Patent ID: 6522971
Filing Date: 2003-02-18
Classification: G01C,G08G

Abstract:
An information input/output system which transmits and receives information through a communication network between at least one user terminal, at least one service station which offers various services, and at least one service center which manages each of said service station,said service center comprising: a candidate selector which selects candidates for a first service station capable of providing a service in accordance with content of a request from said user terminal; a request transmitter which transmits the request of said user terminal to said first service station selected by said user terminal from said selected candidates for said first service station; a positional information transmitter which transmits, to said user terminal, information concerning a position of said first service station; a route searching part which searches out an optimum route from a current position of said user terminal or a designated position to said first service station; and a display/output confirming part which confirms by said user terminal whether map information in the vicinity of said optimum route is displayed or outputted; said user terminal comprising: a service requesting part which requests a service to said service center; a station selector which selects any from said candidates for said first service station transmitted from said service center; a selection result transmitter which transmits, to said service center, information for designating said selected first service station; a display/output determining part which determines whether map information in the vicinity of said optimum route is displayed or outputted; wherein said service center comprises: a relay position selector which selects a second service station in a vicinity of said optimum route for outputting said map information, when being confirmed that said user terminal wants the output of said map information in the vicinity of said optimum route; and map information transmitter which transmits said map information in the vicinity of said optimum route to said second service station selected by said relay position selector.