WO2001008121A1

WO2001008121A1 - Real time information supplying method utilizing relay sites for mobile communications

Info

Publication number: WO2001008121A1
Application number: PCT/KR1999/000452
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hyo-Sam Bang
Original assignee: HONG KEVIN-YOUNGHO
Current assignee: HONG KEVIN-YOUNGHO
Priority date: 1999-07-23
Filing date: 1999-08-16
Publication date: 2001-02-01
Anticipated expiration: 2002-01-23
Also published as: AU5307199A; KR20000000045A

Abstract

A method for supplying real-time information including information about traffic, weather, and environments to a portable communication terminal by use of relay sites (10) for mobile communications. The method involves the steps of setting a car navigator having an image receiving and displaying function in such a fashion that the car navigator exchanges data with the portable communication terminal, and setting each of the relay sites (10) to have a function for collecting living information, supplying data collected by the relay sites (10) to a server (40), transmitting the data from the server (40), in a real-time fashion, to a subscriber associated with the portable communication terminal at the request of the subscriber, allowing the transmitted data to be received to the portable communication terminal, thereby causing the data to be displayed on the portable communication terminal when the data does not include video data, and displaying the data received to the portable communication terminal on the car navigator when the data includes video data. In accordance with the invention, it is possible to collect real-time information through existing relay sites (10) for mobile communications and to rapidly and accurately transmit the collected information to the portable communication terminals of users.

Description

REAL TIME INFORMATION SUPPLYING METHOD UTILIZING RELAY SITES FOR MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an information supplying system utilizing relay sites, and more particularly to a method for supplying information for car navigation in a real- time fashion by use of relay sites for mobile communications, in which an information collecting function is additionally provided to each of the relay sites in such a fashion that collected data is supplied to subscribers via the relay sites while allowing the supplied data to be displayed on a car navigator coupled to a subscriber' portable communication terminal, so that the subscriber can visually identify the displayed data.

Description of the Prior Art Referring to Fig. 1, a general car navigation system is illustrated. As shown in Fig. 1, the car navigation system includes a car navigator 1 installed in a car. When the car navigator 1 operates during the running of the car, it receives information about the current position of the car from a satellite. Based on the received information, the car navigator 1 reads out data^" about map information recorded in the car navigator 1 from a geographic information positioning system (GIS) to display the read data, thereby providing information about a shortest course between the current position of the car and a target position. Referring to Fig.

2, an example of the configuration of the above mentioned car navigator is illustrated. As shown in Fig. 2, the car navigator includes a transmitter/receiver (transceiver) 2 for receiving and transmitting position information with respect to a satellite, a control unit 3 for controlling transmission and reception of data while reading the transmitted and received data, and a memory unit 4, namely, a GIS, for supplying position data under the control of the control unit

3. The car navigator also includes a key unit 5 for generating a variety of key signals respectively corresponding to various commands associated with an operation of the car navigator, an interface unit 6 for interfacing the control unit 3 to the key unit 5, thereby allowing the control unit 3 to recognize a command outputted from the key unit 5, and a display unit 7 for displaying information read by the control unit 3.

Fig. 3 is a schematic view illustrating a screen included in the display unit 7 of the car navigator shown in Fig. 2. Referring to Fig. 3, the current position of the running car and a guide arrow designating a path from the current car position to the position of a target place.

Such a car navigator simply functions to display the current position of the car and the path guided to the position of the target place. In particular, the map around the current position is displayed simply based on data of map information previously stored in a GIS. For this reason, such a car navigator cannot effectively cope with peripheral traffic situations varying in a real-time fashion around the current position of the car. Typically, traffic information in the form of video is transmitted from closed circuit TVS (CCTVs) installed on roads to a central traffic control center via wire mediums such as co-axial cables or optical fibers. Otherwise, traffic observers, who currently drive cars on roads, periodically send traffic information resulting from their visual observations to the central traffic control center. Accordingly, the user of the car navigator receives traffic information periodically outputted, based on the above mentioned traffic information, from the central traffic control center or traffic broadcast center. For this reason, it is impossible for the user of the car navigator to recognize peripheral traffic situations around his current position in a real-time fashion. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, an object of the invention is to solve the above mentioned problems and to provide a living information supplying method capable of receiving traffic information in a real-time fashion.

In accordance with the present invention, this object is accomplished by providing a method for supplying living information including information about traffic, weather, and environments to a portable communication terminal by use of relay sites for mobile communications, comprising the steps of: setting a car navigator having an image receiving and displaying function in such a fashion that the car navigator exchanges data with the portable communication terminal, and setting each of the relay sites to have a function for collecting living information; supplying data collected by the relay sites to a server in a compressed state when the data is video data while supplying the data in a real-time fashion when the data is not video data; transmitting the data from the server, in a real-time fashion, to a subscriber associated with the portable communication terminal at the request of the subscriber; allowing the transmitted data to be received to the portable communication terminal, thereby causing the data to be displayed on the portable communication terminal when the data does not include video data; and displaying the data received to the portable communication terminal on the car navigator when the data includes video data.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects and aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic view illustrating use of general car navigators;

Fig. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a general car navigator;

Fig. 3 is is a schematic view illustrating a screen included in a display unit of the car navigator shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a system adapted to carry out a living information supplying method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a block diagram partially illustrating an essential unit part of the configuration of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a schematic view illustrating an application of the system of Fig. 4 to a portable communication terminal along with a car navigator in order to apply the living information supplying method of the present invention to the car navigator;

Fig. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of the car navigator coupled to the portable communication terminal applied to the present invention;

Fig. 8 is a flow chart illustrating the living information supplying method of the present invention which is carried out by the above mentioned system; and

Fig. 9 is a flow chart illustrating an operation of the car navigator in accordance with the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Fig. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a system adapted to carry out a living information supplying method according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Fig. 4, relay sites for mobile communications, which are denoted by the reference numeral 10 respectively, are shown. Each relay site 10 is provided with an input unit 20 having an information collecting function. A variety of data, such as video data, audio data, and text data, collected in each relay site 10 by its input unit 20 are supplied to a server 40 via a network communication line 30 which may be a dedicated communication network (dedicated line) constructed by a mobile communication company. At the request of an information user, the server 40 supplies data of the information received from the relay sites 10, after processing it, to an Internet network 50 or to an optimum one of the relay sites 10 via the network communication line 30. The optimum relay site 10 then supplies desired audio, video, or text information to the user (that is, the car navigation user) in accordance with a set program. Fig. 5 is a block diagram partially illustrating the configuration of Fig. 4 associated with one relay site 10 coupled to the server 40 via the network communication line 30. As shown in Fig. 5, the relay site 10 includes a control unit 24, in addition to the input unit 20. The input unit 20 includes a video camera 21 for picking up an image acquired at the relay site 10, and a measuring unit 22 for measuring weather and humidity. The control unit 24 serves to convert data sent from the input unit 20 into digital data in accordance with a digital converter included therein. The digital data from the control unit 24 is then transmitted to the network communication line 30 after being compressed. Since the digitalization and compression of data as mentioned above are well known, no description thereof will be made. The server 40 processes compressed digital data received from the server 40 after separating it into video information, audio information, and text information to be stored in associated databases 41, 42, and 43. The separation of data as mentioned above is well known. The relay site 10 also includes a transmitting unit 12 for providing calls for mobile communications. Fig. 6 is a schematic view illustrating an application of the system of Fig. 4 to a portable communication terminal along with a car navigator in order to apply the living information supplying method of the present invention to the car navigator. As mentioned above in conjunction with Fig. 5, in the case of Fig. 6, the system includes relay sites 10 for mobile communications which are installed at intervals of a desired distance, respectively. Each relay site 10 includes an input unit 20 having a video camera 21, and a weather measuring unit 22 for measuring weather including precipitation, wind, and humidity. Since the video camera 21 and weather measuring unit 22 are well known, no detailed configuration thereof will be illustrated. Each relay site 10 also includes a control unit 24 for processing data outputted from the video camera 21 and measuring unit 22 (digital conversion and compression) . In this case, the control unit 24 of each relay site 10 sends digital data, generated therefrom, including compressed digital video data and collected digital measurement data to a server 40 via a network communication line 30 coupled thereto through a dedicated line. Each relay site 10 also includes a transmitting unit 12 which conducts an intrinsic transmission function for the relay site 10. The server 40 includes a data processing unit 44 for filtering the digital data received thereto in order to sort the received digital data, that is, raw data, into information and non-information. The server 40 also includes a memory 46 having a variety of databases, that is, a video information database 41, an audio information database 42, a text information database 43, and a specific user information database. In these databases, associated data, that is, video data (aspect data), audio data, text data, and specific user data, are stored in accordance with addresses allocated thereto under the control of a control unit 45, respectively. The car navigator, which is denoted by the reference numeral 60 in Fig. 6, is configured to receive data from the relay sites 10 via a portable communication terminal 70 coupled thereto. Although the car navigator 60 is illustrated as being coupled with the portable communication terminal 70, it is possible to receive text or audio information in a real-time fashion only using the portable communication terminal 70, which may be a personal communication service (PCS) phone, under the condition in which the portable communication terminal 70 is separated from the car navigator 60. Fig. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the car navigator 60 applied to the present invention. As shown in Fig. 7, the car navigator 60 receives data from an associated one of the relay sites 10 via a portable communication terminal 70 coupled thereto. The car navigator 60 has the same basic configuration as the conventional car navigator of Fig. 2, except for programs used to carry out functions according to the present invention. The car navigator 60 basically includes a transceiver 2, a control unit 3, a memory unit 4, a key unit 5, an interface unit 6, and a display unit 7.

Fig. 8 is a flow chart illustrating the living information supplying method of the present invention which is carried out by the above mentioned system. As shown in Fig. 8, the living information supplying method of the present invention includes step SI for setting an information collecting function of the relay sites 10 for mobile communications, step S2 for supplying data collected by the relay sites 10 to the server 40, processing the data, and storing the processed data, step S3 for transmitting the stored data, in a real-time fashion, to a subscriber requiring the data, step S4 for allowing the transmitted data to be received to a portable communication terminal (for example, a PCS terminal) 70, and step S5 for displaying the data received to the portable communication terminal 70 on the car navigator 60.

Fig. 9 is a flow chart illustrating an operation of the car navigator 60 in accordance with the present invention. As shown in Fig. 9, the operation of the car navigator 60 involves step Sll for determining whether or not the car navigator 60 turns on, step S12 for activating a car navigation function when the car navigator 60 turns on, and S13 for determining whether or not there is data input through the portable communication terminal 70 during the activation of the car navigation function. The car navigator 60 also conducts operations respectively corresponding to step S14 for determining, when there is data input through the portable communication terminal 70, whether or not the input data includes video and audio data, and step S15 for displaying the input data through the display unit of the car navigator 60 when the input data includes video and audio data.

Practically, several hundred mobile communication relay sites 10 distributed over a wide area are included in the system adapted to carry out the living information supplying method of the present invention. As mentioned above, each relay site 10 includes the input unit 20 which has the video camera 21 and the measuring unit 22. Of course, other input means may be used for each relay site 10. Analog data inputted to each relay site 10 through its input unit 20 is converted into digital data by the control unit 24 of the relay site 10. In particular, video input from the video camera 21 is compressed after being subjected to a digitalization. The resultant data from each relay site 10 is then supplied to the server 40 via the network communication line 30. The server 40 filters the digital data received thereto in accordance with an operation of its data processing unit .44 in order to sort the received digital data into video, audio, and text data. In accordance with an address command from the control unit 45, the sorted video, audio, and text data are stored in a sorted state in the memory 46. As mentioned above, the memory 46 has a variety of databases, that is, the video information database 41, the audio information database 42, the text information database 43, and the specific user information database. Thus, the server 40 collects living information, such as information about traffic, weather, and environments, in a real-time fashion. At the request of a user, the server 40 processes the collected data to supply information associated with an area interested by the user, namely, the current position, in a real-time fashion. Where the user carries only a portable communication terminal 70, as shown in Fig. 5, he can be supplied with audio information and text information read out from the audio information database 42 and text information database 43 of the memory 46 in the server 40, so that he can recognize situations in the current position. On the other hand, where the user carries a car navigator 60, to which a portable communication terminal 70 is coupled, as shown in Fig. 6, living information, which may include video information read out from the video information database 41, can be displayed on a screen included in the car navigator 60. Accordingly, the user can visually identify traffic and weather situations at a desired area through the car navigator 60. This visual identification can be achieved by the functions of the server 40 which digitally converts input images acquired by the video camera 21 included in the input unit 20 of the relay site 10 associated with the current position, stores the converted data, in a sorted state, in the memory included therein, and transmits desired data read out from the memory to the portable communication terminal 70 of the user, who uses the car navigator 60, thereby allowing the transmitted data to be displayed on the car navigator 60. Thus, the user can easily view images associated with the desired position through the car navigator 60.

Although the preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims .

As apparent from the above description, in accordance with the present invention, it is possible to collect living information, such as information about traffic, weather, and environments, through existing relay sites for mobile communications and to rapidly and accurately transmit the collected information to the portable communication terminals of users so that the users conveniently utilize the information, in a real-time fashion, for various purposes. Where a car navigator is coupled to the portable communication terminal of a user, the user can visually recognize situations about traffic and environments at a desired area in a realtime fashion through the car navigator.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A method for supplying living information including information about traffic, weather, and environments to a portable communication terminal by use of relay sites for mobile communications, comprising the steps of:

(A) setting a car navigator having an image receiving and displaying function in such a fashion that the car navigator exchanges data with the portable communication terminal, and setting each of the relay sites to have a function for collecting living information;

(B) supplying data collected by the relay sites to a server in a compressed state when the data is video data while supplying the data in a real-time fashion when the data is not video data;

(C) transmitting the data from the server, in a real-time fashion, to a subscriber associated with the portable communication terminal at the request of the subscriber;

(D) allowing the transmitted data to be received to the portable communication terminal, thereby causing the data to be displayed on the portable communication terminal when the data does not include video data; and

(E) displaying the data received to the portable communication terminal on the car navigator when the data includes video data.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the step (E) comprises the steps of: determining whether or not the car navigator turns on; activating a car navigation function of the car navigator when the car navigator turns on; determining whether or not there is data input from the server through the portable communication terminal during the activation of the car navigation function; determining, when there is data input from the server through the portable communication terminal, whether or not the input data includes video and audio data; displaying the input data through a display unit included in the car navigator, in a real-time fashion, when the input data includes both video and audio data.