(12) United States Patent
`Kitajima
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 8,725,406 B2
`May 13, 2014
`
`USOO8725406B2
`
`(54) MOBILE COMMUNICATION TERMINAL
`AND MAP DISPLAY SYSTEM
`O
`O
`(75) Inventor: Jiro Kitajima, Yokohama (JP)
`(73) Assignee: Kyocera Corporation, Kyoto (JP)
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 443 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 11/147,824
`(22) Filed:
`Jun. 7, 2005
`
`- -
`
`2. E: : S. Mich et al. ................. 29:
`6,941,220 B2 * 9/2005 Le et al. ........................ TO1/419
`6,947,837 B2
`9, 2005 Fukushima et al.
`2002/0145560 A1* 10/2002 Tsujimoto et al. ....... 342,357.09
`2003/0009394 A1
`1/2003 Malkin et al. ................... 705/27
`(Continued)
`
`a .......
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`JP
`JP
`
`7, 1998
`10-1972.58
`8, 2000
`2000-213952
`(Continued)
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`(65)
`
`(30)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`Japanese language decision of rejection dated Feb. 14, 2012 and its
`English language translation issued in corresponding Japanese appli
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`(Continued)
`
`Jun. 24, 2004 (JP) ................................. 2004-186370
`(51) Int. Cl.
`GOIC 2L/00
`(52) S.C.
`
`- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
`
`s
`
`45 5,42 5:455/446
`
`(2006.01)
`701 fa)3:455/550.1455/456.1:
`s
`(58) Field of Classification Search
`USPC ............... 701/202, 209, 211, 212:455/550.1,
`455/45 6.1. 425,446
`See application file for complete search history.
`References Cited
`
`(56)
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4,873,513 A * 10/1989 Soults et al. .................... 345/27
`5,388,248 A * 2/1995 Robinson et al.
`365,52
`6,202,022 B1* 3/2001 Ando .......
`... 701 400
`6,338,020 B2 *
`1/2002 Hashimoto
`701 409
`6,484,093 B1 * 1 1/2002 Ito et al. ........................ TO1,420
`6,532,417 B2 * 3/2003 Hatano ......................... TO1,420
`6,584.402 B2
`6/2003 Fukushima et al.
`6,738,711 B2 * 5/2004 Ohmura et al. ............... TO1 (451
`
`Primary Examiner — Redhwan K Mawari
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm — DLA Piper LLP (US)
`
`cation terminal connected via a communication network. The
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`A map display system has a server and a mobile communi
`communication terminal has a storage device for storing
`advance map data associated with position data; a position
`measurement device for measuring a present position and
`obtaining position present position data; a present map data
`obtaining device for obtaining present map data from the
`server via the communication network by sending the server
`the present position data; an instruction device for issuing an
`instruction for map display; and a display device for display
`ing a map based on either the present map data or the advance
`map data. The server has a storage device for storing map
`data; and a map providing device for searching the stored map
`data in accordance with the position data sent from the mobile
`communication terminal and sending the mobile communi
`cation terminal map data corresponding to the position data.
`
`29 Claims, 8 Drawing Sheets
`
`11
`
`EXTERNAL MEMORY
`
`DATA STORAGE
`PROCESSING SECTION
`
`30
`assific
`50
`WIRE DATA onletiol ri
`PROCESSING SECTION
`
`-- - - or roy - - - - - -
`
`
`
`10
`
`CELULAR PHONE
`
`INTERNAL DATA
`STORING SECTION
`
`13
`POSTONMEASUREMEN
`PROCESSENG SECTION
`
`
`
`POSITION AND MAP MATCH
`DATA COMPUTING SECTION
`
`20
`
`sus
`
`di use
`
`x
`
`GPS
`SATELITE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`DATA DISPLAY
`PROCESSING SECTION
`
`USER OPERATION
`PROCESSING DENICE
`
`DATA DISPLAY SECTION
`
`USER OPERATION DEVICE
`
`Page 1 of 18
`
`SAMSUNG EX-1076
`
`

`

`US 8,725.406 B2
`Page 2
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`
`9, 2003
`2003254759. A
`1, 2004
`2004-028837
`4/2004
`2004 108803. A
`2004340854. A 12, 2004
`
`1/2003 Yoshida ........................ TO1,212
`2003/0023375 A1
`4, 2003 Watanabe et al. ............. 701.209
`2003, OO74135 A1 *
`2003/0182052 A1* 9, 2003 DeLorime et al. ..
`... 701 (201
`2004/0203897 A1* 10/2004 Rogers ...............
`455,456.1
`2004/0203998 A1* 10, 2004 Knauerhase et al. ...... 455,550.1
`2005/0043884 A1
`2/2005 Atarashi ....................... TO1,202
`2005/0288854 A1* 12/2005 Kitajima ....................... TO1,208
`
`
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`
`4/2001
`2001109764. A
`5, 2001
`2001147121 A
`11, 2002
`2002-323324
`11, 2002
`2002-328.042
`11, 2002
`2002-340577
`20O2328598 A 11, 2002
`2002334226 A 11, 2002
`2002350160 A 12/2002
`2003O44990 A
`2, 2003
`20030751.76 A
`3, 2003
`2003075.179 A
`3, 2003
`2003075.180 A
`3, 2003
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`Japanese language office action (notice ofreasons for rejection) dated
`May 31, 2011 and its English language translation for corresponding
`Japanese application 2004186370 cites the foreign patent documents
`above.
`Japanese language office action dated Apr. 3, 2012 and its English
`language translation issued in corresponding Japanese application
`2011 168534 cites the foreign patent documents above.
`Japanese language office action dated Feb. 21, 2012 and its English
`language translation issued in corresponding Japanese application
`2009 127337 cites the foreign patent documents listed above.
`Japanese language office action dated Nov. 6, 2012 and its English
`language translation issued in corresponding Japanese application
`2009 127337 cites the foreign patent document listed above.
`Japanese language office action dated Jun. 29, 2010 and its English
`language translation for corresponding Japanese application
`2004186370 lists the references above.
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Page 2 of 18
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`May 13, 2014
`
`Sheet 1 of 8
`
`US 8,725.406 B2
`
`FIG. 1
`
`POSION
`
`
`
`POSITON
`
`NSAIA
`
`10
`
`MAP DATA ti
`
`30
`
`MAP DATA
`
`Page 3 of 18
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`May 13, 2014
`May13, 2014
`
`Sheet 2 of 8
`Sheet 2 of 8
`
`US 8,725.406 B2
`US 8,725,406 B2
`
`09
`
`NOIIVIS3Svai
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`SSaTaMIM|
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`NOLLYOINMWWOOWLVOSSITIYIM
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`
`Page 4 of 18
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`Page 4 of 18
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`May 13, 2014
`
`Sheet 3 of 8
`
`US 8,725.406 B2
`
`FIG. 3
`
`FIG. 4
`
`
`
`INTERNET
`SERVICE NETWORK MANAGED
`BY CELLULAR PHONE
`SERVICE PROVIDER cy
`
`40
`
`YY SERVER
`
`5 XX SERVER
`WEATHER
`FORECAST
`SERVER
`
`5
`
`RING TONE
`DISTRIBUTION
`SERVER
`
`Page 5 of 18
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`May 13, 2014
`
`Sheet 4 of 8
`
`US 8,725.406 B2
`
`FIG. 5
`
`
`
`
`
`DOWNLOAD MAP DATA
`
`
`
`
`
`ACQUIRE GPS
`SATELLITES AND
`COMPUTE POSITION DATA
`
`
`
`
`
`IS THERE ANY
`MATCHED DATA2
`
`
`
`
`
`DISPLAY PERPHERAL MAP ON
`DISPLAY OF CELLULAR PHONE
`
`INFORM USER THAT NO
`MATCHED MAP DATA IS FOUND
`
`
`
`HAS USER MOVED?
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`MAP NO.
`
`LATITUDE
`
`(1)
`
`(2)
`
`FIG. 6
`
`LONGITUDE
`
`
`
`W: OOO ~ OOO
`
`W: OOOM OOO
`
`
`
`
`
`MAP (1)
`
`EAST LONGTUDE
`OOO NOOO
`
`Page 6 of 18
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`May 13, 2014
`
`Sheet 5 of 8
`
`US 8,725.406 B2
`
`FIG. 7
`
`S11
`
`S12
`
`S13
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`CAN
`DESTINATION BE
`SUPPORTED AT THIS
`SITE?
`
`S14
`YES
`
`DSPLAY MAP OF PLACE SMLAR TO DESTINATION
`
`DESIGNATE PLACE BY USING CURSOR
`
`DESIGNATE START POINT
`
`S17
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`CAN
`START POINT BE
`SUPPORTED AT THIS
`STE?
`
`S18
`YES
`
`DSPLAY MAP OF PLACE NEAR TO START POINT
`
`
`
`DESIGNATE PLACE BY USING CURSOR
`
`SEARCH SERVER FOR MAP FOR NAVIGATION
`BASED ON START POINT AND DESTINATION
`
`ADJUST SCALE OF MAP FOR NAVGATION SO THAT SIZE
`OF DATA DOES NOT EXCEED A PREDETERMINED WALUE
`
`S21
`
`S22
`
`SENT DATA FROM SERVER TO CELLULAR PHONE
`
`S23
`
`END OF DOWNLOADING
`
`Page 7 of 18
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`May 13, 2014
`
`Sheet 6 of 8
`
`US 8,725.406 B2
`
`ACQUIREMENT OF GPS SATELLITES
`AND COMPUTATION OF POSITION DATA
`
`REQUEST
`NAVIGATION DISPLAY
`
`COMPUTE POSITION DATA
`USING GPS SATELLITES
`
`S31
`
`S32
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`CAN SERVER
`BE REQUESTED TO
`PROVIDE PRESENT
`MAP?
`NO
`
`S33
`
`YES
`
`S34
`
`NORMAL NAWGATION
`
`END OF ACQUIREMENT OF GPS SATELLITES
`AND COMPUTATION OF POSITION
`
`Page 8 of 18
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`May 13, 2014
`
`Sheet 7 of 8
`
`US 8,725.406 B2
`
`FIG. 9
`
`
`
`
`
`POSITION
`DATA
`
`Ya
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`POSITION
`DATA
`
`MAP DATA
`
`30
`
`
`
`Page 9 of 18
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`May 13, 2014
`
`Sheet 8 of 8
`
`US 8,725.406 B2
`
`FIG 10
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`START
`
`ACQUIRE GPS SATELLITES AND
`COMPUTE POSITION DATA
`
`
`
`CAN MAP DATA
`SERVICE SERVER BE
`ACCESSED?
`
`NO
`
`
`
`DOES MAP
`DATA SERVICE SERVER
`
`
`
`DOWNLOAD MAP DATA
`
`DS
`PLAY PERPHERAL MAP ON
`DIS
`PLAY OF CELLULAR PHONE
`
`
`
`Page 10 of 18
`
`

`

`1.
`MOBILE COMMUNICATION TERMINAL
`AND MAP DISPLAY SYSTEM
`
`2
`Vice in foreign countries, and in this case, map data or route
`data cannot be obtained from the map data service server 40.
`
`US 8,725,406 B2
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`10
`
`15
`
`25
`
`30
`
`45
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`The present invention relates to a mobile communication
`(or communications) terminal Such as a cellular (or mobile)
`phone for showing map data in accordance with position data,
`and relates to a map display system including the mobile
`communication terminal and a server for storing map data.
`Priority is claimed on Japanese Patent Application No.
`2004-186370, filed Jun. 24, 2004, the content of which is
`incorporated herein by reference.
`2. Description of Related Art
`FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a conventional map
`display system using a cellular phone, FIG. 10 is a flowchart
`showing the operation of this system.
`With reference to these figures, the cellular phone 10 hav
`ing a GPS (Global Positioning System) function acquires and
`communicates with GPS satellites 20, and computes data of
`the present position (i.e., the present position data). The cel
`lular phone 10 then confirms whether it is possible to access
`a map data service server 40 via a wireless base station 30. If
`it is possible, the cellular phone 10 determines whether map
`data corresponding to the position data is stored in a database
`of the map data service server 40. If corresponding map data
`is stored, the cellular phone downloads and displays the data.
`In addition, the database of the map data service server 40 also
`stores data for route search or route guidance based on posi
`tion data and destination data, and similarly, the stored data
`can be appropriately downloaded in accordance with move
`ment of the cellular phone 10.
`35
`In addition, there are known devices or systems such as (i)
`a portable terminal for implementing a navigation function
`without using a position detection device (see, for example,
`Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication
`No. 2004-028837), (ii) a navigation system having no storage
`40
`medium for map data (see, for example, Japanese Unexam
`ined Patent Application, First Publication No. H10-197258),
`and (iii) a navigation system performing route guidance data
`retrieval by using a portable communication device in a
`standby state (see, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent
`Application, First Publication No. 2002-328042). Typically,
`portable terminals used in the conventional navigation sys
`tems use an electronic compass having a geomagnetic sensor
`in order to measure a direction or an azimuth.
`In the conventional map display system shown in FIG. 9.
`for the cellular phone 10 to obtain and display map data or
`route data from the map data service server 40, the cellular
`phone 10 must be present within the service areas of the
`wireless base stations 30. Generally, positional detection
`using the GPS function should be possible in an open air
`environment (such as on the top of a mountain) where signals
`from the GPS satellites 20 are acquirable. However, in mobile
`communication, each service area is generally defined in a
`place having a large population (i.e., having a large number of
`buildings where signals from the GPS satellites 20 cannot be
`easily acquired), and in most cases, the mobile communica
`tion service cannot be used in a place Such as the top of a
`mountain (where signals from the GPS satellites 20 can be
`easily acquired). In addition, signals from the GPS satellites
`20 may be acquired in foreign countries. However, some
`mobile communication service providers do not provide Ser
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present
`invention is to provide a mobile communication terminal and
`a map display system by which, even when a user is in an
`unfamiliar place and is out of the service area, in a foreign
`country or the like, a map of a nearby area can be displayed.
`Therefore, the present invention provides a mobile com
`munication terminal comprising:
`a storage device for storing map data, which is associated
`with position data, as advance map data in advance;
`a position measurement device for measuring a present
`position and obtaining position data of the present position as
`present position data;
`a present map data obtaining device for requesting and
`obtaining present map data relating to the present position
`data via a communication network;
`an instruction device for issuing an instruction for map
`display; and
`a display device for displaying a map based on either the
`present map data or the advance map data in accordance with
`the instruction.
`In a typical example, when the instruction for map display
`is issued from the instruction device, if the present map data
`obtaining device can access the communication network,
`then the present map data is requested and obtained, and a
`map based on the present map data is displayed by the display
`device.
`In another typical example, when the instruction for map
`display is issued from the instruction device, if the present
`map data obtaining device cannot access the communication
`network, then a map based on the advance map data stored in
`the storage device is displayed by the display device.
`The mobile communication terminal may further comprise
`a position designating device for designating a desired posi
`tion, wherein the storage device is searched for map data
`relating to the designated position, and a map based on the
`map data retrieved from the storage device is displayed by the
`display device.
`Preferably, when a start point and a destination are desig
`nated by the position designating device, the storage device is
`searched for map data indicating a travel route from the start
`point to the destination, and a map based on the map data
`retrieved from the storage device is displayed by the display
`device.
`It is possible that when the map data relating to the desig
`nated position is not retrieved, map data relating to a position
`which is close to the designated position is searched for, and
`a map based on the map data retrieved from the storage device
`is displayed by the display device.
`In another typical example, wherein when the instruction
`for map display is issued from the instruction device, if no
`advance map data is stored in the storage device and the
`present map data obtaining device can access the communi
`cation network, the present map data is requested and
`obtained, and a map based on the present map data is dis
`played by the display device.
`The position measurement device may measure the present
`position in accordance with the instruction for map display,
`issued from the instruction device.
`The mobile communication terminal may further com
`prise:
`a position designating device for designating a desired
`position; and
`
`Page 11 of 18
`
`

`

`3
`an advance map data obtaining device for obtaining the
`advance map data by requesting and obtaining map data
`relating to the designated position in advance via a commu
`nication network.
`The present map data obtaining device and the advance
`map data obtaining device may constitute a single data
`obtaining device.
`The advance map data obtaining device may obtain the
`advance map data by designating at least one of a place name,
`a station name, an airport name, and a facility name.
`Similarly, the present map data obtaining device may
`obtain the present map data by designating at least one of a
`place name, a station name, an airport name, and a facility
`aC.
`In a preferable example, when a start point and a destina
`tion are designated by the position designating device, the
`advance map data obtaining device obtains the map data
`indicating a travel route from the start point to the destination,
`and the obtained map data is stored as the advance map data
`in the storage device.
`The present invention also provides a map display system
`in which a server having map data and a mobile communica
`tion terminal for obtaining the map data are connected via a
`communication network, wherein:
`the mobile communication terminal comprises:
`a first storage device for storing map data, which is asso
`ciated with position data, as advance map data in advance;
`a position measurement device for measuring a present
`position and obtaining position data of the present position as
`present position data;
`a present map data obtaining device for requesting and
`obtaining present map data relating to the present position
`data from the server via the communication network by send
`ing the server the present position data as position data;
`an instruction device for issuing an instruction for map
`display; and
`a display device for displaying a map based on either the
`present map data or the advance map data in accordance with
`the instruction, and
`the server comprises:
`a second storage device for storing map data; and
`a mapproviding device for searching the stored map data in
`accordance with the position data sent from the mobile com
`munication terminal and sending the mobile communication
`45
`terminal map data corresponding to the position data.
`It is possible that:
`when a start point and a destination are designated by the
`mobile communication terminal, the server computes a travel
`route from the start point to the destination and sends the
`mobile communication terminal the travel route as the map
`data; and
`the mobile communication terminal receives the map data
`and stores the received map data as the advance map data into
`the first storage device.
`Preferably, the server adjusts the map data to be sent to the
`mobile communication terminal in a manner Such that a size
`of the map data does not exceed a predetermined value. In this
`case, the size of the map data may be adjusted by controlling
`a scale of the map data.
`In the map display system, the mobile communication
`terminal may further comprise:
`a position designating device for designating a desired
`position; and
`an advance map data obtaining device for obtaining the
`advance map data by requesting and obtaining map data
`relating to the designated position from the server in advance
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
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`40
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`50
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`55
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`60
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`65
`
`US 8,725,406 B2
`
`10
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`15
`
`4
`via the communication network by sending position data
`relating to the designated position to the server.
`Preferably, when map data requested by the advance map
`data obtaining device is not stored in the second storage
`device, the server retrieves map data relating to a position
`which is close to the designated position and sends the
`retrieved map data to the mobile communication terminal.
`According to the present invention, even when a user of the
`wireless communication terminal is out of the service area of
`relevant wireless base stations, a map of a nearby area of a
`desired position Such as a destination or a travel route to a
`destination can be displayed on the display device of the
`wireless communication terminal.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the structure of the map
`display system as an embodiment according to the present
`invention.
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the structure of the
`cellular phone as an embodiment according to the present
`invention.
`FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a connection state
`between the PC and the cellular phone in the embodiment.
`FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a representation of the struc
`ture of the Internet.
`FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the general operation of the
`embodiment.
`FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the data struc
`ture of the advance map data.
`FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the process of step S1 in FIG.
`S.
`FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the process of step S2 in FIG.
`5.
`FIG.9 is a diagram showing the structure of a conventional
`map display system.
`FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the con
`ventional map display system.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
`
`Hereinafter, an embodiment according to the present
`invention will be explained with reference to the drawings. In
`the embodiment, the present invention is applied to a multi
`functional cellular (or mobile) phone which has a navigation
`function using GPS (Global Positioning System), and the
`like. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the structure of the map
`display system having the cellular phone of the embodiment,
`for displaying geographical position and map data.
`In FIG.1, reference numeral 10 indicates a multifunctional
`cellular phone having a function of measuring the present
`position using GPS satellites, a navigation function, etc. The
`cellular phone 10 has a detachable external memory 11 (ex
`plained later with reference to FIG. 2). Reference numerals
`20 indicate GPS satellites, and reference numerals 30 indicate
`wireless base stations for performing wireless communica
`tion (or communications) with the cellular phone 10. Refer
`ence numeral 40 indicates a map data service server which
`has a database for storing map data and provides the map data
`to the cellular phone 10. Reference numeral 50 indicates a
`personal computer (PC) connected to the cellular phone 10,
`and reference numeral 60 indicates a communication network
`such as the Internet. The PC 50 can connect with the map data
`service server 40 or the like, via the Internet 60.
`When the cellular phone 10 requests the map data service
`server 40 to provide map data related to a plurality of desti
`nations, the map data service server 40 generates map data of
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`a single scaled map which includes all areas relating to the
`destinations and sends the generated map to the cellular
`phone 10. Accordingly, the cellular phone 10 can display the
`scaled map data on a single display screen (i.e., a data display
`section 16 as explained below).
`In the example shown in FIG. 1, the user first designates
`Some desired positions (or places), and downloads map data
`for an area in the vicinity of each designated position, from
`the map data service server 40 which the cellular phone 10
`can access, or another map data service source (which the
`cellular phone 10 can access) for providing map data. The
`user stores the downloaded data in advance (of its use) in the
`external memory 11 as advance map data, or obtains an exter
`nal memory 11 in which the advance map data are stored in
`advance and inserts the external memory 11 into the cellular
`phone 10.
`When the user comes a certain position and operates the
`cellular phone 10 So as to start navigation (i.e., commands
`map display), the cellular phone 10 measures the present
`position by using the GPS function, and retrieves and extracts
`map data corresponding to the present position (i.e., present
`map data) from among the advance map data stored in the
`external memory 11.
`Accordingly, in the present embodiment, map data is
`obtained in advance; thus, even for a user who is in a foreign
`country and is out of the service area, a map in the vicinity of
`a designated position can be extracted from the stored
`advance map data and be displayed.
`The cellular phone 10 will be explained in more detail
`below. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the structure of the
`cellular phone 10.
`In the figure, the external memory 11 is a detachable
`memory device Such as a card memory, having a flash
`memory or the like. The external memory 11 is detachably
`attached to the body of the cellular phone 10 and used for
`storing in advance the advance map data acquired from the
`map data service server 40 or another map data source.
`Reference numeral 12 indicates an internal data storing
`section (i.e., an internal memory) for storing necessary data,
`and reference numeral 13 indicates a position measurement
`processing section for measuring the present position by
`using the GPS satellites 20 so as to obtain position data. The
`position measurement processing section 13 measures the
`present position by using signals received by a GPS antenna
`(not shown) from three or more GPS satellites 20, according
`to differences between delay times of the received signals
`based on triangulation.
`Reference numeral 14 indicates a position and map match
`data computing section. Based on position data of the present
`position measured by the position measurement processing
`section 13, the position and map match data computing sec
`tion 14 searches the external memory 11 for advance map
`data corresponding to the position data. Reference numeral
`15 indicates a data display processing section for performing
`a process of displaying the extracted advance map data, and
`reference numeral 16 indicates a data display section Such as
`a liquid crystal display or the like, for displaying a map based
`on the map data, a menu display, or the like.
`Reference numeral 17 indicates a wireless data communi
`cation processing section for performing wireless communi
`cation with the map data service server 40 or another server
`via any wireless base station 30, or, with another cellular
`phone, based on the CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access)
`method or the like. The cellular phone 10 has an antenna (not
`shown) for performing the wireless data communication. The
`wireless data communication processing section 17 always
`checks the states of a plurality of nearby base stations and
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`monitors the strength of the signal from each base station, so
`as to implement the “soft hand-off function of CDMA.
`Reference numeral 18 indicates a wire data communica
`tion processing section for performing wire data communi
`cation with the PC 50 and obtaining map data which is down
`loaded onto the PC 50 from the map data service server 40.
`Reference numeral 19 indicates a data storage processing
`section for storing the map data, obtained by the wireless data
`communication processing section 17 and the wire data com
`munication processing section 18, into the external memory
`11.
`Reference numeral 21 indicates a user operation device by
`which the user commands the cellular phone 10 to start navi
`gation or performs other operations by key input or the like.
`Reference numeral 22 indicates a user operation processing
`device. Based on the operation of the user using the user
`operation device 21, the user operation processing device 22
`makes an appropriate section (i.e., a process block) execute a
`specific process.
`Each processing section is realized by memory, a CPU
`(Central Processing Unit), and the like, and a program (not
`shown) for executing a specific function assigned to each
`processing section is loaded into memory and is executed,
`thereby executing the function. The cellular phone 10 also
`includes an electronic compass (not shown) for measuring a
`direction or an azimuth.
`FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a connection state
`between the PC 50 and the cellular phone 10. As shown in the
`figure, the PC 50 and the cellular phone 10 are connected to
`each other via a cable 70 which is adapted to a standard such
`as USB (Universal Serial Bus).
`FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a representation of the struc
`ture of the Internet. As shown in the figure, the map data
`service server 40 belongs to a service network managed by a
`cellular phone service provider C. In order to provide various
`services to users, the cellular phone service provider C. also
`possesses other servers such as a weather forecast server for
`distributing weather forecast data or a ring tone distribution
`server for distributing melody data used for ring tones for
`cellular phones. On the Internet 60, various servers managed
`by other cellular phone service providers (other than the
`servers on the above service network) are also present.
`The operation of the cellular phone 10 having the above
`structure will be explained. First, normal navigation opera
`tion performed when the map data service server 40 can be
`accessed will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
`When the user operates the user operation device 21 so as
`to instruct start of navigation, the cellular phone 10 receives
`wireless signals from three or more GPS satellites 20 and
`performs measurement of the present position based on the
`received signals. The computation for this measurement
`requires much computation power and generates a measure
`ment error. Therefore, the first measurement may be per
`formed by sending a DGPS (Differential GPS) server (not
`shown) the data for measurement which are obtained by the
`GPS satellites 20, so as to have the DGPS server perform data
`correction and obtain the corrected data from the DGPS
`server. However, if the position measurement processing sec
`tion 13 (i.e., the CPU of this section) has a high processing
`ability, the cellular phone 10 may independently perform the
`computation for position measurement by itself.
`When obtaining position data, the cellular phone 10
`informs the map data service server 40 of the position data
`and requests the server 40 to provide map data of an area (e.g.,
`1 km square) relating to the position data. The map data of the
`map data service server 40 is then searched for a map of the
`area to which the received position data belongs. The cellular
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`phone 10 downloads map data retrieved from the map data
`service server 40 and stores the data in the external memory
`11. Based on the obtained map data, a map on which the
`present position is marked is displayed on the data display
`section 16. On the display, the whole map corresponding to all
`the obtained data is not shown but only a relatively small area
`around the position of the cellular phone 10 is shown.
`After that, when the cellular phone 10 is moved, the posi
`tion measurement processing section 13 computes the direc
`tion and the amount of the movement based on (i) variations
`in the signals from three or more GPS satellites 20 or varia
`tions in the strengths of electromagnetic wave signals from
`three or more base stations 30, and (ii) an azimuth measured
`by the electronic compass, or the like. In accordance with the
`movement, an updated map of a relatively small area around
`the position of the cellular phone 10 (displayed at the center of
`the map) is similarly prepared and displayed on the data
`display section 16. That is, instead of displaying a map of the
`whole area corresponding to the obtained data and shifting
`the marked position within the map, a relatively small area
`around the position of the cellular phone 10 is selected from
`the whole area and displayed, and the displayed area is shifted
`depending on the movement of the cellular phone 10. When
`Such movement is continuously performed and it is deter
`mined that the displayed area has reached an end of the whole
`map data, the map data service server 40 is requested to
`provide map data of an adjacent area, which is downloaded
`and similar operations are performed.
`Below, the navigation operation of the cellular phone 10
`will be further explained in a specific example.
`When the execution of a software program for performing
`navigation is commanded by the user operation device 21, an
`operation for specifying the present position of the cellular
`phone 10 is started. As explained above, position data can be
`computed by using the signals from three GPS satellites 20
`(or by results of computation from a DGPS server if it is
`used), so that the present position of the cellular phone 10 is
`recognized by the position measurement processing section
`13 as a start point. After a specific operation relating to the
`present position set as the start point, entering the destination
`(i.e., operation necessary f