Apparatus and method for presenting navigation information based on instructions described in a script

Claim 2

The navigation information presenting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the navigation script is described in a markup language which identifies the time information, the point information, the information for guidance, and other instruction constituent elements by using tags.

Claim 3

The navigation information presenting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the navigation script can describe a sequential process instruction for processing a plurality of instructions sequentially and a parallel process instruction for processing a plurality of instructions in parallel; and said means for processing instructions processes the plurality of instructions sequentially according to the sequential process instruction, and processes the plurality of instructions according to the parallel process instruction.

Claim 4

The navigation information presenting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for inputting the navigation script inputs a navigation script specified by the user with one of methods such as a communication with an external device providing a navigation script via a network, a read from a computer-readable electronic medium, and an input from an input device operated by the user.

Claim 5

The navigation information presenting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means (14, 134, 303, 523) for parsing the input navigation script, and for converting the input navigation script into structured navigation data, wherein said means for processing instructions processes instructions represented in the form of the structured navigation data.

Claim 6

The navigation information presenting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for outputting navigation information presents to the user, with respect to at least a portion of the navigation script, information for guidance about at least one of a current point, a departure point, an en-route spot, a destination, and a route by using at least one of texts, maps, voice, images, and videos with one of a method for presenting the navigation information one after another, a method for presenting the navigation information for each instruction, and a method for presenting the navigation information for at least one of specified time, distance, point, input operation, and external event.

Claim 7

A navigation information presenting apparatus (10, 100, 300, 510) for presenting navigation information to a user according to a state, comprising: means (11, 131, 301, 521) for inputting a navigation script composed of an instruction sequence based on a predetermined specification, in which at least one of time information and point information, and information for guidance to be output according to at least one of a presentation time and a presentation point can be described using a set of combinations of a name which can identify a type of the information and the contents thereof; means (11, 131, 301, 521) for setting at least one of operation modes such as a navigation mode and a simulation mode according to at least one of a user input operation and a system setting; means (16, 160, 170, 180, 620, 630) for acquiring a state including at least one of a current time and a current point in the navigation mode; means (17, 136, 305, 525) for generating a state including at least one of a virtual current time and a virtual current point in the simulation mode; means (15, 135, 304, 524) for processing instructions described in the input navigation script according to at least one of the current time and the current point, which is obtained by state acquisition, in the navigation mode, and processes the instructions according to at least one of the virtual current time and the virtual current point, which is obtained by state generation, in the simulation mode; and means (18, 132, 302, 522) for outputting navigation information to be output as the instructions are processed, and for presenting the navigation information to the user.

Claim 8

A navigation information presentation processing method for presenting navigation information to a user according to a state, comprising the steps of: inputting a navigation script composed of an instruction sequence based on a predetermined specification, in which at least one of time information and point information, and information for guidance to be output according to at least one of a presentation time and a presentation point can be described using a set of combinations of a name which can identify a type of the information and the contents thereof, with one of methods such as a communication via a network, a read from a computer-readable electronic medium, and a user input operation; performing one of state acquisition of acquiring a state including at least one of a current time and a current point, and state generation of generating a state including at least one of a virtual current time and a virtual current point; processing instructions described in the input navigation script according to at least one of a current time and a current point, which is obtained by one of the state acquisition and the state generation; and outputting navigation information to be output as the instructions are processed, and presenting the navigation information to the user.

Claim 9

A navigation information presenting method for presenting navigation information to a user according to a state, comprising the steps of: inputting a navigation script composed of an instruction sequence based on a predetermined specification, in which at least one of time information and point information, and information for guidance to be output according to at least one of a presentation time and a presentation point can be described using a set of combinations of a name which can identify a type of the information and the contents thereof; setting at least one of operation modes such as a navigation mode and a simulation mode according to at least one of a user input operation and a system setting; acquiring a state including at least one of a current time and a current point in the navigation mode; generating a state including at least one of a virtual current time and a virtual current point in the simulation mode; processing instructions described in an input navigation script according to at least one of the current time and the current point, which is obtained by state acquisition, in the navigation mode, and processes the instructions according to at least one of the virtual current time and the virtual current point, which is obtained by state generation, in the simulation mode; and outputting navigation information to be output as the instructions are processed, and for presenting the navigation information to the user.

Claim 10

A computer-readable storage medium on which is recorded a program for implementing with a computer an apparatus (10, 100, 300, 510) which presents navigation information to a user according to a state, and for causing the computer to execute a process comprising the steps of: inputting a navigation script composed of an instruction sequence based on a predetermined specification, in which at least one of time information and place information, and information for guidance to be output according to at least one of a presentation time and a presentation point can be described using a set of combinations of a name which can identify the type of each of the information and the contents thereof, with one of methods such as a communication via a network, a read from a computer-readable electronic medium, and a user input operation; performing one of state acquisition of acquiring a state including at least one of a current time and a current point, and state generation of generating a state including at least one of a virtual current time and a virtual current point; processing instructions described in the input navigation script according to at least one of a current time and a current point, which is obtained by one of the state acquisition and the state generation; and outputting navigation information to be output as the instructions are processed, and presenting the navigation information to the user.

Claim 11

A computer-readable storage medium on which is recorded a program for implementing with a computer an apparatus (10, 100, 300, 510) which presents navigation information to a user according to a state, and for causing the computer to execute a process comprising the steps of: inputting a navigation script composed of an instruction sequence based on a predetermined specification, in which at least one of time information and point information, and information for guidance to be output according to at least one of a presentation time and a presentation point can be described using a set of combinations of a name which can identify a type of the information and the contents thereof; setting at least one of operation modes such as a navigation mode and a simulation mode according to at least one of a user input operation and a system setting; acquiring a state including at least one of a current time and a current point in the navigation mode; generating a state including at least one of a virtual current time and a virtual current point in the simulation mode; processing instructions described in the input navigation script according to at least one of the current time and the current point, which is obtained by state acquisition, in the navigation mode, and processes the instructions according to at least one of the virtual current time and the virtual current point, which is obtained by state generation, in the simulation mode; and outputting navigation information to be output as the instructions are processed, and for presenting the navigation information to the user.

Claim 12

A navigation script storage medium which can be read by an apparatus (10, 100, 300, 510) for presenting navigation information to a user according to a state, storing a navigation script being a script composed of an electronic code sequence described in a markup language based on a predetermined specification, the script being an instruction sequence based on a predetermined specification, in which at least one of time information and point information, and information for guidance to be output according to at least one of a presentation time and a presentation point can be described using a set of combinations of a name which can identify a type of the information and the contents thereof, and the navigation script used to present navigation information to the user according to instructions within the script read by the apparatus.

Claim 15

A driving management method using a computer, comprising the steps of: inputting a navigation script composed of an instruction sequence based on a predetermined specification, in which at least one of time information and point information, and navigation information to be output according to at least one of a presentation time and a presentation point can be described using a set of combinations of a name which can identify a type of the information and the contents thereof; referencing a driving management database (1004) for managing data where at least one of time information and point information, and at least one of a reservation state and a corresponding point state are described, for making a comparison and coordination between the input navigation script and the data stored in said driving management database, and for performing a process of modifying the navigation script and a process of updating the data stored in the driving management database according to a result of the comparison and coordination depending on need; and outputting means for outputting a resultant navigation script.

Claim 16

A computer-readable storage medium on which is recorded a program for implementing with a computer a device (1000) for managing driving data, and for causing the computer to execute a process comprising the steps of: inputting a navigation script composed of an instruction sequence based on a predetermined specification, with which at least one of time information and point information, and navigation information to be output according to at least one of a presentation time and a presentation place can be described using a set of combinations of a name which can identify a type of the information and the contents thereof; referencing a driving management database (1004) for managing data where at least one of time information and point information, and at least one of a reservation state and a corresponding place state are described, for making a comparison and coordination between the input navigation script and the data stored in said driving management database, and for performing a process of modifying the navigation script and a process for updating the data stored in the driving management database according to a result of the comparison and coordination depending on need; and outputting a resultant navigation script.

Claim 19

A computer-readable storage medium on which is recorded a program for implementing with a computer a device which proposes an action to be taken depending on whether or not a user can reach by an arrival time, and for causing the computer to execute a process comprising the steps of: inputting a navigation script composed of an instruction sequence based on a predetermined specification, in which at least one of time information and point information, and navigation information to be output according to at least one of a presentation time and a presentation place can be described using a set of combinations of a name which can identify a type of the information and the contents thereof; scheduling arrival times at respective points; and checking arrival times at subsequent points from a current time at a current point, for referencing rules in a rule base (1220) describing actions to be taken depending on whether or not there is sufficient time to an arrival time, and for executing a corresponding rule if the rule is stored within said rule base, depending on whether or not there is sufficient time to an arrival time.

Claim 20

A navigation plan creating apparatus for creating a navigation plan obtained by combining information for guidance, comprising: means (1301) for associating one of a range and a point on map information with information for guidance; means (1303) for setting a specified route on the map information; and means (1305) for creating a navigation plan by extracting the information for guidance associated with the set route.

Claim 21

The navigation plan creating apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the navigation plan is represented by a navigation script composed of an instruction sequence based on a predetermined specification, in which at least one of time information and point information, and information for guidance to be output according to at least one of a presentation time and a presentation point can be described using a set of combinations of a name which can identify a type of the information and the contents thereof.

Claim 22

The navigation plan creating apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising an information for guidance management database (1311) for managing the information for guidance associated with the map information for each attribute including at least one of season, time, and a user type, wherein said means for creating the navigation plan creates a navigation plan suiting a specified attribute by referencing said information for guidance management database.

Claim 23

The navigation plan creating apparatus according to claim 20, wherein: said means for associating the one of the range and the point on the map information with the information for guidance can specify one of a valid time period and a valid time limit when associating with the information for guidance; and said means for creating the navigation plan performs one of a process of creating a navigation plan by extracting one of only information for guidance within the valid time period and only information for guidance up to the valid time limit when extracting the information for guidance associated with the set route, and a process of creating a navigation plan having a condition relating to one of the valid time period and the valid time limit.

Claim 24

The navigation plan creating apparatus according to claim 20, wherein: said means for associating the one of the range and the point on the map information with the information for guidance can specify a state including at least one of a direction in which a range is entered and a speed at which the range is entered when specifying the range; and said means for creating the navigation plan performs one of a process of creating a navigation plan by extracting only information satisfying a condition including at least one of a direction in which a range on the set route is entered and a speed at which the range is entered when extracting the information for guidance associated with the route, and a process for creating a navigation plan having a condition relating to the state including at least one of the direction in which the range on the set route is entered and the speed at which the range is entered.

Claim 25

A navigation plan creating method for creating a navigation plan obtained by combining information for guidance with the use of a computer, comprising the steps of: associating one of a range and a point on map information with information for guidance; setting a specified route on the map information; and creating a navigation plan by extracting the information for guidance associated with the set route.

Claim 26

A computer-readable storage medium on which is recorded a program for implementing with a computer a device which creates a navigation plan obtained by combining information for guidance, and for causing the computer to execute a process comprising the steps of: associating one of a range and a point on map information with information for guidance; setting a specified route on the map information; and creating a navigation plan by extracting the information for guidance associated with the set route.

Claim 27

A navigation information providing apparatus for providing information to a user, comprising: means (1410) for managing information with a presentation condition relating to a time; means (1401) for checking the information with the presentation condition at predetermined time intervals, and for retrieving information corresponding to a current time; and means (1405) for providing the retrieved information to the user.

Claim 28

The navigation information providing apparatus according to claim 27, further comprising range condition processing means (1403) for determining how to present information when the current time is included in a time range if the presentation condition is a condition indicating the time range, wherein said means for providing the information provides the information according to said range condition processing means when the presentation condition is satisfied.

Claim 29

The navigation information providing apparatus according to claim 27, further comprising means (1404) for checking the information with the presentation condition by using an estimating module (1412) estimating a future state if the presentation condition is a relative condition.

Claim 30

The navigation information providing apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the information with the presentation condition is represented by a navigation script composed of an instruction sequence based on a predetermined specification, in which at least one of time information and point information, and information for guidance to be output according to at least one of a presentation time and a presentation point can be described using a set of combinations of a name which can identify a type of the information and the contents thereof.

Claim 31

A navigation information providing apparatus for providing information to a user, comprising: means (1410) for managing information with a presentation condition relating to a point; means (1415) for obtaining information about a point of a user; means (1401) for checking the information with the presentation condition according to the obtained point of the user, and for retrieving information corresponding to the point of the user; and means (1405) for providing the retrieved information to the user.

Claim 32

The navigation information providing apparatus according to claim 31, further comprising range condition processing means (1403) for determining how to present information when the point of the user is included in a point range if the presentation condition is a condition indicating the point range, wherein said means for providing the information provides the information according to said range condition processing means when the presentation condition is satisfied.

Claim 33

The navigation information providing apparatus according to claim 31, further comprising means (1404) for checking the information with the presentation condition by using an estimating module (1412) estimating a future state if the presentation condition is a relative condition.

Claim 34

The navigation information providing apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the information with the presentation condition is represented by a navigation script composed of an instruction sequence based on a predetermined specification, in which at least one of time information and point information, and information for guidance to be output according to at least one of a presentation time and a presentation point can be described using a set of combinations of a name which can identify a type of the information and the contents thereof.

Claim 35

An navigation information providing apparatus for providing information to a user, comprising: means (1410) for managing information with a presentation condition relating to a point; means (1415) for obtaining information about a point of a user; means (1402) for checking the information with the presentation condition, and for retrieving a user corresponding to the presentation condition; and means (1405) for providing the information with the presentation condition to the retrieved user.

Claim 36

The navigation information providing apparatus according to claim 35, further comprising range condition processing means (1403) for determining how to present information when the point of the user is included in a point range if the presentation condition is a condition indicating the place range, wherein said means for providing the information provides the information according to said range condition processing means when the presentation condition is satisfied.

Claim 37

The navigation information providing apparatus according to claim 35, further comprising means (1404) for checking the information with the presentation condition by using an estimating module (1412) estimating a future state if the presentation condition is a relative condition.

Claim 38

The navigation information providing apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the information with the presentation condition is represented by a navigation script composed of an instruction sequence based on a predetermined specification, in which at least one of time information and point information, and information for guidance to be output according to at least one of a presentation time and a presentation point can be described using a set of combination of a name which can identify a type of the information and the contents thereof.

Claim 39

A navigation information providing apparatus for providing information to a user, comprising: means (1410) for managing information with a presentation condition relating to a time and a point; means (1401) for checking the information with the presentation condition at predetermined time intervals, and for retrieving information corresponding to a current time; means (1415) for obtaining information about a point of a user; means (1401, 1402) for performing one of a process of checking the information with the presentation condition according to the obtained point of the user and retrieving information corresponding to the point of the user, and a process of checking the information with the presentation condition and retrieving a user corresponding to the presentation condition; and means (1405) for providing the retrieved information to the retrieved user.

Claim 40

The navigation information providing apparatus according to claim 39, further comprising range condition processing means (1403) for determining how to present information when one of the current time and the point of the user is included in a certain range if the presentation condition is a condition indicating the certain range, wherein said means for providing the information provides the information according to said range condition processing means when the presentation condition is satisfied.

Claim 41

The navigation information providing apparatus according to claim 39, further comprising means (1404) for checking the information with the presentation condition by using an estimating module (1412) estimating a future state if the presentation condition is a relative condition.

Claim 42

The navigation information providing apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the information with the presentation condition is represented by a navigation script composed of an instruction sequence based on a predetermined specification, in which at least one of time information and point information, and information for guidance to be output according to at least one of a presentation time and a presentation point can be described using a set of combinations of a name which can identify a type of the information and the contents thereof.

Claim 43

A navigation information providing method for providing information to a user, comprising the steps of: managing information with a presentation condition relating to at least one of a time and a point; retrieving information corresponding to at least one of a current time and a point of a user receiving the provided information with one of a method of checking the information with the presentation condition at predetermined time intervals, and a method of checking the information with the presentation condition according to the point of the user; and providing the retrieved information to a user corresponding to the presentation condition.

Claim 44

A computer-readable storage medium on which is recorded a program for implementing with a computer a device which provides information to a user, and for causing the computer to execute a process comprising the steps of: managing information with a presentation condition relating to at least one of a time and a point; retrieving information corresponding to at least one of a current time and a point of a user receiving the provided information with one of a method of checking the information with the presentation condition at predetermined time intervals, and a method of checking the information with the presentation condition according to the point of the user; and providing the retrieved information to a user corresponding to the presentation condition.

Claim 45

A navigation information presenting apparatus for presenting navigation information to a user according to a state, comprising: means (1401) for dynamically selecting navigation information to be presented according to a change of at least one of time information and point information; and means (1405) for outputting selected navigation information according to at least one of a time at which the selected navigation information is to be presented and a point in which the selected navigation information is to be presented.