U.S. patent application number 09/805826 was filed with the patent office on 2001-12-06 for method and system for retrieving information for a navigation system.
Invention is credited to Kusano, Manabu, Yamazaki, Noboru.
Application Number | 20010049580 09/805826 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26587821 |
Filed Date | 2001-12-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010049580 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kusano, Manabu ; et
al. |
December 6, 2001 |
Method and system for retrieving information for a navigation
system
Abstract
A destination information retrieval method is provided. When
"airports" is selected as a desired destination from a category
list, a list of airports is provided. When a desired airport is
selected from the provided airport list, it is determined whether
the desired airport has a plurality of airport terminals. If a
plurality of airport terminals is present, the airlines that
utilize the desired airport are retrieved, and a list of the
retrieved airlines is provided. When a desired airline is selected
from the provided airline list, the airport terminal on the desired
airline is displayed in a display window, while a map of the target
airport and the vicinity is displayed with a cursor located at the
center.
Inventors: |
Kusano, Manabu; (Iwaki-city,
JP) ; Yamazaki, Noboru; (Iwaki-city, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BRINKS HOFER GILSON & LIONE
P.O. BOX 10395
CHICAGO
IL
60610
US
|
Family ID: |
26587821 |
Appl. No.: |
09/805826 |
Filed: |
March 14, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
701/400 ;
340/995.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01C 21/3679 20130101;
G06Q 10/087 20130101; G01C 21/3611 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
701/200 ;
340/995 |
International
Class: |
G01C 021/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 17, 2000 |
JP |
2000-076453 |
Jan 22, 2001 |
JP |
2001-013760 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A destination information retrieval method for navigation
systems, for retrieving information about a desired destination,
said method comprising the acts of: storing transportation station
data, transportation company data, and terminal data in a database;
searching the database for a desired transportation station when
the desired transportation station is inputted as the desired
destination; providing information about one or more transportation
companies that utilize the desired station; and providing
information about one or more terminals when a desired
transportation company is selected.
2. A destination information retrieval method according to claim 1,
wherein the transportation stations include airports, and the
transportation companies include airlines.
3. A destination information retrieval method according to claim 1,
further comprising the acts of: determining, based on the
information about the desired transportation station, whether the
desired transportation station has a plurality of terminals; and
providing information about one or more transportation companies
that utilize the desired transportation station when the desired
transportation station has a plurality of terminals.
4. A navigation system for retrieving information about a desired
destination, said navigation system comprising: a storage unit for
storing therein transportation station data, transportation company
data, and terminal data; a searching unit for searching said
storage unit for a desired transportation station when the desired
transportation station is inputted as the desired destination, and
for determining, based on the transportation station data, whether
the desired transportation station has a plurality of terminals;
and a control unit for, when it is found from the result of said
searching unit that the desired transportation station has a
plurality of terminals, searching the transportation station data
for transportation companies that utilize the desired
transportation station to provide a set of resulting transportation
companies, and providing information about the terminal in which a
desired transportation company operates when the desired
transportation company is selected from the provided transportation
companies.
5. A navigation system according to claim 4, wherein said storage
unit contains airport data as the transportation station data, and
airline data as the transportation company data.
6. A navigation system for retrieving information about a desired
destination, said navigation system comprising: a storage unit for
storing therein transportation station data, transportation company
data, and terminal data; a searching unit for searching said
storage unit for a desired transportation station when the desired
transportation station is inputted as the desired destination, and
for determining, based on the information about the desired
transportation station, whether the desired transportation station
is utilized by a plurality of transportation companies; and a
control unit for, when it is found from the result of said
searching unit that the desired transportation station is utilized
by a plurality of transportation companies, providing information
about the plurality of transportation companies, and providing
information about the terminal in which a desired transportation
company operates when the desired transportation company is
selected from the provided transportation companies.
7. A navigation system according to claim 6, wherein said storage
unit contains airport data as the transportation station data, and
airline data as the transportation company data.
8. A destination information retrieval method for navigation
systems, for retrieving information about a desired destination,
said method comprising the acts of: storing transportation station
data, transportation company data, and terminal data in a database;
searching the database for a desired transportation station when
the desired transportation station is inputted as the desired
destination; determining, based on the information about the
desired transportation station, whether the desired transportation
station has a plurality of terminals; when the desired
transportation station has a plurality of terminals, searching the
database for one or more transportation companies that utilize the
desired transportation station to provide information about the
resulting transportation companies; when a desired transportation
company is selected from the one or more transportation companies
that utilize the desired transportation station, providing service
information about the desired transportation company, said service
number information being externally obtained; and providing
information about the terminal for a desired service number when
the desired service number is selected from the provided service
information.
9. A destination information retrieval method according to claim 8,
wherein the transportation stations include airports, and the
transportation companies include airlines.
10. A destination information retrieval method for navigation
systems, for retrieving information about a desired destination,
said method comprising the acts of: storing transportation station
data, transportation company data, and terminal data; searching the
database for a desired transportation station when the desired
transportation station is inputted as the desired destination;
determining, based on the information about the desired station,
whether the desired station has a plurality of transportation
companies; when the desired station has a plurality of
transportation companies, providing information about the plurality
of transportation companies; when a desired transportation company
is selected from the plurality of transportation companies,
providing service number information for the desired transportation
company, said service number information being externally obtained;
and providing information about the terminal for a desired service
number when the desired service number is selected from the
provided service information.
11. A destination information retrieval method according to claim
10, wherein the transportation stations include airports, and the
transportation companies include airlines.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a method and system for
retrieving information for a navigation system. More particularly,
the present invention relates to a method and system for
destination information retrieval that provides information about
terminals and transportation companies that utilize transportation
stations.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Typically, a navigation system for navigating a vehicle
guides a user to a desired destination by determining the vehicle
position, reading map data for the vehicle position and the
vicinity from a storage medium such as a DVD-ROM, and displaying a
map image on a display screen based on the read map data while
displaying a vehicle position mark superimposed at a predetermined
position on the map image. The vehicle position mark may be moved
on the screen as the vehicle position moves as the vehicle travels,
or the vehicle position mark may be fixed to a predetermined
position, such as the center, of the map which is then scrolled, in
order to provide map information of the vehicle position and the
vicinity at a glance. Such a navigation system has a route guiding
function that determines a guidance route from a starting point to
a destination, displays the guidance route on the map, and performs
intersection guidance together with a zoomed map of an intersection
and an indication of the travel direction. FIGS. 11A to 11D are
views showing a known destination information retrieval method for
navigation systems when the desired destination is an airport by
way of example.
[0005] First, a telephone directory or a category list JL is
displayed on a display DPL, as shown in FIG. 11A. When a user
selects "airports," an airport list APL shown in FIG. 11B is then
displayed, and an airport terminal list TL shown in FIG. 11C is
displayed in response to selection of the desired airport. In turn,
when a desired airport terminal is selected, a map of the desired
destination, namely, a target airport TGT, and the vicinity is
displayed, as shown in FIG. 11D, with the target airport TGT being
located at the center. The displayed map can be used to enter a
destination or to register some points.
[0006] However, such a conventional destination information
retrieval method for navigation systems encounters some problems.
For example, when an airport is entered as a destination, the
conventional method does not involve providing information about
airport terminals on airline companies that utilize that airport,
and it is cumbersome for users to ask the airline company in
advance about the airport terminal.
[0007] Further, the conventional destination information retrieval
method does not involve providing flight information, and it is
cumbersome for users to previously ask the airline company in
advance about the flight information.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] Accordingly, an object of the present invention involves,
when a transportation station is inputted as a desired destination,
allowing a user to select a desired transportation company in the
destination retrieval, whereby selection of the transportation
company facilitates the provision of the desired terminal of that
station.
[0009] Another object of the present invention involves, when a
transportation station is inputted as a desired destination,
allowing a user to select a desired service number of a
transportation company, such as a flight number, in the destination
retrieval, thereby providing information about the desired service
number.
[0010] To this end, in one embodiment of the present invention, a
destination information retrieval method for navigation systems,
for retrieving information about a desired destination, includes
the acts of: storing transportation station data, transportation
company data, and terminal data in a database; searching the
database for a desired transportation station when the desired
transportation station is inputted as the desired destination;
providing information about one or more transportation companies
that utilize the desired station; and providing information about
one or more terminals when a desired transportation company is
selected.
[0011] The transportation stations may be airports, and the
transportation companies may be airlines.
[0012] The destination information retrieval method may further
include the acts of: determining, based on the desired
transportation station, whether the desired transportation station
has a plurality of terminals; and providing information about the
one or more transportation companies that utilize the desired
transportation station when the station searched for has a
plurality of terminals.
[0013] The destination information retrieval method may further
include the steps of: determining, based on the information about
the desired transportation station, whether the desired
transportation station is utilized by a plurality of transportation
companies; and providing information about one or more
transportation companies that utilize the desired transportation
station when the desired transportation station is utilized by a
plurality of transportation companies.
[0014] In another aspect of the present invention, a navigation
system for retrieving information about a desired destination
includes: a storage unit for storing therein transportation station
data, transportation company data, and terminal data; a searching
unit for, when a desired transportation station is inputted as the
desired destination, searching the storage unit for the desired
transportation station, and for determining, based on the
transportation station data, whether the desired transportation
station has a plurality of terminals; and a control unit for, when
it is found from the result of the searching unit that the desired
transportation station has a plurality of terminals, searching the
transportation station data for transportation companies that
utilize the desired transportation station to provide information
about the resulting transportation companies, and providing
information about the terminal in which a desired transportation
company operates when the desired transportation company is
selected from the provided transportation companies.
[0015] According to the present invention, a navigation system for
retrieving information about a desired destination may also
include: a storage unit for storing therein transportation station
data, transportation company data, and terminal data; a searching
unit for, when a desired transportation station is inputted as the
destination, searching the storage unit for the desired
transportation station, and for determining, based on the
information about the desired transportation station, whether the
station is utilized by a plurality of transportation companies; and
a control unit for, when it is found from the result of the
searching unit that the desired transportation station is utilized
by a plurality of transportation companies, providing information
about the plurality of transportation companies, and providing
information about the terminal in which a desired transportation
company operates when the desired transportation company is
selected from the provided transportation companies.
[0016] The storage unit may contain airport data as the
transportation station data, and airline data as the transportation
company data.
[0017] In another aspect of the present invention, a destination
information retrieval method for navigation systems, for retrieving
information about a desired destination which has been inputted,
includes the acts of: storing transportation station data,
transportation company data, and terminal data in a database;
searching the database for a desired transportation station when
the desired transportation station is inputted as the destination;
determining, based on the information about the desired
transportation station, whether the desired transportation station
has a plurality of terminals; when the desired transportation
station has a plurality of terminals, searching the database for
one or more transportation companies that utilize the desired
transportation station to provide information about the resulting
transportation companies; when a desired transportation company is
selected from the one or more transportation companies that utilize
the desired transportation station, providing service information
about the desired transportation company, the service number
information being externally obtained; and providing information
about the terminal for a desired service number when the desired
service number is selected from the provided service
information.
[0018] In another aspect of the present invention, a destination
information retrieval method for navigation systems, for retrieving
information about a desired destination which has been inputted,
includes the acts of: storing transportation station data,
transportation company data, and terminal data; searching the
database for a desired transportation station when the desired
station is inputted as the desired destination; determining, based
on the information about the desired station, whether the desired
station has a plurality of transportation companies; when the
desired station has a plurality of transportation companies,
providing information about the plurality of transportation
companies; when a desired transportation company is selected from a
plurality of transportation companies, providing service number
information for the desired transportation company, the service
number information being externally obtained; and providing
information about the terminal for a desired service number when
the desired service number is selected from the provided service
information.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIGS. 1A to 1D are views schematically showing a destination
information retrieval method according to a first feature of the
present invention;
[0020] FIGS. 2A to 2E are views showing a destination information
retrieval method according to a second feature of the present
invention;
[0021] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a navigation system according
to a first embodiment of the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 4 is a table of an airport/airline database according
to the first embodiment;
[0023] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the
navigation system according to the first embodiment;
[0024] FIG. 6 is a table of an airport/airline database according
to a second embodiment of the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the
navigation system according to the second embodiment;
[0026] FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a navigation system according
to a third embodiment of the present invention;
[0027] FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the
navigation system according to the third embodiment;
[0028] FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of a navigation
system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;
and
[0029] FIGS. 11A to 11D are views showing a known destination
information retrieval method for navigation systems.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0030] Overview
[0031] The overview of a first feature that may be utilized with
the present invention is described with reference to FIGS. 1A to 1D
showing an instance in which the desired destination is an airport
by way of example.
[0032] First, a category list JL containing amusement parks,
stations, airports, etc. is displayed on a display DPL, as shown in
FIG. 1A. When a user selects "airports" from the category list JL,
an airport list APL containing airports, for example, Yamagata
Airport, Sendai Airport, and so on, is then displayed, as shown in
FIG. 1B. When the user selects a desired airport from the displayed
airport list APL, it is determined whether the desired airport has
a plurality of airport terminals. If a plurality of airport
terminals are present, the airlines that utilize that airport are
retrieved, and a list, i.e., an airline list ACL is displayed on
the display DPL, of the retrieved airlines, for example, Japan
Airlines, and so on as shown in FIG. 1C. When a desired airline is
selected from the displayed airline list ACL, as shown in FIG. 1D,
the airport terminal on the desired airline is displayed in an
information display window MSG, while a map of the desired
destination, namely, a target airport TGT, and the vicinity is
displayed with a cursor CSR located at the center. Alternatively,
instead of the map of the target airport TGT and the vicinity with
the cursor CSR located at the center, other information such as the
entrance to the desired airport terminal or a parking lot near the
airport terminal may be provided.
[0033] The overview of a second feature that may be utilized with
the present invention is described with reference to FIGS. 2A to 2E
showing when the desired destination is an airport by way of
example.
[0034] First, a category list JL containing amusement parks,
stations, airports, etc. is displayed on a display DPL as shown in
FIG. 2A. When a user selects "airports" from the category list JL,
an airport list APL containing airports, for example, Yamagata
Airport, Sendai Airport, and so on, is then displayed, as shown in
FIG. 2B. When the user selects a desired airport from the displayed
airport list APL, it is determined whether the desired airport has
a plurality of airport terminals. If a plurality of airport
terminals are present, the airlines that utilize that airport are
retrieved, and a retrieved airline list ACL, for example, Japan
Airlines, and so on, is displayed on the display DPL, as shown in
FIG. 2C. When a desired airline is selected from the displayed
airline list ACL, various information such as flight numbers and
the airport terminal on the desired airline is externally obtained,
and a list of the flight numbers FL is displayed from the obtained
information, as shown in FIG. 2D. When a desired flight number is
selected from the displayed flight number list FL, as shown in FIG.
2E, the resulting airport terminal is displayed on an information
display window MSG together with any other information, while a map
of the desired destination, namely, a target airport TGT, and the
vicinity is displayed with a cursor CSR located at the center.
Alternatively, instead of the map of the target airport TGT and the
vicinity with the cursor CSR located at the center, other
information such as the entrance to the desired airport terminal or
a parking lot near the airport terminal may be provided.
[0035] First Embodiment
[0036] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a navigation system according
to a first embodiment of the present invention.
[0037] The navigation system includes a map data storage medium,
such as a DVD-ROM 11, for storing map information, a DVD-ROM
controller 12 for controlling reading of the map data from the
DVD-ROM 11, and a vehicle position determination unit 13 for
determining the vehicle position. The vehicle position
determination unit 13 includes a vehicle speed sensor for
determining a traveled distance of the vehicle, an angular speed
sensor for sensing a traveling direction of the vehicle, a GPS
receiver, and a position calculating CPU. The navigation system
further includes a map information memory 14 for storing map
information read from the DVD-ROM 11, a remote controller 15 used
for manipulations such as menu selection, zooming, and manual
scrolling through the map, and a remote controller interface
16.
[0038] The navigation system also includes a processor (CPU) 17 for
controlling the overall navigation system. The processor 17
performs various controls in response to manipulation instructions
from the remote controller 15. Various programs including a
route-finding program are stored in a ROM 18, and the processing
results of such programs, such as routes found, are stored in a RAM
19. An airport/airline database 20 contains information such as the
location of airport and airline information. The navigation system
further includes a map image generation unit 21 for generating map
images, a video RAM 22 for storing the generated map images, a menu
image generation unit 23 for generating images of menus such as a
destination retrieving menu, a guidance route generation unit 24
for generating the found guidance route, a mark generation unit 25
for generating marks such as a vehicle position mark, and a bus 28.
The various images which are generated are combined by an image
combining unit 26, and the resulting combined image is output
therefrom. A display unit 27 displays the image output from the
image combining unit 26.
[0039] The airport/airline database 20 contains information such as
the location of airport and airline information associated with the
name of the airport in the map information stored in the DVD-ROM
11. A specific example of the airport/airline database 20 is shown
in FIG. 4, showing the hierarchical structure. An airport database
ADB1 contains information for each airline such as the location of
the airport, a multi-terminal flag indicating whether the desired
airport has a plurality of airport terminals, and a pointer
indicating the location of airline data associated with the name of
the airport. An airline database ADB 2 contains the name of
airline, and the name of the airport terminal on the airline.
[0040] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the
navigation system according to the first embodiment.
[0041] First, when a destination information retrieval key (not
shown) is pressed by a user through a menu selection manipulation
of the remote controller 15, the processor 17 allows the category
list JL to be read from the DVD-ROM 11 and then displayed on the
display unit 27, as shown in FIG. 1A (S101). Then, it is determined
whether the user selected "airports" from the category list JL
(S102). If the "airports" is selected at step S102, the airport
list APL shown in FIG. 1B is displayed (S103). Then, it is
determined whether the user selected a desired airport from the
airport list APL (S104). If a desired airport is not selected at
step S104, the process returns to step S103 to continue displaying
the airport list APL. Otherwise, i.e., if a desired airport is
selected at step S104, the airport/airline database 20 is searched
for whether the desired airport has a plurality of airport
terminals (S105).
[0042] If step S105 determines that a plurality of airport
terminals are present, the airport/airline database 20 is searched
for the airlines that utilize that airport, and the airlines are
listed and displayed as the airline list ACL, as shown in FIG. 1C
(S106). It is then determined whether a desired airline is selected
from the displayed airline list ACL (S107). If a desired airline is
not selected at step S107, the process returns to step S106 to
continue displaying the airline list ACL. Otherwise, i.e., if a
desired airline is selected at step S107, the airport/airline
database 20 is searched for the airport terminal on the desired
airline, and that airport terminal on the desired airline is then
displayed together with the map of that airport terminal and the
vicinity, as shown in FIG. 1D (S108).
[0043] If any category other than "airports" is selected at step
S102, a usual destination setting procedure is continuously
performed (S109).
[0044] If step S105 determines that the desired airport does not
have a plurality of airport terminals, the process proceeds to step
S110 in which a map of that airport and the vicinity is
displayed.
[0045] In the subsequent procedure, a destination may be entered
for route guidance, or points may be registered.
[0046] Second Embodiment
[0047] A navigation system according to a second embodiment of the
present invention has substantially the same structure as that of
the navigation system according to the first embodiment described
with reference to FIG. 3. Examples of the provided lists according
to the second embodiment are the same as those shown in FIGS. 1A to
1D.
[0048] FIG. 6 illustrates a modification of the airport/airline
database 20 shown in FIG. 4, which contains information such as the
location of the airport and airline information to be associated
with the name of the airport in the map information stored in the
DVD-ROM 11. The modified example of the airport/airline database 20
has a hierarchical structure. An airport database ADB3 contains
information for each airline such as the location of the airport, a
multi-airline flag indicating whether the desired airport is
utilized by a plurality of airline companies, and a pointer
indicating the location of airline data associated with the name of
the airport. An airline database ADB 4 contains the name of the
airline, and the name of the airport terminal on the airline.
[0049] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the
navigation system according to the second embodiment. The same step
numbers are given to the same steps as those shown in FIG. 5.
[0050] First, when a destination information retrieval key (not
shown) is pressed by a user through a menu selection manipulation
of the remote controller 15, the processor 17 allows the category
list JL to be read from the DVD-ROM 11 and then displayed on the
display unit 27, as shown in FIG. 1A (S101). Then, it is determined
whether the user selected "airports" from the list JL (S102). If
the "airports" is selected at step S102, the airport list APL shown
in FIG. 1B is displayed (S103). Then, it is determined whether the
user selected a desired airport from the airport list APL (S104).
If a desired airport is not selected at step S104, the process
returns to step S103 to continue displaying the airport list APL.
Otherwise, i.e., if a desired airport is selected at step S104, the
airport/airline database 20 is searched for whether the desired
airport is utilized by a plurality of airlines (S205). If step S105
determines that there is a plurality of airlines that utilize that
airport, the airport/airline database 20 is searched for the
airlines that utilize that airport, and the resulting airlines are
listed and displayed as the airline list ACL, as shown in FIG. 1C
(S106).
[0051] It is then determined whether a desired airline is selected
from the displayed airline list ACL (S107). If a desired airline is
not selected at step S107, the process returns to step S106 to
continue displaying the airline list ACL. Otherwise, i.e., if a
desired airline is selected at step S107, the airport/airline
database 20 is searched for the airport terminal on the desired
airline, and that airport terminal on the desired airline is then
displayed together with the map of that airport terminal and the
vicinity, as shown in FIG. 1D (S108).
[0052] If any category other than "airports" is selected at step
S102, a usual destination setting procedure is continuously
performed (S109).
[0053] If step S105 determines that the desired airport is not
utilized by a plurality of airlines, the process proceeds to step
S110 in which a map of that airport and the vicinity is
displayed.
[0054] In the subsequent procedure, a destination may be entered
for route guidance, or points may be registered. While information
of the resulting airline based on the airport information and the
airport terminal on that airline is visually provided in the first
and second embodiments, such information may be provided by voice
or the like.
[0055] Third Embodiment
[0056] FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a navigation system according
to a third embodiment of the present invention. The navigation
system according to the third embodiment provides an additional a
transmitter/receiver 29 for externally obtaining information
including flight numbers.
[0057] FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the
navigation system according to the third embodiment. The same step
numbers are given to the same steps as those shown in FIG. 5. Since
the procedure up to step S107 is the same as that of the first
embodiment, description thereof is omitted.
[0058] If a desired airline is selected at step S107, the
transmitter/receiver 29 requests and externally obtains information
including flight numbers for the desired airline (S308). A list of
the flight numbers is displayed on the display device 27 from the
obtained information, as shown in FIG. 2D (S309), and it is then
determined whether a desired flight number is selected from the
displayed flight numbers (S310). If a desired flight number is not
selected at step S310, the process returns to step S309 in which a
predetermined processing is performed. Otherwise, i.e., a desired
flight number is selected at step S310, the airport terminal for
the desired flight number, other information including the
departure/arrival time, and the map of that airport terminal and
the vicinity are displayed (S311).
[0059] In the subsequent procedure, a destination may be entered
for route guidance, or points may be registered.
[0060] Fourth Embodiment
[0061] A navigation system according to a fourth embodiment of the
present invention has substantially the same structure as that of
the navigation system according to the third embodiment described
with reference to FIG. 8. Examples of the provided lists according
to the fourth embodiment are the same as those shown in FIGS. 2A to
2E.
[0062] FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the
navigation system according to the fourth embodiment. The same step
numbers are given to the same steps as those of the navigation
system according to the third embodiment described with reference
to FIG. 9. In the process according to the third embodiment, it is
determined at step S105 whether the desired airport has a plurality
of airport terminals. In the fourth embodiment, it is determined
whether the desired airport is utilized by a plurality of airlines
(S205).
[0063] While information such as the names of airlines, flight
numbers, and the names of airport terminals is visually provided in
the third and fourth embodiments, such information may be provided
by voice or the like.
[0064] While the present invention has been described using an
airport as a destination example, the present invention may be
embodied in other destinations including railway stations, bus
stops, and harbors. In those cases, airline companies are replaced
by railway companies, bus companies, and shipping companies.
[0065] According to the present invention, therefore, a user can
easily learn the accurate terminal on the desired transportation
company without it being necessary for the user to ask the
transportation company in advance about the terminal.
[0066] Further, according to the present invention, a user can
obtain information about the desired service number, such as flight
numbers, bus route numbers, and ship route numbers, without it
being necessary for the user to ask the transportation company in
advance about the service number.
* * * * *