U.S. patent application number 09/789325 was filed with the patent office on 2001-08-23 for travel time obtaining system, local map data server, travel time obtaining server, control methods thereof, and recording medium.
Invention is credited to Ogawa, Hideharu.
Application Number | 20010016850 09/789325 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 18565944 |
Filed Date | 2001-08-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010016850 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ogawa, Hideharu |
August 23, 2001 |
Travel time obtaining system, local map data server, travel time
obtaining server, control methods thereof, and recording medium
Abstract
A map server 151 transmits information representing travel time
between a nearby point and a via point as a response. An ISP 171
transmits information representing travel time between destination
and the via point as a response. A travel time obtaining server 161
accepts an enquiry indicating a nearby point and destination from a
terminal 111, and selects a ISP 171 on which the destination is
registered from a plurality of the ISP 171. The travel time
obtaining server 161 obtains information representing a via point
and travel time A between the travel time and the destination from
the selected ISP 171. and obtains information representing travel
time B between the nearby point and the via point from the map
server 151. The travel time obtaining server 161 calculates A+B,
and transmits information representing the calculation result to
the terminal 111 as a response.
Inventors: |
Ogawa, Hideharu; (Tokyo,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Mitchell P. Brook, Esq.
BAKER & McKENZIE
12th Floor
101 West Broadway
San Diego
CA
92101-3890
US
|
Family ID: |
18565944 |
Appl. No.: |
09/789325 |
Filed: |
February 20, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 ; 701/522;
705/5; 707/999.107; 726/7 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 10/02 20130101;
G01C 21/34 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
707/104.1 ;
705/5; 713/202; 701/201 |
International
Class: |
G06F 017/30; G01C
021/34; G06F 012/14 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 21, 2000 |
JP |
2000-42946 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A travel time obtaining system comprising a wide area map data
server, and a plurality of local map data servers, a travel time
obtaining server, and a terminal, which are being connected to each
other via a computer network, wherein, (a) said wide area map data
server: accepts an enquiry indicating a nearby point and a via
point; and responds to said accepted enquiry by transmitting
information representing travel time between said nearby point and
said via point if the information is registered on said wide area
map data server, (b) each of said plurality of said local map data
servers: accepts an enquiry indicating destination; and responds to
said accepted enquiry by transmitting information representing said
via point and travel time between said via point and said
destination, if information representing said destination, said via
point registered on said wide area map data server, and travel time
between said via point and said destination is registered on said
local map data server concerned, (c) said travel time obtaining
server: accepts an enquiry indicating a nearby point and
destination; selects one of said plurality of the local map data
server, on which said destination is registered, transmits an
enquiry indicating said destination to said selected local map data
server, to obtain information representing a via point and travel
time between said via point and said destination; transmits an
enquiry indicating said nearby point and said via point to said
wide area map data server, to obtain information representing
travel time between said nearby point and said via point; and
responds to said accepted enquiry by transmitting information
representing the sum of the obtained travel times between said
nearby point and said via point and between said via point and said
destination, as travel time between said nearby point and said
destination, and (d) said terminal: transmits an enquiry indicating
a nearby point and destination to said travel time obtaining
server, and obtains information representing travel time between
said nearby point and said destination from said travel time
obtaining server.
2. The travel time obtaining system according to claim 1 further
comprising a connection authenticator being connected to said
computer network, (e) said connection authenticator accepts a
connection request from said terminal, and establishes connection
between said terminal and said computer network if said connection
authenticator authenticates said terminal which sent the connection
request.
3. The travel time obtaining system according to claim 2, wherein
any one of said plurality of the local map data servers acts as
said connection authenticator, said local map data server acting as
said connection authenticator: accepts a request for adding
information to registration, editing the registration, or deleting
the registration, which indicates destination, a via point, and
travel time between said destination and via point, from said
authenticated terminal; and modifies the registration of said
destination, said via point, and the travel time between said
destination and said via point indicated by said request, by adding
information to the registration, editing the registration, or
deleting the registration.
4. The travel time obtaining system according to claim 2, wherein
said connection authenticator accepts an enquiry indicating a
starting point and destination from said authenticated terminal,
and if said starting point, the nearby point registered on said
wide area map data server, and travel time between said starting
point and said nearby point are registered on said connection
authenticator, said connection authenticator: transmits an enquiry
indicating said nearby point and said destination to said travel
time obtaining server, to obtain travel time between said nearby
point and said destination; and responds to said accepted enquiry
by transmitting information representing the sum of said registered
travel time between the starting point and the nearby point and
said obtained travel time between the nearby point and the
destination, as travel time between said starting point and said
destination.
5. The travel time obtaining system according to claim 4, wherein
said connection authenticator further transmits information
representing said registered travel time between said starting
point and said nearby point, to said travel time obtaining server,
and asks said travel time obtaining server to calculate the sum of
said registered travel time between the starting point and the
nearby point and said obtained travel time between the nearby point
and the destination, and to respond to said terminal by
transmitting information representing the sum of the travel times
as travel time between said starting point and said destination to
said terminal.
6. The travel time obtaining system according to claim 2, wherein
said connection authenticator comprises: a user name receiver which
receives information representing a user name from said terminal;
an authentication character string generator/transmitter which
generates an authentication character string, and transmits
information representing said authentication character string to
said terminal; a password string receiver which receives
information representing a password string from said terminal; and
a rule memory which stores rules for generating password strings
based on the authentication character strings so that the rules are
associated with the user names, and said terminal is authenticated
when the password string received by said password sting receiver
is successfully generated based on the authentication character
string generated by said authentication character string generator
in accordance with the rule corresponding to the user name received
by said user name receiver being stored in said rule memory.
7. A local map data server connected to a wide area map data server
on which via points are registered and to a travel time obtaining
server via a computer network, comprising: a local map data
register which stores information representing destination, a via
point registered on said wide area map data server, and travel time
between said via point and said destination which are associated
with each other; a destination acceptor which accepts an enquiry
designating destination; and an information responder which
responds to said accepted enquiry, if said destination is
registered on said local map data register, by transmitting
information representing the via point and travel time
corresponding to said registered destination.
8. The local map data server according to claim 7 further
comprising: a connection request acceptor which accepts a
correction request from said terminal; and a communication
establisher which establishes connection between said terminal and
said computer network when said terminal which transmits said
connection request is authenticated.
9. The local map data server according to claim 8 further
comprising: a modification request acceptor which accepts a request
for modifying registration indicating destination, a via point and
travel time between said destination and said via point by adding
information to the registration, editing the registration, or
deleting the registration; and a registration modifier which
modifies the registration of the destination, the via point, and
the travel time between the destination and the via point indicated
by said request, by adding information to the registration, editing
the registration, or deleting the registration.
10. The local map data server according to claim 8 further
comprising: a user name receiver which receives information
representing a user name from said terminal; an authentication
character string generator/transmitter which generates an
authentication character string and transmits information
representing said generated authentication character string to said
terminal; a password string receiver which receives information
representing a password string from said terminal; and a rule
memory which stores rules for generating password strings based on
the authentication character strings so that the rules are
associated with the user names, and said terminal is authenticated
when the password string received by said password string receiver
is successfully generated based on the authentication character
string generated by said authentication character string generator
in accordance with the rule corresponding to the user name received
by said user name receiver being stored in said rule memory.
11. A travel time obtaining server which is connected to a wide
area map data server, a plurality of local map data server, and a
terminal via a computer network, comprising: an enquiry acceptor
which accepts an enquiry indicating a nearby point and destination;
a selector which selects a local map data servers on which said
destination is registered from said plurality of the local map data
servers; a local map data obtainer which transmits an enquiry
indicating said destination to said selected local map data server
to obtain information representing a via point and travel time
between said via point and said destination; a wide area map data
obtainer which transmits an enquiry indicating said nearby point
and said via point to said wide area map data server to obtain
information representing travel time between said nearby point and
said via point; and a calculator/responder which calculates the sum
of said obtained travel time between the nearby point and the via
point and the travel time between said via point and said
destination, and responds to said enquiry accepted by said enquiry
acceptor by transmitting information representing the sum as travel
time between said nearby point and said destination to said
terminal.
12. A method of controlling a local map data server which is
connected to a wide area map data server on which via points are
registered and a travel time obtaining server via a computer
network, which comprises a local map data register which stores
information representing destination, a via point registered on
said wide area map data server, travel time between said via point
and said destination which are associated with each other,
comprising the steps of: accepting an enquiry indicating
destination; and if said destination is registered on said local
map data register, responding to said enquiry by transmitting
information representing a via point and travel time corresponding
to said registered destination.
13. The method of controlling said local map data server according
to claim 12 further comprising the steps of: accepting a connection
request from a terminal, and if said terminal which send said
connection request is authenticated, establishing connection
between said terminal and said computer network.
14. The method of controlling said local map data server according
to claim 13 further comprising the steps of: accepting a request
for modifying registration by adding the information, editing the
registration, or deleting the registration with indicating
destination, a via point, and travel time between said destination
and said via point, from said authenticated terminal; and modifying
the registration of said destination, said via point, and travel
time between said destination and said via point indicated by said
request, by adding information to the registration, editing the
registration, or deleting the registration.
15. The method of controlling said local map data server according
to claim 13, wherein said local map data server further comprises a
rule memory which stores rules for generating a password string
based on an authentication character string so that the rules are
associated with user names respectively, said method further
comprising the steps of: receiving information representing the
user name from said terminal; generating the authentication
character string, and transmitting information representing said
generated authentication character string; and receiving
information representing the password string from said terminal,
wherein said terminal is authenticated when the password string
received at said password string receiving step is successfully
generated based on the authentication character string generated by
said authentication character string generating step in accordance
with the rule corresponding to the user name received by said user
name receiving step being stored in said rule memory.
16. A method of controlling a travel time obtaining server which is
connected to a wide area map data server, a plurality of local map
data servers, and a terminal via a computer network, comprising the
steps of: accepting an enquiry indicating a nearby point and
destination from said terminal; selecting a local map data server
on which said destination is registered from said plurality of the
local map data servers; transmitting an enquiry indicating said
destination to said selected local map data server to obtain
information representing a via point and travel time between said
via point and said destination; and responding to said enquiry
accepted at said enquiry accepting step by transmitting information
representing the sum of said obtained travel time between the
nearby point and the via point and travel time between said via
point and said destination, to said terminal as information
representing travel time between said nearby point and said
destination.
17. A computer readable recording medium storing a program which
causes a computer which is connected to a wide area map data server
on which via points are registered and a travel time obtaining
server via a computer network, to function as: a local map data
register which stores information representing destination, a via
point registered on said wide area map data server, and travel time
between said via point and said destination which are associated
with each other; a destination acceptor which accepts an enquiry
indicating destination; and an information responder which responds
to said accepted enquiry by transmitting information representing a
via point and travel time corresponding to said destination if said
destination is registered on said local map data server.
18. The recording medium according to claim 17, wherein said
program further causes said computer to function as: a connection
request acceptor which accepts a connection request form a
terminal, and a connection establisher which establishes connection
between said terminal and said computer network if said terminal
which sends said connection request is authenticated.
19. The recording medium according to claim 18, wherein said
program further causes said computer to function as: a modification
request acceptor which accepts a request for modifying registration
by adding information to the registration, editing the
registration, or deleting the registration with indicating
destination, a via point, and travel time between said destination
and said via point from said authenticated terminal; and a
registration modifier which modifies the registration of the
destination, the via point, and travel time between said
destination and said via point indicated by said request, by adding
information to the registration, editing the registration, or
deleting the registration.
20. The recording medium according to claim 18, wherein said
program further causes said computer to function as: a user name
receiver which receives information representing a user name from
said terminal; an authentication character string
generator/transmitter which generates an authentication character
string and transmits information representing said generated
authentication character string to said terminal; a password string
receiver which receives information representing a password string
from said terminal; and a rule memory which stores rules for
generating a password string based on the authentication character
string with associating the rules with the user names respectively,
wherein said terminal is authenticated when the password string
received by said password string receiving step is successfully
generated based on the authentication character string generated by
said authentication character string generating step in accordance
with the rule corresponding to the user name received by said user
name receiving step being stored in said rule memory.
21. A computer readable recording medium storing a program which
causes a computer which is connected to a wide area map data
server, a plurality of local map data servers, and a terminal via a
computer network, to function as: an enquiry acceptor which accepts
an enquiry indicating a nearby point and destination, from said
terminal; a selector which selects a local map data server on which
said destination is registered, from said plurality of the local
map data servers; a local map data obtainer which transmits an
enquiry indicating said destination to said selected local map data
server to obtain information representing a via point and travel
time between said via point and said destination; a wide area map
data obtainer which transmits an enquiry indicating said nearby
point and said via point to obtain information representing travel
time between said nearby point and said via point; and a
calculator/responder which calculates the sum of said obtain travel
time between the nearby point and the via point and the travel time
between said via point and said destination, and responds to said
enquiry accepted by said enquiry acceptor by transmitting
information representing the calculated sum as travel time between
said nearby point and said destination to said terminal.
22. The recording medium according to claim 17, wherein said
recording medium storing said program is any one of a compact disc,
a floppy disk, a hard disk, a magneto-optical disk, a digital
versatile disc, a magnetic tape, and a semiconductor memory.
23. The recording medium according to claim 21, wherein said
recording medium storing said program is any one of a compact disc,
a floppy disk, a hard disk, a magneto-optical disk, a digital
versatile disc, a magnetic tape, and a semiconductor memory.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a travel time obtaining
system, a local map data server, a travel time obtaining server,
control methods thereof and a recording medium, more particularly,
to a travel time obtaining system, a local map data server, a
travel time obtaining server, and control methods thereof which are
suitable for managing travel time information around destination
location or starting location and wide area travel time information
separately, and a recording medium storing a program which realizes
the above.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Routing devices for interconnecting terminal and computer
networks such as the Internet have been provided conventionally.
Those routing devices include dial-up servers or dial-up routers in
a case where interconnection between the terminals and the routing
device uses PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network). In a case
where the terminals and the routing device are wired by, for
example, Ethernet connection (including wireless connection), those
routing devices are called gateway.
[0005] It has been known that ISP (Internet Service Provider) is a
business entity which provides users of the terminals with the
right to use the routing devices of the ISP thus the users are
allowed to connect the Internet. The computer networks such as the
Internet include ASP (Application Service Providers) which provides
the users of the terminals with services.
[0006] The users connects the Internet via the ISP and receives
services from the ASP through a browser for WWW (World Wide Web).
The service contents provided by the ASP may be not only image
data, sound data, and search results, but also map data
[0007] A map data ASP owns a server to manage map data. The server
accept requests from the users, and replies to them. The server
also stores travel time data of various sections.
[0008] Conventionally, the map data ASP manages all sets of the
travel time data in order to obtain travel time of a section based
on the map data.
[0009] New comers join the ISP business and carry out various
R&D activities as they are interested in WWW in these days.
[0010] However, since the conventional map data ASP manages all
sets of travel time data, the map data providing business has
difficulties in providing accurate travel time data. That is,
travel time varies in accordance with various conditions. For
example, if a user requests travel time to a golf course, a famous
place, a sightseeing spot, etc., it may take longer or shorter time
to get to there than the travel time obtained by the map data ASP,
because conditions including a traffic jam, a traffic restriction,
etc. depend on seasons, day, or time.
[0011] It has been required a system which can manage data
corresponding to various conditions at everywhere.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] It is an object to provide a travel time obtaining system, a
local map data server, a travel time obtaining server, control
methods thereof, and a recording medium storing a program which
realizes the above, to overcome the above described problem.
[0013] To achieve the above object, the invention will now be
disclosed in accordance with the principle of the present
invention.
[0014] A travel time obtaining system according to a first aspect
of the present invention comprises a wide area map data server, and
a plurality of local map data servers, a travel time obtaining
server, and a terminal, which are being connected to each other via
a computer network.
[0015] The wide area map data server: accepts an enquiry indicating
a nearby point and a via point; and responds to the accepted
enquiry by transmitting information representing travel time
between the nearby point and the via point if the information is
registered on the wide area map data server.
[0016] Each of the plurality of the local map data servers: accepts
an enquiry indicating destination; and responds to the accepted
enquiry by transmitting information representing the via point and
travel time between the via point and the destination, if
information representing the destination, the via point registered
on the wide area map data server, and travel time between the via
point and the destination is registered on the local map data
server concerned.
[0017] The travel time obtaining server: accepts an enquiry
indicating a nearby point and destination; selects one of the
plurality of the local map data server, on which the destination is
registered; transmits an enquiry indicating the destination to the
selected local map data server, to obtain information representing
a via point and travel time between the via point and the
destination; transmits an enquiry indicating the nearby point and
the via point to the wide area map data server, to obtain
information representing travel time between the nearby point and
the via point; and responds to the accepted inquiry by transmitting
information representing the sum of the obtained travel times
between the nearby point and the via point and between the via
point and the destination, as travel time between the nearby point
and the destination.
[0018] The terminal: transmits an enquiry indicating a nearby point
and destination to the travel time obtaining server, and obtains
information representing travel time between the nearby point and
the destination from the travel time obtaining server.
[0019] The travel time obtaining system according the present
invention may further comprise a connection authenticator being
connected to the computer network,
[0020] In this case, the connection authenticator may accept a
connection request from the terminal, and establishes connection
between the terminal and the computer network if the connection
authenticator authenticates the terminal which sent the connection
request.
[0021] In the travel time obtaining system according to the present
invention, any one of the plurality of the local map data servers
may act as the connection authenticator.
[0022] In this case, the local map data server acting as the
connection authenticator may accepts a request for adding
information to registration, editing the registration, or deleting
the registration, which indicates destination, a via point, and
travel time between the destination and via point, from the
authenticated terminal, and modify the registration of the
destination, the via point, and the travel time between the
destination and the via point indicated by the request, by adding
information to the registration, editing the registration, or
deleting the registration.
[0023] In the travel time obtaining server according to the present
invention, the connection authenticator may accept an enquiry
indicating a starting point and destination from the authenticated
terminal. If the starting point, the nearby point registered on the
wide area map data server, and travel time between the starting
point and the nearby point are registered on the connection
authenticator, the connection authenticator may transmit an enquiry
indicating the nearby point and the destination to the travel time
obtaining server, to obtain travel time between the nearby point
and the destination, and respond to the accepted enquiry by
transmitting information representing the sum of the registered
travel time between the starting point and the nearby point and the
obtained travel time between the nearby point and the destination,
as travel time between the starting point and the destination.
[0024] In the travel time obtaining system according to the present
invention, the connection authenticator may further transmit
information representing the registered travel time between the
starting point and the nearby point, to the travel time obtaining
server, and ask the travel time obtaining server to calculate the
sum of the registered travel time between the starting point and
the nearby point and the obtained travel time between the nearby
point and the destination, and to respond to the terminal by
transmitting information representing the sum of the travel times
as travel time between the starting point and the destination to
the terminal.
[0025] In the travel time obtaining system according to the present
invention, the connection authenticator may comprise a user name
receiver, an authentication character string generator/transmitter,
a password string receiver, and a rule memory.
[0026] The user name receiver receives information representing a
user name from the terminal.
[0027] The authentication character string generator/transmitter
generates an authentication character string, and transmits
information representing the authentication character string to the
terminal.
[0028] The password string receiver receives information
representing a password string from the terminal.
[0029] The rule memory stores rules for generating password strings
based on the authentication character strings so that the rules are
associated with the user names.
[0030] The terminal is authenticated when the password string
received by the password string receiver is successfully generated
based on the authentication character string generated by the
authentication character string generator in accordance with the
rule corresponding to the user name received by the user name
receiver being stored in the rule memory.
[0031] A local map data server according to a second aspect of the
present invention, is connected to a wide area map data server on
which via points are registered and to a travel time obtaining
server via a computer network, comprises a local map data register,
a destination acceptor, and an information responder.
[0032] The local map data register stores information representing
destination, a via point registered on the wide area map data
server, and travel time between the via point and the destination
which are associated with each other.
[0033] The destination acceptor accepts an enquiry designating
destination; and
[0034] The information responder responds to the accepted enquiry,
if the destination is registered on the local map data register, by
transmitting information representing the via point and travel time
corresponding to the registered destination.
[0035] The local map data server according to the present invention
may further connected to a terminal, and comprise a connection
request acceptor and a communication establisher.
[0036] The connection request acceptor accepts a correction request
from the terminal.
[0037] The communication establisher establishes connection between
the terminal and the computer network when the terminal which
transmits the connection request is authenticated.
[0038] The local map data server according to the present invention
may further comprise a modification request acceptor and a
registration modifier.
[0039] The modification request acceptor accepts a request for
modifying registration indicating destination, a via point, and
travel time between the destination and the via point by adding
information to the registration, editing the registration, or
deleting the registration.
[0040] The registration modifier modifies the registration of the
destination, the via point, and the travel time between the
destination and the via point indicated by the request, by adding
information to the registration, editing the registration, or
deleting the registration.
[0041] The local map data server according to the present invention
may further comprise a user name receiver, an authentication
character string generator/transmitter, a password string receiver,
and a rule memory.
[0042] The user name receiver receives information representing a
user name from the terminal.
[0043] The authentication character string generator/transmitter
generates an authentication character string and transmits
information representing the generated authentication character
string to the terminal.
[0044] The password string receiver receives information
representing a password string from the terminal.
[0045] The rule memory stores rules for generating password strings
based on the authentication character strings so that the rules are
associated with the user names.
[0046] The terminal is authenticated when the password string
received by the password string receiver is successfully generated
based on the authentication character string generated by the
authentication character string generator in accordance with the
rule corresponding to the user name received by the user name
receiver being stored in the rule memory.
[0047] A travel time obtaining server according to a third aspect
of the present invention is connected to a wide area map data
server, a plurality of local map data server, and a terminal via a
computer network, comprises an enquiry acceptor, a selector, a
local map data obtainer, a wide area map data obtainer, and a
calculator/responder.
[0048] The enquiry acceptor accepts an enquiry indicating a nearby
point and destination.
[0049] The selector selects a local map data servers on which the
destination is registered from the plurality of the local map data
servers.
[0050] The local map data obtainer transmits an enquiry indicating
the destination to the selected local map data server to obtain
information representing a via point and travel time between the
via point and the destination.
[0051] The wide area map data obtainer transmits an enquiry
indicating the nearby point and the via point to the wide area map
data server to obtain information representing travel time between
the nearby point and the via point.
[0052] The calculator/responder calculates the sum of the obtained
travel time between the nearby point and the via point and the
travel time between the via point and the destination, and responds
to the enquiry accepted by the enquiry acceptor by transmitting
information representing the sum as travel time between the nearby
point and the destination to the terminal.
[0053] A method according to a fourth aspect of the present
invention controls a local map data server which is connected to a
wide area map data server on which via points are registered and a
travel time obtaining server via a computer network, which
comprises a local map data register which stores information
representing destination, a via point registered on the wide area
map data server, travel time between the via point and the
destination which are associated with each other, comprises the
steps of:
[0054] accepting an enquiry indicating destination; and
[0055] if the destination is registered on the local map data
register, responding to the enquiry by transmitting information
representing a via point and travel time corresponding to the
registered destination.
[0056] The method of controlling the local map data server
according to the present invention may further comprise the steps
of: accepting a connection request from a terminal; and if the
terminal which send the connection request is authenticated,
establishing connection between the terminal and the computer
network.
[0057] The method of controlling the local map data server
according to the present invention may further comprise the steps
of: accepting a request for modifying registration by adding the
information, editing the registration, or deleting the registration
with indicating destination, a via point, and travel time between
the destination and the via point, from the authenticated terminal;
and modifying the registration of the destination, the via point,
and travel time between the destination and the via point indicated
by the request, by adding information to the registration, editing
the registration, or deleting the registration.
[0058] In the method of controlling the local map data server
according to the present invention, the local map data server may
further comprise a rule memory which stores rules for generating a
password string based on an authentication character string so that
the rules are associated with user names respectively.
[0059] In this case the method may further comprise the steps of:
receiving information representing the user name from the terminal;
generating the authentication character string, and transmitting
information representing the generated authentication character
string; and receiving information representing the password string
from the terminal.
[0060] The terminal is authenticated when the password string
received at the password string receiving step is successfully
generated based on the authentication character string generated by
the authentication character string generating step in accordance
with the rule corresponding to the user name received by the user
name receiving step being stored in the rule memory.
[0061] A method according to a fifth aspect of the present
invention controls a travel time obtaining server which is
connected to a wide area map data server, a plurality of local map
data servers, and a terminal via a computer network.
[0062] The method comprises the steps of: accepting an enquiry
indicating a nearby point and destination from the terminal;
selecting a local map data server on which the destination is
registered from the plurality of the local map data servers;
transmitting an enquiry indicating the destination to the selected
local map data server to obtain information representing a via
point and travel time between the via point and the destination;
and responding to the enquiry accepted at the enquiry accepting
step by transmitting information representing the sum of the
obtained travel time between the nearby point and the via point and
travel time between the via point and the destination, to the
terminal as information representing travel time between the nearby
point and the destination.
[0063] A program which controls a computer connected to a computer
network, to function as the local map data server or the travel
time obtaining server according to the present invention may be
stored in a computer readable recording medium such as a compact
disc, a floppy disk, a hard disk, a magneto-optical disk, a digital
versatile disc, a magnetic tape, and a semiconductor memory.
[0064] When a CPU (Central Processing Unit), other devices or
peripheral devices of the computer execute(s) the program stored in
the recording medium according to the present invention, the
computer functions as the local map data server or the travel time
obtaining server according to the present invention,
[0065] The recording medium storing the program according to the
present invention may be distributed or merchandized without
bundling in the computer. Or, the program stored in the recording
medium may be distributed via a computer network, and the
distributed program may be stored on other recording medium.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0066] These objects and other objects and advantages of the
present invention will become more apparent upon reading of the
following detailed description and the accompanying drawings in
which:
[0067] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the essential
structure of the travel time obtaining system according to the
present invention;
[0068] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining wide area map data
registered in a database of a map server;
[0069] FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining search process carried
out by the map server;
[0070] FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining data update process in
an ISP while showing the process flow in a terminal;
[0071] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a registry update form displayed
on a terninal's monitor;
[0072] FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining data obtaining process
carried out by a data obtaining server; and
[0073] FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining process for
establishing connection by the ISP while showing the process flow
in the terminal.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0074] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described.
The following embodiments are just described for explaining the
present invention. The embodiments do not limit the scope of the
invention. The scope of the present invention includes various
embodiments after arranging some or all elements of the present
invention by those skilled in the art.
[0075] A case where TCP/IP protocol is employed in
telecommunication will be described in the following embodiments.
Under TCP/IP protocol, an acknowledge message saying that messages
have been arrived is sent to a message sender. In the following
embodiments, explanation or description regarding to the
acknowledge message transmission under TCP/IP protocol will be
omitted for comprehensive explanation.
First Embodiment
[0076] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the essential
structure of a travel time obtaining system according to the
present invention. A first embodiment will now be describe with
reference to FIG. 1.
[0077] Each user operates a terminal 111 to access the Internet
131. The Internet 131 includes various ASP 132, a map server 151
which manages wide area travel time, and a data obtaining server
161 which obtains travel time data ISP 171 interconnect the ASP 132
etc. and the terminals 111 and transmit messages between them.
Message transmission is carried out in accordance with TCP/IP
protocol.
[0078] Each user operates the terminal 111 to transmits user name
and password to the ISP 171. The ISP authenticates the user based
on the user name and password. If the authentication is successful,
the ISP 171 assigns an ID tag including IP address and port No. to
the terminal 111 of the authenticated user, and interconnects the
terminal 111 and the Internet 131.
[0079] The Internet 131 acts as the computer network of the present
invention, the map server 151 acts as the wide area map data server
of the present invention, the data obtaining server 161 acts as the
travel time data obtaining server, and the ISP 171 acts as the
local map data server of the present invention.
[0080] A single data processor may include functions of the ASP
132, the map server 151, the data obtaining server 161, and the ISP
171. In other words, the single data processor may provide services
by those servers and the providers.
[0081] Details of the map server 151 will now be described with
reference to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing wide
area map data (including location data and travel time data between
2 locations) registered in a database of the map server 151.
[0082] A database 201 in the map server 151 holds a table 211 which
has a location column 212 and a location No. column. The location
column 212 shows information of typical locations. The typical
locations may be intersections on the major streets in states,
cities, and villages, ramps or interchanges of the highways,
railway stations, and the like.
[0083] For example, location No. "12345" is assigned to "Los
Angeles" as shown in FIG. 2. The same location No. is assigned an
abbreviation "LA" for "Los Angeles".
[0084] The same location No. is also assigned to "Union Station"
which is a capital railway station in Los Angeles. In the same
manner, location No. "67890" is assigned to "San Francisco".
[0085] Another table 231 in the database 201 has location No.
columns 232 and 233 which stores location Nos. corresponding to the
location data, a travel time column 234 which stores data
representing travel time between a set of locations over the
location No columns 232 and 233, and a note information column 235
which stores information representing additional notes.
[0086] According to the table 231 shown in FIG. 2, it takes 7 hours
from location No. "12345" to location No. "67890" by car, while it
takes 6 hours by train.
[0087] The location No. column 232 in the table 231 stores location
Nos. of locations nearby desired starting points (hereinafter,
referred to as "nearby point"), while the location No. column 233
stores location Nos. of locations nearby desired final destinations
(hereinafter, referred to as "Via point").
[0088] In a case where only one way of a highway is opened, for
example, travel time from a point A to a point B may differs from
travel time from the point B to the point A. According to FIG. 2,
it takes 25 minutes to go location "No. 33333" from location "No.
55555" by car, while it takes 40 minutes to go location "No. 55555"
from location "No. 33333" by car.
[0089] Search operation carried out by the map server 151 will now
be described with reference to FIG. 3 which is a flowchart for
explaining the process flow of the search operation.
[0090] The map server 151 accepts a request via the Internet 131
(step S301). In this case, the request designates a nearby point
and a via point.
[0091] In response to the request reception, the map server 151
accesses the table 211 of the database 201 to obtain location Nos.
of the nearby point and the via point (step S302).
[0092] Then, the map server 151 accesses the table 231 of the
database 201 to search for a pair of location Nos. of the nearby
point and the via point (step S303).
[0093] If the pair is found (step S303: Yes), the map server 151
obtains travel time data and additional note data corresponding to
the found pair from the table 231 (step S304), and sends it to the
Internet 131 (the request sender via the Internet 131) as response
(step S305), and the process is terminated.
[0094] On the contrary, if the pair is not found (step S303: No),
the map server 151 exchanges the location Nos. of the nearby point
and the via point (step S306), and accesses the table 231 to search
for a pair of the location Nos. in exchanged order (step S307).
This search method after exchanging the location Nos. helpful for
saving the storage because the table 231 requires ore set of travel
time data if travel time for go equals to travel time for
return.
[0095] If the pair of the exchanged location Nos. is found (step
S307: Yes), the flow forwards to step S304.
[0096] On the contrary, if the pair is not found (step S307: No),
the map server 151 sends an error report (step S308) as response,
and the process is terminated. Instead of the error report, the map
server 151 may designate extremely long time such as infinite.
[0097] If a plurality of pairs are found at step S304 (for example,
a case of the same route but plural traffic means, or a case of
various routes), all pairs may be sent to the Internet 131 as
response, or some highly ranked pairs in the rating of the shortest
travel time may be sent to the Internet 131 as response.
[0098] Details of the ISP 171 will now be described. The ISP 171
interconnects the terminal 111 and the Internet 131. The ISP 171
may contract with facilities such as a golf course for allowing the
administrator of the golf course to register information of the
golf course on the ISP 171 via the terminal 111. In this case, the
information to be registered on the ISP 171 may represent travel
time from the via points to the golf course, thus, the users are
able to designate the golf course as the final destination to
obtain the travel time.
[0099] FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining registration update
processing by which the users are allowed to register local map
information (via point, final destination, travel time) on the ISP
171 through the terminals 111 or update the registered local map
information.
[0100] The terminal 111 accepts inputs by a user (for example, a
manager of the golf course), that is, accepts user name, password,
etc. (step S401). The terminal 111 sends a connection request which
includes the input information, to the ISP 171 (step S402).
[0101] The ISP 171 receives the connection request (step S403), and
determines whether the user accessing thereto is authenticated one
or not based on the user information included in the connection
request (step S404). If the user concerned is authenticated one
(step S404: Yes), the ISP 171 assigns an ID tag to the terminal 111
concerned (step S405). The ID tag includes a set of "IP address and
port No.".
[0102] The ISP 171 also sends a "cookie" file to the terminal 111,
thus the terminal 111 is able to send data to the ISP 171 as
response. In this case, the ISP 171 is able to manage the user
information carefully based on the cookie information during
sessions between the terminal 111 and the Internet 131.
[0103] The terminal 111 receives the assigned ID tag (step S406),
thus, the terminal 111 is allowed to establish sessions with not
only the ISP 171 but also various data processors on the Internet
131 such as the ASP 132 via the ISP 171. Since sessions established
by the ISP 171 may be based on known techniques, detailed
description is omitted here.
[0104] The user is allowed to register a set of information
including via point, final destination, travel time, and additional
note on the ISP 171. Since the method of this registration is the
same as that for registering information on the map server 151
described above, detailed description is omitted here. Note that
faster operation is available on a travel time obtaining server if
location Nos. of the via points are the same as those registered on
the map server 151.
[0105] Instead of location Nos., the user may register location
name on the ISP 171, because the number of information sets to be
registered on the ISP 171 is quite smaller than those registered on
the map server 151.
[0106] The terminal 111 accepts user's inputs of a request for
sending a form page for updating the registered information (step
S407), the terminal 111 transmits the request to the ISP 171 (step
S408). The ISP 171 receives the request from the terminal 111 (step
S409), and transmits data representing the form page to the
terminal 11 (step S410). The terminal 111 receives the data (step
S411), and displays the form page in accordance with the received
data (step S412).
[0107] As shown in FIG. 5, the registration update form lists
several sets of registered via point, final destination, and note,
corresponding to the user name "USR123". The user can register
additional sets, edit the registered data, or delete the registered
data through edit area on the form page. The form page shown in
FIG. 5 also indicates URL (Uniform Resource Locator) input as the
request for transmitting the form page.
[0108] In this embodiment, operations for updating the registered
data depend on which button is clicked by an input device such as a
mouse.
[0109] If the user carries out operation(s) for adding, editing
and/or deleting through the form page (step S413), the terminal 111
sends a request signal regarding to the operation(s) to the ISP 171
(step S414). The ISP 171 receives the request signal from the
terminal 111 (step S415), and updates the database (step S416). The
ISP 171 sends the updated information to the terminal 111 concerned
as response, so that updated information is displayed thereon for
user's confirmation.
[0110] On the contrary, if an unauthenticated user accesses the ISP
171 (step S404: No), the ISP 171 terminates the session with the
terminal 111 (step S417), and terminates the processing.
[0111] In this embodiment, the above operations are carried out
through the WWW browser. Operations in the ISP 171 depend on
typical techniques using CGI (Common Gateway Interface) script,
Servlets, or the like. According to this structure, the user can
operate several tasks simultaneously.
[0112] Thus registered local map information is also searchable as
well as the wide area map information. Additionally, a user can
send enquiry which indicating only the final destination to the ISP
171. In this case, the ISP 171 may send information indicating a
via point (registered on the map server 151) and travel time
between the final destination and the via point as response. Such
the search may be carried out by the technique employed by the
aforementioned map server 151, or known typical database
techniques.
[0113] The ISP 171 may send plural sets of the via points and
travel time as response, as well as the case where the map server
151 sends data as response.
[0114] An operation by a travel time data obtaining server
(hereinafter, referred to as data obtaining server) 161 will now be
described with reference to FIG. 6 which is a flowchart for
explaining data obtaining process.
[0115] The data obtaining server 161 receives an enquiry signal
designating nearby points and via points from various data
processors on the Internet 131 (such as the terminals 111, ISP 171,
ASP 132) (step S601).
[0116] The data obtaining server 161 selects the ISP 171 on which
the desired destination is registered, based on pre-collected
information or by enquiring the registered ISP 171.
[0117] Known techniques regarding to WWW search robot may be
applicable to pre-collecting information.
[0118] The data obtaining server 161 obtains information of via
point corresponding to the destination, and travel time (A) between
the departure and the via point (step S603).
[0119] Then, the data obtaining server 161 sends an enquiry signal
indicating the via point obtained at step S603 and the nearby point
received at step S601, to the map server 151, and obtains
information representing travel time (B) between those points (step
S604). The data obtaining server 161 calculates the sum of the
travel time (A) obtained at step S603 and the travel time (B)
obtained at step S604 (step S605), and sends information
representing the calculated travel time to the enquiry sender as
response (step S606), and the processing is terminated.
[0120] If plural via points are obtained at step S603, the data
obtaining server 161 sends enquiry signals corresponding to the
obtained via points respectively to the map server 151. If the map
server 151 sends plural sets of travel time, the data obtaining
server 161 calculates the sums of the travel times respectively at
step 605. The data obtaining server 161 may send all of thus
obtained plural sets of travel time as response at step S606, or
send some highly ranked sets in the rating of shortest travel
time.
[0121] In addition to the travel time data, the note information
obtained at step S604 may be sent as response at step S606.
[0122] Each of the wide map data server, the local map data server,
and the travel time data obtaining server may be a computer having
a network interface card, a modem, or a terminal adapter, thus
being allowed to establish connection to the Internet via Ethernet,
ISDN, or ADSL. In this case, data in the wide map data server may
be stored in an external storage device such as a hard disk, or a
recording medium such as CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only
Memory).
Second Embodiment
[0123] According to the first embodiment, a user can obtain travel
time between the nearby point registered on the map server 151 and
the final destination registered on the ISP 171. The second
embodiment discloses a technique to obtain travel time sets of
starting point to a via point, a nearby point to a via point, and a
via point to final destination. The second embodiment features that
a user previously registers travel time from a starting point (for
example, the user's home) to a nearby point on the ISP 171.
[0124] More precisely, each user registers travel time between the
starting point and the nearby point registered on the map server
151, on the ISP 171 in the same manner as described in the first
embodiment.
[0125] When the data obtaining server 161 receives an enquiry
signal designating the starting point and final destination, the
data obtaining server 161 divides the route in three sections as
follows.
[0126] (1) Starting Point to Nearby Point
[0127] (2) Nearby Point to Via Point
[0128] (3) Via Point to Final Destination
[0129] To obtain travel time data of section (1), the data
obtaining server 161 selects the ISP 171 which has information of
the starting point as "destination". The data obtaining server 161
may carry out the same processing with using obtained via point
information as nearby point information.
[0130] In the same manner as described in the first embodiment,
travel time data of section (2) is obtained from the map server
151. The data obtaining server 161 selects the ISP 171 which
manages information of the final destination, and obtains travel
time data of the section (3) from the selected ISP 171.
[0131] Finally, the data obtaining server 161 calculates the sum of
the travel times of the sections (1) to (3), and sends information
representing the summed travel time as response to the request for
travel time from the starting point to the final destination.
[0132] In a case where the registered starting point is the user's
home or office, it might be undesirable that such the information
is exposed to the public through the internet 131. In this case,
the user may transmit information representing only a nearby point
and travel time between the starting point and the nearby point to
the data obtaining server 161, thus, the searching for travel time
data of section (1) is omitted. This method prevents the
information representing the starting point from being exposed to
the public through the Internet 131, thus, the user's personal
information is prevented from leaking,
Modified Embodiment
[0133] Connection establishing procedure for establishing
connection between the terminal 111 and the ISP 171 will now be
described with reference to FIG. 7 which is a flowchart for
explaining steps of the procedure. This processing may be employed
in the above described embodiments as steps S401 to S404.
[0134] The terminal 111 accepts user name input by the user (step
S801), and transmits a connection request to the ISP 171 together
with the information representing the user name (step S802).
[0135] The ISP 171 receives the connection request (step S803) from
the terminal 111. The ISP 171 generates an authentication character
string with using random numbers (step S804). The ISP 171 transmits
the authentication character string to the terminal 111 (step
S805).
[0136] The terminal 111 receives the authentication character
string (step S806), and displays it on the monitor (step S807).
[0137] The user converts the displayed authentication character
string into a password character string in accordance with the
predetermined rule which have been noticed to the user previously.
The data representing the rule is stored on the hard disk of the
ISP 171 while each rule is associated with corresponding user name.
Details of the conversion will be described later.
[0138] The terminal 111 accepts input of the password character
string by the user (step S808), and transmits the password string
to the ISP 171 (step S809).
[0139] The ISP 171 receives the password string (step S810).
[0140] The ISP 171 accesses its hard disk to obtain the rule
associated with the user name concerned (step S811). The ISP 171
applies the obtained rule to the authentication character string
generated at step S804 to convert the authentication character
string (step S812).
[0141] The ISP 171 compares the password character string received
at step S810 with the converted character string generated at the
step S812, to determined whether those are equal to each other or
not (step S813).
[0142] In case of equal (step S813: Yes), the ISP 171 determines
that the received connection request is authenticated one. Then,
the ISP 171 assigns an ID tag being unused to the terminal 111
concerned (step S814). The ISP 171 stores the assigned ID tag on
the hard disk or RAM (Random Access Memory) so that the ID tag is
associated with the user name concerned (step S815), and the
processing is terminated.
[0143] The terminal 111 obtains the assigned ID tag (step S816) and
use it for following communication procedures.
[0144] On the contrary, in case of unequal (step S813: No), that
is, the received connection request is unauthenticated one, the ISP
171 sends the terminal 111 a notice saying access inhibited (step
S817), and the processing is terminated. Process to respond to the
notice by the terminal 111 is not shown in FIG. 7 for
simplification.
[0145] Examples of applicable rules according to this embodiment
will now be described.
[0146] The authentication character string represents n-digit
numerical characters while the password string represents m-digit
numerical characters. It is established an individual rule for each
user, by which predetermined digits in the password string is
obtained by carrying out predetermined calculation based on
predetermined digits in the authentication character string. For
example, it is ruled that applying predetermined calculation (such
as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division) to a numeric
character on h.sub.k-th digit (1.ltoreq.h.sub.k.ltoreq.n) in the
authentication character string to obtain a numeric character on
k-th digit (1.ltoreq.k.ltoreq.m) in the password string. Assigning
individual sets of digit No. h.sub.k and calculation process to
each user realizes the secure user recognition.
[0147] For example, a rule "obtain: solution after adding 1 to 2nd
digit, solution after adding 2 to 4th digit, and solution after
adding 3 to 6th digit" is given to a user, while another rule
"obtain: solution after multiplying 1st digit by 3, quotient after
dividing 8th digit by 4, solution after subtracting 3 from 5th
digit" is given to the other user, where n=8 and m=3 (in case of
two or more digits result, obtain the first digit). According to
the former rule, if the authentication character string represents
"18245924", "962" is obtained as the password string.
[0148] The authentication character string may include alphanumeric
characters. In this case, applicable commands for calculation may
be "obtain following character", "obtain previous character"
"convert it into a small letter", "convert it into a capital
letter", "obtain its vowel", etc. Or, a predetermined conversion
table as disclosed in Unexamined Japanese Patent Application KOKAI
Publication No. HI 0-307799 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,141,751 may be
applicable to this embodiment.
[0149] The above described method prevents raw data representing
password from being input through the terminal 111. This is helpful
for providing the system for accessing the Internet 131 with
improved security. Especially, it is effective in protecting the
system from viruses which steal passwords with monitoring dial-up
connections, because the key to successful authentication depends
on the user's individual rule.
[0150] According to the present invention as described above, it is
able to provide a travel time obtaining system, a local map data
server, a travel time obtaining server, and controlling methods
thereof which are suitable for separately managing information
representing travel times around destination or starting point and
information representing travel time across wide area.
[0151] Various embodiments and changes may be made thereunto
without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the invention.
The above-described embodiments are intended to illustrate the
present invention, not to limit the scope of the present invention.
he scope of the present invention is shown by the attached claims
rather than the embodiments. Various modifications made within the
meaning of an equivalent of the claims of the invention and within
the claims are to be regarded to be in the scope of the present
invention.
[0152] This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No.
2000-42946 filed on Feb. 21, 2000 and including specification,
claims, drawings and summary, the disclosure of the above Japanese
Patent Application is incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety.
* * * * *