memory on the basis of the display control
signal coming from the data processor 105 and by processing the picture
data graphically.
The switches 102 are shown as touch switches of a touch panel which
correspond to the function buttons displayed in the display 101, and the
button switches disposed around the display 101, so that the various
operations are executed on the basis of the signals inputted by those
switches. The touch switches on the touch panel and the button switches
constitute the input signal generating means, i.e. the input section, and
the switch entry processor 104 acts as an interface for the input section
to process the inputs.
The memory section 106 is stored with not only the various data necessary
for the route retrieval and guidance but also the telephone numbers of the
destinations, the points to be passed and other, ancillary information
such as the weather forecast telephone number, the information guide
service number, the JAF (i.e., Japan Automobile Federation) and the road
traffic information service. The telephone transmitter 107 transmits the
telephone number which is read out from the memory section 106 by the data
processor 105 and sent as the transmission notice.
The data processor 105 processes the input signals from the switches 102
through the switch entry processor 104 to control the display content of
the screen of the display 101 through the picture proc | | |
