U.S. patent application number 12/420396 was filed with the patent office on 2009-11-12 for navigation device and information providing method.
This patent application is currently assigned to SONY CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Daisuke KURATA.
Application Number | 20090281723 12/420396 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41267538 |
Filed Date | 2009-11-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090281723 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KURATA; Daisuke |
November 12, 2009 |
NAVIGATION DEVICE AND INFORMATION PROVIDING METHOD
Abstract
A navigation device includes: an acquisition section for
acquiring plurality of updated content introductory information
each representing the latest updated content in a predetermined web
site based on user's preference information; a detection section
for detecting surrounding position information covering an area
around the current position from large number of position
information stored in a predetermined storage section; and a search
section for searching for particular updated content introductory
information corresponding to the surrounding position information
detected by the detection section as surrounding updated content
introductory information from the plurality of updated content
introductory information acquired by the acquisition section.
Inventors: |
KURATA; Daisuke; (Tokyo,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OBLON, SPIVAK, MCCLELLAND MAIER & NEUSTADT, L.L.P.
1940 DUKE STREET
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
US
|
Assignee: |
SONY CORPORATION
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
41267538 |
Appl. No.: |
12/420396 |
Filed: |
April 8, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
701/408 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01C 21/3682 20130101;
G01C 21/3697 20130101; G01C 21/3679 20130101; G01C 21/3629
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
701/207 |
International
Class: |
G01C 21/00 20060101
G01C021/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 12, 2008 |
JP |
2008-124952 |
Claims
1. A navigation device comprising: an acquisition section for
acquiring plurality of updated content introductory information
each representing the latest updated content in a predetermined web
site based on user's preference information; a detection section
for detecting surrounding position information covering an area
around the current position from large number of position
information stored in a predetermined storage section; and a search
section for searching for particular updated content introductory
information corresponding to the surrounding position information
detected by the detection section as surrounding updated content
introductory information from the plurality of updated content
introductory information acquired by the acquisition section.
2. The navigation device according to claim 1, comprising a voice
conversion section for converting text data corresponding to a
predetermined part of the surrounding updated content introductory
information into voice and outputting the voice via a predetermined
voice output section.
3. The navigation device according to claim 2, wherein the
acquisition section acquires the updated content introductory
information while performing wireless communication using a
predetermined wireless communication section.
4. The navigation device according to claim 3, wherein the updated
content introductory information is rich site summary (RSS) written
in extensible markup language (XML).
5. The navigation device according to claim 3, wherein the position
information is point of interest (POI).
6. An information providing method comprising: an acquisition step
of acquiring, by an acquisition section, plurality of updated
content introductory information each representing the latest
updated content in a predetermined web site based on user's
preference information; a detection step of detecting, by a
detection section, surrounding position information covering an
area around the current position from large number of position
information stored in a predetermined storage section; and a search
step of searching for, by a search section, particular updated
content introductory information corresponding to the surrounding
position information detected by the position information detection
section as surrounding updated content introductory information
from the plurality of updated content introductory information
acquired by the acquisition section.
7. The information providing method according to claim 6,
comprising a voice conversion step of converting text data
corresponding to a predetermined part of the surrounding updated
content introductory information into voice and outputting the
voice via a predetermined voice output section.
8. The information providing method according to claim 7, wherein
the acquisition step acquires the updated content introductory
information while performing wireless communication using a
predetermined wireless communication section.
9. The information providing method according to claim 8, wherein
the updated content introductory information is rich site summary
(RSS) written in extensible markup language (XML).
10. The information providing method according to claim 8, wherein
the position information is point of interest (POI).
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a navigation device and an
information providing method suitably applied to, e.g., a vehicle
navigation device.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] In a vehicle navigation device, point of interest (POI)
information representing locations of interest, such as restaurants
and amusement facilities is registered in a hard disk drive in
association with map data. The POI information includes name,
latitude/longitude, address, category, phone number, uniform
resource identifier (URI), and the like of facility.
[0005] Some vehicle navigation devices acquire, from a
predetermined server, a rich site summary (RSS) file which is
written in extensible markup language (XML) and used for publishing
update information of a web site, such as title and summary.
[0006] When a given category corresponding to the POI is selected
by a user, a vehicle navigation device of such a type acquires,
from a server, an RSS file containing information about facilities
such as restaurants or amusement facilities according to the
selected category. Then, the vehicle navigation device designates
the location of position information described in the acquired RSS
file on a map image displayed on a display (refer to, e.g., Jpn.
Pat. Appln. Laid-Open Publication No. 2007-278807).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] As described above, the vehicle navigation device acquires
an RSS file containing facility information according to name,
latitude/longitude, address, category, phone number, URI and the
like registered as the POI.
[0008] Thus, there is a problem that a keyword that is not
registered as the POI is not selected in the vehicle navigation
device. That is, an RSS file corresponding to a user's desired
keyword is not acquired.
[0009] Further, the vehicle navigation device only acquires
facility information based on the POI but does not acquire an RSS
file related to various facilities that have previously been
registered as the POI. That is, the vehicle navigation device is
not able to provide freshly updated information to a user
instantaneously.
[0010] The present invention has been made in view of the above
points, and aims to propose a navigation device and an information
providing method capable of providing fresh information about an
area around the current position which is suited to the user's
taste.
[0011] To solve the above problem, according to an aspect of the
present invention, there is provided a navigation device including:
an acquisition section for acquiring plurality of updated content
introductory information each representing the latest updated
content in a predetermined web site based on user's preference
information; a detection section for detecting surrounding position
information covering an area around the current position from large
number of position information stored in a predetermined storage
section; and a search section for searching for particular updated
content introductory information corresponding to the surrounding
position information detected by the detection section as
surrounding updated content introductory information from the
plurality of updated content introductory information acquired by
the acquisition section.
[0012] With the above configuration, the navigation device
previously acquires the plurality of updated content introductory
information and searches for the updated content introductory
information containing the user's preference information based on
the surrounding position information, thereby providing to a user
the surrounding updated content introductory information obtained
as a result of the search.
[0013] Further, according to another aspect of the present
invention, there is provided an information providing method
including: an acquisition step of acquiring, by an acquisition
section, plurality of updated content introductory information each
representing the latest updated content in a predetermined web site
based on user's preference information; a detection step of
detecting, by a detection section, surrounding position information
covering an area around the current position from large number of
position information stored in a predetermined storage section; and
a search step of searching for, by a search section, particular
updated content introductory information corresponding to the
surrounding position information detected by the detection section
as surrounding updated content introductory information from the
plurality of updated content introductory information acquired by
the acquisition section.
[0014] With the above configuration, the navigation device
previously acquires the plurality of updated content introductory
information and searches for the updated content introductory
information containing the user's preference information based on
the surrounding position information, thereby providing to a user
the surrounding updated content introductory information obtained
as a result of the search.
[0015] According to the present invention, the navigation device
previously acquires the plurality of updated content introductory
information and searches for the updated content introductory
information containing the user's preference information based on
the surrounding position information, thereby providing to a user
fresh information about an area around the current position which
is suited to the user's taste.
[0016] The nature, principle and utility of the invention will
become more apparent from the following detailed description when
read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like
parts are designated by like reference numerals or characters.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] In the accompanying drawings:
[0018] FIG. 1 is a view schematically showing a configuration of an
RSS acquisition system;
[0019] FIG. 2 is a view schematically showing a circuit
configuration of a PND;
[0020] FIG. 3 is a view schematically showing a functional software
configuration of a CPU;
[0021] FIG. 4 is a view schematically showing a state where RSS
files are stored in an RSS database;
[0022] FIG. 5 is a view schematically showing a map image
displaying surrounding POIs; and
[0023] FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a procedure of RSS
acquisition/reproduction processing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0024] An embodiment of the present invention will be described in
detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
(1) RSS Acquisition System
[0025] As shown in FIG. 1, an RSS acquisition system 1 according to
an embodiment of the present invention is constituted by a portable
navigation device (hereinafter, referred to as personal navigation
device (PND)) 2, a plurality of wireless access points 3 (3a, 3b,
3c , . . . ), and a server 4.
[0026] The PND 2 is wirelessly connected to one of the plurality of
wireless access points 3 and thereby connected to the server 4 via
the wireless access point 3 and Internet NT.
[0027] The PND 2 is supported by a cradle 5 attached to a dashboard
of a vehicle by a sucker 5A and mechanically and electrically
connected to the same.
[0028] With the above configuration, the PND 2 operates using
electrical power supplied from a battery of the vehicle via the
cradle 5. The PND has a built-in battery and can operate even when
it has been removed from the cradle 5 using electrical power
supplied from the built-in battery.
[0029] The PND 2 has a display 6 on the front surface thereof and
can display a map image and the like corresponding to map data
stored in a hard disk drive (not shown) incorporated in the PND 2
on the display 6.
(2) Circuit Configuration of PND
[0030] As shown in FIG. 2, in the PND 2, a central processing unit
(CPU) 11 reads a basic program from a read only memory (ROM) 12 and
loads it into a random access memory (RAM) 13 for execution to
thereby control the operation of respective components of the PND 2
via a bus 19.
[0031] Further, the CPU 11 reads out various application programs
from the ROM 12 and loads them into the RAM 13 for execution to
thereby allowing the PND 2 to carry out various processing such as
RSS acquisition/reproduction processing (to be described later)
according to the application programs.
[0032] The PND 2 transmits satellite signals from a plurality of
global positioning system (GPS) satellites received by a GPS
antenna ANT to a GPS module 14. The GPS module 14 accurately
measures the current position of the vehicle based on orbit data
obtained by demodulating the plurality of satellite signals
respectively and distance data between the plurality of GPS
satellites and vehicle to thereby acquire current position data and
transmits the acquired current position data to the CPU 11.
[0033] Based on the current position data, the CPU 11 reads out map
data of an area around the current position of the vehicle from the
hard disk drive 15, generates a map image including the current
position, and outputs the generated map image to the display 6 so
as to display the map image.
[0034] A touch panel 16 for receiving user's touch operation is
provided on the front surface of the display 6. When a given POI is
selected as a destination through touch operation on the touch
panel 16, the CPU 11 of the PND 2 searches for a guide route from
the current vehicle position to the destination corresponding to
the POI and displays a navigation map image representing the guide
route on the display 6.
[0035] While the vehicle is driving to the destination according
the guide route, the CPU 11 of the PND 2 displays the above
navigation map image on the display 6 and, at the same time,
generates voice information for guiding and assisting (hereinafter,
collectively referred to as navigating) the user to the
destination, and outputs the voice information from a speaker 17 as
navigation voice.
[0036] In this manner, the PND 2 provides a navigation function to
navigate the vehicle to a user's desired destination.
[0037] The PND 2 further includes a wireless communication unit 18
constituted by WI-FI (registered trademark) module and uses the
communication unit 18 to search for a
wireless-communication-enabled wireless access point 3 (FIG. 1).
When having found the wireless-communication-enabled wireless
access point 3, the PND 2 is wirelessly connected to the found
wireless access point 3 and thereby connected to the server 4 via
the access point 3 and the Internet NT.
(3) RSS Acquisition/Reproduction Processing
[0038] Next, a procedure of RSS acquisition/reproduction processing
of acquiring a large number of RSS files from the server 4 by
wireless communication and searching for a particular RSS file
corresponding to the POI covering an area around the current
vehicle position from the RSS files so as to provide a found RSS
file to the user will be described using a functional software
configuration of the CPU 11.
[0039] When receiving a power supply from a battery (not shown) in
response to depression of, e.g., a power button (not shown), the
CPU 11 of the PND 2 activates the PND 2 and then executes the RSS
acquisition/reproduction processing.
[0040] When executing the RSS acquisition/reproduction processing
according to an application program, as shown in FIG. 3, the CPU 11
of the PND 2 functions like software as an RSS acquisition section
21, a surrounding POI detection section 22, a database search
section 23, an RSS reproduction section 24, and a voice conversion
section 25.
[0041] In response to user's touch operation on the touch panel 16,
the RSS acquisition section 21 reads out from the hard disk drive
15 preference keyword data KD containing preference keywords, such
as "baseball", "football", and "domestic economy", that have
previously been registered in the hard disk drive 15.
[0042] The RSS acquisition section 21 then transmits the readout
preference keyword data KD to the server 4 via the wireless
communication unit 18, wireless access point 3 and the Internet
NT.
[0043] The server 4 searches for all the RSS files that include the
preference keywords written in the preference keyword data KD
received from the PND 2 and extracts web site titles and update
date/time from the RSS files obtained as a result of the
search.
[0044] The server 4 then generates new update data containing the
extracted web site titles and update date/time and transmits the
new update data to the PND 2.
[0045] The RSS acquisition section 21 downloads from the server 4
all the RSS files corresponding to the new update data received
from the server 4 and stores the acquired RSS files in an RSS
database 15A of the hard disk drive 15.
[0046] When receiving new update data from the server 4 once again,
the RSS acquisition section 21 compares the web site tiles in the
RSS files stored in the RSS database 15A and web site tiles
contained in the new update data.
[0047] The RSS acquisition section 21 then compares, with respect
to a pair of the RSS files in which web site titles coincide with
each other, the update date/time between the RSS file stored in the
RSS database 15A and RSS file contained in the new update data.
[0048] When determining as a result of the comparison that the RSS
file stored in the RSS database 15A is old, the RSS acquisition
section 21 acquires a new updated RSS file from the server 4 and
overwrites the new updated RSS file in the RSS database 15A for
storage.
[0049] Concretely, as shown in FIG. 4, the RSS acquisition section
21 acquires from the server 4 RSS files 31a to 31n containing the
preference keywords written in the preference keyword data KD and
stores the RSS files 31a to 31n in the RSS database 15A.
[0050] As shown in FIG. 5, when displaying a map image of an area
around the current vehicle position based on the current position
data supplied from the GPS module 14 on the display 6, the
surrounding POI detection section 22 reads out an POI 41 of "Tohto
dome" and POI 42 of "Tohto hotel" (hereinafter, referred to as
surrounding POIs 41 and 42) displayed together with a vehicle
position icon 40 from the POI data PD (FIG. 3). The surrounding POI
detection section 22 then transmits the surrounding POIs 41 and 42
to the database search section 23.
[0051] The database search section 23 searches for an RSS file
containing the character string "Tohto dome" of the surrounding POI
41 or character string "Tohto hotel" of the surrounding POI 42
supplied from the surrounding POI detection section 22 from the RSS
files 31a to 31n stored in the RSS database 15A and transmits data
of the search result to the RSS reproduction section 24.
[0052] In this case, the RSS reproduction section 24 reads out RSS
files (hereinafter, referred to as surrounding RSS files) 31b and
31d containing the character string "Tohto dome" of the surrounding
POI 41 or character string "Tohto hotel" of the surrounding POI 42
from the RSS database 15A based on the search result data supplied
from the database search section 23.
[0053] The RSS reproduction section 24 then extracts, e.g., text
data including the titles and summaries of the surrounding RSS
files 31b and 31d read out from the RSS database 15A and transmits
the extracted text data to the voice conversion section 25.
[0054] The voice conversion section 25 converts the text data of
the surrounding RSS files 31b and 31d supplied from the RSS
reproduction section 24 into voice information respectively and
outputs via the speaker 17 the voice information as RSS
reproduction voice at 10 second intervals in, e.g., the
chronological order in terms of update date/time. Thus, the PND 2
can provide the titles and summaries of the surrounding RSS files
31b and 31d to the user by voice.
[0055] In the manner as described above, the CPU 11 of the PND 2
acquires the RSS files 31a to 31n containing the preference
keywords that have previously been registered by the user from the
server 4 and provides the titles and summaries of the surrounding
RSS files 31b and 31d containing the character string of the
surrounding POI 41 or 42 covering an area around the vehicle
position to the user by voice.
(4) RSS Acquisition/Reproduction Processing Procedure
[0056] Next, a procedure of the RSS acquisition/reproduction
processing in which the CPU 11 of the PND 2 acquires the plurality
of RSS files 31a to 31b containing the preference keywords,
searches for the surrounding RSS files 31b and 31d containing the
character strings of the surrounding POIs 41 and 42, and provides
the search result to the user as RSS reproduction voice will be
described using a flowchart of FIG. 6.
[0057] The CPU 11 of the PND 2 enters the start step of routine RT1
and then shifts to step SP1 where the CPU 11 reads out the
preference keyword data KD containing preference keywords that have
previously been registered in the hard disk drive 15, transmits the
readout preference keyword data KD to the server 4 via the wireless
communication unit 18, and shifts to step SP2.
[0058] At this time, the server 4 searches for all the RSS files
31a to 31n that include the preference keywords written in the
preference keyword data KD received from the PND 2 and generates
new update data containing web site titles and update date/time of
the RSS files 31a to 31n obtained as a result of the search and
transmits the new update data to the PND 2.
[0059] In step SP2, the CPU 11 of the PND 2 determines, based on a
search result data received from the server 4, whether each of the
RSS files 31a to 31n is old. When an affirmative result is
obtained, the CPU 11 shifts to step SP3. On the other hand, when a
negative result is obtained, the CPU 11 shifts to step SP4.
[0060] In step SP3, the CPU 11 of the PND 2 downloads the RSS files
31a to 31n from the server 4 anew, stores the acquired RSS files
31a to 31n in the RSS database 15A, and then shifts to step
SP4.
[0061] In step SP4, the CPU 11 of the PND 2 displays a map image
(FIG. 5) containing the vehicle position icon 40 based on the
current position data supplied from the GPS module 14 on the
display 6, detects, e.g., the surrounding POI 41 of "Tohto dome"
and surrounding POI 42 of "Tohto hotel" displayed on the map image,
and then shifts to step SP5.
[0062] In step SP5, the CPU 11 of the PND 2 searches for the
surrounding RSS files 31b and 31d containing the character string
"Tohto dome" of the surrounding POI 41 or character string "Tohto
hotel" of the surrounding POI 42 from the RSS files 31a to 31n
stored in the RSS database 15A and then shifts to step SP6.
[0063] In step SP6, the CPU 11 of the PND 2 determines whether a
reproduction button (not shown) for reproducing the surrounding RSS
files 31b and 31d has been depressed. When an affirmative result is
obtained, which means that a user has depressed the reproduction
button for immediately viewing information of the surrounding RSS
files 31b and 31d, so the CPU 11 shifts to step SP8.
[0064] On the other hand, when an affirmative result is obtained in
SP6, which means that the reproduction button has not been
depressed, so the CPU 11 of the PND 2 shifts to step SP7.
[0065] In step SP7, the CPU 11 of the PND 2 determines whether
e.g., 10 seconds has elapsed after reproduction of another
surrounding RSS file (not shown) different from the surrounding RSS
files 31b and 31d. When an affirmative result is obtained, the CPU
11 shifts to step SP8. On the other hand, when a negative result is
obtained, the CPU returns to step SP6.
[0066] In step SP8, the CPU 11 of the PND 2 determines whether
navigate voice different from the RSS reproduction voice is being
output via the speaker 17. When an affirmative result is obtained,
the CPU 11 returns to step SP8 and waits until the end of the voice
output different from the RSS voice.
[0067] On the other hand, when a negative result is obtained in
step SP8, which means that no voice is output at that moment, so
the CPU 11 of the PND 2 shifts to step SP9.
[0068] In step SP9, the CPU 11 of the PND 2 determines, with
respect to the surrounding RSS files 31b and 31d searched for in
step SP5, whether, e.g., which one of the surrounding RSS files has
been updated earlier than the other, selects the earlier one (in
this case, surrounding RSS file 31b) so as to extract the text data
of the title and summary of the surrounding RSS file 31b, and then
shifts to step SP10.
[0069] In step SP10, the CPU 11 of the PND 2 converts the text data
extracted in step SP9 into voice information, outputs the voice
information as the RSS reproduction voice via the speaker 17, and
then shifts to step SP11.
[0070] In step SP11, the CPU 11 of the PND 2 determines whether
another surrounding POI (not shown) different from the surrounding
POIs 41 and 42 is displayed in the map image on the display 6.
[0071] When an affirmative result is obtained in step SP11, which
means that another surrounding POI different from the surrounding
POIs 41 and 42 is displayed on the map image with the movement of
the vehicle position, so the CPU 11 of the PND 2 returns to step
SP4 and detects the another surrounding POI.
[0072] On the other hand, a negative result is obtained in step
SP11, which means that the vehicle position is not moved, so the
CPU 11 of the PND 2 shifts to step SP12.
[0073] In step SP12, the CPU 11 of the PND 2 determines whether
both the surrounding RSS files 31b and 31d have been reproduced.
When a negative result is obtained, which means that there exists
any surrounding RSS file (in this case, surrounding RSS file 31d)
that has not been reproduced, so the CPU 11 shifts to step
SP13.
[0074] In step SP13, the CPU 11 of the PND 2 selects the
surrounding RSS file 31d to be reproduced after the surrounding RSS
file 31b and then returns to step SP6.
[0075] Then, in the processing from steps SP6 to SP11, the CPU 11
of the PND 2 converts the text data of the surrounding RSS file 31d
into the RSS reproduction voice, outputs the RSS reproduction voice
via the speaker 17, and then shifts to step SP12.
[0076] In step SP12, the CPU 11 of the PND 2 determines once again
whether both the surrounding RSS files 31b and 31d have been
reproduced. When an affirmative result is obtained, the CPU 11
shifts to step SP14 and ends this flow.
(5) Operation and Effects
[0077] In the configuration described above, the CPU 11 of the PND
2 acquires a large number of RSS files 31a to 31n containing user's
desired preference keywords from the server 4 and stores the large
number of RSS files 31a to 31n in the RSS database 15A as
needed.
[0078] Then, the CPU 11 of the PND 2 searches for, e.g., the
surrounding RSS files 31b and 31d containing the character string
of the surrounding POI 41 or 42 covering an area around the vehicle
position measured by the GPS module from the large number of RSS
files 31a to 31b stored in the RSS database 15A.
[0079] Then, the CPU 11 of the PND 2 converts the text data of
e.g., the titles and summaries of the surrounding RSS files 31b and
31d containing the surrounding POI 41 or 42 into the RSS
reproduction voice and outputs the RSS reproduction voice, thereby
providing the RSS information of the surrounding RSS files 31b and
31d to the user.
[0080] Thus, by searching for only the surrounding RSS files 31b
and 31d containing the character string of the surrounding POI 41
or 42 covering an area around the vehicle position from the RSS
files 31a to 31n containing the user's preference keywords, the PND
2 can provide to the user the RSS information as a result of the
search.
[0081] Further, every time the vehicle position is changed, the CPU
11 of the PND 2 detects the surrounding POIs 41 and 42 covering an
area around the vehicle position so as to provide the RSS
information of the surrounding RSS files 31b and 31d containing the
character string of the surrounding POI 41 or 42. With this
configuration, the PND 2 can provide in real time to the user the
RSS information such as event or game that is taking place in an
area around the vehicle position, thereby attracting a user's
attention.
[0082] Further, the PND 2 can automatically acquire the RSS
information of the surrounding POIs 41 and 42 covering an area
around the vehicle position while the user is driving the vehicle,
allowing the user to easily acquire the user's desired RSS
information in an area around the vehicle position without forcing
the user to carry out complicated operation.
[0083] Further, the PND 2 can acquire in real time the RSS files
31a to 31n via the wireless communication unit 18, thereby always
providing fresh RSS information to the user.
[0084] Further, the PND 2 converts the text data of the RSS files
31b and 31d containing the character strings of the surrounding POI
41 or 42 into the RSS reproduction voice and outputs the RSS
reproduction information via the speaker 17, eliminating the need
for the user to visually confirming the display 6, which further
improves driving safety.
[0085] According to the above configuration, the PND 2 acquires a
large number of RSS files 31a to 31n containing user's desired
preference keywords from the server 4 and searches for the
surrounding RSS files 31b and 31d containing the character strings
of the surrounding POI 41 and 42 covering an area around the
vehicle position measured by the GPS module 14. Then, the PND 2
converts e.g., the titles and summaries of the surrounding RSS
files 31b and 31d into the RSS reproduction voice and outputs the
RSS reproduction voice, thereby providing fresh RSS information
about an area around the vehicle position which is suited to the
user's taste.
(6) Other Embodiments
[0086] Although the preference keywords are previously registered
in the above embodiment, the present invention is not limited to
this, but the user is allowed to perform touch operation on the
touch panel 16 so as to input the preference keywords at, e.g., the
start time of the RSS acquisition/reproduction processing. Further,
a configuration may be adopted in which the user may register given
preference keywords during the RSS acquisition/reproduction
processing.
[0087] Further, in the above embodiment, the preference keyword
data KD is transmitted to the server 4, and the server 4 searches
for RSS files that contain the preference keywords written in the
preference keyword data KD from the RSS files 31a to 31n. However,
the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the CPU
11 of the PND 2 may transmit the preference keyword data KD and
character string data of the surrounding POI 41 or 42 to the server
4 so as to allow the server 4 to search for the RSS files 31b and
31d containing the preference keywords written in the preference
keyword data KD and character string of the surrounding POI 41 or
42.
[0088] Further, in the above embodiment, the CPU 11 of the PND 2
detects the surrounding RSS files 31b and 31d containing the
character string of the surrounding POI 41 or 42 from among the RSS
files 31a to 31n acquired from the server 4. However, the present
invention is not limited to this, but the CPU 11 of the PND 2 may
extract the surrounding RSS files 31b and 31d containing, e.g., the
address of the vehicle position measured by the GPS module 14 from
among the RSS files 31a to 31n.
[0089] Further, in the above embodiment, the CPU 11 of the PND 2
detects the surrounding RSS files 31b and 31d containing the
character string of the surrounding POI 41 or 42 from among the RSS
files 31a to 31n acquired from the server 4. However, the present
invention is not limited to this, but the CPU 11 of the PND 2 may
extract the surrounding RSS file containing the character string of
the POI set as the destination from among the RSS files 31a to
31n.
[0090] Further, in the above embodiment, the CPU 11 of the PND 2
converts the titles and summaries of the surrounding RSS files 31b
and 31d into the RSS reproduction voice for output. However, the
present invention is not limited to this, but the CPU 11 of the PND
2 may display the titles and summaries of the surrounding RSS files
31b and 31d on the display 6 in addition to the output of the RSS
reproduction voice.
[0091] Further, in the above embodiment, the CPU 11 of the PND 2
converts the titles and summaries of the surrounding RSS files 31b
and 31d into the RSS reproduction voice for output. However, the
present invention is not limited to this, but the CPU 11 of the PND
2 may output update date/time or indexes of the surrounding RSS
files 31b and 31d in the form of the RSS reproduction voice in
addition to the titles and summaries thereof.
[0092] Further, in the above embodiment, the CPU 11 of the PND 2
outputs the RSS reproduction voice without outputting beep tones
and the like. However, the present invention is not limited to
this, but the CPU 11 of the PND 2 may output beep tones or blink
the display 6 before outputting the RSS reproduction voice.
[0093] That is, the PND 2 previously notifies the user of
subsequent output of the RSS reproduction voice, thereby preventing
the user from failing to hear the RSS reproduction voice.
[0094] Further, although the RSS acquisition/reproduction
processing is automatically started when a power is supplied from a
battery in the above embodiment, the present invention is not
limited to this, but the RSS acquisition/reproduction processing
may be started in response of predetermined user's operation such
as depression of an execution button.
[0095] Further, in the above embodiment, the CPU 11 of the PND 2
transmits the preference keyword data KD to the server 4 so as to
allow the server 4 to search the RSS file containing the preference
keywords written in the preference keyword data KD. However, the
present invention is not limited to this, but the CPU 11 of the PND
2 may search for the RSS file containing the preference keywords
written in the preference keyword data KD.
[0096] Further, in the above embodiment, the CPU 11 of the PND 2
transmits the preference keyword data KD to the server 4 so as to
allow the server 4 to search the RSS file containing the preference
keywords written in the preference keyword data KD. However, the
present invention is not limited to this, but the CPU 11 of the PND
2 may connect to a web site having a previously registered URI to
acquire update information of the RSS file written in the header of
the web site so as to determine whether the RSS file has been
updated. In this case, only when the RSS file has been updated, the
CPU 11 of the PND 2 downloads the updated RSS file.
[0097] Further, although all the POIs on the map image displayed on
the display 6 are detected as the surrounding POIs in the above
embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this, but only
POIs existing within, e.g., one kilometer radius from the vehicle
position may be detected as the surrounding POIs.
[0098] Further, in the above embodiment, the CPU 11 of the PND 2
executes the RSS acquisition/reproduction processing of the routine
RT1 according to an application program previously stored in the
ROM 12. However, the present invention is not limited to this, but
the CPU 11 of the PND 2 may execute the RSS
acquisition/reproduction processing according to an application
program installed from a storage medium, application program
downloaded from the Internet, or application program installed from
any other source.
[0099] Further, in the above embodiment, the PND 2 as a navigation
device according to the embodiment of the present invention is
constituted by the RSS acquisition section 21 as an acquisition
section, surrounding POI detection section 22 as a position
information detection section, and database search section 23 as a
search section. However, the present invention is not limited to
this, but the navigation device may be constituted by the
acquisition section, position information detection section, and
search section each having any other configuration.
[0100] The navigation device and information providing method
according to the embodiment of the present invention can be applied
not only to the PND but also to various mobile devices provided
with a GPS module, such as a mobile phone, a Personal Data
Assistance (PDA), a note-type personal computer, or a game
device.
[0101] The present application contains subject matter related to
that disclosed in Japanese Priority Patent Application JP
2008-124952 filed in the Japan Patent Office on Apr. 17, 2008, the
entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
[0102] It should be understood by those skilled in the art that
various modifications, combinations, sub-combinations and
alterations may occur depending on design requirements and other
factors insofar as they are within the scope of the appended claims
or the equivalents thereof.
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