VWGoA - Ex. 1012
`Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., Petitioner
`
`1
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Mar. 6, 2003 Sheet 1 0f 10
`
`US 2003/0043019 A1
`
`FIG. 1
`
`REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEM
`
`10
`
` SERVICE
`CENTER
`
`
`
` CIRCUIT
`
`SWITCHING
`NETWORK
`
`
`
` STATIONARY-
`
`TYPE
`
`TERMINAL
`
`
`/_\
`
`
`
` PORTABLE-
`TYPE
`
`TERMINAL
`
`/\f— 20
`
`
`
`ON-VEHICLE
`EQUIPMENT
`
`2
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Mar. 6, 2003 Sheet 2 0f 10
`
`US 2003/0043019 A1
`
`FIG. 2
`
`SERVICE CENTER 10
`
`101
`
`INTERNET 42
`
`INTERNET 42
`
`INTERNET 42
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`USER ID DB
`
`
`
` 104
`
`REQUEST
`RECEIVER
`PORTION
`
`105
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`CONTROL
`
`CONTROL
`INFORMATION
`INFORMATION
`
`DB
`TRANSMITTER
`
`
`PORTION
`
`
`
`106
`MAP
`
`
`INFORMATION
`
`
`PROVIDING
`
`DB
`
`
`PORTION
`
`
`POINT
`
`SEARCH
`107
`
`PORTION 1031
` ROUTE
`
`INFORMATIO
`
`
`
`POI SEARCH
`N DB
`
`
`PORTION 1032
`
`ROUTE
`
`SEARCH
`
`
`POINT
`PORTION 1 033
`INFORMATION
`
`DB
`
`108
`
`3
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Mar. 6, 2003 Sheet 3 0f 10
`
`US 2003/0043019 A1
`
`
`
`
`
`“3mem<0“—0>.EZ_O_>
`
`mmor
`
`
`
`mowmoZO_._.<_>_mOu_Z_1—0me00m,GE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`QI<>Z_m<0.._.Z_On_wOn_m57>F_Z_O_>v><u_n_m_oF25;
`
`
`
`
`oEzooszEzoo405200Immor58mmoz<2200zo:<2mon_z_E20:30meAmEmEEEE
`
`
`o_,_<>z_U<mm<_:nmmmzmo_on_ma€mm<ixm<$>5mma5n.
`
`
`._.IEda:m<onoo:<>z_:.<mm<:.mmmzmo.8maEzGSJEOIVEdwa_on_
`
`
`
`vmo—,mmmo—Rumor\Nmor50F
`0352a9.55ng305:0:wEILmozESomSomao:<>a$55.8
`
`
`
`
`
`mollmaQmfizifiama5.0m*****
`
`
`
`
`SXEBEO305:9AzofifimzvmozgsmwmSOm
`.IEnmmtm<0n_O
`
`
`
`4
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Mar. 6, 2003 Sheet 4 0f 10
`
`US 2003/0043019 A1
`
`FIG. 4
`
`DESCRIPTION METHOD OF CONTROL INFORMATION:
`DESCRIBE TAG-METHOD
`
`<COMMAND>CONTROL COMMAND</COMMAND>
`<PARAMETER>PARAMETER</COMMAND>
`
`501
`
`502
`
`MEMORY
`
`503
`
`
`
`EXTERNAL
`MEMORY
`
`
`DEVICE
`
`
`DEVICE
`
`COMMUNICATION
`DEVICE
`
`INPUT
`DEVICE
`
`OUTPUT
`DEVICE
`
`READ-OUT
`
`508
`
`506
`
`507
`
`
`
` 505
`
`504
`
`5
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Mar. 6, 2003 Sheet 5 0f 10
`
`US 2003/0043019 A1
`
`FIG 6
`
`ON-VEHICLE APPARATUS 20
`201
`202
`
`
`
`
`204
`MENU
`
`
`COMMUNICATION
`
`PROCESS
`
`PORTION
`
`PORTION
`
`BASE
`STATION 43
`
`
`DISPLAY
`
`
`PROCESS
`
`PORTION
`
`
`
`CAR SPEED SENSOR.ETC.
`NAVIGATION
`205
`PROCESS
`
`PORTION
`
`
` MAP
`
`INFORMATION
`
`DB
`
`
`
`GPS RECEIVER
`
`f:l(Ei. 77
`
`701
`
`702
`
`703
`
`m
`
`709
`
`705
`
`704
`
`708
`
`DISPLAY
`DEVICE
`
`INPUT
`DEVICE
`
`SENSOR
`IF
`
`MEMORY ggfififimg
`CARD IF
`DRIVER
`
`707
`
`706
`
`CAR
`GPS
`SPEED RECEIVER EAEMSRY
`SENSOR,
`ETC.
`
`PORTABLE
`TELEPHONE,
`ETC.
`710
`
`6
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Mar. 6, 2003 Sheet 6 0f 10
`
`US 2003/0043019 A1
`
`FIG. 8
`
`STEP FOR REGISTER CONTROL CONTENTS
`
`STATIONARY-TYPE TERMINAL 301
`
`SERVICE CENTER 10
`
`[31001
`PORTABLE-TYPE TERMINAL 302
`INPUT DISPLAY OF ID INFORMATION
`81002
`ID INFORMATION
`
`INPUT DISPLAY OF ID
`
`INFORMATION
`
`/
`RECEIPT OF DISPLAY/ID
`
`INFORMATION
`ID INFORMATION
`
`
`
`
`
`S1003
`
`
`
`31005
`
`RECEIPT DISPLAY OF CONTROL CONTENTS
`
`/S1005
`
`RECEIPT DISPLAY OF
`
`RECEIPT OF DISPLAY/
`
`CONTROL CONTENTS
`CONTROL CONTENTS
`
`f81007
`CONTROL CONTENTS
`
`
`
`
`
`ADD RECORD INTO
`
`
`CONTROL
`
`
`INFORMATION DB
`
`
`
`DECIDE IF PRESET
`
`PROCESS IS AVAILABLE
`
`OR NOT.|F YES,EXECUTE
`AND REGISTER RESULT.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`7
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Mar. 6, 2003 Sheet 7 0f 10
`
`US 2003/0043019 A1
`
`
`
`u_Omemom._.n:m_0m_m
`
`
`
`wkzwkzooJON—._.ZOO
`
`
`
`82:.wa><._n_m_o5n:
`
`@mat
`
`
`
`
`
`.MIZm—O._.Omfimwmm<mfim
`
`omomkw:
`
`Ir;xm<m
`
`
`
`>l_.j_o<n_mmzmm:
`
`
`
`>_._.=o<n_025004
`
`
`
`nozmmmomEmomm
`
`
`
`9.szon.5528
`
`
`
`$02350528:2de
`
`E6;“.0OzEmwv
`
`
`
`
`
`\._.Z_On_._.OmAm—mmw<mn_n_
`
`
`
`“.0wamom._.n:m_0mm
`
`
`
`thMFZOOJOEHZOO
`
`3E6E
`
`
`
`n_OmeIOm._.n:w0mm_
`
`
`
`mHZm—PZOOJOEHZOO
`
`
`
`
`
`625mm><._n_w_o.on
`
`
`
`
`
`AOEHZOO._.Omemmm<w._n_
`
`
`
`.<mm<Fomdmmmfi:
`
`
`
`m._O_Im>-ZOmx<_>_OFIm_>>
`
`30>IO_I>>ZO._.ZmHZOO
`
`nmom._.m_1_
`
`$52_m50mxm_m3<m<mm<
`
`
`
`mm_OZ<D_DOmEbOm
`
`
`
`
`
`Pom._.Zm._.ZOOm_._.m3m_n_
`
`“.0zHEQw
`
`
`
`mkzmkzoo.6528
`
`
`
`$0255033932de
`
`5.8“6mafia
`
`
`
`
`
`.mmzwo._.Omjwmwm<m_._n_
`
`
`
`H25;“—0mm<0Z_
`
`
`
`
`
`“—0ZmeOm._.n__m0wm
`
`
`
`wHZMFZOO._OIPZOO
`
`
`
`£02550mSom\><._n_m_o
`
`5.0amoszmmv
`
`
`
`
`
`.<wm<Fomjmwwm<m._n_
`
`
`
`ZO_H<OO._VLHzmmwmn.DZDOm<
`
`Dmmmpzm
`
`EEOME ZOFDO
`
`Ikzmmmmm023r"m<mm<._n_<
`
`I2:90I2:190.26;
`
`6ano885:
`
`AH.thaws_on_mom
`
`E32mwwfiwfimfl38mGE
`
`8
`
`
`
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Mar. 6, 2003 Sheet 8 0f 10
`
`US 2003/0043019 A1
`
`STEPS OF REMOTE CONTROL
`
`MENU INFORMATION
`
`
`
`REQUEST TO EXECUTE
`
`SERVICE
`ON-VEHICLE
`CENTER 10
`32001
`APPARATUS 20
`
`
`ID INFORMATION 82002
`
`SEARCH RECORD
`
`FROM CONTROL
`INFORMATION DB
`
`PRODUCE MANU
`
`82004
`SEARCHED RECORD
`INFORMATION UPON
`
`
`
`82005
`
`
`
`DISPLAY OF MENU
`82006
`
`
`
`DISPLAY/RECEIPT OF
`
`
`
`SELECTION ON
`I
`
` S2007
`
`CONTROL CONTENTS
`SELECT INFORMATION
`
`EXTRACT CONTROL
`
`
`INFORMATION FROM
`82008
`
`
`
`SELECTED RECORD.CHANGE
`I
`FLAG OF RECORD TO VALID
`
`
`
`CONTROL INFORMATION
`
` START OF NAVIGATION
`
`PROCESS ACCORDING TO
`CONTROL INFORMATION
`82011
`
`
`
`
` IF EXECUTION RESULT
`IS REGISTERED IN
`SELECTED RECORD,
`EXTRACT IT,WH|LE
`
`
`
`32012
`EXECUTE PROCESS
`
`5
`REQUIRED IF NOT.
`
`
`
`EXECUTION RESULT
`
`CONTINUE NAVIGATION
`
`PROCESS BY USING
`
`EXECUTION RESULT
`
`
`
`
`
`9
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Mar. 6, 2003 Sheet 9 0f 10
`
`US 2003/0043019 A1
`
`FIG. 11
`
`MENU SCREEN
`
`FOLLOWING CONTROL CONTENTS ARE ENTERED.
`PLEASE SELECT ONE YOU WISH TO EXECUTE.
`
`1104
`
`1. ROUTE GUIDANCE(**PARK)
`2. ROUTE GUIDANCE(**HOTEL)
`3. POINT DISPLAY(**PARK)
`4. POI DISPLAY(AROUND PRESENT LOCATION,
`LEISURE FACILITY)
`
`}
`
`1102
`
`1103
`
`STOP
`
`DECIDE
`
`FIG. 12
`
`©©PARK,ADMISSION FEE:
`FREE ADDRESS****,TEL.***,
`URL*** THERE ARE LARGE
`POND AND RESTAURANTS.
`
`
`
`NATIONAL HIGHWAY NO.“
`
`PREFECTURAL
`HIGHWAY NO.**
`
`10
`
`10
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Mar. 6, 2003 Sheet 10 0f 10
`
`US 2003/0043019 A1
`
`FIG. 13
`
`POI SCREEN
`
`FOLLOWING POINT INFORMATION ARE FOUND AS POI.
`GENRE:PARK,AREA:VICINITY OF PRESENT POINT
`
`1. **PARK,ADMISSION FEE: **¥
`
`ADDRESS: ****,TEL.****,URL****
`THERE IS CAMPGROUND.
`
`2. **PARK,ADM|SSION FEEIFREE
`
`ADDRESS: ****,TEL.****,URL****
`THERE IS LARGE POND AND
`RESTAURANTS.
`
`
`
`X X
`
`CROSSING
`
`1401 vfl
`
`NAT] ONAL
`o HIGHWAY NO. **
`
`PREFECTURAL
`
`HIGHWAY NO. **
`
`11
`
`11
`
`

`

`US 2003/0043019 A1
`
`Mar. 6, 2003
`
`REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEM, ON-VEHICLE
`EQUIPMENT AND REMOTE CONTROL METHOD
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0001] The present invention relates to a technology for
`achieve remote control on an on-vehicle apparatus or equip-
`ment, such as a navigation apparatus, etc., for example, and
`in particular relates to a technology for allowing or causing
`the on-vehicle equipment to execute control content which
`is received from a communication terminal other than such
`
`the on-vehicle equipment.
`
`[0002] Accompanying with wide spreading of use of a
`navigation apparatus, achieving a communication function
`with using a portable telephone apparatus, etc., for example,
`a service system is proposed, for providing various services
`therewith, through the remote control of such the navigation
`apparatus, by means of a remote control apparatus. Such the
`service system of this kind as was mentioned above is
`already known, such as a service system of the compass rink
`Co., (Compass Rink), for example.
`
`[0003] With such the system as was mentioned above, a
`user connects a portable telephone apparatus to the naviga-
`tion apparatus with using an adaptor for exclusive use
`thereof, and she/he also makes a telephone call
`to an
`information center by using this portable telephone appara-
`tus, thereby informing the content(s) of the service she/he
`wishes to an operator responding thereto.
`
`[0004] At the information center, the telephone apparatus
`and the computers are integrated or unified by means of a
`technology of CTI (Computer Telephony Integration). The
`operator responding to the telephone call from the user with
`using the telephone apparatus determines the control con-
`tent(s) to be executed by the navigation apparatus, for the
`purpose of providing the service content(s) required from
`the user. And, with using the computer, the control infor-
`mation is sent to the navigation apparatus, thereby causing
`or bringing the navigation apparatus to execute the control
`content(s) determined.
`
`[0005] Such the control information is transmitted to the
`portable telephone apparatus of the user through CTI server,
`and is further transmitted from there to the navigation
`apparatus. The navigation apparatus executes processing in
`accordance with the control information received. Thus, the
`navigation apparatus is remotely controlled by the informa-
`tion center.
`
`[0006] With such the service system, the user can be free
`from troublesome operations of using an operation panel of
`the navigation apparatus, such as a point display, POI (Point
`Of Interest: information about facilities or the like of genres
`of interest) information display, as well as, setting of a goal
`or destination thereof, etc.
`
`In such the conventional service system as was
`[0007]
`mentioned above, the information center side transmits the
`control information for use of remote control of the navi-
`
`gation apparatus at the user’s end, with using the telephone
`line that is established by the user side for transmitting the
`requested service content(s)
`to the information center.
`Namely, noticing of the requested content(s) of service from
`the user side to the information center side, as well as,
`transmission of the control information from the information
`
`[0008] For this reason, with such the conventional service
`system as was mentioned above, it is impossible to receive
`the service contents requested from a communication ter-
`minal other than the navigation apparatus (i.e., the portable
`telephone apparatus dismounted from the navigation appa-
`ratus, a stationary telephone apparatus at home, or a network
`terminal connected to the information center through the
`network, such as the Internet, etc., for example), thereby to
`control the navigation apparatus remotely. For example,
`though informing the service content(s) which she/he
`requires from her/his home to the information center in
`advance, however the user cannot make the remote control
`on the navigation apparatus in accordance with the service
`content(s) which was/were received in advance, if thereafter
`she/he tries to operate or use the navigation apparatus. Thus,
`it is inferior in usability thereof.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0009] The present invention is made by taking the situ-
`ations mentioned above into the consideration, and an object
`according to the present invention is to provide a remote
`control of the on-vehicle apparatus, in accordance with the
`request received from a communication terminal other than
`the on-vehicle apparatus, such as the navigation apparatus,
`for example.
`
`In more details, according to the present invention,
`[0010]
`there is provided a remote control apparatus, for controlling
`an on-vehicle equipment in accordance with a request made
`from a communication terminal, comprising:
`a request
`receiver portion for receiving an ID information and control
`content from said communication terminal; a register por-
`tion for registering therein control information for causing
`said on-vehicle equipment to execute the control content
`received by said request receiver portion, corresponding to
`the ID information received by said request receiver portion;
`and a control information transmitter portion for receiving
`the ID information from said on-vehicle equipment and for
`transmitting the control information, being registered in said
`register portion corresponding to the ID information
`received, to said on-vehicle equipment.
`
`[0011] With application of such the structure as mentioned
`above, a user can register the control content on said
`on-vehicle equipment, which she/he wishes,
`in advance,
`corresponding to the ID information (for example, a user
`ID), into said remote control apparatus, by using the com-
`munication terminal mentioned above (i.e., a portable tele-
`phone apparatus detached from the on-vehicle equipment, a
`stationary telephone apparatus at home, or an Internet ter-
`minal, being connected with the remote control apparatus
`through a network, such as the Internet, etc., for example),
`different from said on-vehicle equipment. And, when using
`the on-vehicle equipment mentioned above,
`the user can
`make said on-vehicle equipment execute the processing in
`accordance with the control content, being registered into
`said remote control apparatus in advance, by accessing to
`said remote control apparatus to transmit the ID information
`thereto (of course, such the processing can be automated).
`Accordingly, it is possible to obtain the remote control of
`said on-vehicle equipment, in accordance with the request
`received from said communication terminal separate from
`said on-vehicle equipment.
`
`center side to the user side, are conducted by using the same
`telephone line.
`
`[0012] Further, in the remote control apparatus according
`to the present invention, there may be further provided a
`
`12
`
`12
`
`

`

`US 2003/0043019 A1
`
`Mar. 6, 2003
`
`providing portion for executing the processing, being nec-
`essary for the on-vehicle equipment to execute the control
`content in accordance with said control information, thereby
`providing an execution result thereof. Herein, the necessary
`processing mentioned above corresponds to, for example, a
`point search process if the control content in accordance
`with said control information is the point display control, a
`POI search process if it
`is the POI information display
`control, and a route search process if it is the route display
`or guidance control.
`
`[0013] And, in this case, said register portion makes said
`providing portion execute said processing, in a case where
`said processing can be provided without information from
`said on-vehicle equipment executing said control content,
`regarding the processing necessary upon executing the con-
`trol content in accordance with said control information,
`thereby registering an execution result thereof together with
`said control information corresponding to the ID informa-
`tion thereof. Herein, the case where said processing can be
`provided without
`the information from said on-vehicle
`equipment executing said control content, regarding the
`processing necessary upon executing the control content in
`accordance with said control information, corresponds to,
`for example, a case where the point search process, the POI
`(Point Of Interest) process, or the route search process can
`be executed without using a present
`location which is
`measured by said navigation apparatus.
`
`[0014] Also, upon receipt of an execution request from
`said on-vehicle equipment, said providing portion makes
`said register portion check whether the execution result is
`registered in said register portion or not, corresponding to
`the ID information which said control information transmit-
`
`ter portion receives from said on-vehicle equipment, thereby
`transmitting the execution result if it is registered, or trans-
`mitting an execution result after executing said processing if
`not.
`
`[0015] With doing so, it is possible to provide the function
`and the execution result thereof to said on-vehicle equip-
`ment, as soon as possible, in the case where the control
`content indicated by the control information, which said
`remote control apparatus sends to said on-vehicle equip-
`ment, is one using the function provided by said remote
`control apparatus, and where said remote control apparatus
`can execute it’s function without the information of said
`
`on-vehicle equipment.
`
`[0016] Also, with the remote control apparatus according
`to the present invention, it is possible to make said control
`information transmitter portion receive the ID information
`from said on-vehicle equipment and produces a menu infor-
`mation for causing an arbitrary one to be selected among the
`various kinds of control information, being registered in said
`register portion corresponding to the ID information
`received, thereby transmitting the menu information to said
`on-vehicle equipment, as well as, transmitting the control
`information indicated by a select information received from
`said on-vehicle equipment to said on-vehicle equipment.
`
`[0017] With doing so, it is possible for the user to register
`the control contents in plural number thereof, upon the
`on-vehicle equipment, which she/he requires,
`into said
`remote control apparatus with making correspondence to the
`ID information thereof. And, when using or starting the
`on-vehicle equipment mentioned above, she/he can select
`
`any one from the plural number of control contents regis-
`tered in advance, thereby enabling execution of the process-
`ing corresponding to or depending upon the control content
`selected.
`
`[0018] Further, as an on-vehicle equipment, being control-
`lable by such the remote control apparatus,
`remotely,
`according to the present
`invention,
`there is provided a
`remote control apparatus, as described in the above, further
`comprising: a menu process portion for displaying a menu
`screen for selection of the control information in accordance
`
`with the menu information, being transmitted from said
`control information transmitter portion responding to trans-
`mission of the ID information to said control information
`
`transmitter portion of said remote control apparatus there-
`from, and for transmitting the select information indicative
`of the control information which an operator selects through
`said menu screen,
`to said control information transmitter
`portion; and a control process portion for executing the
`control content in accordance with the control information,
`being transmitted from said control information transmitter
`portion responding to the select
`information which said
`menu process portion transmits.
`
`[0019] And, said control process portion transmits the
`execution request of the processing, being necessary upon
`executing the control content in accordance with said control
`information, to said providing portion of said remote control
`apparatus, so as to obtain the execution result of said
`processing from said providing portion, and thereby execut-
`ing the control content
`in accordance with said control
`information with using said execution result.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`[0020] FIG. 1 is an outlook view of a remote control
`system, in which is applied an embodiment according to the
`present invention;
`
`[0021] FIG. 2 is a functional structure view of a service
`center 10 shown in FIG. I mentioned above;
`
`[0022] FIG. 3 is a view for showing contents entered or
`registered into a control information DB 105 shown in FIG.
`2 mentioned above;
`
`[0023] FIG. 4 is a view for showing an example of
`description of control information, which is described in the
`form of HTML in the similar manner to menu information,
`in case of being transmitted from a navigation apparatus 10
`to an on-vehicle equipment 20;
`
`[0024] FIG. 5 is a view for showing an example of
`hardware structure of the service center 10 shown in FIG. 2
`mentioned above;
`
`[0025] FIG. 6 is the functional structure view of the
`on-vehicle equipment 20 shown in FIG. I mentioned above;
`
`[0026] FIG. 7 is a view for showing the hardware struc-
`ture of the on-vehicle equipment 20 shown in FIG. 6
`mentioned above;
`
`[0027] FIG. 8 is a view for showing an operation sequence
`for entering or registering the control content(s) in the
`on-vehicle equipment 20;
`
`[0028] FIGS. 9(a) to 90‘) are views of examples of receipt
`screens of the control content being displayed on a display
`device of an access terminal;
`
`13
`
`13
`
`

`

`US 2003/0043019 A1
`
`Mar. 6, 2003
`
`[0029] FIG. 10 is a view for showing an operation
`sequence for the remote control of the on-vehicle equipment
`20;
`
`[0030] FIG. 11 is a view for showing an example of a
`menu screen for selection of the control content(s), which is
`displayed on the display device of the on-vehicle equipment
`20;
`
`[0031] FIG. 12 is a view for showing an example of a
`point display screen, which is displayed on the display
`device of the on-vehicle equipment 20;
`
`[0032] FIG. 13 is a view for showing an example of a POI
`display screen, which is displayed on the display device of
`the on-vehicle equipment 20; and
`
`[0033] FIG. 14 is a view for showing an example of a
`route guidance screen, which is displayed on the display
`device of the on-vehicle equipment 20.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`[0034] Hereinafter, explanation will be made on an
`embodiment according to the present invention.
`
`[0035] FIG. 1 is an outlook view of a remote control
`system, in which is applied an embodiment according to the
`present invention.
`
`In this FIG. 1, a service center 10, having received
`[0036]
`a control content(s) in advance, which is/are transmitted
`from a user(s) through a stationary-type terminal 301 and/or
`a portable-type terminal 302, controls the on-vehicle equip-
`ment 20, remotely, in accordance with the control content(s),
`which was/were received in advance, when the user starts or
`use the on-vehicle equipment 20.
`
`[0037] The on-vehicle equipment 20 is structured, so that
`a wire-less communication device of the portable telephone
`apparatus, etc., can be built-in or attached on an outside
`thereof, therefore being connectable to the Internet 42 via a
`circuit switching network 41 and an ISP 44. And, it conducts
`processing in accordance with the control
`information
`received from the service center 10. In the present embodi-
`ment, as the on-vehicle equipment 20 is assumed a naviga-
`tion apparatus, which can performs a POI display and/or a
`route guidance display, etc. However, in the case where a
`radio base station 43 provides the Internet connection ser-
`vice, the on-vehicle equipment 20 can be connected with the
`Internet 42, directly, but through the radio base station 43.
`
`[0038] The stationary-type terminal 301 is a stationary-
`type network terminal, such as a PC (Personal Computer),
`etc., for example, building in or mounting the communica-
`tion device, such as a modem, for example, on an outside
`thereof, and it can be connected with the Internet 42, via the
`circuit switching network 41 and the ISP (Internet Service
`Provider) 44. Also,
`the portable-type terminal 302 is a
`portable-type network terminal, such as a PDA (Personal
`Digital Assistance), etc., building in or mounting the wire-
`less communication device of the portable telephone appa-
`ratus on an outside thereof, and it can be connected with the
`Internet 42, via the radio base station 43, the circuit switch-
`ing network 41 and the ISP 44. Further, in the case where the
`radio base station 43 provides the Internet connection ser-
`vice,
`it can be connected to the Internet 42 directly, but
`through the radio base station 43.
`
`[0039] At the stationary-type terminal 301 and the por-
`table-type terminal 302 can be used the existing Internet
`terminals, having function of reading the information, such
`as the Web browser, etc., for example, and of transmitting
`information by using the CGI (Common Gateway Interface)
`and/or the Java (trademark). Then, detailed description will
`be omitted herein on those terminals.
`
`[0040] Next, explanation will be given on the service
`center 10.
`
`[0041] FIG. 2 is the functional structure view of the
`service center 10.
`
`[0042] A request receiver portion 101 has a function of
`publishing the information of the Web server, etc., and it
`displays the screen for accepting various information from
`the user(s), through the Internet 42 on the stationary-type
`terminal 301 and/or the portable-type terminal 302 accessing
`thereto (hereinafter, being called by an “access terminal”).
`And, it receives various information from the user(s), with
`using the CGI and the Java, for example, thereby to conduct
`the processing therewith.
`
`In more details, the request receiver portion 101
`[0043]
`transmits the information produced in the form of the HTML
`(HyperText Markup Language), so as to display a screen for
`inputting ID information on the access terminal. And, it
`receives or accepts the ID information from the access
`terminal of the user, thereby searching out or check whether
`this ID information is registered or not in a user ID DB
`(database) 104 registering the ID information therein, on
`which the service center 10 is available for the user, i.e.,
`conducting certification of the user.
`
`[0044] Also, the request receiver portion 101 transmits the
`information, being produced in the form of the HTML for
`displaying a receipt screen of control contents on the access
`terminal, towards the access terminal. And, receiving or
`accepting the control content of the on-vehicle equipment 20
`from the access terminal of user, it produces the control
`information for bringing or causing the on-vehicle equip-
`ment 20 to execute the processing in accordance with this
`control content. Then,
`it registers or enters the control
`content accepted, as well as, the control information pro-
`duced, into a control information DB 105, attaching the ID
`information of the user of the access terminal therewith.
`
`[0045] FIG. 3 shows an example of contents registered in
`the control information DB 105. In this example, it com-
`prises: a field 1051 for registering therein the ID information
`of the user, which is received from the access terminal; a
`field 1052 for registering therein the control contents, which
`are accepted or received from the access terminal; a field
`1053 for registering therein the control information to make
`the on-vehicle equipment 20 execute the processing corre-
`sponding to or depending on the control contents; a field
`1054 for registering therein results of execution of the
`processing, being necessary upon bringing the on-vehicle
`equipment 20 to execute the processing corresponding to or
`depending on that control information, and being executable
`in advance by a providing portion 103, which will be
`mentioned later; and a field 1055 for registering a flag
`indicative of if the on-vehicle equipment 20 is under the
`remote control operation or not, upon the basis of that
`control
`information,
`thereby making up one (1) record
`thereof.
`
`14
`
`14
`
`

`

`US 2003/0043019 A1
`
`Mar. 6, 2003
`
`the field 1053 includes: a field 10531 for
`[0046] Also,
`registering therein a control command for controlling the
`on-vehicle equipment 20; and a field 10532 for registering
`therein a parameter(s) of the control command.
`
`In the present embodiment, the navigation appara-
`[0047]
`tus is assumed to be that on-vehicle equipment 20. Then, in
`the present embodiment,
`there are prepared the control
`commands for executing various processing in relation with
`the navigation, including: a control command DIS_POS for
`bringing the on-vehicle apparatus 20 to conduct a point
`display; a control command DIS_POI for bringing the
`on-vehicle equipment
`to conduct a POI display; and a
`control command DIS_RUT for bringing the on-vehicle
`equipment 20 to conduct a route guidance, respectively.
`
`the parameter is determined in the kind
`[0048] Also,
`thereof, depending upon that of the control commands. For
`example, in case of the control command DIS_POS,
`the
`coordinate information (or a special value for indicating that,
`if being the vehicle position) is set as the parameter(s)
`thereof, for identifying the display point. In case of the
`control command DIS_POI, the information for identifying
`the genre of point information to be displayed, as well as, the
`information for identifying the area (or a special value for
`indicating that if being in the vicinity of the vehicle position)
`are set as the parameters thereof. And, in case of the control
`command GUI_RUT, the coordinate information is set as the
`parameter(s) thereof, for identifying a goal thereof.
`
`[0049] As was mentioned in the above, in the field 1054 is
`registered the result on execution of the processing, being
`necessary upon bringing the on-vehicle equipment 20 to
`execute the processing depending upon the control informa-
`tion registered in the field 1052, and also executable in
`advance by the providing portion 103, which will be men-
`tioned later. Herein, the processing executable in advance by
`the providing portion 103 means that
`the processing is
`executable in advance to the time when the control infor-
`
`mation is transmitted to the on-vehicle equipment 20 from a
`control information transmitter portion 102, which will be
`mentioned later. With the present embodiment, in the case
`where the control content registered in the field 10352 uses
`no information received from the on-vehicle equipment 20,
`thus, it corresponds to a case where the control command
`other than the control command GUI_RUT for use of the
`route guidance is already registered in the field 10531, and
`where the parameter(s) registered in the field 10532 does not
`include the vehicle position therein.
`
`[0050] The control information transmitter portion 102
`also has a function of publishing the information of the Web
`server, etc., for example, as in the same manner of the
`request receiver portion 101 (however, it is the URL (Uni-
`form Resource Locator), differing from the request receiver
`portion 101), and it displays the screen for accepting various
`information from the user of the on-vehicle equipment 20,
`who accesses thereto via the Internet 42. And, for example,
`by using the CGI and/or the Java, it conducts the processes
`for receiving or accepting the various kinds of information
`from the on-vehicle equipment(s) 20.
`
`In more details, the control information transmitter
`[0051]
`portion 102 receives the ID information from the on-vehicle
`equipment 20, and makes search on all records registered in
`the field 1051, starting from the control information DB 105.
`And,
`it produces a menu screen for selecting a record
`
`arbitrarily, from each of the records detected, and menu
`information for bringing the on-vehicle equipment 20 to
`display it thereon, in the format of HTML. Then, this menu
`information is transmitted to the on-vehicle equipment 20,
`and receives select information of the record(s) from the
`on-vehicle equipment 20. And, within the control informa-
`tion DB 105, the flag indicative of “valid” is registered into
`a field 1055 of the selected record, which is indicated by this
`selection information, and also the control information is
`read out from the field 1053 of this record, to be transmitted
`to the on-vehicle equipment 20.
`
`[0052] Further, according to the present embodiment, it is
`assumed that the HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) is
`applied to the communication between the control informa-
`tion transmitter portion 102 and the on-vehicle equipment
`20. Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the control information is
`described in the format of XML (extensible Markup Lan-
`guage), to be transmitted to the on-vehicle equipment 20.
`However, a tag used in transmission of the control informa-
`tion is assumed to be in a format, which cannot be inter-
`preted by the information reading function, such as the Web
`browser, etc., which is installed into the on-vehicle equip-
`ment 20.
`
`[0053] When a new record is added into the control
`information DB 105, the providing portion 103 begins to
`search or check whether the information from the on-vehicle
`
`equipment 20 is used or not, in the control content which is
`registered in the field 1352 of this record. In more details, it
`is checked on whether the control command registered in the
`field of this record is one of the control commands or not,
`other than the control command GUI_RUT for the route
`guidance. If it is the control command other than the control
`command GUI_RUT, it is further searched or checked if the
`parameter(s) registered in the field 10532 of this record
`includes the vehicle position or not therein. And, if in the
`field 10531 is registered the control command other than the
`control command GUI_RUT, and also if in the field 10532
`is registered the parameter containing no vehicle position
`therein, it is decided that the control content registered in the
`field 1352 does not utilize the information from the on-
`
`vehicle equipment 20, thereby identifying the processing
`needed to make the on-vehicle equipment 20 execute the
`processing corresponding to or depending on the control
`information registered in the field 1053 of this record, and
`the execution thereof begins. Then, the result of this execu-
`tion is registered into the field 1054 of this record.
`
`In the present embodiment, for the processing
`[0054]
`being necessary upon bringing the on-vehicle equipment 20
`to execute the processing corresponding to or depending on
`the
`control
`information,
`the
`following processes
`are
`assumed: i.e., a searching process of a point identified by the
`parameter(s), in the case of the control command DIS_POS;
`a POI searching process under the search condition of the
`area and genre identified by the parameter(s), in the case of
`the control command DIS_POI; and a route searching pro-
`cess from the location of the vehicle to the goal identified by
`the parameter(s),
`in the case of the control command
`GUI_RUT. For this reason, in the providing portion 103 are
`provided a point